Hola Familia,
I have some exciting
news....I’M GOING TO CHILOÉ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m sooooooo excited! The sector is kind of new. There are only 4
hermanas in Chiloé so I’m so lucky! I think Jacob served near where I’m
going to serve but I’m not sure...the area is Castro I think? But the
ocean is in my sector just like here, and, THERE ARE PENGUINS! Hahah our
sector is the one that people travel to see the penguins, so I’m pumped! I’ve
heard lots of good things. My companion is Hermana Canales de
Ecuador! I’m so grateful to be able to keep speaking Spanish. This
week I finally dreamed in Spanish hahah! And last night almost all my
dreams were in Spanish. Heavenly Father has blessed me with the gift of
tongues SO much! Spiritual gifts are a real thing!
This week was
absolutely incredible! We were led by the Spirit so much and we were able
to find lots of people that we haven’t been able to contact for a few
months! I’m going to miss these people, but more than anything I’m just
grateful to have known them! I’m so grateful I had the opportunity and
chose to serve a mission!
The mission has an
inspired goal that each sector can see a baptism in the month of January.
These past few weeks we have been studying baptism, talking about baptism,
doing contacts talking about baptism, sharing with the members about baptism,
and so much more. I learned a lot, but something was missing. I
know the goal to see a baptism in January is inspired, but I didn’t feel the
same way I felt at the start of my mission. We invited an investigator to
be baptized at the end of the month but when we invited him it didn’t feel
right. He has way more than three times in the chapel and everything, but
there was definitely a lack of power in that invitation. I didn’t feel
like he was ready to be baptized. And I realized I was focused on the
goal of a baptism this month instead of his personal conversion.
Afterward, I felt bad and had a good conversation with Heavenly Father and he
helped me see that it’s all about conversion. I want to help these people
make covenants with God, but more than that, He helped me see I should be
focused on helping them be Converted to Christ. When that happens, they
will want to be baptized and they will follow him the rest of their
lives. I need to teach to their NEEDs and really listen to the Spirit.
I realized the reason I was extra happy at the beginning of my mission was
because every time we went into a lesson I listened to the Spirit, the
investigator, and taught to their needs. We saw so many miracles and
changes in people that way. And I lost that focus for a while.
Instead of focusing on the Savior, I focused on baptism. It was great and
I learned, but now I’ve REALLY learned that if we really focus on the Savior,
on the individual, the covenants come and I will know in the moment how to help
them get there. They will really be ready for baptism and covenants in
the temple if I focus on the Savior and help my investigators focus on the
Savior. I’ve been really seeing how imperfect I am and it’s so incredible
that the Lord calls us in our weakness! He sees a lot more in us than we
sometimes see in ourselves!
Anyway, I love you
all!!!! Have a great week!
--Hermana West
