Some random things
from the week...
1- We went to the huge
waterfall again because Hermana Hyland hasn't been
2-It has been pouring
rain every day and it’s so cold. We don't have money for wood and the
mission is going to change from wood to pellets, so in the meantime we wear
sooo many layers in the mornings.
3-I don't think I've
told you this but there are so many Haitians here in Chile. They make for
golden investigators because they are very humble. All the missionaries
love teaching them, and we love to look for them because 100% of the time they
want to listen. We found a house with like 20 Haitians in it yesterday and they
all want to listen and come to church! WHATTTT
4-We had zone
conference and that was SO good!! I had to speak yet again (I'm telling
you, Heavenly Father really loves trying to develop my public speaking in a
different language skills)
5-I completed 9 months
in the mission!! That was wild!
6-We have been
chopping wood a lot for other people and that's always fun!
7-One of our
investigators wanted to drink coffee with us and we explained that we didn't
drink coffee, but we offered to just drink hot water. She was confused
but ok with it. Then I looked over and SHE WAS DOING THE SAME THING!!!! I
was so excited and commented about it and she said, "well if the Lord
knows its bad for you, I'm not going to drink it!!" That was
incredible!!
This week was great!!
We have seen soo many miracles!!! They just keep coming!! I feel
like we have been very guided by the spirit. We have tried our best to
make sure there is nothing in our lives that would impede the influence of the
spirit in this work. As we have done that, Heavenly Father has been able
to transform us and this sector. I know it’s the same with you and your
personal lives, with whatever situation you might be in!!
The sector is doing
great! I love it here. There are lots of people that want to listen
to our message or at least who are willing, but the challenge always is getting
them to act. Actually, this week I was stuck on thinking about what
more I need to do to get our investigators to come to church. I was
thinking about it all week and yesterday the answer came super
unexpectedly. In my personal study I was studying the Sacrament and I was
reading about when Christ institutes the sacrament among the Nephites in the
Book of Mormon. I have read it like a hundred times but for some reason
this time it hit me hard. Christ says, "And if ye do always remember
me ye shall have my spirit to be with you." I know that as a
missionary if I have the Spirit with me and I act on the promptings I receive,
I will be doing exactly what the Savior wants me to be doing with these
people. So, I am constantly praying to have the Spirit with me in
everything that I do. But this hit me and helped me see once again the
key to success. The more we remember the Savior, the more we think about
Him and what He would do, the more we will have His spirit to be with us.
So, If I want to help people come to church, I need to look to the Savior even
more. If I do that I will have His spirit to be with me and in turn, I
will say the things He would want me to say and do the things that He wants me
to do with His people. So, then I thought about what type of
missionary the Savior is. He is very calm. He is relaxed and
tranquil. He never takes away people’s agency at all. He teaches
them and testifies of himself and the Father, and when the people don't
understand, He doesn't beat himself up or think "dang, how can I make this
person come to church or understand?". He is sad, but He doesn't
become discouraged or self-deprecating. He lets people fully use their
agency. He doesn't try to force or persuade anybody. He presents
the message and lets them choose if they want to take part or not. Then
He respects their decision and moves on. It doesn't matter how sad he might be,
He completely respects their agency while still loving them and being there for
them when they want to accept. It’s the same with us as
missionaries. We can present the message and do our best to present it in
a way that the spirit can teach to their hearts, but in the end if they choose
not to act we need to move on and keep looking for those who are ready and
willing to accept the gospel. We shouldn't try to convince or make them
do something. Then we should keep praying for those people that they will
one day be ready and willing to accept and act! The work is
urgent!! There is so much to do! (: I love being a
missionary!! I love you all and hope you have a great week!!
--Hermana West
