Letter#41 -I will do my part - 11.9.2015
Week of Miracles
Dinner with the Newbies Well, next week the Williamsons are finishing their mission. I might cry...Anyway, they always help Sister Richardson with the dinners for those who are leaving and the new missionaries. She called Monday and asked if we would help! Of course we accepted. We went on Wednesday so that the Williamsons could show us what to do! It was really fun to be able to get to know President and Sister Richardson better and see them in a different setting. They sure do love the missionaries! I have learned that it doesn't matter what service you are doing, as long as you are serving! We will be helping with the dinners including the Christmas dinners for each zone in December and we are so excited!
Dinner for the newbies!
Comp y yo!
Living an INTENTIONAL LIFE Faith always leads to action. We can't say that we have faith, if we are not willing to act. The most important WHY for what you do should be because you LOVE the LORD and recognize His PERFECT love for YOU. This week we have learned the importance of acting with real intent. That we need to live an intentional life. A life of action. That we can't expect good things to happen in our lives or blessings to come when we do not act. We must do the right thing for the right reasons. We must learn to live in a way that we understand the WHY that motivates our actions. I know that our Heavenly Father has buckets of blessings waiting for us. That He wants to pour down on us probably more than we understand, but we prevent it by our actions in our lives or our failure to act.
Daughter of one of our investigators! She is the cutest!
My companion and I prayed and fasted to find a family of 6 last week. Afterwards, we had the faith that we would find a family, but it was up to us do our part. We knocked on doors, climbed up the mountain, and asked the people we taught for references. We came across a family who was working outside. We introduced ourselves. We only saw 3 daughters and as we were talking to her, we asked her if she needed anything. She said, " Only to pray for my oldest daughter". We were surprised because she didn't mention her before. We said, " Oh you have 4 daughters". My companion said " Oh then a family of 6". The youngest is 8. We will be teaching them this week. The wife said that her husband would not want to listen, but we know people can change and if we put in our effort, the Lord will help us.
Winter is here!
A member and I
Martha is a great example of acting according to our faith. She is an investigator that lives at the bottom of the mountain and owns a store. At first, she had no interest in talking to us. After we bore our testimonies though. She opened the door. The next day, we passed by and her friend was with her. Her friend did not want to go church. Neither did she want to listen to anything we wanted to say. After, Martha tried to convince her to go with her and she refused. She was determined to ACT according to the faith that if kept the commandments then she would see blessings in her store. I know she will see a difference in her week this week because of her decision and willingness to act despite the opposition that she faced.
The new missionaries arrived this week!!!
REMEMBER...the ETERNAL consequences of a single decision to do the LORD'S WILL. I know that if we want to receive blessings and answers to our questions through prayer, we must pray with real intent. That when we receive an answer, we will act according to that answer that we receive because we have faith in the Lord's will.
My companion Hermana Garcia and I
I Will Do My PART We saw miracles on Sunday. We have been working with Family Palma for 4 months. Paul was in an accident in July and is paralyzed from the waist down. We have gone through stages that they wanted to get baptized and they knew that it was true to times that they didn't want to listen because they were going to another church. We faced oppostion as the Pastor of the other church was paying for their hospital bills. They want to know what church is true, but do not feel like they have received an answer yet. That they were confused which of all the churches were true. We taught them that faith always leads to action and praying with real intent. We bore our testimonies and the Spirit was so strong. The Spirit testified to us again that what we were teaching was the truth and that this was truly the Church of Jesus Christ. We promised them they would receive an answer, if they were willing to act on whatever answer they received. Lizbeth said the closing prayer and said that she knew this was the true church and the only true church. That now she was going to do HER PART. It has been such a blessing to see her attitude change and her determination to act. They commited to going to church the next day. It didn't matter how much effort it was going to take, they were going. We passed by on Sunday and they were all ready. It took a total of 5 of us to get him to church, but it didn't matter to them because they knew it was something they needed to do.
Miracle Sunday!
We saw two big miracles Sunday! We have been teaching Maria Elena, Nicole, Lizbeth for 4 months. They have not been able to come to church because Paul was in an accident in July. We went through a time where they did not want to listen to us because they were going to another church where the pastor was paying for Paul's hospital bills. After a powerful lesson on Sunday, they committed to go church with us Sunday. We arranged for the members to help us with transportation. We passed by Sunday and they were all ready!!! Lizbeth and Nicole know that it is true. They all are going to come again this next Sunday! The other miracle was with Martha. We went to her store Saturday and when she saw us she said, I am busy. After we bore our testimonies though, she opened the door. She committed to go church with us. The next morning we passed by. She saw us and said that she was going to the market with her friend. That her friend did not want to go. We bore our testimonies. Martha told her friend, "Let's go". Her friend said, "no". We both thought she was going to go with her friend, but she looked at her friend and said ok, "Well, I'm going" and then walked towards the car. She was an example to us to stand strong for what you know is right! It was a happy Sunday for my companion and I!!!
I know if each of us have the same attitude "I will do my part" to follow the commandments, serve others, read the scriptures, pray, fulfill our callings, be diligent and obedient in all things...we will see our prayers answered and an abundant amount of blessings poured down on us. I know we cannot hope to influence others in the direction of faith unless we live lives of faith. The example of our living will carry a greater influence than will all the preaching in which we might indulge. We cannot expect to lift others unless we stand on a higher ground ourselves.
Hermanas and more Hermanas
Training Moment... The new missionaries stay in our house Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday night, around 2am. I heard a knock at our door. At first, I thought I was dreaming. Then, it continued. I closed my eyes again and thought it would eventually go away. It didn't. I started to hear, "Hermana Pemberton, Hermana". I told them to come in. I climbed out of bed to talk to the Sister. She said "Hermana Pemberton, my toe hurts". "I think I have an ingrown toenail". I looked at the clock and said, "Do you know that it is 2am?" She said "Yes, sorry". We both laughed and then I got her some Ibuprofen and told her if there was anything more that we needed to do, we would do it in the morning. I am so grateful to be the nurse for the mission and I am so grateful for the nursing experience that I have had.
... and more Hermanas
The Power of YOUR Testimony I have learned how we always invite the Spirit when we share our testimonies. That our testimonies can be a powerful influence for good in other people's lives. I saw it multiple times as people were so close to closing their doors in our faces or about say our favorite phrase "Estoy ocupado". We saw attitudes change and doors opened as we bore our testimonies with all of our hearts. We need to let our voices be heard. That it will not be shrill voices, but that we will speak with such a conviction that those to whom we speak shall know of the strength of our feeling and the sincerity of our effort. I know remarkable consequences often follow a shared testimony from the heart. Rise and stand tall for the things that you believe. For the things that have been confirmed in your hearts are true. Speak up for truth, goodness, decency, and virtue. Be an example to all those around you. Paul declared to the Ephesians: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand". (Eph. 6:10-13)
I know that we live in the last days. That Satan is working hard in the hearts of man. The he is working hard to blind people to the point that people believe bad is good and good is bad. I know that as we stay close to the gospel, we will receive spiritual strength to resist temptations and stay on the path that we need to stay on in order to return the presence of our Heavenly Father. To have eternal happiness and have eternal families. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves us! I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father that wants nothing but the best for us! I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! Love always, Sister Pemberton
