Hello everyone!!
Kumusta po kayo?? How is everyone's families? Friends? Hope all is well:)
This has been one of the most faith-challenging weeks of my mission. I think my emotions were a little exaggerated at times because of being sick, but I'll admit it was a little rough at times. I wasn't in the hospital, we just stayed at the apartment of the sisters in a neighboring city (and by 'neighboring' I mean a 4 hour bus ride), and then I just had to get blood tests everyday. But everything's ok now, and we were able to get back to work on Wednesday.
I've learned a lot about faith this week. Faith in the Lord and faith in the people we're teaching. Before, I would get a little frusterated or discrouaged if our investgiators didn't change 'instantly'. If they didn't read the Book of Mormon, or go to church right away, I wanted to just move on. But this week I've been learning that conversion of course takes time and patience and love and faith, not just on their part, but from us the missionaries as well. And so we've been planning and praying and working a lot harder for them now, and man, I don't know why I was so blind before! They're all so amazing and are all progressing a LOT now! I just needed to have more faith in them:) Here are a few of them. I love them all so much!!!
Raymond- he's the son of Sister Anicia, and he just started a job and so hasn't been able to come to church for the last couple Sundays. But on Thursday we taught about keeping the Sabbath Day holy and shared 1 Nephi 3:7 and challenged him kind of boldly to come to church, even though he had work. And he said he would!! And he did!!! He's really quiet and I wasn't really sure if he'd really make the effort to come, but he did! And I know he'll be blessed for it:)
Rhoda- we've been teaching her for a while now, she's 20 and is really really sweet but is a little unsure about totallly changing religions. Even though she believes what we're teaching is true. The last couple weeks though she's been changing a lot- her countence is brighter and she's a lot more open to us and the Spirit now. She said the other day that because of the gospel she's had more self-control, is more patient, and is kinder and happier...she's getting close:) She's seeing the blessings and all she needs is just the next step of faith:)
Lourdes- she's 17 and her older sister and mom are members, but inactive. We taught her when I first got to Baler but she started hiding from us and so we stopped teaching. But we've started teaching her again a couple weeks ago and this week she accepted a baptismal date! And she's reading the Book of Mormon every day! She's abosltely glowing and seems so much happier right now!! I love her :)
I know this work is true. God loves His children and is always willing to help. All we need is faith:)
Love you all and thanks for the prayers! Please pray for our investigators:) I'm praying for you too:)
Sister Allen
Kumusta po kayo?? How is everyone's families? Friends? Hope all is well:)
This has been one of the most faith-challenging weeks of my mission. I think my emotions were a little exaggerated at times because of being sick, but I'll admit it was a little rough at times. I wasn't in the hospital, we just stayed at the apartment of the sisters in a neighboring city (and by 'neighboring' I mean a 4 hour bus ride), and then I just had to get blood tests everyday. But everything's ok now, and we were able to get back to work on Wednesday.
I've learned a lot about faith this week. Faith in the Lord and faith in the people we're teaching. Before, I would get a little frusterated or discrouaged if our investgiators didn't change 'instantly'. If they didn't read the Book of Mormon, or go to church right away, I wanted to just move on. But this week I've been learning that conversion of course takes time and patience and love and faith, not just on their part, but from us the missionaries as well. And so we've been planning and praying and working a lot harder for them now, and man, I don't know why I was so blind before! They're all so amazing and are all progressing a LOT now! I just needed to have more faith in them:) Here are a few of them. I love them all so much!!!
Raymond- he's the son of Sister Anicia, and he just started a job and so hasn't been able to come to church for the last couple Sundays. But on Thursday we taught about keeping the Sabbath Day holy and shared 1 Nephi 3:7 and challenged him kind of boldly to come to church, even though he had work. And he said he would!! And he did!!! He's really quiet and I wasn't really sure if he'd really make the effort to come, but he did! And I know he'll be blessed for it:)
Rhoda- we've been teaching her for a while now, she's 20 and is really really sweet but is a little unsure about totallly changing religions. Even though she believes what we're teaching is true. The last couple weeks though she's been changing a lot- her countence is brighter and she's a lot more open to us and the Spirit now. She said the other day that because of the gospel she's had more self-control, is more patient, and is kinder and happier...she's getting close:) She's seeing the blessings and all she needs is just the next step of faith:)
Lourdes- she's 17 and her older sister and mom are members, but inactive. We taught her when I first got to Baler but she started hiding from us and so we stopped teaching. But we've started teaching her again a couple weeks ago and this week she accepted a baptismal date! And she's reading the Book of Mormon every day! She's abosltely glowing and seems so much happier right now!! I love her :)
I know this work is true. God loves His children and is always willing to help. All we need is faith:)
Love you all and thanks for the prayers! Please pray for our investigators:) I'm praying for you too:)
Sister Allen