In case you haven't heard, we had a tornado Monday night. At least that's what everyone was telling us (missionaries can't see the news). We were on our way to a restaurant to meet up with a less active when suddenly dark clouds spread out across the clear blue sky and rain started pouring down like I have never seen before. You could barely see the cars or road! Luckily we were close to the restaurant so we got there and ran inside. The wind was SO strong and everything was flying around. We stayed in the restaurant till the storm calmed down. The less active didn't show up because he was scared to drive in the storm. The people at the restaurant were updating us on the tornado. I didn't see it but apparently it was in the city right next to us. Did all of this stop us from going to our next appointment with Nefi and his wife? Nope! Hahaha! I know you will all think I'm crazy but we got to their home safe, had a great lesson and made it home safe so all is well! God protects his missionaries and some people are worth driving through a storm for. :) Speaking of Nefi and his wife, they are incredible, coming to church and progressing so much!
Starting Monday we had lightning storms all week long and we didn't see the sun till yesterday! It was a dark and gloomy week but we had so much success in finding new people to teach and meeting with those we are already teaching. There is a recent convert here who was baptized in February who refers EVERYONE she knows to us. I am not even kidding. We are literally teaching her husband, sister, cousin, nephews, sister-in-law, brother in law and this week she referred us to her best friend. We met her and her two children on Saturday and they came to church yesterday and even stayed all 3 hours. That is RARE. 3 hours of church is overwhelming for a new person that has yet to find their own testimony but she is so willing to learn and understand. It's incredible.
The referrals came prouring down as hard as the rain! We also had 2 dinners this week where members invited their non-member relatives to join us and we ended up teaching them. An older couple had their Chilean friend join us for dinner and he is amazing and also so preapred. A less-active Peruvian hermana had her Mexican boyfriend join us for dinner Friday night and we got along so well with him, he is also willing to learn more. The most powerful lessons we have start with just showing people that we are NORMAL (sort of) and showing genuine intrest in them and their lives. It starts with finding small ways to serve them and helping them feel of God's love. That has not only lead to friendships with investigators but with strong members as well who now trust us and love us enough to teach their loved ones.
This reminds me of Ammon in the Book of Mormon. He is the perfect example of serving others and loving them into the gospel. Ammon was this incredible missionary that would travel anywhere the Lord needed him to preach the gospel. When he gets to this place called the land of Ishmael he realizes very quickly that the people want nothing to do with him or his message. He is taken to their King to be punished. But he literally asks to become the SLAVE of their King. So the King is super impressed with him and well... lets him become his slave. You'll have to read Alma 17-18 to find out how it is done but Ammon ends up becoming such a great slave that the King ends up converting and the land of Ishmael becomes a peaceful land. All because Ammon chose to serve them and humble himself enough to become a slave. I have found as a missionary that service can often be the most powerful way to share my testimony and has lead me to see miracles.
The new transfer started this week so we had lots of meetings and took many group pictures. Here's a run down of the first week of a new transfer:
- Transfers: Event where missionaries go to switch companions for the new transfer. There is lots of luggage carrying, goodbye hugs and this is where we meet the brand new missionaries as well. It lasts normally about half an hour.
- Zone Kick-off: Meeting where you get together with your individual zones. We make transfer goals, get to know each other and talk about important dates coming up.
- MLC (Mission Leadership Council): This is strictly for mission leaders. We get together at a chapel normally but this time it was in the mission home! The STLs, Zone leaders and AP's get together with the president and his wife to discuss needs of the mission and prepare to train at the next zone conference. It's always super spiritual and great!
It's been a busy first week of the transfer and we have zone conference this week so it's been great! More on that next week! Love you all, have a great week! Los quiero mucho!
Hermana Tapia
Hermana Tapia
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