Family! Friends! Nicol got baptized!!!!!! And her family came
from Puerto Montt!
But I’ll talk about
that later. Today, we leave for Osorno for 2 days to start the process for
companion’s second visa. We will be in a bus all day today, and all
day tomorrow. But I’m pumped to see more of Chile.
This week we were
tracting and it was overcast, then within 30 minutes it just dumped rain on us.
Soaked every part of our bodies. All of the pass along cards and baptismal
invitations I had with me were destroyed. But by the end of the day my pants
had dried off so it works out in the end.
Wild blackberries are
all over the place. On the sides of the roads too. We have been eating them like
crazy.
Some humorous stories:
There is a funny menos
active who is a little confused. He smokes, so we read 1Corinthians 3:16-17
about how our body is a temple.
Us: “Based on what we
have read, how can we keep care of our bodies?”
Him: “We can wear
clothes so we don’t get cold. Eat.”
Us: “Good, what other
ways are there?”
Him: “Don’t wear
makeup. God doesn’t want us to do that.”
Us (trying not to
laugh): “Are there any OTHER ways??”
Him: ..... Us: “How
about not smoking??”
Him: “Ooohhhhh thipo
(ohhhhhh, yeah that’s right)”.
A confused older lady we met-
Lady: “How are you two
doing?”
Us: “Great, thank you.”
Lady: “I like you guys. I like your religion. You do great things. I also like
Jehova’s Witnesses, Catholics, and Evangelicals.”
Us: “Thank you very
much! That’s great that you like religion so much and see the good it does.”
Lady: “But do you know
who I HATE?”
Us: “Who?”
Lady: “I hate the Mormons.”
Us: “But mam we are Mormons.”
Lady: “No no, you guys
are great. But I hate the Mormons.”
Us, after several
attempts: “Have a great day!”
Hope you enjoyed that.
This week has gone well. This week we had a broadcast in Castro for the missionaries
by Elder Bednar. He was in Argentina. It went super well. I received a lot of
help from the Spirit. I received comfort for members of my family who are less
active or non-members. I felt God is very happy with what I am doing, and I
felt an overwhelming calm about the work. The Lord will hasten His work in His
own time. I just have to do my part. My absence is helping my family more than
my presence.
During district
council we did a practice. We knocked a door, got in, and started to begin
teaching. The Spirit hit me with an overwhelming prompting to testify of
Christ. But this is just a practice in district council! I thought promptings
like this only come in real lessons! But I bore my testimony, and the Spirit
was strong. Later that day, we did a street contact. Instead of using the pass
along cards and other contacting methods, I just bore my testimony of Jesus
Christ to these people right off the bat. I felt the Spirit. The couple didn’t
accept our invitation, but I’m doing my part as a representative of Jesus
Christ.
Two investigators came
to the mission activity on Friday! There were 3 investigators and 3
members, but it went great. Nicol bore her testimony to them, said they should
keep investigating, and that they should come to her baptism on Saturday.
They came! It has been a little tricky with them. They are 16 and 17 years old.
They are off and on. Right when we are about to drop, them they progress
rapidly. And the cycle repeats. But they are progressing.
With a couple we are
teaching, their baptismal date is for the 26th of March. They
are still working for an answer. They have such great faith. They are a MARRIED
couple (that’s rare) with 2 daughters ages 7 and 5 that remind me a lot of my
little sister Rebecca. We had dinner with them last night. They are from Temuco.
The husband works here in the pesquera (fish factory). His wife is going back
to Temuco but is praying for guidance if she should stay or should she should
go. They are looking to rent their own house here. Right now they are living
with members. That is how we got their reference. The husband has a powerful
testimony of prayer, and is praying for guidance in this decision. He told us
that he doesn’t believe moving here, living with a Mormon family, and then
coming into contact with us as missionaries is a coincidence. Such a great
family.
Nicol was
baptized on Saturday by Elder Torres. On Sunday, I confirmed her
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and conferred to
her the gift of the Holy Ghost. People always look different after their
baptism and when they receive the Holy Ghost. There is a light in them. It is noticeable.
As missionaries we notice it even more because we interact with every kind of
person. Nicol, after her baptism bore here testimony. She said it has been
hard. Really hard. And that God has let her struggle through the whole process.
But that has made her stronger. She had prayed every night asking God if this
is the decision that he wants her to take. She even prayed the night before, seeking
a confirmation to her answer. She testified that because of her decision 1,000
problems came. But for every problem, there were 10,000 answers and help.
Powerful testimony. She wants to serve a mission but hasn’t taken the decision
yet. The poor girl was so scared at the baptism, she was rigid. It took her 3
attempts before she was baptized properly. Elder Torres told her to say a
prayer in her heart and then let her feet leave the floor. That was the time
that it worked. She has such great faith.
In the broadcast with
Elder Bednar, he talked a lot about praying with faith. We do that by telling
God our plans, what we want to accomplish, and then asking for His help and
blessings as we act. I put that to the test this week. One morning I woke up,
still dead tired, and I didn’t want to do exercises. But I wanted to be
obedient. I said a prayer and told God I would begin the process of getting
ready, and I would do the exercises because I wanted to be obedient. But I
asked Him to bless me with the energy to do them as I acted. The energy came! The
motivation came! I know God answers our prayers. Yesterday, Elder Torres and I
offered the same prayer. We were exhausted and didn’t want to work. But we told
God we were going to work anyways, and that we wanted Him to bless us with the strength
to walk the rest of the day, and energy to do the work. And it came. Test this
out. I know God answers our prayers.
While we taught the
gospel principles class about the fall of Adam and Eve, I thought about how
this story applies to us. The Spirit testified that just like with Adam and
Eve. We make mistakes. We will sin. But God has a plan for us. And even when we
fall, He can still make the best out of things, even bring us great blessings
as we repent. Just like Brother Wagner used to say in seminary, "God has
our goofs worked into His plan for us."
I love you guys.
Elder West
