References from God

What is the main reason for the inactivity of the members there?

Normally it's from something another member did or said, or simply because the only friendship they had at church was the missionaries, and after they left, they didn't have any more support.

Did your baptism for Vera go through?

Yes!!!!!!!!! Photo!!!!!

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Normally, people to teach comes from your own efforts. 1) References from Members 2)References from Investigators 3)Street Contacts and Tracting. However, there are those rare moments where your future investigator in fact goes out looking for you. These we call references from God, and they're probably the best you'll ever get. This week, we got a really special one, but I will tell more in a little bit.

We are finally getting into fall weather.  The temperatures are always rapidly changing and people all over are catching colds. This includes the missionaries as well. :/ However, luckily we haven't gotten anything more than a runny nose. :) On top of that, Carnival happened and ended this week, which means the slack has finally stopped and everyone returns to work and to school. (Luckily Nothing really happens here during carnival, but I've heard it gets really bad in some places) So, finally the endless frustrations of vacationing investigators has ended, and now we just have to catch them when they're actually at home. :P 

But this week brought some pretty great experiences. One of these was the baptism of Vera. Over the last week, we were helping her make the last minute preparations for the baptism, and she accepted each challenge that we gave to her. Until now, she's only gone twice to church, but already understands everything we taught,  made new friends at church, and even offered to give us lunch each month! Of all the people I've helped teach and baptize, she is one who was open and willing to accept the gospel of Christ and live it. The baptism was really spiritual and turned out excellent, including the guitar number done by my companion. 

Another special experience was that reference from God I mentioned. Saturday night, the other two Elders were at the chapel, waiting to teach their investigators, when a young couple and their daughter approached the building. "Hi," they said, "We're new here and we're looking for a new church to attend." Of course, I can only imagine how many beats the Elders' hearts skipped when they heard that, so they chated and got their number. That next morning, we called them and invited them to church that same day, and lo and behold, they came! They payed perfect attention, participated in all the classes, and enjoyed every minute of it! The family is so excellent, my companion and I almost invited them to be baptized together with Vera, but we all knew it'll have to wait. (Let's see about next week ;P ) With them, and a few others, our group of investigators is growing with some really excellent people. Like those packets of Hawaiian punch, we just need to add water.

Oh, good. Since I have time to write a little more, I'll leave a short message. In my studies, I've been recognizing how truly everything that exists and was created by God testifies of God and of Christ. Even the sun, the moon, and the stars in their regular motions testify that there is a God. The more we learn, as much about the plan of our Heavenly Father, we come to see even more purpose in Christ's sacrifice, our relationship to him and our Father, and the great potential we have yet to achieve. Since I could spend a long time on this subject, I guess I'll just leave it at that.

  

Thanks, and until next time,

Elder Angus

Word of the week:

cuscu (koos-koo) Meaning dog. This is a word they only use in the south, as the usual word is cachorro (kah-show-hoo) I guess strong southern accents aren't something found only in the states. :P

Photo:

-Baptism of Vera