We are going to Casa Pueblo today. Look it up… it’s one of Uruguay’s famous trademarks and we got permission to go. It has an art museum and other cool things, but I just mostly want to go to take pictures. We are so excited.
We have gotten calls from the zone leaders because our numbers have been so good. Now, I want to emphasize that I know numbers don’t really matter, but my President is actually very strict about numbers. He holds us very accountable for them. After we went to the temple, we had a zone conference about the importance of planning, getting and setting numbers each week as our goals. And he convinced me (or maybe it was the spirit) of just how important they are. We don’t want numbers, but we do want people to get baptized. We want the ice cream! But we have to use the spoons, or our other numbers, to get to eat it. We have since focused a lot on our goals: making sure we actually look at them, check ourselves and hold ourselves accountable for them. Since then, our companionship has flown high and above everyone else. The only thing I can say is that we are really trying our darndest to do our part to be worthy of the blessings Heavenly Father wants to bestow upon us. I have since learned a lot of lessons, but I feel like I am fulfilling my calling by reaching our numbers. Not just that, but I feel like it’s a reflection of my desire to serve and I can surely say that if we don’t have baptisms, it is not our fault, only that it’s not the Lord’s timing. I have a clear conscience... but the thing is... we ARE having baptisms. It is awesome!!
We had Nataly’s baptism and what a smashing event it was... then this weekend was Loana’s baptism and it was even better… if that can be possible. The young women had their Night in Excellence scheduled for the same time as our baptism and we were afraid everyone would just go to that and we wouldn’t have any ward support for the Rodriguez family. But the bishop decided the miracle happening with this family was more important and so he made them stop their activity and have everyone join us for the baptism and everyone loved it. Strong spirit, good support and a baptism. What more could you ask for? It was great.
Yuri continues to progress and develop each day in the gospel. This will be hands down the fastest baptism I’ve ever had. Less than 3 weeks to find him, teach him everything, have him have his conversion and get baptized. That will be this Saturday. Pray everything goes well and we don’t have any snags. He’s awesome.
We continue to see miracles, I’m telling you. I get more and more amazed at Heavenly Father’s love for us each day. I’m literally blown away. I had a really cool experience last night... well, this morning. We planned last night to go to Casa Pueblo and, of course, a huge storm comes in. We have been dying of heat all week. We got so bummed and it only got worse in the middle of the night. I actually woke up because our house was flooding. Yes... awesome Uruguayan constructed houses, oh how I love them. My suitcases, boxes and other things were soaked. I just never went back to bed … that’s how much water was coming in. I was up protecting all our stuff. So we were bummed when we discovered the rain still hadn’t stopped while we were studying. We called our district leader and told him to bring my comp’s mail because we were actually going to stay here instead of leaving. He said he would. Now you don’t understand the challenges we’ve had with mail and how much it means to my comp. Anyway, she was actually excited for the rain because that meant that she could receive her mail. I was bummed about not being able to go. We got our mail and guess what? The rain stops... the sun immediately comes out and I had figured out the perfect plan of God that he has to make all of us happy. He made it possible for us to go to Casa Pueblo and for my comp to get her mail. If it had been sunny and clear all morning, she wouldn’t have gotten it. I know it seems trivial, but it means so much to us. He loves us.
I stand here as a testimony of that to all and I’m trying to do my part to get it out to the rest of the world. Slowly but surely, it’s working. I love this gospel. There is nothing more or better to be living for. Don’t forget it, EVER! Be good... keep smiling. He’s there and He’s looking out for each one of us. Don’t ask me how it’s possible, it just is.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!! I love you all with more than all my heart.
Love, Ash.
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