Wed February 10, 2010So this week has been a little of a let down. We went and talked to Enriquez again to prepare him for his baptism and he told us that number one his sister won´t let him get baptized and that two he didn't feel anything when he prayed to know if the church is true. Or in his words, ¨nada¨ oh man if only you could hear his voice.
So we were like ok we testified and then we decided to drop him. But then Saturday I was like ok we need to pass for him again and invite him to church and explain that continuing to do the things and praying will help him receive an answer and feel something. So we passed by and he said ok sounds good I will continue coming! And then we were like great now we are going to sing a song together, because before he never sang in the church. so we all sang I am a child of god together. and he can sing pretty well! anyway so I felt really good about that. So then Sunday morning we went to get Mikaela this recent convert who just melts my heart and her friend who wants to get baptized. On the way to their houses we saw Enriquez. Smoking, (He told us the night before he never even thought about smoking anymore) and going to work with a wheelbarrow. My heart just dropped. The night before had gone so well I thought. Anyway he crossed the road to talk to us, and I was pretty darn frank with him. he threw his cig and then said welp im just a lost cause. I said NO, no one is a lost cause. and he said do you want to save me? I said yes, and God too. Then he asked my comp and she said no. he laughed. Then I said, ¨you can be saved and I want it and God wants it. But I can´t do it. Neither can He. You have to do it. You have to put forth the effort. And if you do, thanks to our Savior Jesus Christ, you can be saved!¨ I guess right now isn´t his time to want to try. It made me sad. I hope he remembers how much better he felt when he prayed and when he read in the book of Mormon and went to church and I hope he returns to it someday.
On Friday we had a ward Activity to watch the Lion King and compare it to our lives here. For example, Mufasa plays the role of God and Jesus Christ. Zazu is the Holy Ghost, Rafiki is the prophet, Timon and Pumba are things of the world, Scar is Satan, and we are Simba. The part that hit me most powerfully is when Mufasa says (dont quote me on this, It was in spanish) You have forgotten me. and Simba says no never! And mufasa says yes you have forgotten who you are and so you have forgotten me. I know that we must always remember who we really are. That we are sons and daughters of a Heavenly Being, and that he wants us to return to Him and claim our place as rulers in His kingdom. I encourage that as a Fhe activity and to look for the teachings from this movie and how we can remember who we are. Remember who we are so we can have the valor and the courage to be strong in the world. Give place to be guided by the Holy Ghost and have the humility to admit our mistakes and change! Wow i forgot how much i love that movie and the powerful lesson it teaches us.
So i am so excited because this week we have received more animo (well my comp is feeling more ready to work) and so we went and found so many awesome families. I told her I feel happy in the mission when we really do talk to everyone about our message. And so it felt to good to get out and teach people and find new people with a good interest in the message! It is true I am happy here when I am loving the people, giving them service, and most of all testifying of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope that comes from the Atonement. And that there is a prophet and the power of God in the earth!
We also received some really good references from members of the ward. Although one man, Quiko Lopez, gave us one on the condition that we baptize his friend. Uh, we already passed for him and he told us the only reason he let us in is because we are pretty. Haha. Oh well Im confident someday he´ll find another reason to listen to the gospel message. Quiko´s wife, Graciela, gave her daughter´s boyfriends as references to us, and we are going to have a big Fhe on Sunday. She started crying later when we shared a message about the power of prayer. She told us she is always praying so that her kids will come back to the church. Then I thought about our Heavenly Father. He is sad all the time I´m sure because of all the things his kids do. And here we are as faithful members that are always presented with the opportunities to help them know the truth. I hope that we can take those opportunities so there aren´t so many sad parents. That we can help them find the path of righteousness, and really of true happiness.
Love, Hermana Dunford
(haha something I shouted on my mission that I don´t think I will ever do again: El dia de su arrepentimiento es ahora! It was to the mom of Mikaela. She was across her muddied yard that i couldnt cross. I love her so much but she wont come back to church! after i said that i loved her, she was like yeah i know...I have never loved people so much that I cant help, but thats all I want to do. The decision really comes from within!)
So we were like ok we testified and then we decided to drop him. But then Saturday I was like ok we need to pass for him again and invite him to church and explain that continuing to do the things and praying will help him receive an answer and feel something. So we passed by and he said ok sounds good I will continue coming! And then we were like great now we are going to sing a song together, because before he never sang in the church. so we all sang I am a child of god together. and he can sing pretty well! anyway so I felt really good about that. So then Sunday morning we went to get Mikaela this recent convert who just melts my heart and her friend who wants to get baptized. On the way to their houses we saw Enriquez. Smoking, (He told us the night before he never even thought about smoking anymore) and going to work with a wheelbarrow. My heart just dropped. The night before had gone so well I thought. Anyway he crossed the road to talk to us, and I was pretty darn frank with him. he threw his cig and then said welp im just a lost cause. I said NO, no one is a lost cause. and he said do you want to save me? I said yes, and God too. Then he asked my comp and she said no. he laughed. Then I said, ¨you can be saved and I want it and God wants it. But I can´t do it. Neither can He. You have to do it. You have to put forth the effort. And if you do, thanks to our Savior Jesus Christ, you can be saved!¨ I guess right now isn´t his time to want to try. It made me sad. I hope he remembers how much better he felt when he prayed and when he read in the book of Mormon and went to church and I hope he returns to it someday.
On Friday we had a ward Activity to watch the Lion King and compare it to our lives here. For example, Mufasa plays the role of God and Jesus Christ. Zazu is the Holy Ghost, Rafiki is the prophet, Timon and Pumba are things of the world, Scar is Satan, and we are Simba. The part that hit me most powerfully is when Mufasa says (dont quote me on this, It was in spanish) You have forgotten me. and Simba says no never! And mufasa says yes you have forgotten who you are and so you have forgotten me. I know that we must always remember who we really are. That we are sons and daughters of a Heavenly Being, and that he wants us to return to Him and claim our place as rulers in His kingdom. I encourage that as a Fhe activity and to look for the teachings from this movie and how we can remember who we are. Remember who we are so we can have the valor and the courage to be strong in the world. Give place to be guided by the Holy Ghost and have the humility to admit our mistakes and change! Wow i forgot how much i love that movie and the powerful lesson it teaches us.
So i am so excited because this week we have received more animo (well my comp is feeling more ready to work) and so we went and found so many awesome families. I told her I feel happy in the mission when we really do talk to everyone about our message. And so it felt to good to get out and teach people and find new people with a good interest in the message! It is true I am happy here when I am loving the people, giving them service, and most of all testifying of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope that comes from the Atonement. And that there is a prophet and the power of God in the earth!
We also received some really good references from members of the ward. Although one man, Quiko Lopez, gave us one on the condition that we baptize his friend. Uh, we already passed for him and he told us the only reason he let us in is because we are pretty. Haha. Oh well Im confident someday he´ll find another reason to listen to the gospel message. Quiko´s wife, Graciela, gave her daughter´s boyfriends as references to us, and we are going to have a big Fhe on Sunday. She started crying later when we shared a message about the power of prayer. She told us she is always praying so that her kids will come back to the church. Then I thought about our Heavenly Father. He is sad all the time I´m sure because of all the things his kids do. And here we are as faithful members that are always presented with the opportunities to help them know the truth. I hope that we can take those opportunities so there aren´t so many sad parents. That we can help them find the path of righteousness, and really of true happiness.
Love, Hermana Dunford
(haha something I shouted on my mission that I don´t think I will ever do again: El dia de su arrepentimiento es ahora! It was to the mom of Mikaela. She was across her muddied yard that i couldnt cross. I love her so much but she wont come back to church! after i said that i loved her, she was like yeah i know...I have never loved people so much that I cant help, but thats all I want to do. The decision really comes from within!)
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