It was so sad to leave Sister
Villanueva she's an angel on earth. Honestly the nicest person I've ever
met she really inspired me and helped me everyday to be more
Christlike. I'm really going to miss her but we'll see each other and
MLC and stuff. I'm trying to convince her to name her first child after
me hahha I don't think she's buying it. I'm so grateful for the 12 weeks
we had to work together.
I had an interesting
experience this week. An older lady invited us in to teach her and her
daughter in law was there but when we walked in and said hello to her
she just ignored us and then hid in the room and played on her phone.
After the lesson I just felt so strongly that I needed to go talk to her
so I went up to the door and just said that I needed to tell her that
Heavenly Father loves her and knows exactly what's happening in her life
and that we were sent to her house just for her to know that and I
invited her that the next time God sent a servant to their home she
would open up and listen to them. I felt the spirit so strong it was
really an incredible experience and I'm so grateful for it. One of the
most important things I've learned so far as a missionary is really to
fear no man. The only reason people reject the message is because they
forgot their true identity and we're just here to remind them. And
sometimes we need to be brave enough to remind them even if they ignore
us or reject us. Something I always think about is 'when is the next
time I'm going to see this person and what will they have to say to
me?.. "Thank you" or "Why didn't you talk to me?"' It helps me be brave.
Also
this week Randy received the priesthood!!!!!!!! I was so proud of him.
I'm going to miss their family so much. We had a last FHE with them on
Saturday night and it was so bitter sweet. They've come so far.
And
yoko came to church all by herself! Usually she comes with her next
door neighbor who's a member but she was visiting her aunt in another
part of town and she came anyways and she was early!!! Be still my soul
 |
| Sister Villanueva |
Yesterday
I got the best gift of my life. My last lesson in Cadiz was with
Diolinda and her husband Ricardo and Kevin came too. We taught Ricardo
for the first time because when we first started teaching Diolinda he
had just had a stroke and couldn't talk but he's better now. Anyways
Diolinda told me that tons of missionaries and Americans have walked by
their house over the years and she never wanted to talk to any of them
and would just brush them off. But when she first saw me she felt
something in her heart and really hoped that I would talk to her and
when I finally did she said she felt her heart melt or something and
because of that she's come into the church. She promised to keep going
even though I left. Her baptism is scheduled in two weeks. I really just
cried so much when she told me that. I could serve 18 months and have
nothing else happen but just knowing that I was an instrument for
Heavenly Father just for Diolinda makes everything so worth it. My one
wish I had before I came to the mission field really came true and it
really brings the tears I'm so grateful and humbled. Heavenly Father is
so good to us and we are so undeserving.
Alma 29: 9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of
myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and
this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of
God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
10 And
behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to
the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.
I love you all remember who you really are and why you're here!
The sweetest servant God ever put on this Earth!! 💖💖💖💖
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