A couple weeks ago after our interviews with President, we stopped by the distribution center and I felt the urge to buy a Portuguese Book of Mormon. We were teaching one of our investigators, Chachi, and Hermana Undurraga picked up her brazilian accent and she has been living in Brazil for most of her life! So we shared with her that I had followed the Spirit in buying her a Book of Mormon and she was so touched she almost cried.
We have been looking for a new place to live for 2 weeks now because apparently it`s a rule that there can`t be more than 4 missionaries living in the same apartment. So the 6 of us are rule breakers in this condo we live in! But all we have found are rooms for rent. Bolivia.
After taking our measurements for pants, we got the call from the mission president`s wife saying, ¨The pants are only for new missionaries. Hermana Park wont be receiving pants.¨ How sad is reality.
We had a conference with President Rodriguez all about the Atonement. I had never realized that Christ not only suffered for my sins, but for the sins of murderers. The sins of all who have lived and will yet live. He asked for the cup to be taken, and in this moment, Satan and his followers were saying, ¨Yes! We knew you couldn`t do it. We knew you`d fail.¨ But He finished what He had been sent here to do. He did that because He loves us. And I love Him for doing it.
My pictures aren`t working sorry! But Ana Maria cut about 6 inches off! haha but life goes on. Change is good!
Maria L. and her daughter Laura (14) and her 2 sons Pablo (9) and Matías (5) after church yesterday. They LOVE the Book of Mormon and we´re planning for their baptism at the end of this month!
Ice cream marshmallows with Luana and Franchesco!
President and Sister Rodriguez and their son!
We went bowling with the hermanas! SO FUN! I got 2 strikes with a new move I call not trying and being spazzy. (there´s a video..)
bowling with Hna Alvarez!
Betty D. and her 3 kids and 1 grand-daughter. As soon as the wedding bells ring, Betty, Leonel, and Diana will be baptized. It all just depends on when Eduardo can get work off so they can go to the court house!
Sandra, who we visit often to cheer her spirit!
¨¡HOLA!¨ was the first word yelled, quite loudly, as President and Sister Rodriguez burst into our conference! The conference was AMAZING. I am a witness of the power of callings. He wasn´t called to take President Willard´s place. He is a continuation of the work that was already being done. He is bursting with ideas, and it´s amazing that they are working. Both he and his wife were converted young by receiving a Book of Mormon. I made the comment of how we should start giving out the Book and he yelled. ¨YES! LET´S FILL SANTA CRUZ WITH THE BOOK OF MORMON!¨
On the way home, we chatted up the taxi driver and he said he wanted to read. So we made him wait outside the gate and we bolted up the 3 flights of stairs to give him the opportunity to read his very own Book of Mormon. That same day we gave one to a man on the bus and a night guard. The next day, the bus driver and his daughter. Another day, a man in the park. Then with 3 more investigators we found to teach in their homes. They all have the sincere desire to read the Book and know if it´s true. We gave them to other missionaries as a referral. Like President said, we know how many seeds 1 apple has, but we dont know how many apples 1 seed can produce.
In other news, Jesús S. is going to get baptized this Saturday! He´s 9 and wants to keep coming to church and reading his Book of Mormon like his older sisters, Mariela and Valeria, do. He is SO EXCITED! There are transfers Wednesday! Yikes. We´ll see what happens.
Oh also, today I finished reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish. It is amazing. It´s true in English and it´s true in Spanish. I started reading it in November just by reading a chapter a day. How easy is that! So everyone reading this email wherever you are, member of the church or not. I invite you to read the Book of Mormon again. If you are already reading it, GREAT! KEEP GOING! If not, today is a great day to start :) The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I love the Book of Mormon and I love Jesus Christ of whom the Book testifies.
