“The nearer we get to our Heavenly Father, the more we are disposed with compassion on perishing souls. We feel we want to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our backs.” Joseph Smith, Jr.
October 24, 2011
Hola! Como estan??
Yankee. Gringa. Rubia. Just a few of the names that people call me- people on the street, as well as members. “Yankee” because I’m American (sounds more like “Jankee” when they say it), “gringa” because I speak English and am American (maybe this is like greenie in English?) and “Rubia” because I’m blonde. Regardless of what people call us, we always introduce ourselves as missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ in the area.
I can’t believe another week has passed. Where does the time go? Well, yesterday was the Primary Program and I promised Mom I would tell all about it. There’s only one word to describe a Paraguayan Primary Program: CHULINA! I loved it! It was very well put together and all of the kids participated and they brought a very special Spirit into the meeting. There were songs and different parts, just like our programs, and all of the girls wore little flower headbands and the boys wore blue ties. They had a big poster in the back with the theme and red and yellow and blue fabric draped across the front. It is amazing- the organization of the Church and how it teaches even the smallest of children the Gospel truths. That’s what is amazing about this Gospel: it’s so simple that even a child can understand it. It was even more special because I knew each and every one of the children who were speaking. I have visited and eaten with their families. I have watched their spiritual growth and taught their non-member friends. I am eternally grateful for the strong members of Loma Pyta and their examples. Each one of them has a special place in my heart. I especially loved hearing the Primary sing, “We’ll Bring the World His Truth,” and the loud little primary boys singing off-tune. It was very touching to know that they are being raised in the truth and that someday, they will be missionaries too.
Gisel is getting baptized this Saturday! We are so excited! We got permission from her Mom which was a miracle. Her mom isn’t interested in sharing with us but she has noticed the difference in her daughter and she wants her daughter to have this guidance in her life. She sat with us through one lesson, when we taught the 10 commandments. We started testifying about how the 10 commandments have blessed our lives and she said, “Gisel needs to hang out with you all the time. Whenever you want, you can come over.” She was impressed with our testimonies and desires to follow Christ. She is even coming to the baptism! This is very rare in Paraguay and we are so excited.
Edith came to church as well. She is so excited to get baptized. She is Chilean and we are basically harvesting what many missionaries before us have planted. She has shared many times with missionaries but now is her time.
Ariel didn’t come to church but we had a sweet Family Home Evening with him and we are praying really hard that he will come this Sunday and realize that this Gospel will bless his family, even if they don’t think so.
I taught district meeting about how we need to have faith in ourselves, in our work and in our investigators. We need to see them through the eyes of God- their eternal potential and not just where they are in their lives right now. That is charity- seeing people as God sees them, and not as the world sees them or even as they may see themselves.
We have started doing missionary work differently. Instead of clapping random houses, we ask members for references of their friends and then go and talk to and teach their friends. In a zone conference, we learned that 1 in 3 references from a member is baptized whereas only 1 in 1000 people from clapped houses is baptized. It’s a much more intelligent way to work and I like it a ton better.
One of the ward member's Dad passed away suddenly two weeks ago. I have been working with quite a few members and non-members who have recently had someone pass away. I have never felt the sting of someone passing away who is very close to me, so I don’t know fully how it feels. However, I have seen the reactions and the emotional state of many different people. This sweet Hermana is an incredible example to me of someone whose strong testimony of the restored Gospel has given her strength in this difficult time. Although it is very hard for her, she has found peace and understanding in what has happened. This is because she has a strong testimony of the Gospel and an eternal perspective. She has turned towards God, instead of away from Him.
Well, it’s getting hotter and hotter everyday. Will I survive a Paraguayan summer? I hope so.
Love you all!
Hermana Brittner
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