August 25, 2014- Week 3 in Vista Hermosa!

Hola!

It was another great week! (Well, every week is a good week on the mish...but some are definitely better than others!)

We found another family!!!!!!!!!! Well, they were actually a reference but...same thing! They are the cutest little family ever, and I really hope that they get baptized! We met them for the first time on Saturday, and had a super good first lesson with them. Andres and Sara (the parents) told us that they want a religion that will help them to have a better marriage, a happier home and how to raise their kids to be great people and believe in God. They have two kids, Andres (8) and Abraham (4), and we can see that they would do anything to make them happy. We left them with a Restoration pamphelt and "The Family" proclamation and invited them to church. And they came!!! The kids just loved Primary, and in Gospel Principles, Sara and Andres were participating a lot, and it was the same in Relief Society and Priesthood. We went to ward counsel after church and everyone in there was like, "Who is this new family?!?!" But really though, in RS, Sara was answering questions like she has been a member her whole life! I don't know if anyone even really realized that they're investigators! We have another appointment with them on Thursday, and we're going to invite them to be baptized! So please send some extra prayers their way that day! 

We also had a really CRAZY 2nd lesson with Gabriela on Saturday! Normally during the 2nd visit, we explain about the Godhead and sometimes we begin the Restoration. (We usually have to spend a lot of time on the Godhead because everyone here thinks they're one person.) But we got there, and were about to start this lesson...but then, she started asking us a lot of questions about what is going to happen after this life. After 2 or 3 questions, we decided to forget the lesson we had planned and started teaching the Plan of Salvation. She ended up sharing some really personal stuff with us, about a certain family member dying a long time ago, and how she has never felt any peace about death since. The Catholic Church had told her that this family member was completely lost and that she would never see him again, and how he could never, ever get into heaven. We ended up teaching about resurrection, the Kingdoms of Glory and baptisms for the dead...all in the 2ND LESSON. But you know, even though it was crazy, and maybe WE thought it would be too much for her right now...I know it's exactly what she needed to hear. She needed to know that there is still so much hope, and that families can be together forever. And the really great part is that her husband was there too...and that he asked us to come back on Tuesday to teach their whole family. :) They are such a special family, and I know that we found them precisily when they needed to be found. 

We also invited 3 more people to be baptized this week! Ana (12), Abril (19) and Belen (13), all for September 14th! But seeing as none of them went to church yesterday.... - _ - We'll just have to see what we can do to help them keep progressing. And we have a lot of others that we weren't able to see this past week...so hopefully we can soon, and help them keep going as well! 

Funny story of the week: Hermana Traylor almost killed a dog. It's kinda hard to explain...it was kinda a "you had to be there" moment, but I'll do the best we can. First thing first, Hermana Traylor doesn't have a TON of patience, especially with things that annoy her. Little dogs for example. So we went to pass by for some investigators yesterday morning, and we entered into this little dog's "territory" He ran up to Hermana Traylor, barking obnoxiously and biting at her ankles. It kinda made her upset. So while I was about to grab a little stone to scare it away with, she grabbed the rock that was closest to her...which was a small boulder, bigger than the little dog. Her face was the priceless part. It was like she turned into a skinny, blonde Hulk, and she chucked the rock at the dog! Luckily she didn't hit it! But it definitely shook him up! I just had to laugh about it...really hard. Haha :) It just made me think of my last area...ahh, such good times.

 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3: 16-17) Another great part of this week was what I got to study in the Book of Mormon. I finished up Mosiah, and was able to study again the stories of Abinidi, Alma, Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah. One thing that I have been REALLY trying to work on is seeing everyone as Heavenly Father sees them. Sometimes, I'll see someone in the combi, or in the street, or waiting for the bus and... I think to myself sometimes, "I don't know if they'd ever accept the Gospel".  And I let the opporitunity pass by, and later find myself wishing I had said something. But I liked reading those chapters because...maybe Abinidi saw all of King Noah's priests and maybe thought like I do for a moment, not knowing that Alma was ready to change and repent. Or maybe Alma and the members of the church looked at those sons and thought that they would NEVER change or do ANY good in their lives, not knowing that God can work miracles in absolutely anyone. And it really helped teach me the importance of not judging others and recognizing that the Spirit is more powerful than anything. It definitely helped me to get over myself and talk to everyone, because everyone deserves a chance to listen.

I love being a missionary. That's all I can really say.

I love you all so much, and I hope you have a great week! Adios!

Love always,

Hermana Smith