Letter #31- When one door closes, another opens-8.24.2015
Perfect View of Cotopaxi Erupting
Hello, hello! First off, THANK YOU for all of the birthday wishes! Tradition in Ecuador is the same as Chile, so I am sure that next week you will receive a picture of cake smashed in my face. My companion asked what she could do to make my birthday special and the only thing that popped in my head was to be with you guys for my birthday! I am one lucky girl to have the family that I do! There are People Prepared Everywhere "I promise you, as you pray to know with whom to speak, names and faces will come into your mind. Words to speak will be given in the very moment you need them. Opportunies will open to you. Faith will overcome doubt, and the Lord will bless you with your own miracles." -Elder Neil L. Anderson We saw this promise come true this week for my companion. We saw new doors open, people opening their hearts, and new people put in our paths. Right now, we have several investigators who potentially could be baptised onSeptember 12 and September 19. The investigator that has baptism date for September 12 is Nicole! Not only on Nicole's birthday, but also the same name. I love her to death! She came to church (for all three hours! Whoo hoo!) on Sunday and she has been reading the Book of Mormon. She is shocked how much she learns with each verse. I love how enthusiastic she is about learning! She also wants to fast for her brother and she has been praying. She is 15, so we have to get permission from her mom before she can be baptised. We think she will give permission though because when we invited her to baptised she said "I don't know about her (Nicole), but I want to be baptised." Maria Elena (the mom) wants to be baptised with all of her heart, but we have to help her resolve a few things before she can be baptised. We are also working with her son's girlfriend. They have one daugther. She also came to church this week. She has the cutest baby girl. I will have to take a picture with her so that you guys can see her! She loves learning about temples. We are truly excited to start working with this family. They are going through a bit of hard time right now because the son was in a bad accident and has been in the hospital for over a month. He is improving, however, they are not sure if he will be able to walk in the future. Please keep them in your prayers.
Service Project!
Trust in the Lord
We can decide how our trials affect our lives. We can decide to be positive and optimistic about the many good things in my life: our friendships, our families, our jobs, that we have the knowledge of the gospel in our lives, and all of the many blessings that we have in our life. As we do, I think the trials we have had at one point that seemed so overwhelming will began to fade. As I have heard and helped people through their trials here in the mission, my graditude for my trials has strengthened immensely because I have realized the blessings that come through our trials when we endure them well. Our trials can help us reach our potential. Our experiences can help us be an instrument in God's hands in the future. I pray that each of us will face our trials with optimism. That we will remember we are given trials in our lives to learn and to grow, that we are never given something that we can't handle, and there is a reason for everything! One of this missionaries that recently went home from our mission, has been extremely sick since she got home to the States. They believe it Lupus. We had a mission-wide fast for her this past weekend. She is at Huntsman hospital, which is right next to University of Utah Hospital and is in the ICU. I do not know a lot of information, but I do know she is on a ventilator. Her name is Brooke Nethercott. Her sister has wrote me a couple of times and expressed how positive Brooke has been through this trial. I knew her pretty well because one of her companion's was sick for quite a bit of time. She has such a strong testimony and love for the Lord. She worked her hardest until her day she finished her mission without any complaints. She really was a wonderful missionary! Please keep her in your prayers.
We Must Be Valiant in Our Testimony of Jesus Christ I have learned how important it is for us, as members of the only true church, to speak out to testify of what we believe and clarify our doctrine. It is OUR DUTY. I have learned that several people will disagree with our personal testimony, but no one can repute it. I have realized as I have talked with more and more people about the gospel, how many people have false ideas of what we believe in and go on to misrepresent the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We need to stand for what we believe instead of letting this misrepresentation continue. We should have the final word in stating our beliefs and testimonies instead of allowing others have the final word in misrepresenting them. It is important to remember to do it in a loving way though. To not be overbearing or arguementive, but to speak the truth with love. In order to do this we must have a testimony ourselves and live the principles of the gospel in our lives. Knowledge alone of gospel principles alone will not help us get to the Celestial Kingdom nor will it bring happiness in this life, we must take the time to APPLY the principles in our lives. As we desire and seek, we should remember that acquiring a testimony is not a passive thing, but a process in which we are expected TO DO SOMETHING. (John 7:17). There has never been a greater need for us to profess our faith, privately and publicly. (D&C 60:2)
The Spa!
Knowledge: One of the attributes of God I studied a ton about knowledge this week and it has amazed me how important it is for us to have a knowledge of spiritual things. In the Bible Dictionary it says "Knowledge of divine and spiritual things is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL for one's salvation, hence the gospel is to be taught to every soul". How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? (Romans 10:14). I know that we are given the scriptures and living prophets so that we can have the knowledge necessary for us to reach salvation. Peter teaches that KNOWLEDGE along with faith, patience, kindness, and virtue as NECESSARY ACQUISITIONS for one who would seek for a divine nature (2 Peter 1:2-9). In D&C 131:6, it says that NO ONE can be saved in ignorance of the gospel. This is why it is essential for each and everyone of us to open our mouths, to be a shining example of a Latter-Day saint. To be a missionary in all places and in all times. We do not know who is watching our examples or who has a desire to know, but just does not know where to look...I know that as we learn more about the gospel, search the scriptures, pray, go to church, study the words of the living prophets that our desire to share and learn more will grow because we will know the happiness the gospel can bring into each of our lives. I love each of you so much! I truly am so lucky to have the family and friends that I do. I know families are forever! I hope each of you have a great week! Stay safe and healthy! Love Always, Hermana Pemberton
