Hello Hello!
Wow...wow. What an incredible first 2
weeks of the transfer. How did I get so lucky to be with Hermana
Mather? I don´t know, but I love her dearly. She is an incredible
example to me in every way, and such a dilligent missionary. She is so
good at teaching simply and really listening to people. I feel so
blessed to be learning from her. She is incredible!
It´s
hard to answer the question about "How are your investigators" because
there are so many unique circumstances. People investigate and we feel
like there´s a lot of real potential, but then they drop of the face of
the planet and we can´t get ahold of them. But, just like it says in
Preach My Gospel, our success is measured by our commitment, not by
anything else, our commitment to find people and share the Gospel with
them. Nothing is too dificult for the Lord, and the Lord´s work can´t
be frustrated. It´s moving forward whether we are moving with it or
not. That is something Hermana Mather reminded me of this last week.
It´s so easy to think (whether your contacting in the street or teaching
in a lesson) that maybe there was something more you could have said,
or that maybe you said something wrong. I am learning every day, that
the Lord really does make us His servants when we show Him we are
willing to try. When we commit ourselves, mentally, physically and
spiritually, He provides the way for us, even through our imperfections
and mistakes. We are only limited by our faith. Our attitude of faith
really makes a HUGE difference and we should never under-estimate the
influence that OUR personal faith can have on others.
The
other night we were walking home from the church, and we contacted this
old Spaniard man, named Carlos. We had passed by his piso the next
day, and his mujer answered and said that they weren´t interested and
that she didnt´want us to pass by. But, we tried calling him a couple
days later and he said that his wife wasn´t interested but that he was.
He came to the church that morning and we talked for over 2 hours with
him! He told us about his family and his 2 kids and about how much he
loves them so dearly. He talked about how when he was growing up, he
was afraid of his dad, that his dad was not a good father and didn´t
treat any of them very well. We talked about the plan of salvation with
him, about the reality that he can live with his family forever. He
loves his children, you can tell he just adores them and would do
anything for them. He was very sensitive and listened very intently as
we talked with him. After we finished talking, he looked at us and
said, "Ok....well, I´m going to go home and talk about this with my
wife, but can I come back tonight at 6!" Hermana Mather and I just
looked at eachother and started laughing! Never has anyone ever said to
us here that they want to come back and meet on the same day! We were
so shocked and excited! He was so receptive! He said that he wanted to
come to church that Sunday too. We hadn´t even invited him yet and he
just wanted to come! We left thinking that it was too good to be true!
But, sure enough he came and we told him the message of the restoration
and about the Book of Mormon. And we´re meeting with him tonight! He
didn´t end up coming to church on Sunday after all, but we are going to
see how he´s doing tonight. We are so excited! He is such a cute old
Spaniard man!
And Antonia and Fran and Aarón.
So far, they are still on date for the end of October! But, we´re
starting to get the vibes more and more that Antonia´s husband doesn´t
like the church. He´s been letting her come to church for the first
hour, but doesn´t let them stay for the last 2. She wants to stay, but
there´s something fishy going on there.....we´re hoping that they can
still be baptized. We have to make sure we have permission from her
husband though. They are such a sweet family :) And Antonia LOVES
church!
At the beginning of our mission we
got a little booklet called "Adjusting to missionary life." Something
that it says in there is that as missionaries, we have a front row seat
to the greatest miracle of all: the effect of Christ´s Atonement on
individuals and families. I love that and that is 100% true. It really
is amazing to see how the Atonement blesses and changes lives.
Including my own! I am so grateful to the Savior. He is our best
friend. He makes up for everything that we can´t do, after all that we
have done. I love Him and I know I can never repay Him for what He has
done for me.
I know that the Spirit is the true
teacher in missionary work and that we need the companionship of the
Holy Ghost always in our lives. Something that President Todd said (my
old stake president at BYU) was that the Holy Ghost is like a rutter on a
ship and the only way that the rutter has affect on the ship, is when
the ship is moving. We have to keep moving and pressing forward if we
want the Holy Ghost to have influence over us." Even though sometimes
it´s challenging to keep moving and going....the Lord expects us to keep
going and trying. I know as we do, that the Holy Ghost can guide us as
we act upon what we know is true.
Ok....I always feel so rushed! So much to say! Know that I love
you all! I wasn´t able to watch the Women´s Conference Session
yet....but wow......I am SOO excited for conference this weekend! I
hope you all have a wonderful week getting ready for conference and
all! I love you all dearly :)
I´ve gotta run!
Hermana Carroll
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