Dear family and friends! After
several weeks of short emails, this week I am going to try to write a better
one because Elder Wiley and I really have been blessed with a week of many
miracles. I am happy to hear that you are all doing well and that you have good
health!
As I stated, this past week was a
very good one for Elder Wiley and I. With more work and many miracles, we are
very happy. As for the miracles!
This past week, I was on
intercambios in Cordoba with Elder Stephens; that left Elder Wiley and Elder
Wilson in our area. Near the end of the evening they stopped in a market to buy
a drink. As they were checking out, they began talking to the cash registrar.
They presented themselves as missionaries, and she replied with a grin that her
father was a member in Ecuador. She ended up giving them her information and on
Wednesday we were able to stop by and have a cita with her. We ended up heading
to a park near her home and had a very spiritual lesson. She ended up telling
us that when she was young, her father was introduced to the church. He was the
only member of the family, and growing up he never really pressured his wife
nor daughter with anything. However he did do the best form of
missionary work by being a good example, and living according to the gospel
principles. Anyways, a few years back her mother passed away. It was
obviously hard on her father, but devastating for her. She stopped believing in
God and stopped going to church. On the other hand, her father was calm with
the knowledge that he would see and be with his wife again some day. The way he
reacted really affected her. She wanted to know where that strength came from.
It turns out that a week ago she was talking to her father who is still living
there in Ecuador. She was passing through a hard time, and he encouraged her to
find the missionaries. She responded, "If it is true, and God wants it to
happen, they will come to me." A week later, my comp and Elder Wilson
contacted her. She continued to tell us that she doesn´t drink, nor smoke. She
has work and a car, and does not work on Sundays. She is probably one of the
most prepared investigators I have had on my mission. We will be meeting with
her again on Wednesday!
This week, we also met with our
recent convert. Last Sunday, after the meetings, she came up to us and
asked if we could teach her how to pay tithing. We showed her, and she paid her
very humble tithing. After handing it into the Bishop, she just said how
peaceful and happy she felt. This past week when we were visiting with her she
told us what happened. It turns out that they had been cutting pay at her work.
She had to pay her water and security bills, and didn´t know how she was going
to do it. She knew she needed to pay her tithing first, and although very
humble, she did it with faith. It turns out that the next day at work as she
was leaving, one of her co-workers asked if she had received her pay or looked
at the payboard. Knowing that cuts had been made, she wasn´t expecting
anything. Sure enough, when she checked she had received enough to pay her
bills. The Lord challenges us to test Him. The windows of heaven were opened to that sweet Hermana this last week. I was very humbled because of it.
Last night, after a rainy
day of work, Elder Wiley and I hopped on the stinky wet bus to head to the
church to call the zone, and do numbers. We headed to the back of the bus where
there were only a handful of seats. We noticed there was a woman sitting behind
us so we began talking to her. It turns out that she was a member, and quite
active in Bolivia. She told us that since she has been here she has not been
able to go back due to work and other circumstances. She told us that she
actually lived near the church, but had never been inside. We were able to get
off at the same stop as her, and were actually able to give her a tour of the
capilla last night. We were able to show her all of the beautiful pictures and
enjoy the sweet spirit that is always there. The spirit was definitely the strongest
when we passed the picture of Joseph Smith in the sacred grove, also a picture
of the Madrid Temple. She mentioned how beautiful it was on the outside, and we
were able to testify of how beautiful it is on the inside. I know that the temple
is the house of God where families can be sealed for eternity.
It was such a wonderful week, and
we are excited for the next. Today I read an amazing talk from our dear Prophet
President Monson, Love-the Essence of the Gospel. I am sure all of you would
enjoy it. Also think you would enjoy the work of salvation videos that the
church put out just a few years ago. They are very informative and inspiring.
This is the work of the Lord.
I love you all.
Elder Farrell
