Saludos

¡Saludos!

This week was really amazing. We had intercambios on Wednesday, where I went and spent a day with Hermana Lefevre in Maray. She is from Delta, Utah. It was so wonderful to just talk and not have to think about what I had to say. In lessons, yes, but just walking around, I got to have some real conversations which was so nice. Then in the morning, I did training on my own, because we had a lesson planned during my training time. I was studying in Finding People in Preach My Gospel, and read the last bullet point, No Effort is Wasted. I had been really struggling with this lately, because the past week a lot of people had flat out rejected us. I was having a hard time finding the point for all my hard work. As I read, it related that when we do missionary work, we are planting seeds. Little smiles, hellos, prayers, and lessons, are all seeds of light that we are planting in others. These seeds can grow, slowly, but eventually bloom and be harvested many years later from other misisonaries or members. My effort is never wasted! This gave me a whole new perspective on my service. The next day I excitedly reported my findings to Hermana Vera. She told me a story of how when she was a baby, her grandmother had allowed two sister missionaries to come in her home, sing a hymn, and pray. Many years later, two elders asked to help her husband, hermana Vera's grandfather, to sweep his yard. Her grandmother and mother remembered the sisters from about 10 years back, and accepted the elder's invitation, and now Hermana Vera is on a mission helping others. How AMAZING! God is just awesome. So awesome. So all knowing. He knows exactly what he's doing. 

Luis was baptized on Saturday! He arrived home from work around 7. Perfect! We grabbed some empenadas to eat as we walked him over to the chapel. It started around 9 and we had a lovely little group there to support him. His hermanador (friendshipper) Herminio baptized him and he was confirmed on sunday by the bishop. We had a lot of opportunities after to teach him and talk to him. He is just so happy and I am so excited for him. 

We set a new date for Maty, and he is so ready as well. He came to church on sunday, and we had an awesome lesson with him on saturday. His brother is a big help as he is a member. We're hoping he will be able to baptize him next saturdaythe 30th. We also had an activity where some of the youth from the missionary prep class and some of the elders from our district, came to visit less actives from our ward and contact their street. We got so many referalls and everyone had a really great experience. I went with Claudia, who is leaving for the CCM to serve a mission in Mexico. So exciting! Everyone was so excited afterward and couldn't wait to tell us the people they met and what they taught others. Missionary work can be so fun and so exciting! But, I best be going. Please pray for missionary work, especially here in Los Pimientos! We need all the divine help we can get. I love you all!

Herman Richardson