This week we traveled to Castro twice. Once for district
council and again for zone council. There are three new elders being trained in
the zone. One is from Hawaii, and we have clicked super well. Once he found out
I have 7 months in the mission, he asked me how it felt. Why are you asking
me?!?! Haha. Ask the other dude who has 1 cambio left! I feel for the new
elders so much because the beginning of my mission was the hardest time of my
life. Just like it is for everyone else.
We are working with Richard and Paula. We are helping Paula
get divorced with a former husband so she can get married to Richard. Richard
is investigating. He came to church yesterday. And in the gospel principles
class, he said he wants his 4 year old son to serve a mission!!! Richard wants
to be baptized. We are helping him stop smoking. The only downer is the process
with the lawyers to get them divorced takes time and we don’t have any control
over that so we can’t put him with fecha. But he is so good!
We are helping Luis and Julia get married. Julia is the
investigator. She has prayed about marriage and is waiting on an answer. Luis
wants to straight up get married. Yyyyyeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhh buddy!
This week we passed by a member of our branch. She is a
widow. We cut her wood every 3 days. She is 84. We talked with her for a while
this time. She told us that she is struggling with depression, she misses her
husband, her son is a drunk that gets angry fast and she does everything for
him (he is like a little kid). Her daughter left the house and her mom with
lots of bills and debt to pay off. This
sister can’t leave the house because of her health. We cut her wood, and then
pulled out some chairs and shared something with her outside. Right when we
ended, the rain started. Not a coincidence. It was so good to hear her
testimony. She cherishes this gospel. Great lady, and I felt the Spirit super
strong.
Yesterday we visited a less active. Her husband works in the
sea, so he is gone a lot. She can’t read. Which means she can’t read the
scriptures. She has a very complicated family situation, but we were able to
share Doctrine and Covenants 100:15 to help her. She just needed someone to
listen to her and read the scriptures with her. Such a blessing to be a
missionary and do what Christ would.
Nicole is progressing well. Still going strong for the 27 of
February for her baptismal fecha. She read the law of chastity, word of wisdom,
and gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlets in one sitting!!!!!!!!!! No one reads ONE.
And she read THREE, and all in the same day!! Crazy!! So prepared. She stopped
drinking coffee when she heard it was wrong, even before we taught her. So she
started drinking tea to replace that, haha. Once she found out about tea, she
stopped drinking it in a heartbeat. Her evangelico parents are happy that she
is getting baptized and support her decision. They will come down for her
baptism from Puerto Montte.
On Friday, a man called us up and asked if he could come out
and work with us. Turns out he is from Coyhaique. Turns out he was the zone
leaders’ investigator. Turns out he was a guy Elder Lawton and I contacted!!!
Crazy! We found him outside of our house. He has back problems and walks with a
cane. He fell one day, and couldn’t get back up. His cane was out of reach, and
dogs were biting him. Elder Lawton and I found him, and helped him up. As we
were working, he said he knows the church is true. But he still isn’t married
with his pareja, so he can’t get baptized. But way good guy. He helped us out
Friday with citas and all of Saturday cleaning the church and filling the font.
The familia Carrillo-Lemus. LOVE THEM. This is a family I
will never forget. This week we were with Hno Mario. HE ASKED US FOR THE
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT!! Then we talked about
him going to the temple with his family. He committed to begin on that. Complete
miracle. We gave him a form that the Church has that shows all of the steps to
get to that point. The form is called the “hoja del templo”. The next cita with
him, we planned a welcome home party for Catalina, Benjamin, and Claudia for
when they go home from their travels. When they got home, we showed up an hour
after. Hna Claudia told us that when they went to buy their bus tickets to Quellòn
from Viña del Mar, there weren’t any until the 9th, 3 days after Catalina’s baptism.
A few minutes later, she got a call saying that there were EXACTLY THREE SEATS
AVAILABLE. When Catalina heard that, she told her mom that she had offered a
prayer and asked Heavenly Father if he wanted her to get baptized on the 6th
that He would give them seats home. Right after the prayer, 3 seats became
available. Miracle. Anyway, we were with them in their house after they got
home, and Hna Claudia told us that her inactive mom told her about how women
aren’t appreciated in the church, how they are slaves to the men, they don’t
have rights, and other ugly things. Claudia said a prayer. The next day they went
to church and the bishop in Viña del Mar gave a lesson to the Relief Society
about a talk from President Hinckley about the value of women in our lives. THE
TALK WAS JUST FOR HER. Miracle. Anyhow, we are with them in their house
talking. Catalina tries on the baptismal clothes and they fit perfect. Then we
talk more. Then Elder Torres says, "Oh, Hno Mario isn’t there something
that you wanted to show to Hna claudia? (wink wink, hint hint)." He then
stands up, grabs the “hoja del templo”, hands it to Hna Claudia, and tells her
that he wants to be sealed in the temple as a family. MIRACLE. She bursts into
tears. The Spirit was so strong. I cried. I have never been more happy in my
life.
The next day Catalina was baptized. Branch President Ojeda
did it. Later that night, Hno Mario told Hna Claudia that he will come to
church from now on and return to activity in the church. WWWHHHHHAAAAATTTT?!?!?!
I can’t believe that we are seeing this miracle take place. I don’t deserve to
be a part of this. But Heavenly Father is blessing me so much. I love this
family with all of my heart.
The next day, I confirmed Catalina as a member of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost. A
great experience.
I have no idea why I am being so blessed. This is a miracle.
I am so grateful. Before my mission, I had a powerful experience where the Spirit
told me there is a specific area that I need to serve in, and specific people I
need to teach. I know that the familia Carrillo-Lemus is one of them.
Elder West
