First, I am still in Ushuaia!!! No changes and I am SO grateful for the chance to be here and still be learning from Hermana Malhue. I just absolutely love her and am so grateful for the opportunity! She is truly wonderful and I am very grateful to be here with her. We have great goals and plans for this transfer and are really excited to have Christmas together... speaking of that, her family got a computer, so we will officially be skyping!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, the big news of the week..............................................(drum roll, please....)......................................
TWO BAPTISMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are so very grateful that Griselda and Fabiola arrived at their baptisms. Let me tell you, we had the most powerful moment yesterday! All week, Griselda was no, no, no, no, no. She was all for the baptism of Fabi and even told us that she would love to be baptized some day but that she was worried that she wouldn´t be able to keep all of the covenants and she had some fear. We had a load of faith and kept working with her every single day. On Friday, we had an amazing lesson about taking on the name of Christ and she was so open and wonderful. She participated more than normal and really loved the idea of taking on the name of Christ. Saturday, she invited us for lunch and we had SO much fun just being together and I think that helped a ton. After lunch, we went for their baptismal interviews and she had a great experience with her interview, but still was a little worried and said she had to think some more. That night, we prepared everything... ironed the clothes, made a giant cake (super delish even if I do say so myself... I am loving that I can do things without a mix! haha...), made the program including her baptism, etc. Sunday morning came and they arrived in church and the meetings were AMAZING. The lesson in Gospel Principles was on the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Griselda participated and everything. Fabiola had a great time with the Primary children and all was well. In RS, the lesson was on tithing, and it was a super amazing lesson. Side miracle, the teacher was a less active member that we have been working with who is super amazing and has come to church 3 weeks in a row and even brought a friend this week who accepted a baptismal date! Now with this assignment, we know that she will continue active. At the end of the lesson, after the prayer, Griselda stood up and asked for a minute. She told everyone that she was grateful for their testimonies on tithing and knew that she could exercise her faith in the same way, that she finally felt ready and invited everyone to her baptism THAT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! I loved loved loved that moment! All of the Sisters were super emotional and the Spirit was SO strong. It was a miracle. When we went to pick them up for the baptism, they were all ready to go. Griselda told us that she was a bit sad because her family wasn´t supporting her but that she had her answer and would continue on with it. Wow. The miracle is that right before the baptism started, her aunt ended up showing up!!!!!!!!!! So amazing! The service was awesome and practically our entire branch was packed in there, standing room only. WOW. We have an amazing branch! I know that this is the Lord´s work and I really just don´t know how to give Him enough thanks. I can´t even begin to tell you all the miracles that we see as we strive to become nothing but instruments in the hands of the Lord.
Other miracles of the week:
-EIGHT investigators in church!
-Ten new investigators, all who accepted baptismal dates.
-One of the brothers in the branch telling me that he assumed I had a year in the mission because my Spanish was so good! (Wow, let me tell you, that was the greatest tender mercy ever)
-Augustin is super awesome and learning more every day. We made him a little book to remember his baptism with little notes and pictures and things and it turned out amazing. Pamela wasn´t home all week, but we will keep working with her.
-Karen, our golden investigator, moved away and we were way sad, but then she MOVED BACK!!!!!!!
-Super successful district activity to find new investigators where we watched Mobsters and Mormons (haha... that was a good time). The investigators really loved it and we were able to demonstrate another side of the Church. We had a great turnout from all of the Branches.
Wow... can´t believe that Mackay is officially Elder Shelley. I love you, man and know that you will be great!
Love you all so much. Thank you so much for all of the love and prayers. I really do feel your love and prayers and know that they help a TON. The power of prayer is amazing. I have learned that even more in the mission.
I know that God lives and that Jesus is the Living Christ. I know that this church is true. Help the missionaries! The work is impossible without the members!
I LOVE YOU!!!
Hermana Shelley
Pictures: 1-Kailei's zone in Ushuaia
2 & 3-Griselda and Fabiola baptism
4-Eating with members in Ushuaia
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