"Subtle Flex"-Hna. Briones

Pedro got baptized this past Saturday.

Pedro is the uncle of a family that recently got baptized, and he is just PURE GOLD. When we met him, he had longer hair and a big beard and would come to church in sweats.

Last Friday, we met up in the church, and we were in shock when we realized the man who was waiting outside for us was Pedro!! He cut his hair, trimmed his beard, and was wearing a button-up shirt.

We asked him why he cleaned himself up, and he told us he was ready to become a new man and start a new life in Christ.

When we arrived at church that next Sunday, he was already seated wearing his gingham button-up shirt with a red tie, looking more content than ever.

The conversion story of Pedro is extremely close to my heart. Before we found him, he wasn't sure if anyone loved or needed him. He didn't feel like he had a place in the world anymore, and right when all things were rapidly declining, the gospel of Jesus Christ saved him. It gave him purpose, a family, hope, a vision of his godly potential, and a light in the darkness he felt he couldn't escape.

If it weren't for the dedicated members who helped us in his conversion and the time, prayer, and fasting we put in as missionaries, Pedro would be in an extremely different position in his life right now.

In 3 Nephi 17, Jesus said to the people in the Ancient Americas,

"Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy."

I have learned that sharing the gospel is not just being an example but literally/physically making an effort to bring those who are "afflicted in any manner" to Christ "for [He has] compassion upon [them]; [His] bowels are filled with mercy."

As we bring our friends, family, acquaintances, or whomever it may be to Christ (through a scripture, invitation to church, helping someone carry their groceries, giving a compliment, accompanying the missionaries in lessons...), "he [will] heal them every one as they [are] brought forth unto him" (3 Nephi 17:9) for, "...whosoever will come [unto me], him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me" (3 Nephi 9:14).

Highs:

Pedro got baptized!!

Pedro (different Pedro) and Digna are getting married soon so that they can get baptized. yayyyy

Dino and Jaider are our new Venezuelan friends (9 days in Chile), and they loved church and are going to make us arepas yessss

I could ponder Hebrews 12:1-2 all-day

On Thursday, it was raining so hard, but every time we were leaving to go back outside, it suddenly stopped raining. IT WAS A MIRACLE BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THE RAIN

The fact Hermana Lidia loves that I call her tía

Sergio and Eduardo passed the Sacrament yesterday wahhhh

Hna Pickett "por lo menos pudimos sembrar la semilla" Hna Rindlisbaker "pero yo quiero bautizar"

Hermana Briones learning the words "savage" and "subtle flex"

Making scrumdiddlyumptious lunch two days in a row in our house

Consejo Combinado

Consejo de líderes

My comps listen to the stories of my mission

Buying matching University of Chile sweatshirts with Hermana Rindlisbaker and matching every night

Hermana Briones put a guy in his place when he tried to sell me a watermelon for 9 dollars

Somehow got 20 burger king crowns for our zone #vivalareina #royalblood

Meditating on the micro