I have committed a couple dogs to baptism. I have a lot of practice saying "¿Seguir el ejemplo de Jesucristo y ser bautizado?" Now if any of our TEN investigators would see how much their lives would be blessed by baptism...I am fired up and ready to go :)
In other news...this week rocked! Fun fact about Chile...they don't have trash cans for trash day. They have big wire baskets hanging on the outside of their gates, and they tie up all their little trash bags and put them in the basket and the trash man picks it up that way. So. Weird. But I'm sure they think its weird that we have huge bins of trash hanging out in our garages for a whole week, so I wont judge. I love Chile. I realize I say this a lot. But can you really blame me? ;)
This week, we had lots of great experiences with teaching. I have 3 stories to share. The first and second are about Pedro, a 33 year old living with his parents. He was a referral from the Elders, and we were all pumped up and ready to teach him the first lesson about the restoration and the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith...and then about 2 minutes after the prayer, Hna. Ortiz and I both had the impression to shift to faith. Pedro hadn't even said anything, he was just listening. But I took out my Restoration pamphlet and felt so strongly that it was not the topic he needed. I looked at Hna. Ortiz and knew she was feeling the same thing. So we gave a little intro to the B.O.M. and then taught Alma 32, el semilla de fe. The seed of faith. Turns out that he has no faith in Christ...so talking about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wont have any effect on him until he has faith, no? The Spirit. It is so amazing.
The second story is also about Pedro, our second visit with him. We found out that he speaks a good amount of English, which ROCKS for me because I can talk in Spanglish and he will understand me. So we followed up on the commitments we had talked about previously, bearing testimony and discussing scriptures, and for the first time since I have been on my mission, I was able to really get serious and invite someone to do something, and have them really understand my testimony about it. I asked him to pray with one specific question or problem in mind, just one. We taught him the simple way to pray - thank God for his blessings, ask for guidance, and talk to God. To talk to him like we talk to our best friends. Because he is our Heavenly Father! He WANTS to hear about our day, the things that made us happy and the things that were frustrating and nerve wracking and heart wrenching. All this I was able to say in Spanglish. We will see if he did it this week :)
The third is a story for the books, seriously. We have an investigator, Doris, who is 76 years old. She is a total sweetheart, and when we met her, she was very interested in listening to the discussions. Cool! Awesome! So we taught her the first lesson this week, and Hna. Ortiz invited her to read Moroni 10 and pray to know of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Doris said she would. Hna. Ortiz nudges me, mouths "bautismo" and nods. So I said "Y si usted recibe una respuesta el Libro de Mormon es verdad, seguir el ejemplo de Jesucristo y ser bautizado?" And if you receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true, etc.? She stared a moment, and told us that she did not want to be crucified as Christ was.
WHAT?!
Baptism by immersion was taught immediately haha being a missionary is the best.
Let's see, more good moments...we were visiting inactive members, and at one house, they were making sausage. As in grounding it and pressing it into the plastic. So we helped! I have pictures! I will try and send them!
We were at a members house for lunch early in the week, and they, being the mom and her 19 year old daughter, commented on my necklace, how they liked it. A birdcage with a pajarito...little bird. We stopped at their house on Friday to talk about the ward, since the mom is the YW pres, and they had a gift for me...earrings! Birdcages with little pajaritos in them! Delightful!
I was reading F. Enzio Busche this week, as always, and noticed that he and Emmy are totally on the same wave length. He says "Be not so concerned with what you do, but DO WHAT YOU DO with all your heart, might, mind and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction."
So Wednesdays rock, because they are District and Zone meetings.And in these meetings, that is when we receive letters. And this week, I got THREE LETTERS!! Whooooa I am feeling the love :) they were all sent to me when I was in the CCM, but still. I got them exactly when I needed them. Special shout out to my girl Katie Miller. I love you, darling! Lets go to Paris and eat all the macaroons, yes? Yes. Mom, still haven't received your package, but I will be going to the CCM tomorrow, and will ask the mail people.
Why are you going to the CCM, you ask?
Well, my comp has an infection in her arm, and has gotten so bad that the medical staff for our mission suggested we go to the main mission medical office, which is the the CCM. So not only do we get to go and be in the CCM and say hi to teachers and friends, but we get to go TO THE TEMPLE! Hello, prayers are answered! I am so EXCITED! So I will give a package update next email, sorry I don't have better news on the subject. Really, my week was so great. I love being a missionary, I love being in Chile, I love wearing Jesus Christ's name over my heart every day. This church is true. Love you all. Do what you do. Be bold. Ciauo!
Hermana Harkins
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