We experienced some unforseen stresses this week when my companion and Hna Rodríguez (the comanion of Hna Baker) needed to go to Cusco Tuesday, so Hna Baker and I have been living it up together!
Not gonna lie, it can be super stressful to work two sectors, no matter how easy-going we try to be. And at least for me, it`s uncomfortable to work without my other-half (aka, my companion), and to adjust to another. (Boy, am I going to have problems this next week during changes.) But no matter the incommodities, Hna Baker and I get along pretty well, and we have been giving the work our all! Even when our companion`s initial 2-day-stay has extended into a week, we`ve stopped keeping track of the days and things just feel like normal. :)
If I`ve learned something this week, it`s that I can never stop working hard as a missionary even when there are unforseen challenges - like your companion travelling. I`ll be a missionary until I get released by my stake president, and even up until then I will be searching for people to contact and teach. I wont ever have this chance again, so I am going to LIVE it UP!
We visited with Ronal & Yanet :D Can I just reemphasize how much I LOVE them? With the help of our 2nd counselor of the branch, we taught them about celestial marriage and the Family Proclamation. They seriously are good, honest, and prepared people. They`ve been practically living the góspel without knowing it, and when the Spirit testifies of this to them in lessons, they just shine! Ronal almost brought me to tears in our lesson as he affirmed that they want to be baptized and be an eternal family. Maybe I am just super emotional or the Spirit was blasting full-forcé in that moment, but I have never been more happy in all of my misión than I was when he said that. Of course, there will be challenges along the way for them - as it is for anyone who begins their discipleship - but I know that Heavenly Father will bless them to the degree of their faith and good works. Ronal and Yanet are attending Church every Sunday, creating frienships in the branch and growing spiritually. :) As far as the work we are doing to help them get married, we are getting some papers ready and have asked for the help of the branch in order to help them with some of the fees of the municipalidad that they just dont have the money to pay. Please pray for them! This family has goals to go to the temple. :)
When I am not loving my investigatores, I am loving being used by the Spirit to teach. Our misión leader also went to Cusco this weekend for a District training, so I volunteered to prepare the Gospel Principles class this Sunday. It was on the Atonement, and during the whole process of preparing spiritually and outlining ideas for the class, I felt guided to know what to focus on. I didnt end up using everything that I prepared, but the Spirit was warmly present in that class and He told me which scriptures to use to explain the doctrine of the Atonement, why it`s important, and the blessings that come through Christ`s sufferings, death, and resurrection. The class members were making comments, asking questions, and we all learned by looking up scriptures and breaking down the meanings. When we had time at the end, several of them chose to give their testimonies. In my eyes, that class was a miracle. We all went in seeking to learn more, and left full of the Spirit. I live for moments like that!
This week I`ve pondered more about the short time it is to serve as a full-time missionary. The truth is, I take powerful teaching moments like that Sunday class and our lesson with Ronal and Yanet for granted. I dont even want to imagine how different it will be to not have the authority to preach the góspel and have the influence of the Spirit to call others to repentance. It`s more than unique! And...I just gotta make the most of it while I can!
On another note, this week is CONFERENCE. I loved the Womens Meeting, and I am getting hyped up over here about listening to the Prophet. The newest news on the misión grape-vine says that us gringos wont be able to watch it in English in a separate room like we are accostomed to, but no matter. We`ll get to watch CONFERENCE! This time of year is just so special, and I am grateful for the góspel that I have in my life. Everyday I draw closer to my Savior, and I can have an eternal perspective in everything.
I hope you all enjoy this week and take time to listen to the words of living prophets. I know that they are called of God, and they He guides us through them. I also know that my Redeemer lives, and the relationship that I have with Him is worth all of the riches in the world! Nothing else matters.
I am out of time, but make sure to enjoy this Easter and go watch ``Because He Lives``! Here`s a link:
Love,
Hna Arroyo
(sorry that there`s no fotos this week! I`ll work on that, promise.)
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