WEEK 72 "Mariachi band round 2"

This week was a bit hilarious! From dropping my phone in the toilet to having to deal with some drama that the other sisters in the zone created to Karen bailing on her baptism and Melissa and Teresa's temple trip being canceled.... let just say I learned A LOT of patience this week. But I'm so glad for all the amazing people I get to come closer to through these experiences, especially my Savior. I love the sisters that I live with Sister Holbrook, Atwood and Caldwell are just angels.

But hey, the good always outweighs the bad haha and in this case, Elizabeth is just the sunshine in all the crazy rain down here. She came back from Peru this week and we had some pretty stellar lessons about the atonement and the covenant path. She has wanted to be baptized since we first found her but has been nervous about many things. This week we were sitting in Sunday school class and I saw out of the corner of my eye that she was looking at her calendar the whole time. I finally leaned over and asked her what she was doing.

She told me "estoy buscando por un fecha por mi bautismo." In a tender gesture, she pointed to July 13 and told me that was the date. We both started smiling and I gave her a hug. I'm so proud of Elizabeth and for her strength amidst trials. 
After she wanted to come ministering with us to a sweet 94-year-old grandma in the ward. We laughed and sang and read the scriptures together. It was the total HIGHLIGHT of my week and then as if it couldn't get any better... last night we had a family home evening with Elizabeth in President Garn's home. She opened up her heart to them like they were long lost friends.. I'm pretty sure the Garns were wondering if she was already a member. Wow, Elizabeth is an example to us of faith and that is exactly what we talked about last night. It was a night to remember for sure. I strive to be like the Garns.

 

Faith helps us accomplish what we couldn't do on our own. Faith is a principle of power. And the way we grow our faith is through obedience to the gospel... it's just that simple. If we just obey, we will have the power to perform miracles. This week I came across a quote from Elder Ballard. He said, "How reassuring it is to realize there is a source of power much greater than our own, which can be accessed through personal faith and prayer and through the righteous exercise of God's priesthood."

Wow, I just love the gospel of Jesus Christ. These 5 simple but powerful principles give us purpose and direction and a knowledge of what we can become. I challenge you all to strive for greater heights to be the best that you can be by applying the atonement of Jesus Christ in your lives. I love faith because there are no boundaries or restraints. The only person that holds us back is us. As we let Him into our lives and be a part of our dreams and deepest desires he will truly help us find a different way of living. A  living of abundance and pure joy.
Love you all dearly,

Xo, hermana 

PS the mariachi band came to the father's day activity on Saturday and little to our surprise they were already some of our good friends that we had contacted on the street a while back.  Tender mercies baby