“The Lord isn’t asking us to load up a handcart; He’s asking us to fortify our faith. He isn’t asking us to walk across the continent; He’s asking us to walk across the street and visit our neighbor. He isn’t asking us to give all of our worldly possessions to build a temple; He’s asking us to give of our means and our time despite the pressures of modern living, to continue to build temples and then to attend regularly the temples already built. He isn’t asking us to die a martyr’s death; He’s asking us to live a disciple’s life.”
-Elder M. Russell Ballard, “The Truth of God Shall Go Forth”
August 29, 2011
Hola familia!
Qué tal! I am doing well here in Asunción. This weekend we had a baptism! Viviana, the niece of Hermana Troche, who only speaks Guarani, got baptized! It was a really nice baptism and the Spirit was strong. She is a sweet girl and I am glad that I had the opportunity to be there to witness it. Matias, and my companions and I, sang a hymn called “Mirad al Salvador” in Spanish and it turned out great. The baptism almost went off without a hitch, except that the font only filled up halfway. For some unknown reason the water turned off in the church and so she was baptized in two feet of water. And because of that, she had to get re-dunked 4 times! It was a record, I think. First an elbow was up, then a wrist, but in the end she went all the way under.
More good news is that Blanca is back on track to get baptized!! One of the members called us and asked if we could have a Family Home Evening at their house and if we could teach Sabbath day observance. Well, we did just that and Blanca attended as well, and it was exactly what she needed! She needed a friend in the ward, a strong family who would help her with this transition. It’s so important for members to help the missionaries. I have a strong testimony of that. To top it off, she came to church and watched Viviana get confirmed and she whispered to us, “That’s going to be me the 18th of September.” That’s what I like to hear!
Some more good news is that Teresa, my investigator from Kokuere, was baptized! Her husband is a member, inactive for years and they have a little baby boy. What’s even cooler is that her husband baptized her! It really is a miracle that we found them. To add to this, she has already taught the Gospel Principles class. Her husband’s brother, Luis, is getting back soon from his mission in Argentina. When he left, his brother was inactive. When he returns, his brother and his wife will be active members in the Church. Talk about miracles.
Matias accompanied us this week. He is preparing for his mission and always cracks me up. To quote him, “I think Paraguay turned the air conditioning all the way up because it is freezing today” and “that dog must not be Mormon because he won’t stop barking at us.”
Thalia Ramirez, my first convert, went to the temple and did baptisms this week with the ward and her brother. Qué purete! There are so many modern-day pioneers here in Paraguay- many young people- who are the only members- the first of their family to join the Church and often they don’t have the support of their parents, family or friends. Yet their decision will bless their posterity and their ancestors as they do temple work and raise their own family under the sealing covenant of the temple.
We had 6 investigators in church this week. We found a less-active member and her two non-member sons, Miguel 16, and Justo 9, and they came with us. It appears that Miguel has already had a hard life because he moved away from his family to get his life back in shape. What better thing than the Gospel to help you turn your life around? Little Justo came dressed in a white shirt and tie and it was really cute- just this little boy going to primary. When he saw the words, “haz lo justo,” in the primary room (choose the right in Spanish), it threw him off a little bit. “Choose me?” is what it translated into for him.
We have another baptism coming up. Aurora Vera is a lady in our ward who has to get re-baptized because her records were lost and she is preparing for the temple. She was baptized 30 years ago in Mariano Roque Alonso and somehow her records were lost. She has a very strong testimony and I’m looking forward to re-teaching her the lessons this week to prepare her to be “baptized” again. She has been through a lot in her life but has turned to God to find hope and strength. She is getting baptized on Saturday.
Monday night we had a cool experience. We showed up at a member’s home to have Family Home Evening but the family was not there. That’s what plan B’s are for. So we went back to look for a lady we contacted before and instead talked to her sister-in-law, Soledad. She was young, married and we found out that her first baby had passed away within months of being born. She had lost faith in God as to why this would happen to her. We taught her the plan of salvation and it was a very beautiful lesson. The Spirit was strong and she said that she has hope in God again and that getting baptized would be very “lindo,” or nice/beautiful experience. We are still waiting to have a second lesson with her.
One of my favorite things about being a missionary is being able to go up to a random stranger, armed with the Spirit of God, and teach them a lesson/the Gospel and help them find peace in their life and we both come out better for it. Like Dario, who’s grandma just passed away and doesn’t understand the nature of Christ and God. Or Mariana, who’s parents are divorced and she lives with her aunts far away from them. The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ is the solution to every problem we have in this life- because it is the purpose of this life. It is all part of a great plan.
Something else that I have learned from the Paraguayans, is that all you have in this life like “el pan de cada día”(food) and “la salud”(health) is a gift so that you can work and have a happy family life and the Gospel/God. I think I pray for these things in every single prayer I’ve said here. Why is it that we Americans think we need every toy under the sun to be happy? Why are so many of us so obsessed with how we look/appear to others, that we forget the basic necessities of life and what is really important? Something to think about.
This week President Arnold of the Area Seventy is coming. I am looking forward to the conference. I have heard that he likes to “bajar la canea” or in other words, drop the cane and whip missionaries into shape. We shall see!
Keep the faith! You are all in my prayers, especially you, family.
And congrats to Christina Cecchettini, who is going to the Texas, spanish speaking mission his week! Enjoy the MTC! Suerte hermana!
Becca Jones, I have not forgotten about you! I have a letter coming your way- you’ll get it in a month or so. Haha. I am glad your East Coast experience was awesome!
Con cariño,
Hermana Brittner
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