Letter #40 - Playing Catch-up! - 11.2.2015
Hello Everyone!
First off....
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
&
HAPPY ONE YEAR TO SISTER PEMBERTON (IN CHILE)
(above is a picture of me with my little sister, Hermana Pemberton of Chile)
These last two weeks have been busy (what's new, right? haha). Busy is good though! We traveled to Otavalo to teach the missionaries, played catch up with our investigators and less actives, and we had changes! Good news is that SISTER GARCIA is still my companion. We are so excited! We get along really well, work hard together, and teach together really well together. It has been cool to see how our different ways of teaching and talents with the Spirit can create a powerful lesson. This change, we are praying to find a family of 6 that is prepared and will progress to be baptized in November. You can help us by praying too! :) We know if it is God's will we will see this miracle in our sector!
Playing Catch Up
We went back to our sector after not being able to go to our sector for close to 4 weeks. Annnnnd....we came across a few surprises to say the least. A few of our investigators moved to the coast, a few didn't want to listen anymore, and we were also put in the path of a few people that are really interested in hearing more about the gospel.
We had contacted a family a few months ago and have passed by a couple of times before. We decided to pass by again. The dad came out and all he wanted to do was argue with us. He told us that we had a lot of guts to come by again and told us to not come back. That he knew that he was in the true church and that we didn't know what we were talking about. We left him with our testimonies and an invitation to pray to ask God directly to know what is the truth. Then, we left. We climbed up the stairs and went through the door. There was a woman standing there. We started talking to her and she said that she knew we were angles sent to teach the the truth. She helps people that are addicted to drugs and alcohol. She was so sweet. It was a testimony builder for my companion and I that not everyone will listen or accept the gospel, but there are people that are looking and searching for the truth everywhere! God always will help guide us to find those that are searching, but sometimes first we have to have a few doors slammed in our faces and a few harsh words to be able to find them. They are out there though.
The Atonement
Sometimes being a missionary isn't the easiest especially when you teach and testify with all of your heart, but people don't want to change and don't want to understand. It's hard to see people reject what you know is soooo important for them to accept and to live. For people to say, it doesn't matter what church we belong to, we are all going to end up int he same place because there is only one God.
We had a lesson with a less active member who doesn't want to go to church. She said, "I am just this way. This is how my family is. I can't change, this is who I am." She went on and said "I don't read the Book of Mormon because the more knowledge that you have, the more change their is to make an error and sin. It is worse when you know you shouldn't do it, therefore, it is better that you stay in ignorance." Satan truly works so hard to make us believe we can't change and that the things that are important are not so important. He twists truths so that we will live in a way that will prevent us from being the happiest that we can be.
I know that each of us have the opportunity to change through the Atonement. I have seen it in my own life and so many others. I know many times we put excuses not to obey the commandments. I have learned though in my mission that many times it comes down to our willingness and desires to do the things that we know we need to do. I know that the scriptures and also the living prophets are given to us so that we can have the knowledge of the things of God and so that we can know HOW to worship and know WHAT to worship. I know that knowledge, especially of spiritual things, is one of the gifts of the Spirit. In 2 Peter 1:3-9, Peter lists KNOWLEDGE along with faith, patience, kindness, and virtue as NECESSARY ACQUISITIONS for one who would seek for a divine nature. I know that no one can be saved in ignorance of the gospel. (D&C 131:6) and one progresses only as fast as he gains knowlege. The scriptures teach us that a person who gains knowlege will have "the advantage in the world to come". (D&C 130:18-19). I know that knowledge encourages obedience, and obedience enhances our knowledge. I know that knowledge is necessary for our salvation and is one of the attributes of Christ.
As missionaries, we teach and learn more about our the doctrine of Christ. As we deepen our understanding, we learn how important the gospel is in our lives. As we see people reject us and not live what they know is right it kills us because we know how important it is. We know the blessing that await us if we just do the simple things. I can't imagine what Jesus Christ felt when He came here and so many people rejected him. I can't imagine how He feels when He suffered so much for us and died for us, but we don't chose to repent or use the Atonement in our lives. When we choose what we know is wrong. I hope all of us will try to remember what our Savior did for us before we make decisions. That we will realize that each of us have the opportunity to change no matter what we have done in our lives before throught the Atonement. The Atonement can CHANGE OUR LIVES if we let it.
Why Obey?
Because there is a living God who loves us and desires to bless us. My companion and I taught Relief Society this Sunday. The topic was OBEDIENCE. We found out we were teaching when we got to church and so we had to completely rely on the Spirit, but it turned out to be a great lesson. Many of the members came up to us after thanking us for the lesson. I was really grateful all the members participated and I think we all walked away learning more about the importance of obedience in our lives, I know I did! It is funny because sometimes as the teacher, you learn just as much or more than the students when you teach. The Spirit teaches everyone.
We had a lesson with another less active member and she did not think it was necessary to go to church. We taught that we show our love through our obedience to the commandments. She said, "No, God knows that I love him even if I don't go to church." If we do not obey, the power to obey is lessened. Our cabability to recognize good is weakened. We start to make excuses for our actions and start to believe that it is ok.
John 14: 23-24
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
I know that we can show our love and our appreciation to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, by keeping the commandments. As we are willing to do anything for our family members, our kids, our friends etc and have trust in those that are close to us, we should show that same love for the two people that we owe everything to. When we love someone then we will act. It's that simple! I know that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know each of us by name. They love us more than we can comprehend. I know that in the end by keeping the commandments our lives will be enriched and we will have more happiness in our lives.
Otavalo
We had a little miny trip to Otavalo! We taught the missioanaries in the zones in Otavalo and Ibarra. Otavalo is so beautiful! The culture there is beautiful and different than anywhere else. I sent a picture of what the woman wear there. Many of them talk in kichwa. It's harder to learn than Spanish. They also have a really big market in the main part of Otavalo where they sell stuff that is usually handmade. It's fun and they have a lot of really cool stuff. I think they loved me there because I was like oh I love this and this....Don't worry, I bought something for all of you!
The presentation with the missionaries went really well. They all loved the activity! We ate at a little restaurant that had a little Trip Advisor sticker. I saw it on the door and told my companion, oh this place much be good and it has mexican dishes! It was just a mom and daughter that worked there. It was really good. We even ordered seconds! haha. (We were hungry, okay!) We slept in one of the Sister's houses there and they did not have any mattresses so the Elders had to bring mattresses over for us! We slept in a room that was pitch black...the next morning was the hardest time that I have had in my mission getting up at 6:30am. haha. Oh, I saw Sister Narvaez again! It was so good to see her again! I love her to death! Ya, after the presentation we left.
Anyways, this was a little catch up of what has been happening in our lives! Not a lot is happening medically! It is pretty mellow...we have a lot of ingrown toenails, but that is about all. It could change tomorrow. Who knows.
I love you ALL!
Love always,
Sister Pemberton
