Week #49 - Esperanza

We had a great week this week! We set goals to set baptismal dates with certain people we were not able to find, but this week we are planning to pray more sincerely to know who is truly prepared. We have had a lot of support from the members in the lessons and were able to have two great family home evenings. We are so grateful for the members! Ester and Nicol, a mother and daughter, attended one of these family home evenings about faith. They both came to the chapel on Sunday, and stayed the whole three hours, and we are excited with how much they are progressing. 

Freddy passed the Sacrament this Sunday, and he did such a great job. The elections are happening here in Trujillo the first Sunday of October, and we won´t be able to watch General Conference until the following Sunday. So, we had to have our fast and testimony meeting yesterday, and it was so amazing. Freddy was the first one to get up and share his testimony and he was able to share a little about his conversion story. He got baptized in less than a month and completely turned his life around because of his righteous desires and his faith. He was so sincere and I felt the spirit so strong when he said he knew the church is true. The members loved it. He was called as the Young Men´s Secretary and I know he will do so many great things for the youth!

I have learned on the mission that true joy doesn´t depend on our circumstances, but on our focus. As I have been able to focus on serving my Savior with all my heart MIND and strength, I have been able to forget the difficult circumstances that I am in. Appointments fall through, members often don’t follow through, and sometimes it takes all the energy in your soul to knock on another door at 9:30 at night. Yet I know that having our thoughts centered on Christ is what reminds us of our divine purpose. This is what heal us spiritually and purifies us. God is allowing me to be pushed a little more and my faith has been tested and I am so grateful for it. I have noticed my focus to be less centered on myself and more on Christ. As I have come to only focus on the welfare of others and not my own, the Lord has provided me with what I need.  I am excited for General Conference this Saturday to help me find answers to know I can be even more strengthened during hard times. 

My companion just received her flight ticket to head home on the 29th of October!!....She´s freaking out... the mission goes by so fast.

I hope you all have questions written down for conference this weekend! I love this work so much and I´m so grateful for the challenges I have had to truly feel the love and guidance of my Savior. Have a great week!!

-- 

Hermana Doney