April 16, 2012

This week we spent the majoritya of our time getting a family ready to be baptized next Saturday. Remember how I said a member family lives behind us and gives us food and cleans our pinch and clothes? About two weeks back, the hermano introduced us to his sister and her family. Apparently it is a tradition of the hermano to introduce his sister to every new companionship who comes into Solano. The family had heard the discussions about 1700 times, but the hermano convinced them to try one more time. Elder Ramos and I decided that they had probably hear ever missionary lesson/trick ever, so we decided that we had to try to do something different. Elder Ramos then engineered this whole lesson concerning the Pearl of Great Price and part of the Lion King and dry noodles. Not kidding. The lesson was based on letting them know that they are all spirit children of God and need to act up to their position. It was sweet. The family totally loved it and accepted a baptismal invitation that night. Ever since that moment, we have been running through all the lessons in order to have them ready for this Saturday. It was all kind of crazy and hurried, but sweet and spiritual at the same time. To be baptized, they had to go to church two times in a row. They went the past Sunday, and only had to come this past Sunday again. But, if they didn't come, they wouldn't be able to be baptized until the next Saturday. They all got up and ready to go this Sunday, ran out to their car, and it wouldn't start. Diana, the mom of the family then got out of the car and started to run the 17 blocks to church. The whole family started shouting after her to come back, but she just shouted that she was going to church. jajaj Then her 8 year old son ran after her too. They both made it to church, and will be baptized this next Saturday. The dad, Maxi, wants to wait a little bit more, but is happy for his wife and son.

This experience taught me a little bit more about the importance of the spirit in conversion. I am noticing more and more which people have felt the spirit in the lessons and which have not, just based on their behavior. Diana and Kevin had felt the Spirit, it had changed them, and it showed in their behavior. It's crazy how much it changes people. I, as a missionary, can talk all I want and convince the mind of someone that what I am saying is true, but it doesn't serve for anything. The person is not gonna change. But, if someone feels the spirit, in their heart, it changes the way they act, think everything. That's what makes the difference. And it makes me feel so powerless, yet powerful at the same time. Powerful because I can be a vessel of this spirit, but powerless, because I really am not doing anything at all. It's kind of a relief that it doesn't depend on me, but on something much bigger.