Week #34 - Cajamarca
Hello everyone!!!
Well, first off, it didn´t start off too bad. Hermana Sonia our pension surprised us with two liters of peanut butter that she bought from a lady. We almost cried because we love peanut butter! Also it´s not cheap in Perú, but she loves us. At the start she didn´t really like peanut butter, but it´s starting to grow on her and she eats it with us - practically converted her to peanut butter. She also bought whole wheat tortillas (no idea where she found them) because I told her at home I always ate whole wheat tortillas with peanut butter and banana inside (I know I´m weird). So my stomach is pretty happy. Don´t worry mom! ;)
We also have Zone Conference this Wednesday, and once again I have an assignment with my companion haha... pretty sure I´ve had an assignment every Zone conference so far on the misison which has given me so many oppourtunities to grow, progress, and have more confidence in the Spirit. We have to lead out a discussion about teaching skills in Chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel. I know with the guidance of the Spirit all will go well. I get to play the piano in every Zone conference and every Sunday in the chapel, which has been a huge blessing. I may lose some of my softball skills, but I won´t lose my piano skills!
This week, we only had 4 new investigators to teach by Saturday, and our goal was to have 12 this week. Someone counts as a new investigator when you teach them a principle or lesson, invite them to pray, read or do some kind of committment, and offer a prayer with them. So we were pretty concerned when we were far from our goal when the end of the week was near. But when Sunday came around, we were able to have 5 amazing lessons, and 6 new investigators in ONE DAY. It was a miracle and such a blessing from God. I remember how we were suffering, walking in the cold Saturday knocking on door after door, talking with people in the street, exhausted because no one wanted to listen to us but Sunday would not have been as sweet if we didn´t endure the suffering we felt during the week. People let us in their homes, and we got to know them and connect their lives to the Restoration, and it felt so good. Two people asked us when they can get baptized and what they have to do to be prepared. OKAY.
We are still working with Santos and Olinda, Ray, Ariana, Ney, and Zay, (who we didn´t meet up with this week because he´s super busy with school and tests :( ) and Jolita, the daughter of a less active family that is now attending church again (!) Her baptism was moved to this Friday since her parents ended up visiting their grandpa this weekend but we got a call yesterday at 11pm from Rosa, Jolita´s mom, saying that her 8 year old daughter, Lilly, was in the hospital, throwing up blood and wanted us to call the bishop because she didn´t have his number. The Bishop now is informed and they´re going to do what they can to help. We are praying for their family, and pleading that Lilly can receive a blessing so that she and her sister, Jolita, can still make it to their baptism this Friday. Keep them in your prayers!!!
Love you all!! Thank you for your letters and love. I can feel your prayers and am so grateful for your support. I was reading in Ether 12:35-36 this week, where Moroni is explaining to the Lord his concern that because of the weakness of his writing, the Gentiles would mock him. The Lord explains that He gives us weaknesses to be humble so that we can receive His grace in our lives and become strong. We know that it is only by grace that we are saved, after all we can do, but to obtain His grave, we have to be humble. The Lord explains that ¨faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness¨. We we have felt Christ´s grace in our lives and because of our faith and trust in Him, we will be able to develop charity.
Ether 12:35-36
35 Wherefore, I know by this thing which thou hast said, that if the Gentiles have not charity, because of our weakness, that thou wilt prove them, and take away their talent, yea, even that which they have received, and give unto them who shall have more abundantly.
36 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity.
What surprised me is that right when Moroni learned these things, the first thing he asked for in his prayer was that the Lord would give the Gentiles grace so that they would have charity, so that they could be saved. What an amazing example of charity in praying for his enemies so that they too can benefit from Christ´s grace.
Without grace, we cannot have charity, and without charity, we cannot live worthy to be in the presence of God, or enjoy the blessings of His Spirit. Search for the grace of Christ through sincere and humble repentance and you will be able to have charity, the pure love of Christ, and help others come unto Him too.
Have a great week!!
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Hermana Doney
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