January 19, 2015

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