We baptized Kaua and Stefane!!! Look how stinkin cute they are!!!!! They are really special kids, they are enormous examples to me of faith. With an abusive, alcoholic father and a very discouraged mom they love church, they love to learn about the gospel and are very meek and obedient. Sunday we went to pick them up and they had set alarms and gotten ready at 8 o clock wthout the help of their mom. How many ten year old kids do that? I feel priviledged to have been able to help them, and I am excited for what the future has for them! I know that this gospel is a message of hope, which is exactly what that family needs. We now are going to work with their mom, who is in a bad situation and has no more hope that change is possible, but we know that it is!
This week surely was a week to learn about faith, it was very bittersweet. We were and are so excited for Kaua and Stefane. Baptisms are really special events, the moments most sweet and full of the spirit on a mission are at baptisms. Sister Costa and a recent 14 year old convert spoke, Sister Torrez and I sang Teach Me to Walk in the light in three languages(yes I sang a solo-look what the mission is making me do!) and we headed out to the baptism. The font is outside the chapel-a huge white concrete font, the water is cold because its outside, but makes for a really need view! Geraldo baptized them, and then his wife the primary president welcomed them to the branch, along with our new branch president, and then we ate cupcakes! It was a great night, keeping them active is going to be a challenge at first but with help from the branch I know its possible! President Emerson(the branch president) told them that the heavens are rejoicing because of the decisions they had made, and that was a mental image I dont think I will ever forget. I still remember my baptism. It is a real priviledge to be a part of this gospel.
They were confirmed sunday, which was really neat. We were so grateful to have their confirmation to be happy about, because none of our investigators came to church. Sundays are the hardest for me, everybody is with their families, and I always get my hopes up for all of our investigators to come, and usually nobody does so we sit alone and think about what we can improve. This sunday was especially hard because it was the last of the month-the last chance for investigators to come and be able to be baptized this month. Its really rough getting your hopes up to be let down week after week.
But, with the help of my great companion we talked about how we were given the gift of agency in this life, and if do our best, there will still be tears and disappointments but we need not be disappointed in ourselves. Starting out in one of the hardest areas in the mission has been a challenge, going to conferences with people talking about members fighting over who can go on splits with the missionaries... missionaries talking about baptizing 20 in one weekend... wards being split and new chapels being built..and working in a branch who is improving, but yet with many struggles, trying very hard to change everybodys opinion that Americans are cold and unfriendly, watching people feel the spirit and chose not to follow, less actives who just dont want to come back..it certainly has been a challenge, but I am grateful to be learning so much about faith and endurance, and to always do everything in our power. We must use our agency for good and to learn even as others use their agency as they want. As Ether teaches we do not recieve testimony until after the trial of faith, and our faith cannot be strong without a test. My faith has been strengthed so much in the last five months, you learn a lot about what faith really is which you have no reason to believe anything good will happen, but you just believe anyways, and then the miracles come. Thats my message for this week.
Just believe. Because the God we believe in is a just God, he is a merciful God and he will always fulfull his promises. When are are not sure about much else, we can be sure in our God.
"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
In ev'ry condition--in sickness, in health,In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,At home or abroad, on the land or the sea--As thy days may demand,so thy succor shall be."
So woo for personal growth and seeing the tender mercies of the Lord that are so abundant in our lives! I know God called me on a mission because he knows my eternal potential. He knows the eternal potential in us all and if we have complete trust, we can be assured that all will work out for our good.
The church is true! Missions rule!
Sister Holmes
This week surely was a week to learn about faith, it was very bittersweet. We were and are so excited for Kaua and Stefane. Baptisms are really special events, the moments most sweet and full of the spirit on a mission are at baptisms. Sister Costa and a recent 14 year old convert spoke, Sister Torrez and I sang Teach Me to Walk in the light in three languages(yes I sang a solo-look what the mission is making me do!) and we headed out to the baptism. The font is outside the chapel-a huge white concrete font, the water is cold because its outside, but makes for a really need view! Geraldo baptized them, and then his wife the primary president welcomed them to the branch, along with our new branch president, and then we ate cupcakes! It was a great night, keeping them active is going to be a challenge at first but with help from the branch I know its possible! President Emerson(the branch president) told them that the heavens are rejoicing because of the decisions they had made, and that was a mental image I dont think I will ever forget. I still remember my baptism. It is a real priviledge to be a part of this gospel.
They were confirmed sunday, which was really neat. We were so grateful to have their confirmation to be happy about, because none of our investigators came to church. Sundays are the hardest for me, everybody is with their families, and I always get my hopes up for all of our investigators to come, and usually nobody does so we sit alone and think about what we can improve. This sunday was especially hard because it was the last of the month-the last chance for investigators to come and be able to be baptized this month. Its really rough getting your hopes up to be let down week after week.
But, with the help of my great companion we talked about how we were given the gift of agency in this life, and if do our best, there will still be tears and disappointments but we need not be disappointed in ourselves. Starting out in one of the hardest areas in the mission has been a challenge, going to conferences with people talking about members fighting over who can go on splits with the missionaries... missionaries talking about baptizing 20 in one weekend... wards being split and new chapels being built..and working in a branch who is improving, but yet with many struggles, trying very hard to change everybodys opinion that Americans are cold and unfriendly, watching people feel the spirit and chose not to follow, less actives who just dont want to come back..it certainly has been a challenge, but I am grateful to be learning so much about faith and endurance, and to always do everything in our power. We must use our agency for good and to learn even as others use their agency as they want. As Ether teaches we do not recieve testimony until after the trial of faith, and our faith cannot be strong without a test. My faith has been strengthed so much in the last five months, you learn a lot about what faith really is which you have no reason to believe anything good will happen, but you just believe anyways, and then the miracles come. Thats my message for this week.
Just believe. Because the God we believe in is a just God, he is a merciful God and he will always fulfull his promises. When are are not sure about much else, we can be sure in our God.
"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
In ev'ry condition--in sickness, in health,In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,At home or abroad, on the land or the sea--As thy days may demand,so thy succor shall be."
So woo for personal growth and seeing the tender mercies of the Lord that are so abundant in our lives! I know God called me on a mission because he knows my eternal potential. He knows the eternal potential in us all and if we have complete trust, we can be assured that all will work out for our good.
The church is true! Missions rule!
Sister Holmes