I feel sometimes that I only mention the hardships in emails, so I will only talk about the good things this week, there are plenty of them!
I had an amazing birthday! President Fortunato called me to wish parabens, Luis took us out for ice cream, and while writing in my journal at night before bed the sisters called me into the kitchen to a beautiful chocolate cake! It was very sweet of them. So now I am 20! I dont really believe it.
Our new branch president Emerson is awesome, he is young and active and knows how to get things done, which is just what the branch needs. Our new zone leaders are also awesome, extremely animated and great examples. And, I have a perfect companion!
We started visiting the hospital. As missionaries we are allowed to go in visiting rooms and people. We have had some great experiences talking with sick people, and people waiting for family. EVerybody needs a little more God when death is close. The people at the hospital call us meninas de oraçâo. Or, the girls of prayer.
We met Fransisco! He is the neighbor of Geraldo. After months of visitng Geraldo I am starting to believe that maybe my purpose in wanting to return there was to meet Frasisco. He is 50, but looks 30. Our first visit we just talked about him and his family and who we are and our purpose. We left the pamphlet for the Plan of Salvation, and when we returned two days later he said he read the pamphlet two times every day! So we talked more about the plan of Salvation, the next day the restoration, and he came to church sunday! In two days he read 16 chapters of the Book of Mormon. He is certainly a golden investigator. His wife is very Catholic so he is hesitant to baptize, but I know that as we do our part as missionaries, he continues to pray and read the Lord will do his part.
Transfers are next week, and I have been here for four months and it is likely I will leave which is sad because right now is the moment things are finally starting to happen! But if there is anything I have learned is that transfers are crazy, and just about anything can happen.
We visited a less active family, who used to be extremely active for years and years but got discouraged with the lack of progress in the branch. But something changed this week, and Samuel who is 18 spent a day with us and is now seriously considering a mission! And his mom who in other past visits wanted nothing to do with the church, came Sunday and was very touched by Samuels testimony.
We gained a great testimony of fasting. Fasting can be really difficult here, fast begins after lunch Saturday and ends after lunch Sunday. After walking for hours in the heat, we were stumbling up the stairs Saturday night, we hardly made it to our beds. But we knew we had worked with all our heart might and strength! And as a result Sunday was aboslutely perfect. Our testimony meeting was full of the spirit, some of the strongest I have ever felt in my life. I know our branch is growing, and sometimes struggling, but it is a branch of faith. We had lots of people come to church. We had 3 of our investigators and 3 less actives. I know it is in the last moment, when there is nothing left but we continue to believe that the miracles come. I couldnt have a bigger testimony of Ether 12:6. That testimony meeting was one of those special moments I know we will never repeat. The principle of "stop and smell the roses" is something I am trying to internalize on my mission. Sometimes Sister Torrez will stop on the street and say, this moment will never happen again. Sometimes time seems like it couldnt pass any slower, and yet others seem so quick. We have to remember that every moment is important and enjoy ever one.
Anyways.
Much love from South America!
Sister Holmes
ps. I forgot my camera today, but here is us dead after planning one night, and my cute cake!
I had an amazing birthday! President Fortunato called me to wish parabens, Luis took us out for ice cream, and while writing in my journal at night before bed the sisters called me into the kitchen to a beautiful chocolate cake! It was very sweet of them. So now I am 20! I dont really believe it.
Our new branch president Emerson is awesome, he is young and active and knows how to get things done, which is just what the branch needs. Our new zone leaders are also awesome, extremely animated and great examples. And, I have a perfect companion!
We started visiting the hospital. As missionaries we are allowed to go in visiting rooms and people. We have had some great experiences talking with sick people, and people waiting for family. EVerybody needs a little more God when death is close. The people at the hospital call us meninas de oraçâo. Or, the girls of prayer.
We met Fransisco! He is the neighbor of Geraldo. After months of visitng Geraldo I am starting to believe that maybe my purpose in wanting to return there was to meet Frasisco. He is 50, but looks 30. Our first visit we just talked about him and his family and who we are and our purpose. We left the pamphlet for the Plan of Salvation, and when we returned two days later he said he read the pamphlet two times every day! So we talked more about the plan of Salvation, the next day the restoration, and he came to church sunday! In two days he read 16 chapters of the Book of Mormon. He is certainly a golden investigator. His wife is very Catholic so he is hesitant to baptize, but I know that as we do our part as missionaries, he continues to pray and read the Lord will do his part.
Transfers are next week, and I have been here for four months and it is likely I will leave which is sad because right now is the moment things are finally starting to happen! But if there is anything I have learned is that transfers are crazy, and just about anything can happen.
We visited a less active family, who used to be extremely active for years and years but got discouraged with the lack of progress in the branch. But something changed this week, and Samuel who is 18 spent a day with us and is now seriously considering a mission! And his mom who in other past visits wanted nothing to do with the church, came Sunday and was very touched by Samuels testimony.
We gained a great testimony of fasting. Fasting can be really difficult here, fast begins after lunch Saturday and ends after lunch Sunday. After walking for hours in the heat, we were stumbling up the stairs Saturday night, we hardly made it to our beds. But we knew we had worked with all our heart might and strength! And as a result Sunday was aboslutely perfect. Our testimony meeting was full of the spirit, some of the strongest I have ever felt in my life. I know our branch is growing, and sometimes struggling, but it is a branch of faith. We had lots of people come to church. We had 3 of our investigators and 3 less actives. I know it is in the last moment, when there is nothing left but we continue to believe that the miracles come. I couldnt have a bigger testimony of Ether 12:6. That testimony meeting was one of those special moments I know we will never repeat. The principle of "stop and smell the roses" is something I am trying to internalize on my mission. Sometimes Sister Torrez will stop on the street and say, this moment will never happen again. Sometimes time seems like it couldnt pass any slower, and yet others seem so quick. We have to remember that every moment is important and enjoy ever one.
Anyways.
Much love from South America!
Sister Holmes
ps. I forgot my camera today, but here is us dead after planning one night, and my cute cake!