I say that because the weather is
constantly changing. This week we had some pretty good weather and then some
pretty bad weather. Its been pretty funny to watch. The heat and sun turned
into cold and rain clouds for one or two days and then we had the heat and sun
again. It's making me feel a little bit trunky.... Ha! Yeah right.
Honestly we are working super hard
and we are having fun while we do it. It's been a pretty busy week. I would love
to write all about it, but I'm running short on time. So I am going to just share
one small but really great story.
Alright. So it all starts about 2
weeks ago or so. We were visiting Alberto, the member in a wheel chair that has
been working hard in the church and trying to be an inspiration for others. So,
about 2 weeks ago we visited him and he shared with us an experience that he
had the night before. He was invited to a friend's house to eat dinner with them
and when they got there, Alberto asked if they could say a blessing over the
food. After the blessing, they got talking about religion and church and
everything and Alberto told them that he is member of our church. When he told
them that, they were very surprised and told him that they were also members of
the church! But that they hadn't gone to church for almost 15 years. Their names
are Cristian and Fabiana and they have been living here in Hernandarias for a
few years now. It turns out the Cristian and Fabiana were baptized in Santa
Elena, a town about 2 hours away from here. They were baptized and were active
for a few years, but later moved to a different town where there wasn't a church
building, let alone meetings on Sunday. So, over time, they turned away
from the Church until they were completely inactive. Then, about a few years
ago, they moved here to Hernandarias. By this time they had almost completely
forgotten about the Church and their times as active members. But, every now
and then they would see the Hermano Maxi Vega, who, 15 years ago back in Santa
Elena, was in young men's and had met Cristian and Fabiana when they were
baptized. But, after so much time, they weren't really sure if it was actually
him, so they never said anything to Hermano Vega. So, Alberto told us all about
that experience and gave us their names and where they lived. We went looking
for them one morning without too much luck. The directions that Alberto gave
us were a little hard to follow, but we were in what we thought was the general
area. So we started knocking and clapping at doors and asking for a Cristian
and Fabiana. But, after almost all morning, we hadn't had too much luck. So, on
the way to other plans, we were walking and walked past a street that I had never
been on. Remember, Hernandarias is not very big so it was crazy that I hadn't been down that road before. So I figured, Awe heck, why not go down this road. So we went down,
doing the same thing that we had been doing the entire morning. We clapped at
one of the last doors on the road, and out came a man. When he saw us, he had a
big smile on his face and came to shake our hands. It turns out that it was
Cristian! So we planned another time to come by and get to know them a little
more and maybe teach them. Once again, putting faith in our works!
So, just this last Friday we were in
the church building with Hermano Vega waiting for people to show up for an
activity that we had planned. After about 25-30 minutes of waiting, no one
showed up. I guess you could say I was a little disappointed and feeling pretty
down on myself. But, we asked the Hermano to come with us to the appointment that
we had made with Crisitian. So we showed up to his house and he wasn't home.
Bummer. So we were leaving the road that leads to his house when he comes home
from work on his Moto. He stops and invites us to come on in. So we sat down
with him and started talking and getting to know him more. It was great to have
Hermano Vega with us too because they had already known each other, so they also
caught up for a little bit. In the end, Cristian told us that after all the
moves, they had lost all of their scriptures. So we gave him a Book of Mormon
and invited him to start reading again. Then, as we were closing up, the Hermano Cristian asked if we could sing a hymn. We said why not and Cristian
picked number 208, Brillan Rayos de Clemensia or in English Brightly Beams Our
Fathers Mercy.
If you guys remember from a few
weeks ago when we had Zone Conference in La Paz, Hermana Westover shared with us
the back story for the writing of the song and also the importance of being the Lighthouse for other people to come to and afterwards Presidente Westover and
the Assistants sang the hymn for us. It was amazing. Then, a week later in our
weekly meeting with Hermano Vega we sang the same song. Then, while in the
house of Hermano Cristian, we sang the song, yet again. In the moment, I couldn't
help but think of all the connections and the miracle of what was going on. It
was amazing. I loved it so much. I was reminded of the Elder Rasband's talk
called By Divine Design.
Just this Sunday Cristian came to
church with us. He is very happy and very excited to restart his conversion and
reactivate himself in the church again. He came to church alone because his
wife is working on Sunday's, but we will be meeting with them regularly to help
them really see the blessings of the Gospel and to help them come back to the
fold of God. Oh, and not to mention that Cristian already has both the Aaronic
AND Melchizedek Priesthood, so we are very happy to have him in the church
again.
Then, just Monday night, we went to
visit Alberto. The day before he hadn't come to church because he had to do some
election processes that the entire town had this weekend. But he was feeling
pretty bummed out. He told us that he was just having a hard time staying positive and keeping his testimony alive. We tried to help him feel better and
give him a few tips and ideas, but he just started talking about all the
problems that he is seeing in the other less active members of the church and
their examples to the other people of Hernandarias. He was just having a hard
time. He told us that he just wants people to be "a light to others while
in church, and a light to others outside of church." So I told him about
how Cristian had come to church the day before and how he is super excited and
wants to come back to church full time. And then I told Alberto that Cristian
was found through his (Alberto's) efforts and example. I told him that he has
been exactly what he wants others to be: "a light in the church and
outside of church." And then I thanked him for being such a great example
of faith and diligence.
Well, that nearly brought Alberto to
tears. And me too. It was a great moment.
So, now I would just like to share
with you my testimony that I know that this Church is true. I know that things
happen in our lives all by God's will for us. I also know, that as we reach out
to others in brotherly love and kindness, miracles can happen and that we can
grow in our own testimonies as we do so. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love you all and thank you so much! Happy Easter!
Chau
Elder Haley
We were caught in the rain...
Some fun on Pday! Futbol!
Lunch today
This is how we wash our clothes. This is the first area where I have had to wash my own clothes.
This drying rack is very helpful!
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