Buenas
Tardes Todos.
I
hope everything is going well with all of you and that you strive to
serve our Heavenly Father first in all things. I had a really good
week this week and am super excited for the next two weeks to come.
We have so much work that our schedule is normally booked a few days
in advance, but we are now starting to see some real progression. Not
just the progression where the person is really just doing it because
they will feel embarrassed when we ask them if they did it or so we
will stop coming, but the real progression that comes from a sincere
desire to find an answer, repent, and become part of this eternal
family.
This
area has not seen a baptism since it opened in January, but I get a
good feeling that in the next few months, Heavenly Father will bless
us with some converts in the church. Elder Humphreys and I are
everyday, evaluating and correcting our lives to be more like the
missionaries we know we can be. The big step this week for me was on
the day that I packed up all the stuff that I had gotten from members
or investigators, that I probably should not have had still, and sent
it all home to my family for after my mission. I took Elder Holland's
advice on getting rid of the things all together that tempt you.
After
that day we had some big miracles in our area that really came out of
nowhere. The biggest one came from a less active member named
Lorenzo. Two months ago Lorenzo requested that we come by his house
so that we could help him return back to church. He had had his
records sent to Salt Lake and wanted for them to be brought back into
the ward. We went over and talked to him and 3 weeks in a row, he
would tell us he would make it to church but he didn't show up. After
the third week we lost all contact with him. I'm not sure what
happened but he started ignoring our calls, our texts, and wouldn't
answer the door when we went by. It honestly was very discouraging
because we went by diligently, and called him about 3 times a
week for about 5 weeks, with no response.
So
Tuesday, we went by and the TV was on and I could see Lorenzo laying
on his bed. I was so excited because we had him. We knocked..... no
answer. Knocked again.... no answer. So I decided to call him. It was
kinda humorous because I could see him lean over, look at the phone,
and silence it. Once it stop ringing I just said "Lorenzo... we
are right outside your house..." Since the window was open he
was able to hear me and came to the door.
To
be honest I was about ready to just lay into him, show him the story
of Esau and tell him that he was selling his birthright for a bowl of
porridge. He opened the door and I could already tell he was
expecting me to be mad. But as I went to open my mouth, I was
stopped. And my feelings were suddenly changed and the words that
came out of my mouth where not my own at the time. I apologized. I
don't know exactly what I was apologizing for, but it was what I did.
You
should have seen the look on his face. It changed his whole demeanor
and he asked us to come inside. He was confused about why I would
apologize and opened up to us. We found out he was going through a
hard time financially and that he is
about
to go under. The stress was to much for him to handle that he didn't
really want to talk to anyone. We promised to return the next day so
that he could talk to the Bishop. We got a text that night that said
"Thank you, I will start being at church after this weekend, I
want to serve Christ in any and every way I can. You all woke me up
and restored my belief in Christ. Thanks"
The
next day we went over with the Bishop and he was able to take over.
He bonded with him, and offered a blessing. Lorenzo asked if we could
bless his home too, so Bishop did the blessing of the home and then
turned to me to give Lorenzo the blessing. After I gave him the
blessing the spirit was strong and he talked to the bishop about
getting some help.
So
on Saturday, the Bishop and the Elders Quorum President went and took
him to the Bishop's store house. He was able to receive the help from
the church that he needed and there was food again in his house. Also
the Bishop gave him a Book of Mormon to give to his son's wife, who
is not a member, and highlighted 3 Nephi 11 for her to read. When we
went over on Saturday she was there, and she had read the verse!
Within the few hours between Lorenzo getting back and us arriving she
read the whole chapter, and the food was not even put away yet. We
taught her a lesson about how to receive an answer and she was
excited to learn more. So Sunday, when she came to church with
her newborn son and husband(who has not come to church in 4
years), we were totally surprised. We knew that Lorenzo could
not make it this week so we were sure that they probably
wouldn't come. But they did! And it was an awesome experience. After
church I got a call, and she asked us if she could get her babies
baptized. I explained to her about how we don't baptize
till 8 years of age because babies are perfect. She was
happy to hear that and said "but I can be baptized right?"
"well of coarse" I was totally floored. What a blessing it
is to be part of this young family's life.
Sunday
night, we had Juan Gomez come out with us, who is a less active, who
this week is now counted for full activity. He is so close to my
heart and will be my friend forever. We went and saw the Marquez
family, who is the family I was teaching in my last area, but
since the family lives in our area, the elders passed them
back to us. Sergio Marquez has been an investigator for a
few years now and his wife and kids are super active members in the
church. He is ready to be baptized, he just needs to receive the
answer and make the decision. Well, we went over there and the first
thing he says is "I need to go in 10 mins so can make this
quick?".... we had a really spiritual lesson that lasted 45
mins.
Juan
bore a super strong testimony (which I think was his first in who
knows how long) and Sergio had the desire to get an answer. But
the thought came to my mind that he should try out our ward, and not
the ward his wife and kids are attending now. Everyone knows him and
when he goes to church everyone there is expecting something big to
happen and the pressure makes him miss the Holy Ghost. So we made a
plan and he committed to come to our ward next week, (which is
something that I have never seen him commit to) and we are all super
excited.
I
got a text after leaving the house from Juan that said "Wow that
was amazing. :) if he had not felt something, he would’ve left 10
mins after you guys got here. It amazes me how you always have the
right thing to say. You Elders have gotten him closer than any Elder
ever has. Thank you for planting that seed in his heart and nurturing
it even though he won't let himself sometimes. :)"
I know that he will feel something, but just to make sure we are
going to have a fast next Sunday. A fast that he will come to church
and get an answer that he can not deny. If you want to join us you
can. His name is Sergio Marquez, and we need a miracle to be wrought
in his life.
I
know the letter is really long this week, but I love you all!
-Elder
Stewart
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