It was so great. He really is so great. He just came out of the water glowing. Hermana Carhuancho was so happy. She cried and Carlos cried and it was so spiritual. He was so happy afterwards. He just glowed so strong. It was super great, even though there was a ton of rain.
So it is extremely hot here in Paraguari. It is hotter than Fernando de la Mora. By like 20 degrees or so. And the sun is stronger. It is super crazy to feel the difference in just a 3 hour drive, but then I remember that in St George we can go scuba diving and tanning in 80 degree weather and drive an hour to Brian Head and go snowboarding all in the same day so I guess it makes sense.
This week we didn't have a lot of time to work. We had the baptism and meetings on Saturday. And on Thursday we can conferencia de zona and we had to go to Asuncion. We woke up at 3 am to catch a collectivo because we had to be there at 8. Our whole zone was going to take the same collectivo so our District Leader was going to call us when they were 30 minutes away so we could take the same collectivo. But he forgot so we got a call that they were 10 minutes away and we hadn't left the house yet because the collectivo was also early. So we left in a hurry and started walking super fast. Then we got another call that said the collectivo was waiting for us but we had to hurry or else it was going to leave. We were 5 cuadras away. It doesn't sound like a lot but that is a good 15 o 20 minute walk here in Paraguari. So we started running in our dresses with all of our books and stuff. We ran to catch the collectivo and we saw it starting to drive away. So we tried to call after it and luckily our elders heard us and they stopped the collectivo. We made it but man were we tired and gross jaja. The collectivo driver was very impressed by how fast we were running. After a 3 and a half collectivo ride we made it to Asuncion. It was good.
This week we didn't have a lot of time to work. We had the baptism and meetings on Saturday. And on Thursday we can conferencia de zona and we had to go to Asuncion. We woke up at 3 am to catch a collectivo because we had to be there at 8. Our whole zone was going to take the same collectivo so our District Leader was going to call us when they were 30 minutes away so we could take the same collectivo. But he forgot so we got a call that they were 10 minutes away and we hadn't left the house yet because the collectivo was also early. So we left in a hurry and started walking super fast. Then we got another call that said the collectivo was waiting for us but we had to hurry or else it was going to leave. We were 5 cuadras away. It doesn't sound like a lot but that is a good 15 o 20 minute walk here in Paraguari. So we started running in our dresses with all of our books and stuff. We ran to catch the collectivo and we saw it starting to drive away. So we tried to call after it and luckily our elders heard us and they stopped the collectivo. We made it but man were we tired and gross jaja. The collectivo driver was very impressed by how fast we were running. After a 3 and a half collectivo ride we made it to Asuncion. It was good.
I got to see a lot of elders from my group that I didn't know were going to be there. I also got to see Hermana Robinson again. It was super fun. We learned about how to make goals and how to have success because of our goals and plans. It was super good. I learned a ton on how to be better so that my investigators can progress. We took some pictures and then we were off back to Paraguari. After another long collectivo ride we finally made it back around 6 en la tarde. Then we had to do weekly planning, where we sit down for 3 hours and plan for what our investigators need to progress, what lessons, activities, and how we can help them. It is super great to think one by one what our investigators need and how we can become better personally and in our companionship to be able to help our investigators. But we didn't leave to work at all jaja so we worked extra hard to make up for it. Friday we walked a ton. We had made appointments earlier in the week and they all lived in different areas. So we walked muchisimo jaja but its healthy for me. We had a lesson with an investigator named Ana. She found the Hermana's because she wanted to get baptized. She knows the church is true because she let all her kids, 8 kids, get baptized a long time ago, but she wasn't ready to get baptized. She wasn't living the Law of Chastity. So the Hermana's started teaching her and she has a testimony that the church is true, but she didn't want the elders to baptize her, she wanted us to do it. Like literally to do it. The Hermana's tried to explain to here that the only people who can perform the baptism is worthy priesthood holders. But she didn't want to hear that. She wanted the Hermanas. So then my first lesson with her we were going to invite her to be baptized again. When we did she gladly accepted but said the only way is if we could do it. Hermana Carhuancho was a little bit frustrated because she had explained before that the Hermanas cant do it. But I asked her if she knew the church was true. She said yes, which is why she wanted her kids to be baptized. She knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that we have the power of God on earth today. I gave my testimony on how I know that God restored this power through Joseph Smith and that only worthy men can hold this authority but that women are blessed everyday by this power of God. We gave her a pamphlet that talks about priesthood and when we passed the next time she told us she read the whole thing. We set a date for her baptism and in her prayer she asked that she would have the strength to do all that she needed to to be able to be baptized. It was so amazing. She realized the importance of baptism and now she is preparing herself for this sacred covenant.
So Saturday there was a ton of rain.
We got soaked and we had one hour before we had to go home and change for the baptism. So we were walking the streets and there was no one out because it was seriously pouring. We looked like we went swimming with all our clothes on... So we were looking and looking. But no one. I told hermana Carhauncho we should say a prayer. In my prayer I asked if Heavenly Father would guide us to who needed our help. We sat in the road for a second as I saw a house light turn on in the distance. We walked to this house and it turns out that the hermana just got home from work. She let us in and we started talking. Her dad is sick and she was just wondering why God was letting this happen. We asked her the importance of religion in her life and she said it was very important. That she is catholic but has always wondered why there was so many churches. We started teaching the Restauracion and the spirit was so strong. She accepted fecha and I know that God really does answer our prayers, but only in His timing.
We got soaked and we had one hour before we had to go home and change for the baptism. So we were walking the streets and there was no one out because it was seriously pouring. We looked like we went swimming with all our clothes on... So we were looking and looking. But no one. I told hermana Carhauncho we should say a prayer. In my prayer I asked if Heavenly Father would guide us to who needed our help. We sat in the road for a second as I saw a house light turn on in the distance. We walked to this house and it turns out that the hermana just got home from work. She let us in and we started talking. Her dad is sick and she was just wondering why God was letting this happen. We asked her the importance of religion in her life and she said it was very important. That she is catholic but has always wondered why there was so many churches. We started teaching the Restauracion and the spirit was so strong. She accepted fecha and I know that God really does answer our prayers, but only in His timing.
We had another lesson with a lady named Virginia and su familia. We started to talk about the Plan of Salvation and how families can be eternal. As I started to talk about the Atonement she started to cry. She tried to play it off as the sun, but it was very clearly the Spirit. She wants to go to church to see how it is and to feel this feeling she had more. Oh also Sunday was a full day. So Saturday night we were told we had to give talks in church. So okay that's okay. 8 minutes no big deal. Then I was also given the assignment to teach Gospel Principles. Okay we don't have a book so I had to wing it jaja. Then we were given the practices in our reunion de distrito. So I am sure the Elders are sick of hearing me talk jaja. But it was actually a lot easier than I thought as I relied on the spirit. I talked for like 15 minutes in sacrament with ease. My Spanish was fine and I talked about how the members can be missionaries too and help the investigators feel comfortable in the church because it can be scary to go to church alone, whether you are new or not. But it was super great time to learn for myself as I prepared to teach others. I also get to put my music talent to use because no can read music or anything so that have me lead the music and do anything music related in the church. It has been fun to further my talents.
This week has been another great one. Honestly my letters I feel like I make it sound like only good things happen. But its not true. Let me tell you the mission is not easy. There are lots of difficulties and hard times. Struggles and setbacks. But the thing is, there are always struggles and set backs. In the mission, in school, in life. But what we can remember is that just like an arrow when we are pulled back, it only means we are about to be launched forward. We can look at our setbacks and how struggles as moments in preparations to be launched into something great. This is something I have learned on my mission. That everything we go through is just giving us the chance to learn and improve and be someone better. I am so grateful for my hardships because that only means God trusts us enough to handle them. I hope you all had a super fantastic week, and that you all have a super mega fantastic week this week. Love you all and Happy Valentines Day!!!
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