Hola,
So this week I was really able to realize how
much we are an answer to others. We met this man yesterday that just
felt this tug from us when we waved at him and then when we came over to
talk to him he was uplifted and filled with the peace that he needed.
It is just amazing how as long as we are willing, the Lord is going to
give us opportunities to serve and uplift. We all have that ability to
give off those feelings depending on the power of our spirit! This week
was a crazy, but amazing one and here it is!
.
Last Monday we taught the Hernandez family. Every time we teach our investigators always grow because they have
friends or family over and it is great. We started reading the Book of
Mormon with them and it really is softening their heart. The things
we are saying are softening their heart. It is amazing how you can see
people's minds start to change, little by little. So we are excited about
them!
.
Then on Tuesday we finally saw Gisselle and Cindy. We set a baptismal date with Gisselle. Cindy is her less-active
mother and really wants her to learn in order to know God more. Her
baptismal date is August 2nd. It has been a while since I have had an
investigator with a baptismal date. It is just a pleasing feeling to
actually be working toward the ultimate goal. We when on
exchanges with Hermana Hamblin and Hermana Palmer! l I was only with
Hermana Hamblin, but it was a great exchange. She is a good little new
missionary. One thing Hermana Vance and I have been reflecting on a lot
is how fast time goes and when we look at new missionaries it is
amazing how we were there once and now we have only 5 months left! It is
crazy! It is amazing how fast the time goes when you are doing good!
.
Wednesday was a crazy day. In the morning we
started off with a first lesson of a new investigator and after
explaining a few principles she said it was all too confusing and she
didn't want to learn anymore,. It was kind of a bummer. Then we taught
the Hernandez Family again and picked up a few new investigators. We
just shared the Because of Him video and they LOVED it. That was
great! Then I started to feel really anxious for some reason and I
didn't know why! I got a blessing. It was so weird to have this
strong feeling of uneasiness with nothing wrong..With time it did go
away. It just made me so grateful for the priesthood and the
ability it has to counsel us in need. It was so nice to have a companion
that could lift me up and help me!
.
Thursday was a very simple day because we did
weekly planning. We did teach a less-active sister and it went
really well. She felt the Spirit. It was a good, powerful and short
lesson.Also we went to the funeral of the man we prayed over last week.
It was interesting because it was very traditional and ritual like. We were glad to be there for the family. The Bishop knew one of the
daughters, so he came too. We felt better with him there!
On Friday we had Elder Falabella, a member of
the 1st quorum of 70 tour our mission and so we had a half mission
conference! It was amazing how the general authorities come with so much
power and authority. So a few tid-bits of the conference are these: In August we are starting a new pilot. The language missionaries will have
apps. on their ipads to help them study. They will be through video
chats and many other things. It sounds cool so i am excited to see it!
Elder Falabella started with the fact that we were going to have fun>, Missionary wirj could and should be fun. He talked about how we need to
make habits now that will affect us for the future. The standards
we have as missionaries are standards that we should keep, like good
grooming. The hope is that we are still well-groomed after our mission.
He also focused on habits like studies and prayers and things that we do
that should prepare us for our life after. One of his big concerns was
that returned missionaries forget their missions the day they get home,
rather than letting it be a part of them always! He told us that in
order to baptize more we need to invite everyone in the house to learn
from our message, to not just teach the mom or the child, but everyone.
Then his second point was in order to retain converts we have to teach
them to be missionaries. When they are involved with missionary work
their testimony grows and they learn to be focused on their belief! A
few weeks before our conference he asked us to study the missionary work
of Alma the older, Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah. We
discussed what we learned from those missionaries. It was a wonderful
study, on my side at least. I learned so much more of what we can do as
missionaries. He told us the best way to help the members and have
them on our side is to love them, just love them. (Our response to that
was giving out Father's Day cards it went over really well!). One quote
he said, that I loved was that, "Satan is the master of complexity and the
Lord is the master of simplicity". It is very profound as a missionary
and simply as someone trying to follow the Lord! He told us to think out
of the box because " if we do the same thing again and again, we will
get the same results". He related setting goals to our Heavenly Father
and how important it is for him to set goals, make plans and be
committed and for us to do the same. He gave us 2 rules of missionary
work, 1) never attend sacrament meeting without an investigator or
less-active and rule 2). never miss sacrament meeting. I thought that was
pretty clever and that we really do need to do it! He told us to have
higher expectation than our mission president. Most importantly he
taught us how we need to be Full-time missionaries, asking us if we are sharing the
gospel in every moment and every situation? Are we doing as much as we
can? It was a nice re-commitment to know how important it is to be all
in! I made a whole list of what kind of missionary I am now going to be
because of this conference (by direction of Elder Falabella). It was a
wonderful opportunity to receive guidance and direction. I was sitting
on the second row and he just kept looking at me straight in the eyes, I
loved it! Just the power and love he has in those tender eyes! It is
lovely! It was fantastic! Anyway I am so grateful for the organization
of this Church. It just makes sense and works together so well!
.
Later in the evening we taught a lesson to
Sandra and her boyfriend. We finished talking about the Plan of
Salvation and committed them to be baptized. They were unsure about
that, but it was a really good lesson!
.
Saturday we had a service Blitz! It was
really successful and we have service planned for this week and we are
excited to help them! Then we had our Ward BBQ. It was really
successful. Quite a few of our less-actives and investigators came. It
was a nice little event. We even found some people to go and visit this
next week. I am finally learning to mingle and talk to people at parties. I am grateful I am learning that skill so it becomes a habit for
the future.
.
The real miracle on Sunday was that one of the
less-actives at the party came to church on Sunday. It was so great to
see her there! I translated for church. Talks are so much harder than
testimonies. One Sister read from a talk from Elder Nelson about the
heart and I didn't know any of the words, I tried to make it work but it
was a little rough. It is fun to translate, but a little discouraging
too, but I like learning and at least trying it out. Then we had a good
talk with the bishop about the future of the hispanics in the Ward. It
was fun to picture it growing and progressing! It was a truly, lovely
day and a fantastic end to a wonderful week!
.
I like to Love being a missionary. Sometimes it is
hard, but I am working on loving it always, because when I don't enjoy it
then I won't be happy. Though it is hard, it is all worth it. It all has
such good endings that I am just so grateful for all that it has done
for me. I love you all so much!
.
Les quiero,
Hermana Cornwall
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