Chica in Chile: a little sacrifice for big blessings

So this week was seriously so great! okay, really every week is great in the mission but this one was extra great!!

We pretty much rocked it this week with a lot of help from the Lord obviously.

Let's start with "H" y "K". They are couple we found contacting. H is this big (a little gangster looking) guy lol. It is funny because K is this quiet little thing...they don't look like they go together, but they are perfect;) Anyway, we shared the Restoration with them and it was a good lesson. After the lesson H was asking some questions and all of a sudden he got really quiet...he looked up with tears in his eyes and asked why when we talk about Christ he gets so emotional? The spirit was so strong, I could just feel it, such a great opportunity to testify of the Holy Ghost. I am reminded every day that the power of the holy ghost is real, we need to step back for a minute and let him speak to us. Sometimes we just need to relax from our crazy lives to think about Christ and let the spirit speak to our heart.

ANOTHER miracle! We were knocking on doors because all our citas fell through (a little sad how typical it is lol) but we were knocking on doors and we yelled "halloo", this young girl walked out and we introduced ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ and she said "oh pasen" (come in)... hermana Dominguez and I looked at eachother in shock haha. We had literally just said our names and that was about it, she wanted to invite us into her home.... there is a first time everything right? Well, I want this to happen over and over again! Maria is 22 and her sister Gabriella is 14 and they are so great! I offered the closing prayer and the younger sister started crying (i dont know what it was with the tears this week), but the spirit was so strong. I just felt so much love for them. We are literally daughters of God and he loves each and every one of us. I know the spirit can touch people's hearts and has the power to change them for the better. I know the lord is preparing people in our path, so that we can share the truth. Sometimes they don't even know what they are looking for until they feel the spirit.

oh, and Pancho, age 12, was in church on Sunday. This kid is literally awesome; his mom, Virginia was baptized 4 weeks ago, their story is actually quite sad. When he was 10, he and his twin brother and younger brother were playing near a river and his younger brother accidentally kicked his cleat into the river, sohe jumped in to get it (it was expensive and he didn't want to lose it). Well, he got into trouble and so Pancho's twin jumped in the water to help while Pancho ran to get help. His twin and younger brother died in the river that day...Virginia lost 2 of her 3 sons...since then, Pancho has struggled with the loss and been rebellious; he felt like it was his fault. He watched his brothers die, I can't even imagine what he has had to go through at such a young age. But right now he is beginnning to change; he wants to be pure, he wants to remove this burden that he has been carrying. He is only 12 years old, but he is so great, he has been thru a lot. I can't tell you how many times he has said "tia yo quiero bautizarme" (Aunt (he calls her that), I want to be baptized) he wants to make this change in his life and he wants to be pure of his sins. We are preparing him to be baptized the 23 of august and then go to the temple on the 30th so he can do the baptisms for his brothers.

Last night was a little sad way to end our week. I can't remmber if I told you about the family of "M" y "C", well they are this super family but when we stopped by last night to visit them, they told us they just aren't feeling it. My heart was so heavy, hna Dominguez and I didn't really know what to say. It is really sad because we testified with all of our hearts, but they just don't have the same vision as we do. They didn't have their whole heart in it. The gospel is literally a way of life, not just something we do to waste 3 hours every sunday. They weren't ready to make that covenant with god to be devoted to the gospel. It was really really sad; we could see their potential... their whole family in white being sealed for time and all eternity however, everyone has their own agency. It was just sad to hear that they don't want to progress or continue with the lessons. I can literally feel god's love for them, i know that maybe they aren't ready now but one day they will receive the missionaries in their house again and accept the covenant of baptism. My job as a missionary is to invite and maybe I won't see a ton of baptisms but I know I am planting seeds, I am helping prepare the way for people to their salvation. I know we won't always see the fruits of our labor, but we always need to put our trust in god and in His plan.

This week was full of miracles. I am reminded every day by the power of the holy ghost that an eternal perspective makes life a whole lot easier, not because we don't have trials but because we see them more clearly through the eyes of God.

A shout out to Nana for turning 86!!! Happy Birthday, you are still so beautiful! I love you Nana :) Happy Birthday to Janie girl y Lyla! AND Happy Anniversary to Mimi & Papa and Nicole & Jevin!

con mucho amor,

Hermana T