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| La Zona |
This week was a blessing to me. I learned the importance of prayer and trusting in the Lord to keep his promises. Before various lessons this week my companion and I prayed specifically that the Lord would keep his promise and 'go before our face' that he would enter into the houses before us and that He would prepare the hearts of the people to accept our message, and He did. This week God worked miracles in the lives of many people here in Talcahuano.
First off with Jaqueline and Viviana, they are a mother and a daughter that we have been teaching and they have decided to be baptized this Saturday at six. Viviana has been sure about it for about a month, but she was waiting for her mother to make the decision because she wanted to get baptized together. We made phone calls during the week to verify the book of Mormon reading of Jaqueline and she read everyday and by Sunday there was a distinct change in her. After the meetings on Sunday we had a lesson with her and we read from Mosiah 18: 8-10, it talks of the covenant that we make when we are baptized. We must be willing to serve those who need it, to cry with those who cry, to comfort those who stand in need of comfort and to really just serve your fellow being. Then the question is asked, if this and the desire of your heart (and she expressed that it was) then what impedes your from being baptized as a testimony to God that you are willing to do these things, in order that He can more fully bless you with his spirit? Her response, Nothing. Saturday at 6, here we come.
Second with Macarena and Hilda, another mother and daughter that we are teaching who are preparing for baptism on the 21 of this month, they were sure that they wanted to get baptized, but they were not too sure about the date, this week in Relief Society some sister (no idea who it was) but announced that not only Jaqueline and Viviana, but also Macarena would be getting baptized this Saturday.... well she was a little surprised at that, but said nothing until later in the evening when we went by her house to visit with her and her mother, she told us that she wanted to get baptized and this Saturday, after talking a little more (taking into account how often we can visit her and her mother and her comprehension) we decided with her to stay with the goal of the 21, but know she is super sure that it is what she wants to do and she is excited to be able to see a baptism before she gets baptized. This was a huge change (earlier in the week she said that she was really unsure about her date). God works miracles.
Lastly was with Rosa, the mother of a member. We have been teaching her about once a week, sometimes once every other week, but her comprehension is incredible and she remembers almost everything that we teach. Furthermore, she keeps her commitments, when she commits to read, she reads and has read various parts of the book of Mormon as well as a few pamphlets. But she has not come to church yet (until this Sunday when she came and loved it!!!) She told us that she will probably be baptized in the future, but she would like to feel the need before she does it (that is the general idea) This Saturday night we went over to her house with an older married couple, we watched a short movie (twenty minutes) on the restoration, after the movie we discussed and conversed the importance of prayer and receiving an answer for ourselves. Afterwards we invited Rosa to offer the prayer, so we each kneeled down and she offered a beautiful prayer supplicating God, her Father, for the feeling that this was the right path for her. After the prayer the room was silent for a minute and she said, I feel it, this is the right path I feel good.
I love the work, these were just three of the many miralces that I have seen God work. He lives and truly is a God of miralces. Please, family and friends, help the missionaries, they need your help they cannot do it without you.
Elder Hutchins
