Week #27 - Cajamarca

Well, we made it through this week with lots of assignments and things to do!  This week we had some big changes to the schedule and we´re still getting used to getting up at 7am and going to bed around 11pm...and eating dinner at 5:30pm instead of 9, haha. 

This week was a little stressful for us, but it went pretty well. We´re planning a ward activity named Lu´ua Mormón for the ward to get to know our investigators and also for them to invite lots of friends and family who aren´t members. We had all the assignments for each of the organizations ready and everything. Our ward mission leader had all of the assignemnts organized, but never came to church on Sunday, so we had to improvise a little and explain to each of the organizations their responsiblieites for the activity to help prepare...haha, it was a little messy. It was also my turn to speak in Sacrament meeting for 10 minutes about missionary work!

Hna. Ortiz and I had the assignment this Friday in Zone Conference to talk about how we can prepare our investigators to answer the baptismal questions, and how we can help make the baptismal service a great experience for them. Everything went super well in the 12 minutes we had to speak. We also had to prepare a short lesson as a district on how to work with the members. Lots of public speaking practice!! And a lot of practice having confidence in the Gift of Tongues!!

This week, the Elders in our ward had a baptism, and two of our investigators came to watch! The baptism was wonderful, well organized and the spirit was super strong. I know Wilmer and Nataly could feel the Spirit, and that little by little their hearts are opening up a bit more to receive this message and eventually be baptized in the Lord´s church.

I was feeling a little down this week, especially since this was the first week here when none of our investigators came to church. We felt pretty down. At times it´s easy to feel like you´re not reaching your potential as a missionary here, especially with having to speak a different language. The Spirit keeps reminding me that if I needed to speak English on my mssion, Heavenly Father would have sent me on an English speaking mission! I am developing so many more talents, having to learn a new language, that I wouldn´t have been able to develop if I was speaking English. God only lets us pass through really difficult times, so that in the future, we can look back and recognize that these times truly were blessings. I was reminded this week of when I first started training on a select softball team. Practice was brutal, and the exercises and workouts we did were excruciating at times. There was so much pressure, and they lasted for 3 1/2 hours! At times I didn´t want to continue or go to pratice. But now, after having endured all that I experienced, I absolutely love exercising and pushing myself beyong my limits. I see now, how God has made me stronger through these hard times, and how these hard times allow us to develop more gifts and talents that we didn´t have before. I know that just as I experienced with softball, the Lord will offer me so many opportunities after my mission, because of the talents that I am developing now. Remember that God has a plan for you, and doesn´t want us to be discouraged. Enjoy the process, and love the hard times, because they´re truly what help us grow! (Ether 12:27)

I don´t have a ton of time to write, because we have exchanges again in Pacasmayo with the sister leaders and we have to catch a bus soon. We have to travel 5-6 hours away to proselyte with them in the evening, then spend the night and proselyte the next day until noon. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week, and remember to always place God and His will first in your life. I promise that you will be able to accomplish so much more that you can alone.

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Hermana Doney