El Fin

Ay fambly!

Cuanto les quiero! I'm so excited to see you and hug the stuffin outta yous. I can't wait to wake up to Elijahisms and baby love. I got Chelsea's email about Audrey...I had no idea that was going on, but it sounds like they've been taking the right steps to learn more and to help their beautiful baby. I'm looking forward to being home. I'm not a huge fan of this intermediate state where I'm gone but not, incredibly happy but sad to leave...ya know?

Big changes are coming to our district... 5 people are leaving but only 3 are coming, so our ward will be back down to 6 missionaries. I think that will be better for our ward, though. Strange as it may sound, we attend to their needs better when there are fewer of us...largely I think because when there are less of us, they are more likely to actually eat WITH us rather than give us dinner and fun away. Also, Hermana Prince is going to train!!! I'm going to be a grandma!! I'm so excited for her. She's going to be absolutely incredible! Hna Quick is receiving Hermana Prince's current companion. That's a huge relief for her because they already know and love each other....and Hna Clayton will only have to move from one room in the apartment to another.

We had some beautiful milagros this week. We had another couple of appointments with Sandy, a young mom who is VERY wise and receptive to the spirit. We have had a hard time connecting with her recently, but this week we taught her about the Restoration and we watched the Restoration movie with her. At the end, we asked her if she thought this story could be true. At first she just said "well, I don't know, I didn't see it happen. Maybe it did...who am I to judge?" but then she began to analyze the ramifications of what it would mean if it were true and referred back to a lesson we had taught her about asking the Lord to know what is Truth. We Invited her to pray about it and we invited her to be baptized. She said YES!!!!! We told her that the gospel is made for families and so we want to be able to teach her husband and children so that they can progress spiritually together. That's fairly risky, since wives rarely progress beyond where their husbands will go, but we felt  that that family goal woul be incredibly important to communicate to her right off the bat. She said, "yes of course....but you know? Maybe even if they're not very interested right away, they'll see my example and follow" Oh my gosh, she's so great! I loved Sorella Smith's phrase, so i think  I'll steal it for Sandy....she's so elect! God has prepared her in such special ways.

Another milagro: our elders met a Pentecostal preacher while we were on a blitz in our area and we've been able to teach him a little about the Book of Mormon. He wanted to know primarily about our religion so that he can teach his congregation what we believe.....We taught him about the Restoration as well and invited him to be baptized. He said no right away, saying "I'm sorry, but I think you're wasting your time with me. I already know about God. I'm on the path. Nothing could take me away from my church." We talked to him a little bit more about knowing FROM GOD, the all-powerful, all loving, omniscient creator of the universe what He wants us to do. We asked "If you KNEW from God that this is His only true church, would you be baptized?" He said "Yes of course." "Then are you willing to ask Him?" "Yes." After explaining a little about having real intent to receive an answer, we promised him that if he was sincere in what he said about following the will of God, he would get an answer.

The hermanas are going back tomorrow to visit and see how his prayer went. The spirit was SO strong in that room. I know that our words were being guiding by the Lord. I'm praying that he will be sensitive enought to the Spirit to be ablet o recognize an answer....and that he has enough real intent to GET that answer.

Church yesterday was really cool, too. Jose Reyes(my first convert) came to church. He was helping our recent convert, Jeovany look up scriptures, understand different points of doctrine, and even directed a small part of the lesson in sunday school. He's almost done with his temple prep classes and he's super excited to go in a month or so. It's such an incredible blessing to see how much his life has changed. I am so grateful that I have been a part of that.

I reread the account of Ammon talking to his brothers in Alma 26. I am so happy that I have been a part of this work and I feel strongly that I can echo his words.

2 And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?

3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how ^amany of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made ^binstruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

I have learned so much during this time. It's one of those life changing, character molding, life intensified experiences that lays the foundation for the rest of my life. I love the people here. I have learned so much about God's love for each of us. I can't believe everything that has happened in the last year and a half. There is no way I would have even lasted a day had it not bee for the Savior's grace. I love him more than I ever have. I feel that I have a better understanding of the role He has and needs to have in my life. I know that living the gospel is what brings us joy. It helps us avoid unnecessary hurt and pain and help stretch us into who we need to be. There is a song that I have fallen in love with and it reminds me of that part in Alma 5 where he talks about feeling to sing the song of redeeming love...

Savior, Redeemer of my soul,
Whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
Whose wondrous pow’r hath raised me up
And filled with sweet my bitter cup!
What tongue my gratitude can tell,
O gracious God of Israel.

Never can I repay thee, Lord,
But I can love thee. Thy pure word,
Hath it not been my one delight,
My joy by day, my dream by night?
Then let my lips proclaim it still,
And all my life reflect thy will.

O’errule mine acts to serve thine ends.
Change frowning foes to smiling friends.
Chasten my soul till I shall be
In perfect harmony with thee.
Make me more worthy of thy love,
And fit me for the life above.

I love God! He's just so wonderful.

Give yourselves a big hug from me and just wait a few more days for the real deal!

I love my mission, I love the gospel, and I love you more than despedidas!

:)

Hermana Manzana