Week 8 : Investigator Miracles

June 9, 2014

Hola from Azua!

This week was full of ups and downs, but it was great!! I really learned the meaning of Ether 12:4 "Ye receive no witness until after the trail of your faith." There were days/moments when I was ready to break down and go back to bed for a month, but right after those moments is when the miracles would happen.

So there is this family that has been taught by the missionaries for almost 8 weeks now and we were getting ready to drop them because of their lack of progress. We decided to teach them one last time and if they didn't come to church, we would drop them. So we went to teach them and the mom was really sick and trying to teach her class (she teaches how to do nails) so we were waiting for her to finish up. We waited for 45 minutes then decided to leave. Just as we got up, the mom, Nani, finished and came to sit down. We were late to another cita so we decided to leave. We walked clear across our area to get to this other cita and the guy had left 20 minutes earlier, bummer deal. We were all bummed out and didn't know what to do. We both kind of felt bad about leavning Chino and Nani, and a bit embarrassed about going back, but we both knew the spirit was telling us we needed to, so we went (miracle #1). We walked clear back to their house to teach and just as we got there, their children got back from work (miracle #2). So we sat down and began to teach them about the Book of Mormon (which is completely not what we planned on, but it felt right). We read the intro with them and the spirit was so strong! They were so curious, asking questions and intently listening. We left that lesson with such a powerful spirit. We got all of them to committ to read El Libro de Mormon and set a cita for 2 days later (miracle #3). When we went back 2 days later, only the mom and little girl were there and told us that they had planned for us to be there 1 hour earlier so the other kids and dad left for work. We procceeded with our plan regardless, which was showing the restoration video. Right before it got to the part were the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ apprear to Joseph Smith, her other 2 kids get back from work and she askes if we can start it over (miracle #4). We watch the whole thing again and the spirit was so powerful. Nani loved it and realized for herself that the Lord answers prayers. They all committed to come to church the next day (miracle #5 [they have never been to church before]). The next day we stop by to walk with them to church and Nani tells us that her kids and husband were called into work so they wouldn't make is, but that she was coming and would drive the motorcycle over when she was ready. So my comp and I get to the church and wait for them to show up. We waited, and waited, and waited. It was an hour after Nani had told us she was leaving in 10 minutes. I had finally accepted that she wasn't coming when she walked in the door with her little daughter (miracle #6). They made it in time to listen to 3 talks and sing the rest and closing hymns. Afterwards we explained the sacrament to her and there was such a sweet spirit, like none we had felt with her before. I know she could feel it too. She told us that she really enjoyed it and that the talks were very sweet. She wants to come back next week (miracle #7). We saw her change right before our eyes and I know her family is not far behind. I know miracles, though they seem small, do happen. Nani's experience was such a tender mercy from the Lord. We were ready to give up on their family, but something changed. We received no witness until after the trial of our faith. I know this church is true. I know God works miracles in our lives. Keep an eye out this week to see the Lord's hand in your life. I promise you He is there more than we realize. Love you all soooooo much!!

Love, Hermana Perry