I just wanted to share
my testimony with you all as well as give an update on our week. Sister
Labis and I worked so hard this week. We went exploring in our very
farthest area, and found an entire new barangay called "Canapi" that we
can work in. A barangay is like a small village of people. Canapi is
very, very far, maybe an hour and a half away. It is all farmland. When
we first found it, we thought it was just fields because that was all we
could see. To look harder, you might see a few houses on the horizon.
We decided to check it out. It turned out to be a huge area with a lot
of people. We were able to talk to 34 new people who have never even
heard of our church. We continued to walk almost to the end of Canapi
and contacted everyone we could see. There are so many people there! I
can't believe that we had this huge area that we didn't even know about!
But we are excited to explore Canapi. This area is just what we need.
If we can continue to find faithful and prepared people here in Canapi
that are prepared for the gospel, it will help us to get a meetinghouse
in Canapi and Nagillian! I'm have a great vision for these areas because
it is so hard to get them to church all the way in centro because the
tri c fare is so expensive, especially for families.
On Tuesday
we had one huge heartbreak. Our investigator Nanay Cabrera has been
preparing for baptism. She is so prepared. She has been coming to church
every Sunday
for several months, and follows every commitment we give her. She can't
read the Book of Mormon, so she has her husband (who is not a member or
even an investigator) read the Book of Mormon to her every day. She had
a smoking problem almost all of her life, but has shown us her
willingness to quit. Nanay Cabrera hasn't smoked for nearly a month, and
she even did a service project with us to clean the church. Last
Sunday, one of the members said that they saw her smoking. She was being
honest when she had quit for a month, but this past week she has gone
back to old habits. We asked her about it and she admitted it. She also
told us that she would not be baptized. The relapse of smoking was not
the heartbreaking part; what happened next was heartbreaking. Nanay
Cabrera told us that she doesn't feel worthy to be baptized in our
church. She feels like her past sins won't ever be forgiven of her, so
there is no point in being baptized. She told us that she feels like
trash when she sits in our church and that there is no place for her
there. It was heartbreaking to hear this. We tried our best to comfort
her, but she wouldn't listen. Ever since then, Nanay has treated us very
coldly. We continue to visit her and share, but she is always
distracted and we can tell that she is not listening. It has been so
discouraging.
My friends, this is the message that we bring.
We have a Savior named Jesus Christ. He was born here on earth and died
for us all, that one day we may be reconciled with our Father in Heaven.
It doesn't matter what sin we have committed, or what has happened in
our lives. The only thing that matters is our willingness to follow
Christ and our love for him.
As heartbreaking it is
sometimes, as difficult it is sometimes, and as devastating as it is
sometimes, I am thankful that I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints. We bring this message to all, that they
might know what source they may look for a remission of their sins. I
hope that you all know how real the love of God is for you, and that you
are all His children. I love you and hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Sister Lewis
"I do not know who in this vas
many chances you think you hav
have made or talents you thin
family and God you feel you h
beyond the reach of divine lo
infinite light of Christ’s Ato
-Elder Jeffery R. Holland
No comments:
Post a Comment