Week #29 - Cajamarca

This week was full of miracles!!  We are just about to start week 6, and end this cambio, but we´re seeing great things happen here in Chontapaccha!

This week we had a Family Home Evening in the house of a member named Mercedes. Mercedes´ dad isn´t a member and neither is her boyfriend Rei, but they both were there! It was kind of a trip getting up to her house... She lives behind a place called the Molina. Where the Molina ends there are tons of houses up in the mountains and of all that community is part our assignment because we don´t have a limit on that side of our area. So, we had to climb up a giant hill to get to her house around 6pm. We shared a video of the First Vision, and the Spirit was super strong. We had popcorn afterwards, played games, and then Mercedes´ dad started to open up a little and began to share stories about rats, and things got a little interesting... but it was fun! When we came down it was pretty dark and we heard tons of dogs barking, which was a little scary… luckily, we had a couple of members who accompanied us!  

Okay now the good stuff. Just last night we visited Violeta and Cristian. Violeta has five sons, but two of them have passed away, and her husband passed away a few years ago, too. She has cancer, spine problems, and her vision is worsening. Her house is extremely small and the living conditions are pretty bad, and she has been desperately seeking happiness and hope. I remember when Hermana Mariño and I were contacting one day in the afternoon, and I felt prompted to knock on Violeta´s door for the first time and her son, Cristian answered. For only being 15 years old, he was super kind and humble, and desired to hear our message. With time, we were able to meet his mom, Violeta, and now Hermana Ortiz and I are meeting with them weekly. When we shared the First Vision during our initial visit, we invited them to pray and ask God if Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God, called to help restore the Gospel on the earth. Violeta responded and said that she already knew he was, and that our message was true. Her faith and humility were so inspiring, and we set a baptismal date for her and her son Cristian. During our second visit, we promised her that if she read the Book of Mormon, she would have more strength physically, and that she would be able to make it to church. Just yesterday when we knocked on her door at night, she answered the door for the first time and was walking around!! She told us she had read the Book of Mormon with Cristian and was able to read because she found a pair of glasses that help her. We were also accompanied by two priesthood holders from our ward, and they gave her a blessing. She was very emotional but so grateful for their willingness to help her. One of the members happened to have the same back problems as her, and was able to give her tons of great advice and exercises to do. It truly was not a coincidence that we found Violeta at this point in her life. She has tons of faith that she will be healed, and wants to come to church now more than ever. 

At times we think, how is it that God permits His children to experience such intense pain and anguish? What I´ve truly learned on the mission is that the pains and trials we experience are also a sign of His love. Just as Alma explains to his son Helamán in Alma 36 that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our joy and happiness can be just as intense and even more profound than the pains we experience, physically and spiritually here on earth. Remember that God is aware of your trials, and that Christ has felt every single pain. Stay strong in your faith, and God will work miracles in your life to help relieve you from your anguish.

We visited Santos and Olinda this week, just for a little bit. During the last visit, we talked with Santos about tithing since one of the members gave their talk on tithing the Sunday before and he had some questions. When we passed by this week, we gave them a Book of Mormon and invited them to read, ponder and pray about the book. Santos immediately pulled out his wallet, and we explained to him that it was free, and that the only price they needed to pay was to read it and pray sincerely to know if it was true. He proceeded to pull out his money and said, I know, but I want to give my tithing to the church. We were extremely humbled by his example, especially since work provides only a small income. I know the Lord is going to bless him and his family so much because of their faith. 

Patty Salazar is the best!! she has a baptismal date and we shared with her Lección 3, El Evangelio de Jesucristo, and she almost cried when we shared with her the part about receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have never seen someone respond the way she did. It made me truly think about how blessed we are to speak with the tongue of angels because of the Holy Ghost, to comfort others who are in need of comfort, and to be protected physically and spiritually on earth. This past week, we also helped her move to the Molina. Luckily, she´s still in our area! We had the help of Jimmy from the ward, which was awesome. We cleared out all of her stuff in a little over an hour, and she was super grateful for our help.  

We´re working super hard here in Chontapaccha, and we are determined to help grow the ward and see some baptisms super soon!! Please keep these people in your prayers, and I know God will work even more miracles. Love you all, and have a great week!!

Hermana Doney