Hola hola hola from the dirty (beautiful) city of Barranca!
Yes! Happy 6 months to me! It's crazy to think it's gone by so quickly... but in reality I still have a year and a half, so it's okay! Still lots of time to go! Nevertheless, it is my first milestone, which feels quite good! Maybe I'll burn a tie tonight, we'll see!
So this week has gone well! As you can see we had another 2 baptisms this week which feels great! It's so refreshing and nice to see a little bit of success happening in this Zone. I'm just thankful to the Lord that he's been helping us so much and has given me the opportunity to work through him and bring more people back unto his fold. It's awesome!
So let me tell you a little bit about our new converts! As you can see from the photos, one is a very young girl, and the other one is a bit older. Their names are Maribel Brillit (Brigit) Ortega Vilca, and the other is Isabel Graciela Huapaya Rea. They both have very different, unique, and special stories.
Maribel is a little... different! Her father, if you remember, was baptized about 2 weeks ago! She and her father were references from other Elders who found them in their area. Turns out they actually were living in our area, and just visiting family. So with the other Elders, we spent about 30 minutes trying to find their house. Maribel and her father live in probably the poorest, most dangerous area of our Zone. It just so happens to me by area, woohoo! I'm grateful that the Lord brought them to us, because if not I don't think we'd ever have found them. Very rarely we go contacting in that area. Maribel originally told us that she was 10 years old. Then she told us 8. Then her father told us 9. We didn't think much about it since she was old enough to be baptized. Yesterday her father brought her birth record with her to the Church. And guess what? She's a bit older then 8, a bit older then 9, and a bit more than 10. I know you'd never believe it but she is 12 years old! She'll be turning 13 in November! She's a young woman! It's very sad actually, to see just how malnourished she is.
This week we've been focusing a lot on helping our recent converts. I'm thankful that our ward actually has their weekly Ward Council meeting because it really helps a ton. I've been trying to push to have more activities at the Ward so that the new converts can build a strong relationship with the other members, because the last thing I want is for them to go inactive! Yesterday at our ward council meeting we talked a lot about how we could help our new converts Teofilo and his daughter Maribel. Their circumstances really are very sad and he really doesn't have much, if not anything at all. His home is small, dirty, and reeks of mildew and animal droppings. We talked a lot with the leaders yesterday and have decided to have everyone donate something that they could use (a new blanket, some food, a towel) and are going to collect all these things and bring them to their house this Saturday as well as give service and clean their house, and clean Maribel whose head is full of dandruff and lice... As sad as it is, I'm really very excited and think it can and will really brighten their spirit and help him to stay positive in these tough circumstances. I'm so glad to be able to bring them unto Christ, to bring them unto these loving and helpful members, and to help them to just be happier in their life. We'll see how it goes!
Number 2!
Sister Isabel is a great sister who's been investigating the church and listening to the missionaries for the past 6 months more or less! She has a lot of faith and is very humble and loving. The problem is that she's been having a lot of troubles with her family, mostly with her Husband and her daughter. Her husband works almost all the time and it seems like he really doesn't have much time to spend with her; leaving her alone a lot of the time in the house, and alone a lot of the time to raise their kids. Her daughter is a very smart girl; she's 16 years old, almost 17. But her problem is that she has a boyfriend who's about 21 years old. Her boyfriend doesn't have a job, doesn't go to school, and basically doesn't DO anything aha. He's a very negative influence. And for the past few months she's been wanting to leave and live with him... he doesn't have a house. About a month ago she actually did it, she left home. She left on a Monday and didn't return until Wednesday. Then that same night she left again... not returning until Saturday. It was a very trying time for Isabel and her husband. Her husband basically said to let her go and live her own life, and that she's not his daughter anymore if that's what she wants to do. Isabel was confused, sad, and lonely. We continued visiting her and tried helping her through this difficult time. We helped her turn to Christ and helped show her how Christ could bless her and help her in this time of need. We read Luke 15 with her, the story of the Prodigal Son, compared the situations and compared the message to her life. It really helped her. Eventually we were able to clear out all of her concerns, answer her questions, strengthen her testimony, and bring her unto the waters of baptism! She's a great sister and I just hope everything can go better for her in her life. We'll see!
So those are the two stories! They're not perfectly described or written, but with the time I have I feel like they will suffice!
Thank you for your questions! Am I going to have these every milestone? Ahaha here are the answers:
1) Q- What are you most thankful for as a missionary?
A- To be a servant for the Lord, to have his spirit and teach his children. Basically... to be the Lord's hands. Easy!
2) Q- What is/ are the biggest change/ changes you have noticed in yourself?
A- I think the biggest change I've noticed is my patience. Patience with myself, with the language, with a companion, with the investigators, with the members, with the country, everything! Patience is a hard thing to develop but I think it's definitely improved!
3) Q- In what ways have you become converted?
A- Hmmm, in what ways have I become converted...? Good question! Honestly when I entered the MTC in Utah on November 17th, I knew that this mission thing was... the right thing to do. I didn't exactly know why, but it was something I was taught to do and something expected of God, of the Prophet, and of my family. But I realized quickly that I couldn't teach and prophesy that this gospel and work was true if I didn't really know it was true for myself, 100%. So what did I do? I read the Book of Mormon from front to back, I got down on my knees, and I pleaded with the Lord, with sincerity of heart if this work and this gospel were true. Needless to say, I'm still here. And if it wasn't true, why would I be? I received my answer and that's one thing I'll never be able to deny. I know the church is true!
4) Q- What sorts of things do you appreciate about the gospel that you didn't (or maybe did but not to the same degree) before?
A- I think the best way I appreciate the gospel now is to see all the blessings that really come from it. More from living it, faithfully! The Lord blesses us when we follow his example, when we keep his commandments, when we strive to do our best. I've seen so many people, and heard so many stories of how the Lord blesses and has blessed them, every circumstance is different. But the lord's teachings, and his Gospel, can help them :)
5) Q- Where are you, your companion, or other missionaries struggling?
A- Umm... well for me and Elder Cruz right now it's contacting more! We've been very busy and continue to be busy with current investigators and such. But we need to get out and knock more doors! Here in the zone, or the mission, a lot of the missionaries get unmotivated easily. They get doors slammed in their face or have appointments fall through and as a result lose their drive to work. It's very easy to do that, but it's crucial that it doesn't happen, because then Satan has a chance to weasel his way in and make it that much harder to work.
That’s all the time for today, but thank you so much for your email, and the lovely pictures! I hope everything is going great, I pray for you regularly! By the looks of it you're doing incredible and for that I'm so thankful.
If there's anything I can do please let me know!
With love,
Elder Hatt
pee ess 1 - What's inside of my packages? So I can know everything there when I receive them :)
pee ess 2 - DO ME A FAVOUR!! I know Jarom has a girlfriend, but DON'T let him get married until I'm home. I don't want to miss another wedding, and he's my last sibling!
No comments:
Post a Comment