WEEK 49 "The Donoso family has my whole heart!!!"
I know I say this every week but we saw some pretty cool miracles happen this week!
1. We went to go help the other sisters find one afternoon. I was knocking with sister Spencer who lives with us and she is a brand new missionary! She has such a sweet spirit about her. On our third door, we found a gorgeous lady from Venezuela named Jessica! and guess what? She was cleaning, which means perfect opportunity to serve. We told her that we had four extra hands that could help her and with her sassy attitude She said, "Porque no??" So we went in and she told us to sit down and start sharing our message while she cleaned but we, of course, grabbed the broom and started sweeping. After we all finished cleaning she told us she wanted to learn more. So we taught her a quick restoration lesson. This lesson definitely reminded me that God truly does work through the weak and the small things to bring about His great and eternal purposes. It was sister Spencer's first Restoration lesson in the field and let me just tell ya'll it was the most powerful lesson I have had in a hot second. People!!! I was blown away. In ether 12:12 we read, "For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; Wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith." These new missionaries have such incredible faith!! The gathering of Israel is in good hands.
This scripture goes really well with the new year and Goal setting. As we set goals and make plans this is an amazing way we show our faith and increase our faith. I have learned that as we bind our hearts to our goals and do all that we can God truly does create miracles in our lives.
So continuing on with the story Jessica the cute Venezuelan that opened the door for us was smiling with big eyes full of excitement the whole time we were telling her the story of Joseph Smith. At the end of the lesson, we told her that she and her husband would be married for all time and eternity. She instantly asked for the address and wanted to go to the temple immediately. Sadly we had to pass her off to the other sisters but I know that she felt the spirit because she told us she felt different. I can't wait to hear how the rest of the story unfolds.
2. The first few days of adjusting to a new area can be a little hard but this time it was a little extra hard because my companion and I both got a really bad cold. However, we were able to find some amazing people. Just a couple weeks ago in my old area, I found an amazing lady named Elvira from Costa Rica. Sadly she was out of the area to teach but now that I am Hialeah we can really focus on her!! God knows what He's doing. Her father is a member but she isn't so we will be teaching her some more this week. I know I'm supposed to be here for a reason in Hialeah!
3. And the coolest miracle of them all... drum roll.....is when a Romanian man named Dam who doesn't speak English but speaks perfect Spanish Shows up to church out of the blue.... He has the funkiest accent but he is the coolest man. To be honest I could hardly get out what he was saying but what I do know is that he has been researching a lot on lds.org and wants to be baptized really bad. SOOO coolest show up at church I have had on my mission happened and I know that God is adding to our efforts in unexpected ways.
I love the ward here so far. The two hours of church is great for missionary work. We are using a lot more time to do Family Home evenings now and I love it. I love the come follow me program already and I truly have felt a deepening power of the Atonement already come into my life. I encourage all of you to really study the manuals I know that it is divinely inspired directly from our Father in Heaven. ALSO this past Sunday my favorite people in all of FLORIDA surprised me. DANI AND CAROLINA (my Ninos) and the whole Donoso fam traveled from blue lagoon to see me! Made my whole week and yes I did bawl when I saw them.
One theme that has stuck a lot with me this week is the power of conversion. Conversion to our Savior and bringing about his work and glory. I am currently obsessing over the topic, "Become and He is." As I have been reflecting on the past year... (yes I know CRAZY how its almost been a year.) I remember the moments best when I was changed through the power of Christ's Atonement. Every time we leave behind our weaknesses and selfish desires. Every time we plead for forgiveness and for strength to be better. Every time we forget about our selves and serve others the strengthening power of the Atonement has an immediate effect on our very being. And like Alma the younger said "we become new creatures" through Christ. However, I do believe that there are a lot of trials and hardships that we need to wade through in this life and will not be taken from us until the next life. And thus in Alma 34:41 "But that ye have patience and bear with those afflictions with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions."
I love you don't forget to get some good turns in for me:) Have the best week ever!
xoxo,
Hermana Richards
Fun surprises:
-a chicken showed up on our balcony today
- The elders gave us 9 bottles of monsters to tell us to feel better... oh elders
- One of the members has the cutest baby pug named mia