February 13, 2018
Today was a good day. We had a lot of good appointments planned and good backup plans, but everyone of the appointments fell through except for one. but it was really cool because if our appointments hadn’t fallen, we would never have met M. who we contacted in a park. Actually we were going to look for some less active members, but we had the impression to turn back. Was we did that we met her. She told us that she has a desire for peace and happiness in her live but has many challenges with her health and her ability to support herself. She is a widow and has a little boy with Asbergers as well, which adds up to life being really hard for her. We talked to her about the peace that the gospel brings to us and the asked us if there was something that we could give her to help her come closer to God. She readily accepted The Book of Mormon. That was the major miracle for the day. It is so humbling how the Lord puts people in our path just at the right time and place.
February 14, 2018
Man, today was rough. Well, actually it was just really long. We went to La Huerta and visited various people, but didn’t really make much progress. We did meet some less active members and made some contacts. That’s all part of missionary work. Hermana P. is such a champ though. She is this 70 year old lady who runs every morning and she, apart from doing a ton of missionary work, is organizing Relief Society and Young Women’s/Men's activities. I can’t imagine the branch without her! She is like a second mom to all the missionaries, and she is pretty strict too, which is something necessary here.
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| Happy Valentine's Day |
February 15, 2018
All of our morning appointments fell through today and we didn’t really use our time very well before leaving the house. I really need to improve with my morning routine. Then, in the afternoon and evening, all of our appointments fell through again. We decided that we should go with O’s family to teach his nieces who have a baptismal date. Right as we decided to go to see them, the bus that runs by their house stopped in front of us, perfect timing! We found the whole family, which is a miracle in itself, but the Mom of one of the girl’s was there and we were able to testify to her and invite her to church. She is a very committed Catholic so we were surprised when she said that she would come to church. I am praying for a miracle for the girls so that their parent’s hearts will be softened and they can be baptized.
February 16, 2018
Today we traveled all day long. We went from Barra to Guadalajara to go to the conference with Elder Niel L Anderson. It was interesting, we traveled as a zone in a van and i got to sit up in the front by the van driver. That guy had had a rough life, with lots of problems, but is searching for peace. He asked about the hymns that we were listening to, because he really liked how they made him feel calmer and happier. He asked how he could download them and asked about church services. Then we took a taxi all across Guadalajara and our taxi was someone who believed in all religion. She was very nice and told us at the end of the ride that if she ever had kids, she would send them to the Mormon church! We gave her a Book of Mormon, who who knows what will happen there.
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| Yes, those are squirrels, on our heads, in a bus. |
February 17, 2018
Wow…the apostle’s visit was …Wow! The spirit was so strong! First of all, a few members of the Seventy and their wives spoke to us. They were rather short talks, but very good messages. Then Elder Anderson spoke. he taught in Spanish/English?Portuguese/French … haha, couldn’t keep his languages straight, poor guy. He kind of gave up on the Spanish after a while and just stuck to English. He spoke about President Monson and then completely changed subjects. Right in the middle of his talk he stopped and wondered what we could do to baptize more. In the missions in Guadalajara, there are probably only 25 baptisms per month per mission, which is really low for Mexico. But Elder Anderson felt impressed that we need to focus more on people from 15-25 years of age. He had some ideas for us to set goals as a mission. He talked about many other things including testifying about President Nelson as our new prophet. That was maybe the strongest that I have ever felt the Spirit.
On the drive home, I got to sit in the front again and talk to the van driver some more about the gospel. I was able to give him a Book of Mormon.
Wow, today was awesome. Church in La Huerta was super cool. Last week we talked about la bra missional and the members brought a bunch of their friends. Even one of our investigators brought some of her family with her! We finally broke 30 people in attendance. It’s so amazing to thing about how God works. None of those people com because of our proselyting efforts. they come because to the members. But we put in our part and the Lord blessed us in very unexpected ways.
Today we learned about an elderly member’s problem. A while got this member was in an accident and the doctors put a plate in her femur. Recently the plate became detached and is causing lots of problems. She went to the doctors and found out that it is much more serious than she thought. She needs an operation because she has a very bad bone infection. It is an expensive operation, but she has to have it to save her life. This member is dirt poor. Her kids can’t help her and they don’t want to ask her only brother for help because he has helped her kids in the past and they wasted his money. This lady is the kindest, sweetest lady, but her family kind of treats her like trash sometimes. It is so sad. So another sister is trying to raise money for her.
Apart from that, we had church in Barra, which was not as exciting as La Huerta. We only had 15 people there. We talked about la bra missional hoping for results like La Huerta. After the meeting we contacted and visited a few people and then went home to wait for the transfer call to come. My whole district is staying the same. I am so excited to spend another transfer in Barra! Awesome!
February 19, 2018
I’m super excited to have one more change here. It almost certainly means that after this change I’m going. But anything can happen. This week has been super super super busy, but really incredible. Luckily I actually wrote in my Journal! It’s a mission of miracles!
Just the biggest thing that happened. Elder Anderson came to Guadalajara and spoke to the two missions here. It was the first time that the mission has been together in a long time, and I learned when you get a bunch of missionaries together they tend to turn somewhat immature, but more important was the meeting. We learned many things, but most I just want to say that these men are truly ordained servants of the Lord. As Elder Anderson shared about when President Nelson was set apart, the Spirit filled the room. I know that this is the Lord’s work, and that He literally directs the work. He lives. Our faith in Him is not in vain. It was truly an experience that I will never be able to forget. How grateful I am for our leaders and the revelations that they receive to guide us. I know he received revelation for our mission, and that President Nelson receives revelation for the whole church. What a blessing it is to live in these days!
Sister Clayton wrote about the visit from Elder Anderson; “On Saturday, February 17th we were thrilled to have met with and heard teachings from Elder Neil L. Anderson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and also Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Presidency of the Seventy. We combined with the Guadalajara East mission at the Lomas Stake Center to listen to each of these brethren, and sister Jan Robbins speak to us.
Elder Anderson was personable and spoke with no notes, just pure inspiration as it came to him. He walked throughout the chapel, in and around the rows of missionaries, making his way to the very last row, and up front again. He would look right at our missionaries, calling them by name, asking what they were thinking, asking them for examples from scriptures, and to recite verses of scriptures. He told stories from his service as a missionary and as a mission president. He shared precious experiences with President Thomas S. Monson, and tender and sacred experiences with our newly called President and Prophet Russell M. Nelson.”
It was a day to remember. Here we are 148 missionaries strong!
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