A Week of Blessings (August 18, 2014)

Hola familia y amigos!
This was a really good week. It was full of struggles but equally full of blessings. Hermana Jacuinde said that I talked in my sleep the other night IN SPANISH. Hahah! YAY!! So the Spanish is in there, I just need to get it more natural when I speak and think.

Another funny thing this week is we were asked to teach relief society in our ward. What was the lesson on? How to raise children. Hahahah. When they announced that they were turning the time over to the missionaries and then read the name of the lesson, " Raising children in the light and the truth,"  everyone laughed. We basically just gave our perspective as the children, being taught about the gospel and things our parents did. Then we turned the time over to the ladies in the relief society and let them discuss. It went really well! We didn't even finish all that we had prepared. 

As for this week, we had some interesting experiences. We had a woman call us and say that she had the perfect referral for us. We went over to her house and her aunt was there. The first 3 things her aunt said to us: What is the law of chastity? Do I have to marry my boyfriend before I can get baptized? And I want to be baptized--I'll kick him out if he doesn't want to marry me. WOW. We set a baptismal date and started teaching her and answering her questions. She truly has a desire to change her life and learn more! One thing we SHOULD have told her is that now that she wants to be baptized, the adversary is going to work extra hard on her and try to convince her otherwise. A few days later, she called us and asked us to come over right away. Oh boyyy. What's going on? I walked up and gave her a hug and she started crying in my arms. Hna. Jacuinde said that she turned around to close the gate and when she turned back around, Ana was already bawling. We just sat and listened. She had A LOT she needed to get out. But we comforted her and told her the gospel was a gospel of change. And then testified of how much it has helped us, about how Jesus Christ brings peace and strength in hard times. She said that helped and that she wanted that really bad. She's so awesome. That was a blessing that the Spirit helped us know what to say and how we could actually help her. What we teach every day TRULY does help. In anything that we go through in this life. The gospel and doctrine of the church is of God and because of that, helps in every situation in life. It's truly amazing.

Love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Con amor,

Hermana Shirley

This is Rasco. He is the laziest, fluffiest, big dog I've seen on my mission. He has his own couch outside and he's always just chilling there when we stop by.