Water Shoes And Baptisms

Spiritual: I love the happiness the gospel gives every single person who ACTS. President Nelson said, 

 

 

"[A missionary's] goal is not to increase the number of Church members. Rather, our missionaries teach and baptize to bring joy to the people of the world!"

 

 

Our new friend Josefa does not have any beliefs in God, however, feels like something is missing in her life. We invited her to ACT and pray to God. The day after our first lesson, we asked how her prayers went and her answer was so powerful. She explained her first prayer felt unnatural and odd, but as she continued to try, she felt "a really weird/distinct type of happiness that filled my heart with warm feelings and I just cried and smiled"!!!! And that is what the gospel does... brings feelings of peace and happiness that aren't comparable to ANY OTHER TYPE OF PEACE AND HAPPINESS. We are simply required to ACT to receive that type of joy in our lives. 

 

 

After church yesterday, she told us how our friendship was meant to be. She never sits outside her house and we never walk down her street, yet a random Tuesday afternoon, my companion and I got so lost (this happens often, sorry hermana Vasquez) and Josefa decided to sit outside with her dog and all it took was the ACT of opening our mouths to try and brighten her day with the message of Jesus Christ. As Josefa has continued to ACT, there is a spiritual momentum and freedom that she wants to continue to grow. 

 

 

Like Josefa, sometimes we need to just ACT and claim the guidance of the Spirit for ourselves and walk by faith rather than sight. She prayed to a God she didn't believe in, however, through her ACTIONS, she was able to feel His perfect love. She is ACTING by allowing the spirit to guide her to the path which leads to FOREVER HAPPINESS AND ETERNAL LIFE. She continues to ACT by praying, attending church, reading the scriptures, and asking us questions. It is through her ACTIONS that she can feel the spirit so strongly in her life right now. 

 

 

As missionaries, we are here to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ, "that [others] may have tidings of great joy" (Alma 13:22). This is how missionaries ACT and grow. However, the people we interact with can only feel these "tidings of great joy" if they ACT. 

 

 

I left my home, family, friends, school, and country STOKED to share a message that is the core of who I am. If I didn't ACT to serve a mission, I would have missed out on growing in ways that have brought me closer to my godly potential. ACTING on the teachings of Christ is how each one of us can continue to experience miracles and grow to fulfill our godly potential. I feel so blessed and happy because I ACT everyday to share what has brought me such incomprehensible joy... THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. 

 

 

It doesn't take a mission to have these types of experiences. Whether a member of the church or not, we all can ACT and help people feel a higher love. 

 

 

Highs:

-ANDRES GOT BAPTIZED and wore water shoes and white sweats BAHAHAHA

-We baptized Andres's dad in August so it was so special to see the happiness in this family  

-ANA GOT BAPTIZED FINALLY

-I ate pizza twice this week 

-Since our area is so small, I swear I have talked to 70% of everyone at least once and I hear random people call out (Hermana KIKI or Hermana Pique) 

-Additional study with Hermana Vasquez 

-Strawberries from the street market 

-Our friend Victoria made us so very late to church on Sunday (we picked her up to walk with us), however, my comp, Victoria, and I all RAN to church and we somehow made it to partake of the sacrament 

-The weather 

-WE FOUND OUT ALEJANDRO WAS ALREADY BAPTIZED

-THE REST OF HIS FAMILY WANTS TO GET BAPTIZED IN NOVEMBER (such a special lesson about the plan of happiness) 

-Knock out, de nuevo

-Intercambios with Hermana Gonzaga de Ecuador (I love her Spanish) and her favorite song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xiz6G8sbFc 

 

 

Lows: 

-Cats 

-No matter how many times we deep clean our house, it will forever be dusty

-I am running low on gum 

 

 

ACT. ACT. ACT. (don't be lazy :))

 

 

Hermana Pickett