Happy New Year!
This week was amazing! (I know, I know...I say that every week) But let me tell you why. This week we went to Veracruz for Lider Council and I got the best present. No mom...Sadly I didn't get my Christmas package (Christmas in February will be a lot better, don't worry :) But Hermana Johnson told me about what happened in Orizaba in the two weeks I was gone. Jordy ( Who got baptized my last week there) Baptized his sister Genesis! I can't even believe how happy it made me! She is so cute too because when I called her to congradulate her she just about started crying on the phone. She is honestly like my sister and although I'm so bummed I wasn't there - There is no greater feeling then to find out about your investigators getting baptized after you've left. But that wasn't all - I don't know if you remember Leticia? Who we found one day by a huge spiritual chance. She is really sick and in a few days will have surgery. The last week I was there in Orizaba her family took her to a different town so they could take care of her. She literally disappeared and we couldn't even get ahold of her for telephone until my last day. By pure miracle - the hermanas found her. (Miracle = Answer to my constant prayers for her) They found her and she got baptized that same week. The emotion I felt seeing her baptism pictures - there aren't words.
This week was also New Years! How did I pass it you may wonder? Sleeping. So tuesday we went to Veracruz and after there was no way we could get back to San Andres. Every bus was full and they were selling them black market! So we ended up staying the night in the mission offices- or really in the old apartment of the missionaries from the offices. They kindly brought us over some mattresses at 10 at night so we could have something to sleep on and then we woke up bright and early to come back to our area. The blessing? I got to have a little sleepover with the best friends a girl could ask for - Hermana Johnson and Hermana Jensen. The hard part? We came back on an AU bus. Not sure really how to explain the difference between an AU and an ADO - Just know that ADO is "Always first!" And that AU is "Always second" haha It was a long 5 hour ride. We were so tired after these two long days we didn't even hear the crazy fireworks at 12. Here in Mexico they have a tradition to burn the old man every year at 12 - They have dummies with fireworks in them and they set them off to celebrate the new year. I don't know how we didn't hear it but I am so grateful.
The amazing thing is that I know that God works in mysterious ways. While we were on the AU making our way back to San Andres - I noticed 2 men that were in the bus ihle. With every stop they would get more and more close to where we were sitting. And after about 3 hours they were right there. I started talking to them and we had a great conversation. One was named Nicolas. His grandson was going to get baptized last week and we talked for awhile about that - and the Book of Mormon. The other was named Marcelo. I was so glad when Nicolas got off because it gave me the chance to talk to him. He's a single dad who was traveling with his children to go see his brothers and other family, I just know that God put us in his path to be able to talk to him and share the gospel. I ended up giving him the only copy of the book of mormon that I had - which was a new hardcover I was going to use for something else but It felt so good to give him the Book of Mormon and invite him to read it. I love that as a missionary you never stop being a missionary. That in every situation o in any moment we are called to preach the gospel - something I realized is that it's not just us as missionaries - but us as members of the church. Somehow the nametag gives courage I have never had before - but I know that even after I take it off I will still have it written on my heart. I invite all of you to take upon you the name of Christ. To remember that you've already done it - and look for that person that needs your help. Share the joy of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
These past few weeks I've been learning a lot and I know that I have a grand potential. I am so grateful for the love my Heavenly Father has for me. And I know he has the same love for each of you.
Have a great week!
Hermana Terry
This week was also New Years! How did I pass it you may wonder? Sleeping. So tuesday we went to Veracruz and after there was no way we could get back to San Andres. Every bus was full and they were selling them black market! So we ended up staying the night in the mission offices- or really in the old apartment of the missionaries from the offices. They kindly brought us over some mattresses at 10 at night so we could have something to sleep on and then we woke up bright and early to come back to our area. The blessing? I got to have a little sleepover with the best friends a girl could ask for - Hermana Johnson and Hermana Jensen. The hard part? We came back on an AU bus. Not sure really how to explain the difference between an AU and an ADO - Just know that ADO is "Always first!" And that AU is "Always second" haha It was a long 5 hour ride. We were so tired after these two long days we didn't even hear the crazy fireworks at 12. Here in Mexico they have a tradition to burn the old man every year at 12 - They have dummies with fireworks in them and they set them off to celebrate the new year. I don't know how we didn't hear it but I am so grateful.
The amazing thing is that I know that God works in mysterious ways. While we were on the AU making our way back to San Andres - I noticed 2 men that were in the bus ihle. With every stop they would get more and more close to where we were sitting. And after about 3 hours they were right there. I started talking to them and we had a great conversation. One was named Nicolas. His grandson was going to get baptized last week and we talked for awhile about that - and the Book of Mormon. The other was named Marcelo. I was so glad when Nicolas got off because it gave me the chance to talk to him. He's a single dad who was traveling with his children to go see his brothers and other family, I just know that God put us in his path to be able to talk to him and share the gospel. I ended up giving him the only copy of the book of mormon that I had - which was a new hardcover I was going to use for something else but It felt so good to give him the Book of Mormon and invite him to read it. I love that as a missionary you never stop being a missionary. That in every situation o in any moment we are called to preach the gospel - something I realized is that it's not just us as missionaries - but us as members of the church. Somehow the nametag gives courage I have never had before - but I know that even after I take it off I will still have it written on my heart. I invite all of you to take upon you the name of Christ. To remember that you've already done it - and look for that person that needs your help. Share the joy of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
These past few weeks I've been learning a lot and I know that I have a grand potential. I am so grateful for the love my Heavenly Father has for me. And I know he has the same love for each of you.
Have a great week!
Hermana Terry