WEEK 73 "He Saves Us From Ourselves But Not From The Mosquitoes This Time"

This week our mission hit an all-time high on baptisms so that was cool! I truly believe that ever since we made a few adjustments in the mission we have been excelling at a faster rate. I love how we have been focusing a lot more on the progress of our friends rather than activity... we have been planning a lot more effectively to create experiences rather than just teaching the next lesson. I also believe we have found a much better way to work with the members.

Some cool experiences that we have had this past week with members include... going to a brain therapy clinic to play my violin and to teach a powerful lesson on faith. Sylvia is a friend to a member and she works at this clinic with her husband. She connects very well with music so we were able to share the spirit with her in a fun way. The next fun experience that we had was going to the park with Elizabeth and her kids and sister Chavez. We had a little picnic that was nearly impossible to eat because there were so many flies swarming us and the kids were crying and screaming because they were so scared. But hey we were able to enjoy a nice evening before and answer a couple more of Elizabeth questions!

This week one of my highlights was knocking doors in the burning HOT and visiting returning members and having no luck. But it always seems to happen like this... We had time for one more door and the last one that we knocked on lead us to meet the cutest Honduran family who have met with missionaries before and have been wanting to learn more. I love how Gods amazing grace fills my life with amazement and wonder. 

Other than that we had a super stellar lesson with Santos and Arnold on Faith and Repentance. The spirit told us that they would like Alma 24 about how the Lamanites bury their weapons of war. AND oh man was it just the most powerful lesson. Arnold told us that he was willing to give up hanging out with his friends who have a bad influence on him and Santos told us that he would stop yelling at his kids. It was a perfect evening but the only downside was that we didn't have bug spray and we came out of that lesson eaten alive. My cute comp looked like her feet were diseased that's how bad it was.

 I love this beautiful story in Alma 24 of faith and trust in our Savior. This wicked pueblo had a change of heart and later became the most loyal disciples of Christ. they were willing to risk their lives rather than raise their swords. In our lives, we need to bury our weapons "profoundly" in the earth and choose to never go back. One of my favorite quotes by Joy D Jones says, "If the love we feel for the Savior and what he did for us is greater than the energy we give to weaknesses, self-doubt, or bad habits, then He will help us overcome the things which cause suffering in our lives. He saves us from ourselves." I have never thought of the Atonement in this way ever before. He saves us from ourselves. HE allows us to change who we are. We can be changed from a fallen state like the Book of Mormon describes and become perfected in Him. All we have to do is Follow Him. As we recognize that we are nothing without Him, but we are everything with Him, that is where we truly find JOY, power, and we understand our divine potential. I love my Savior and that with Him I can polish my soul and very being. With Him I am complete. 

I love you all so much:)

Hermana Richards