The Lord POURS Out His Blessings...I'm Always Soaking Wet!

November 10, 2014

NOOOOO. Transfers are here and I am sad. Well actually, I am great.... but we are pretty sure Sister Noakes is leaving :( sad day. I love her so much and will be sad to see not only my companion, but FRIEND, leave. BUT I know that the Lord will provide and that I will be okay without her. She has taught me so much. I can't believe I've spent the past 2,016 hours with her. That's a long time. It's a good thing I love that girl. 

 

 

Winter is coming!

This week was another tough one, but the work WILL press on! We're coming up on the last week of the transfer and we KNOW we will see miracles. 

Speaking of miracles, here is one that we saw this week: 5 NEW INVESTIGATORS. Woohoo! The investigator turn around has been a little slower this transfer so it was good to get back into the swing of things in that aspect. TWO of those newbies were found on MONDAY. The first two doors we knocked on this week and BOTH contained people that were prepared by the Lord to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was BEATING cold on Monday [makes tracting a little tougher] so to get into someone's house and teach them was WONDERFUL. #tendermercy

This week we did ELEVEN hours of service! That is usually what we do during the day [usually 1-3 pm] since almost no one is in their house. It was awesome and it is actually a HUGE stress relief! I love serving the Lord and His children... in all aspects.

 

The Tobler's grand daughter...she's a crack up!

 

On Wednesday evening it was 8:30 [awkward time before we go in for the night]. Sister Noakes and I were unsure of who to see. We started driving towards a less active member's house to try and visit them when I felt prompted to go and see a potential/referral we received, Yolanda. We knocked, chatted for a minute and introduced our message. She asked us how much time we had, we flipped the question around, and she allowed us to teach her! At 8:30 pm! Who finds a new investigator at that hour?! It was awesome and she is so sweet. It is so amazing to find those that want to listen to the gospel. People here are so kind and always treat us [for the most part] so kindly. I love it, I love it, I love it! :)

Thursday evening we stopped by Juan [the new less active member we found in Delta] and taught him and his 8 year old daughter. She was SO engaged and LOVED the message we shared. She knew little to nothing about the gospel and soaked up everything we said. She even begged her dad to take her to church! Sadly, they didn't end up coming, but we are seeing them again on Thursday. She is only 8 so she doesn't count as an "investigator" but that's just one more soul we can bring unto Christ to covenant with our Heavenly Father :)

That night, we also had a lesson with Blanca. It went GREAT. We put it ALL out there for her and basically said that if she never read the BOM she would NEVER know if it is true! Both Sister Noakes and I ended up crying when bearing our testimonies. The spirit was sooo strong. I know she will be baptized one day. We are just waiting for her to receive that testimony and confirmation that we know she can. 

On Friday evening we had a baby shower for a member of our branch, Sister Nicholson. OH MY GOODNESS it was so precious!!! I love that family so much and will be so excited to see their new beautiful boy!

 

 

Sister Nicholson's baby shower

 

 

Baby shower games

 

 

Oops...more baby shower fun!

Yesterday, we had a great morning at church. I translated it into English again and it went well! Some have asked me about my Spanish and it is coming along well! I don't know if I am 100% fluent in ALL aspects, but I am definitely fluent in things relating to the gospel! I can speak about mostly anything with ease. We speak about 70% of our day in Spanish and almost always teach in Spanish. I can see that I truly have the gift of tongues and that the Lord is guiding my words. I learn every day and can literally see my abilities being strengthened by my faith. I am becoming more reliant on Spanish and it becomes harder and harder to speak in English. Even my personal prayers are struggling to find the words in my native tongue! I love it and I love these people. It is so amazing to have the opportunity to jump into another culture and adapt to their ways and their language.

Last night the branch had a baptism! It was amazing!!! The elder's investigator, Alejandro, got baptized and it was BEAUTIFUL. I bawled like a baby. The spirit was so strong and I couldn't help but feel how happy the Lord was for him and his family. His wife was a less active member and it was wonderful to know that 2 souls [and many more to come] have been brought back to Christ. They are now progressing towards being sealed as a family for time and all eternity. Definitely a moment I will never forget.

 

Alejandro's baptism

Elder Penuelas returned for the baptism!

San Juan Cinco: Reunited again!

That is about it for the week! I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord and can't believe all of the blessings he POURS out every day. I am always soaking wet! This IS the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It HAS been restored, and is here to bring you home. This IS the good news. 

Take care y Dios les bendiga!

Love,

Hermana Pierce