Tuesday, April 29, 2014

A bus, a song, an old man and miracles in Quiche

Another week of miracles! We were taking a bus to San Lucas and when Hermana Haymond and Hermana Godfrey were in their training, we made up a song to the tune of "I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ", sometimes I still sing it to contact the buses. After I finished the contact, we were contacting seat by seat and a little old man just looked at me and said, "Que valor!" He was a member and wanted us to pass by for somebody that he knew. He lives very far away from the main part of our area but after confirming that it was on our side of the border, we made an appointment to go meet him and his reference. We had to set aside a whole afternoon to be able to make this appointment but we both felt that it was absolutely necessary. Luckily, we were able to travel and find him, with his straw hat and old work clothes working hard in a flower field... and he then presented us to his friend. He said, "I know this is far away...but I was far away when the missionaries came and found me also." He explained how he was baptized and how his children served missions and were married in the temple and now his grandchildren are receiving their mission calls...he then said, "So I know exactly why you guys are here. She doesn't speak Spanish very well (she speaks Quiche') so it will be hard to teach her, but she needs this message." We presented ourselves to her but she kept nervously laughing and didn't really understand us...at all. I pulled out my gospel art book, ready to try to explain the restoration in a very simple way...and then the miracle happened. After the opening prayer, she was able to understand every single word that we said. We were able to explain our message completely and it was one of the most powerful lessons that we have had. She accepted another visit and accepted the challenge to be baptized. The spirit really does help us understand this gospel in exactly the way that we need it. It helped her and it can also help us in our lives. Although she couldn't understand Spanish, she understood the love of God and the need for this gospel. I feel honored to be able to be a missionary and have the opportunity to share such a powerful message.
Another miracle that we saw was a contact on the street...who asked us when he could be baptized. He is an old widow who lives alone and has a desire to follow Christ. We passed by his house later that night and taught the first lesson...and the next day when we were waiting for him at church, he didn't show up. We passed by his house that night and immediately when he opened up the door, we could sense that he had been drinking alcohol. He told us how he was invited to a lunch and how they offered him drinks...the first time we met him, he was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. This time, he was wearing them again but we figured out why. When he told us about his drinking, he just paused and took off his sunglasses and said, "So many pastors have come to my house but I just cry." His eyes were absent of light and happiness. He explained how he wants to follow Christ but how he keeps falling into temptation. Every time he picks himself up, he falls more and more into a deep loneliness. Since he was a little bit tipsy, we just decided to sing a hymn and pass by the next day to be able to visit him in a clearer state. We sang, "Lead Kindly Light", which has become my favorite hymn these last couple of weeks. He simply told us, "You guys are wasting your time by visiting me. I've tried to change but it has never worked. I don't want you to waste your time." I learned something this Sunday from this simple lesson...we never waste our time by helping someone come unto Christ. I know that this man needs the gospel, now more than ever. Patience pays a true part of faith and He will never give up on us, so we can never give up on His children. We will keep teaching this man, because this message is the answer he hasn't ever realized that he has been waiting for. Hasta la proxima semana!

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