Buenas Tardes!
This week was a week of miracles, and you want to know why? I found a penny right side up = good luck! I have no idea how I was able to find a penny here on a random street in Mexico - it really surprised me! But after, day after day, it was miracle after miracle.
I want to start off today with the story of Idalia. Maybe you've been able to tell but these past months (March and April) Were really hard in Jardin. It seemed like nothing went our way and then the minute that it was - everything fell through. It was so hard! We didn't know what to do. The only good thing was that me and my companion, Hermana Citam grew closer every day and it was a blessing to see our companionship build.
I'm pretty sure I commented but one week that was especially hard was the week before general conference. We worked really hard and all the investigators we had fell through. I told our district leader - "The miracles that come to the conference are for us!" And it actually happened! Idalia showed up with her boyfriend. She had started asisting church with him in a different branch (And those crazy zone leaders never sent us her reference!) But it ended up perfect because she said by herself "I think it's time to talk to the missionaries" And there we went walking by at that moment. From then on we started teaching her. And it was such an amazing experience teaching her! She askes the most perfect questions. And from the beginning was willing to do everything we asked her. When we talked about the Word of Wisdom she told us that her desire to recieve an answer was greater than her desire to drink coffee. Golden. :)
But it was super difficult to find and teach her! She would work two hours away in the week and was only home on thursday and friday nights. But then... Somehow we found the way to teach her. Everytime we called or she called us we could verify and talk a little about other topics. And she loved talking to us on the phone because she said we were alway so excited to talk to her (¡ HERMANAAA !)
Then thursday night we talked to her and she said that she was ready and wanted to get baptized but that she wanted to get a confirmacion that the Book of Mormon was true or just recieve the spiritual witness like it says in Moroni 10. She was worried because she was working to be baptized the 26th and she felt like it was too soon. I told her, Hermana I know that you will recieve an answer if you keep praying and asking because when we set a baptismal date we know that if the investigator does their part God will surely do His. And He did.
Friday in the morning she called us with the good news that she recieved her answer. That she had prayed and felt the most powerful warm feeling in her heart, She felt the spirit and knew that it was true. With that, everything was easy and perfect. She was baptized Sunday at 10 and at 11 she was confirmed! She even invited 4 friends that came to support her. It was a day SO special. (Not without it's crazy moments..For example when all the baptismal clothing somehow disappeared and we ran around crazy looking for white clothing haha )
This was just such a witness to me that God loves each and every one of his children. He will bless us when we do our part, and it was something I could truely live as we worked our tails off and God blessed us with Idalia. The other part of my testimony that was strengthened was the law of the fast. Me and Hermana Citam did a special fast for her so that she could receive her answer. It was the HARDEST fast I have ever done. I have never been SO thirsty. Never. I was so tempted and it was difficult but I just kept thinking - "My desire for Idalia to recieve her answer is greater than my desire to break my fast"
The only part that was terrible was I couldn't say goodbye! Just a fast telephone call! We didn't tell her about the possiblity of transfers because we didn't want her to think that was the purpose behind the baptism date we set and so that she could focus on recieving her answer and enjoying her baptism :) But I know that someday I'll see her again! That's the great thing about what I'm doing - the people I meet and the relationships we create are not just for 18 months - they're for eternity! It was also hard leaving Hermana Citam. She grew into a companion SO special for me. And not just because I was training her. I love her so much and I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father knows us so perfectly that he let me be her first companion :)
And another bit of the good luck of this week? My new companion is Hermana Ledek!! ¿What? My companion from the MTC! I remember that in the MTC we always said - Someday we will be companions when we are ending our mission so that we know spanish and we know how to teach! And God let it happen. I am so excited for this transfer. And the other blessing? I'm in Cordova!! I always wanted to go to Cordova. (It's only about 40 minutes from Orizaba! And I know I will be going there for conferences this month!! WOO!) And since it's close to Orizaba it's a little bit cooler! Not as humid (And it's the humidity that kills me as a Southern Utah girl) And since I'm over here I heard a bit of news from Orizaba. Enoc is the President of the Young Men! And Jordy is the secretary! I feel really happy that these two converts are working to build and strength the youth and themselves at the same time. Especially because they didn't have the chance to be in YM but now they do :)
Well, that's almost all I can write for this week! But I hope you all have a great week! I love you all! Remember always that if we do our best to serve the Lord He will bless us in ways we can't imagine...with blessings we never thought we could even deserve.
Hermana Terry
(Me and Hermana Ledek keeping cool under my freshly washed sheet)