Tuesday, August 12, 2014

To the rescue

So in our mission we have a list of all of the less active members and it is a VERY extensive list. (1 in every 30 Chileans is a member and 9 of every ten Chilean members are inactive) The title of this list is El Rescate, or the rescue. Our President and each of the seventies who have come to our mission have told us very straight forward, if you reactivate more members you will baptize more. And even more specifically if we use rescate we will find more people to teach. Well I have been using this list for months now and all that I could show for it was a bunch of people who had moved or were not interested in listening to us, but not discouraged my companion and I continue to use it on a daily basis. And this week we saw the fruits, thank goodness we continued faithfully. 

Monday evening my companion and selected a few names from the list and went to visit them, the first one we went to.....nothing, the second......nothing.....then the third one that we went to......nothing. But after that we planned to go to Christian Guajardo a forty two year old less active member. We came to his door and knock on it and the nanny answered the door and told us to come back a different day. As we walked away we both felt this feeling come over us that we had to go back and soon. So Sunday night we planned it out and we returned, and what did we find? Christian and his wife in tears because that Thursday morning their cousin had committed suicide. I cannot explain the joy that we felt as we talked of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and about how their family can be an eternal family. Christian expressed his instant desire to return to the church (something he had expressed before when his wife was sick a few years ago and received a powerful priesthood blessing from some members of the church, they lacked the follow-up) But last night his wife Elizabeth accepted the invitation to baptism (something they had previously considered, but never had the push). They were astounded that amidst the thousand less active members in San Carlos we had selected Christian and come to visit them in this moment of great need. We expressed who much that shows that God loves them. The spirit was super strong and they are super excited for church on Sunday. Miracle, I think so.

On Tuesday we contacted a lovely couple in the street who asked/commanded us to come by, they committed us (that's something I am not used to) But since then we have had two lessons with them and both were super filled with the spirit. At the end of each lesson one of them has offered a kneeling prayer after which they comment on how much closer they feel to God. Sergio (the guy) used to go to church, but was never baptized, currently he is looking for a church to join or something to help him to feel more peace in his life. They are committed to church this Sunday and are super excited! God led us to them as well.

Then with Maritza (an older lady who we have been teaching) we had a super powerful lesson in which she opened up to us. She was progressing super slow and actually was not showing too much interest in learning more, but on Saturday she broke down and told us of a few problems that she has been having and expressed a sincere interest in being baptized. She has had a difficult life, but some of it she has brought upon herself and now she will begin making the changes necessary to be happy. 

Lastly on Saturday night we visited with a Member, Victor Hugo. He recently asked to be released from his calling as young men's president. But we went there because his wife is not a member of the church and, well, that's got to change. So we shared with him mosiah 2:17 which struck him to the very center, because he asked to be released from his calling for lack of time, but he told us that he never would have said that to the Lord. The change in his character was visible. He is now committed to make the next steps to help his wife enter into the church, We want them to go to the temple and God wants the same exact thing. 

I know this is the work of the Lord, that's why we have been able to accomplish the things which we have, but there is always more to do.
Love you
Elder Hutchins