first of all i got a package from my family. :) complete with peanut butter, american chocolates. (my favs!) photos and little decorative flags with notes from my cousins aunts ucles grandma and siblings. and a sweet note from my dear sweet mom. AND THEN i got nother package from my BFF MIKE! and his brother and his wife. THANK YOU!!!! they sent me Face astringent and shower lufas. THANK. YOU! now i feel clean after 4 months. what a blessing.
 |
| Package from the FAM!! |
 |
| Package from Mike |
then i got a package from my HEAVENLY FATHER! we call them Baptisms here on earth, but surely in heaven they are like gifts from our heavenly father. something i have learned.
success is a gift waiting to be recieved. and God is preparing us to recieve this gift. and he only gives it when we are ready and prepared if we are going to recieve it well. and the preparation comes through opposition. and trial. and trying and failing. and perservering then, when it looks like all is lost, and youre about to give up.... he comes in and rewards you for your patience and your hard work. and you are SO GRATEFUL and you feel like you dont deserve it. and maybe i dont deserve it still, but then you see to grace and Mercy that comes through the atonement and you are filled. filled with gratitude, love and joy!
 |
| Rodrigo con las jas (ysa) |
 |
| Baptism |
Yesterday Rodrigo was confirmed a member of La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos dias. And he glowed. he was so happy. I WAS so happy. and his baptism was something special as well. all the YSA who went kept saying "i cant belive he is baptised! i never thought id see the day. wow rodrigo is actually baptised!" its cause he had been assisting for about 8 months and never had any desire to be baptised. some guys are kinda hard hearted., but for some reason we got to him and he accepted. and the YSA and bishopric were astonished. (as was i). they told us how he used to be anti mormon, he would tease the members and make fun, he has a strong character, and he never even wanted to talk about it. and now! ITS OFFICIAL! and his testimony was SO strong. when we were giving the pracitce interview, we asked him to share his testimony of Jose Smith. and as he was talking, and sharing, and reviewing the words of jose smith, i had a small vision. now im not a visionary woman, but this was like.... a VISION! i saw him with a shirt and tie and plaque, teaching the restoration. when he finished there was a silence, and i broke the silence by asking, "rodrigo, have you ever thought about serving a mission?" he sat there for a second thinking... .and said "yes. i have." the two members who were there with us looked at him in amazement. (as did i). we sat there in the spirit a minute and then continued. .... it was a beautiful moment. then he did the same thing at his baptism. as he shared his testimony and we all just sat ther in the spirit. no one wanted to break the silence. AH! it was SO REWARDING! i serisouly am thinking, WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS!
it went perfect. hermana Paiva and i did the musical number with my faithful Uk. we arranged his favorite hymn "brightly beams our fathers mercy" its beautiful in spanish. it was a good day.
UPDATES:
Elder Anderson is coming this sunday! and i was asked to participate in the choir. b ut just I was asked. and i didnt feel right about that. so i asked the director of my companion could participate too. (she cant sing all that well....but she LOOOOVES music!) the director, considered... she was thinking. she obviously didnt like the idea. but i just looked at her like we are UNIFIED! please. its BOTH or nothing! (OBV I DIDNT SAY THAT... but she got the point.)
so now we are BOTH singing in the choir for Elder Anderson. EXITO! so we are pretty excited about that.
this week they put Angel Moroni on the Trujillo Temple! its looking good. we get lots of questions about that. its a great way to find new people. its funny cause its right next to a catholic cemetary. a popular cemetary so everyone has seen it. and its the biggeset most beautiful building in all of peru. and for that we also get judged. the mormons with all their money. why would they build something so nice when there are people starving and suffering.....
ya those are fun to explain.
this week i had a small infection in my intestines. ok really ive had it for a week and a half but didnt want to scare mom.... i had a little internal bleeding but im ok now. :) happy to report.
also, my President is THE MAN! did you know he loves country swing dancing and Broadway musicals?=??? sound familiar...? im pretty sure we were friends in the pre existence.
he told me i had to keep up with my passions the rest of my life and teach my children to appreciate the arts. im glad we have a lot in common.
and that is the latest and greatest in the life of sister gonzales her ein good old California, Trujillo , Peru.
Con amor
Hermana Gonzales
No comments:
Post a Comment