Week 20: Una semana llena de milagros
FROM CD OBREGONNNNN
Hey everyone!
This week has been a fantastic and tiring week. I have some awesome tender mercies that happened during the week that I would love to share. The first experience that we had was with a lady named Hillary. Hillary is about 20 years old and and is inactive member of our church. She was a reference that we recieved when I arrived in Obregon. We knocked on her door 3 times in the past and she NEVER answered. The other day, a ward member suggested that we go by her house to visit her. I thought, there is no way that she is going to answer us. But, when we were there, she opened the door! I was amazed. When we met with her she was telling us all the reasons why she doesnt go to church and the gossip she hears. She shared an experience of how some of the members treated her because of some of her imperfections. I felt terrible for her. After many comments, I felt the spirit prompt me to bear my testimony. I told her (in spanish more or less in these words): Hermana (Sister), I want to tell you something very special to me. Maybe it might seem a little strange, but I want to you think for a second what I am about to tell you. I have a testimony that we are imperfect. Hermana (Sister) I want you to think about that for a second. We make many mistakes. But the one that never made a mistake is Jesus Christ. We wear his name on our name tags and we walk the streets everyday because we want to share his gospel with everyone. Its his church and his gospel. We are imperfect but his church is perfect because he is perfect. Thats why I walk every day in the hot sun walking miles a day to share his gospel and the happiness and peace that it brings us. When I am in church, taking the sacrament, I feel a peace that the world doesn't give me. Thats why I am here." When I said this, I started to get a little emotional. The mood of the room had changed from something judgemental and tense to peaceful. Even though she still has some doubts about church, we are completely invited into her home which is a miracle. Her negative atitude of the church had changed a little bit and for a second, I think she remembered how important going to church is. She was super friendly with us from then on. She walked us to the door with a smile and was more relaxed. I could not believe what had happened. It was litterally a miracle for me but something rather small or not important for some people.
The second experience was when my companion and I said a prayer to know where to contact. After we prayed, I felt like we needed to walk down a street. We were knocking on doors and no one answered. Suddenly a man just appeared out of no where behind us and asked us "Could you explain some of your beliefs to me?" We were completely shocked. When we shared a little about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, he got a little emotional. He said he had been praying for God to send him an answer and we arrived on his street. He was literally an answer to our prayers and we were an answer to his. His name is Luis. Hopefully we will be able to teach him soon this week.
The last experience was the same day ( I think jjajaja I have a terrible memory here) and we were contacting. I felt like I needed to knock on a door and out came a young man about 16 years old. I was trying to explain to him about the Book of Mormon but literally 3467 buses passed by and every single flippin perro (dog) on the block started barking (shocking). He later had to go inside and a older man (35ish years old) came out and started talking to us. I thought the guy wasn't going to be interested because he was kind of rough looking but he later told us that he is a member. His name is Francisco. He told us that when he got married he became inactive because of his wife. He then told us that he has been having a lot of problems with her and they are now seperated. We had a beautiful lesson about the atonement and felt the spirit very strong. I testified to him that Jesus Christ paid for the sadnesses (not just our sins) that we will all feel in this life. He began to get a little bit emotional. I am so glad that I was prompted to find these people and that we were able to help them. Heavenly Father is aware of all of us because we are his children. He knows our name, where we live, where we work, what makes us happy, what we worry about, and what we are grateful for, everything. I am grateful that I was able to have these experiences because they have strengthened my testimony.
The last thing that I would like to share is about the experience with Hermana Hillary. I am very sad that she was affected so severely in her childhood from the gossip and the judgements that people made of her. I would ask you, please, with all my heart that we can be good examples and good friends to the members in our ward. Unfortunatley, this is happening in many parts of the world. We do not have the right to judge others. Only Heavenly Father has that power. I would ask you that we should (or continue to be because a lot of you are already doing this) be good examples and loving members in the wards that we are in. I am FOR SURE not saying that I am perfect at this but I don't wish these terrible things on members of our wards that are sincerely struggling and doing all they can to do their best. We are different. We all have different plans in this life. Please always remember that and how special it is that we are different and that God has something different prepared for every single one of us. This is what I wanted to share this week and I am so glad that I have so much support from so many people .
Giddy up...
Elder Smith
¡Boliche una vez más! (Bowling one more time!)
¡Foto intensa! (intense photo)
¡Nuestra Zona! (Our zone)