So this week... Aw! The temple. We got up at 2:00 in the morning to go. No joke! I have been so exhausted all week long. I haven’t caught up on my sleep yet, but it was so very worth it. We got there in the dark and everyone was freaking out, crazy stressed, freezing cold and then of course, we step into the temple. Aw! Home... seriously. I have missed it so bad. DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE LIVE SO CLOSE TO SO MANY TEMPLES! You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. Anyway, it was dead silent in the temple and we were the only ones in there... it was so awesome to see the pictures of Christ, to see him and feel close to him. Would you believe the temple workers and the couple who was in the session with us are from Utah? Yes! Senior missionaries rock. Anywho, it was awesome talking in English, but so hard! I’m gonna die when I get home. I can’t talk with people in English here. It’s messed up. I actually watched the session in Spanish even though I could have listened in English. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, right? I got in my white clothes and it just felt so good. I can’t even explain to you. I loved it. Seeing everyone in white, it was like... this is what we´re supposed to be doing, this is where we are supposed to be. I missed you. The temple is our goal in this earth life and it felt good to be there to be brought back to home, remember my purpose here on earth as a member myself, not just as a missionary.
Afterwards we had a zone conference. It’s so fun being there. My pres was happy with me. I put some real good tips and thoughts up there. It’s like school here, only spiritual school. The best school. I love it. Then we had lunch and I saw one of the ladies that the elders baptized in San Jose. Her name is Laura. She just went through the temple. Her kids are all baptized now and she was so happy telling me so. That was so great to hear.As for the work here in my area of Maldonado ... things are well. We had progress with everyone this week. We showed Alejandra the Testament movie this week and she felt the spirit so strong. You could see it. She cried every time I was crying and I knew I was feeling the spirit so I was sure she was too. At the end she kept saying, today has been so special. She’s finally starting to get it. She finally went to church this week and loved every second, even though her baby kinda gave her some trouble. She made lots of friends this week. We also took her some extra food the members had prepared for us and she started crying saying that she had nothing to give her kids that day. She said Heavenly Father heard her prayers. He always does :) It feels good walking on sacred ground and being an instrument in Heavenly Father´s hand to bless the life of someone else. We have seen miracles like this all week long.
Deina and Daian’s mom said they couldn’t get baptized yet. She thinks it’s too soon. In the meantime, we are still going forward with faith with their baptismal date. We have since gotten the ward members involved in picking them up and looking after them. Hopefully if she sees more people will take care of them, she will change her mind. Keep them in your prayers. They also came to church yesterday and will be in the primary program next week. That’s great. The ward continues to love them.
Nataly is progressing. She took out her piercing for real, for real and gave it to my comp. Wahoo!!! She is talking so much more, is way open with us and loves the gospel. She left this whole week and was with her friends from the ward. Go team!
As for Gladys and Jose and family… oh man, I love them so much. They are probably one of my favorites. Gladys is such a giant sweetheart, so kind and giving. We took her to go befriend Alejandra and they instantly became friends. They were together all day long and haven’t really separated. She took her more food, told her to keep the Sabbath day holy, is giving her the courage to pay tithing and everything else. She took her to some ward activities this week and it’s been great. That’s how we see success: in the hands of the members. Jose received the priesthood yesterday and Gladys bore her testimony. She said she has been a member for 17 years, but she fell away. Then she said we two angels found her in the street and came into her home: loved her, taught her, gave her a boost and loving hand, some support and a little bit of hope and faith and today "my husband is here to receive the priesthood to baptize our daughter in two weeks." She started crying and said we really are her angels and she will forever be grateful to us. She said I love them and I adore them and will always remember them. I started crying too, of course. It was so awesome. THAT IS MISSIONARY WORK! I really do feel like I was supposed to be here to help her. She is one of THE ones I was supposed to find. I love their family.
On top of that, Natalia has finally made it back to church. Work gave her a hard time and then another miracle came along. Her doctor said that she couldn’t work anymore because of her pregnancy. She came to church for the first time in a very long time yesterday and loved it. She participated in every class. On top of that, Damian got the priesthood, taught priesthood and then blessed the Sacrament for the first time since he was young. Oh man... blessings, being showered down on us.
At the end of church the bishop stood up and thanked me and my comp for our work and love. Everyone was so grateful to us. As we filed out of the hallways when the meetings were over, everyone was coming up to us and hugging us. I felt an extreme amount of love. I will really be sad when I have to go from here. I have learned to love everyone here soooo much. I have learned the most in this area, serving the people in Maldonado. I have grown and been stretched and tested so much, but I’m so grateful for it and I would never take it back. These people are a people of God. I love them.
I guess that’s the blessing of being in an area so long. I get to see the fruits of my labor. I do feel that way. I feel like everything I have strived for here is finally coming to pass and I’m being rewarded for the hard work we’ve done. Not that I need to see them, for this is the Lord’s work and he deserves all the praise.
It’s been a good week. I continue to love this work and I’m growing in the gospel every day. I hope you can feel of the spirit when you read my words. I want you to feel the things I do and experience them with me. It’s hard, but I’ll be home one day to tell you the tales for real ;) I love you all more than you’ll ever know. I continue to miss you and appreciate you more and more. Keep being the most amazing family in the world. Until next week... love, Ash
1 comment:
Thanks for this post! I loved reading it. It is so great to hear things are well; sure there are challenges, but aren't there always?! :)
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