So many little things that I want to share, which are the best things to share because the little things make the work the best everrrr!!!
We visited an outrageously inactive sister this week who we always have a hard time catching at home or with time to visit with us- but miracles of miracles, she accepted us wholeheartedly when we passed by this last Monday evening. It was the first time that I had visited with her, so we spent a little time getting to know her, and we found out that she served a mission! Which was the best thing EVER to hear because missionaries are really good at helping returned missionaries remember their mission fire. We requested mission photos and all, and it was like magic. She got to explaining every photo, every companion and ward and investigator and baptism. We shared Alma 29:9 and testified of the joy we feel when we keep our baptismal covenants (Mosiah 18:8-10...and 11 because it's all happy and joyful), one of which being to participate in the mission work.
Better believe she came to church this Sunday :)
Also visited our pal Alfio this week, and he has finally gotten into the habit of starting his prayer with Heavenly Father, not the Catholic way. I honestly don't know what it is in English, but in Spanish, its Padre Nuestro que estas en los cielos, santificad sea su nombre. And that's just...so long. And Heavenly Father is sufficient. Small steps, my friends. Small steps. Also, in that lesson with him, we read 1 Nephi 4. It is always interesting to see how people react to that chapter. I have witnessed a colorful array of reactions. Being a missionary. For real, it's the best ever.
We taught an inactive couple, who I LOVE and am attaching a photo of them with this email, about covenants. We taught them in the beginning of the week and returned on Saturday to teach them again, and they were all excited to share with us a note they found in their old hymnbook with a quote written on it about covenants and their importance, wow Hermanas, its such a coincidence!
So not a coincidence. God works in awesome ways.
I have become the companion that does the hard man things. I have fixed showers and unclogged drains, and this week, as we walked one morning searching for people to teach, we came across a spider, and I mean, it was a big spider. It was hard to miss. And it was dying. My sweet companion took pity on it and resolved to kill it. Ya know, take it out of its misery. But she didn't want to get close to it, so she found a big rock and tried to use her foot to get it over the huge spider and crush it. All the while squealing and cringing. Total fail.
So I bent down and picked up the rock and did the job. Not the first big spider Ive killed here in Chile. Incredible, the things I'm learning in my mission. I never thought I would be the companion that killed the spiders and fixed the showers.
Also this week...surprise...we had a baptism! It was for Carlos, the brother of a very active and incredible sister in our ward. He has special needs, and has been listening to the missionaries for a long time. Years. And we finally got permission to baptize him. It was a bit of a time crunch, leaving us with about 12 hours to plan the baptism, but we somehow pulled it off! (thank you CM for preparing me for such occasions)
The best part of the planning happened with Brother Perez- an inactive member who we felt prompted to ask to give a talk in the service. He used to be the ward mission leader, and we know that he loves participating with the missionaries, and while he was a little nervous, he accepted the invitation. Saturday evening at about 8:45, 15 minutes to needing to be in our pension, he called us asking to please come by and listen to the thoughts he has for his talk and help him know if it was good.
It was the best thing ever- he and his wife were at their kitchen table, with every single gospel pamphlet, Ensign magazine, scriptures, gospel books, and Preach my Gospel all spread out. He read to us the thoughts he had, which were great, and was like a little boy, asking us if it was good enough. WE LOVED IT! He took so seriously the invitation to speak, and wanted it to be just great. He pulled out every resource he had to prepare, up to calling the "professionals", the sister missionaries, to help him put together something wonderful.
And it WAS wonderful. Not just his talk, but the whole baptismal service. To see this sweet man, with the mind of a child but the pure desire to be clean and do what God wants us to do, finally be able to be baptized...it was simple and it was beautiful.
Guys, i just love being a missionary. Its the best, most rewarding thing ever. There's nothing I would rather do right now. I have the best job ever. No battle. Stay rad, be bold, do what you do :)
Hermana Harkins
p.s. if y'all love me, you'll send me tights. I'm already wearing holes through all mine and its COLD. I accept any color or design ;)
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