Well
this week was like really good. Like, really good. Every Tuesday, my
ward has an activity night, for EVERYONE. I mean, everyone. They have a "
be a better teacher class", Zumba, sewing, cooking, basketball, scouts,
mutual, and an English Class. It is seriously the coolest thing ever. I
really think the Spanish ward back home, or EVERY ward back home should
do something like this. It is seriously a great way to get everyone to
come to their activities and for everyone to be involved. This ward is
so close, and I really believe it's because of these weekly activities.
The English class is an awesome way to get contacts to come check out
the church too. Every Hispanic wants to learn English, so they come to
this free class, learn English, and of course get a little message about
Christ too :) win-win. The missionaries are primarily always in the English class because we are usually the only native speakers, we help
out the students with their worksheets, and with speaking. It's so fun.
It's like I'm at home all over again. I really feel like teaching is
talent of mine, and I feel really blessed that because of my experience
in being a teacher, it's helped me so much in my mission.
On
Wednesday, we met with a less-active girl in our ward. She's been
struggling for a while, but she has come a long way, and I can really
feel like she wants to change. We spoke to her about The Atonement. I
bore my testimony to her about how much my life has changed in just the
past two years. She couldn't believe that I had the used the atonement
before. We taught her that the atonement is for EVERYONE. Even as
missionaries, we are continually repenting and asking for forgiveness
because we are NOT perfect. No one is. But all we can do is try. I could
see her countenance changing as we talked about how the atonement molds
us to be the divine individual Christ sees us to become. She committed
to come to church this week and to continue reading her Book of Mormon.
She is a true daughter of God, and I think she's starting to see it. On
our way home from her house, we felt impressed to go visit a referral we
had gotten the week before. We had tried to come see her the Friday
before but she wasn't home, so we decided to go try her again. We got
there and her whole family was sitting outside just talking in the
middle of the day. We started speaking in Spanish, but came to find out
they spoke English, so that was embarrassing haha but we asked for the
girl who had been referred to us. She came out and we told her about how
we had gotten her info. The Elders had contacted her and since she's a
single girl, they referred her to us. For privacy sake, I'll call her
Maura. Maura is 18, a senior in high school, and she has a 5 month old
super cute, chubby little baby :) She lives with her parents and
siblings in a very humble area of town and when met with the Elders, was
interested in baptizing her baby. So, obviously we told her our views
on baptism, and how we believe everyone is born sinless, and how sin
comes with decisions, and that we don't believe anyone until the age of
eight years old is accountable for their mistakes. She was very
receptive to that message and asked us to talk to her more about it. It
was pretty funny actually, because usually when you're just meeting
someone, you'll get to know them a little, find out their needs, then
set up an appointment for another day. But she insisted we teach her
then. haha. So we did. We sat outside their house, with a dirt road, and
random dogs roaming around, and taught the restoration. We bore our
testimonies on the Book of Mormon and how Joseph Smith was a real
prophet, chosen in these latter days to translate the word of God. Her
mom also sat in on the lesson, and had lots of questions (which a good
thing) Maura, just sat a listened, and we could tell the spirit was
witnessing to her what we were saying was true. We ended with a prayer,
and Maura said it!!! It was very powerful and we were all crying by the
end. The Spirit of God was there and it was strong. Never in my entire
life thought I would be sitting by a dirt road testifying about the Word
of God to complete strangers. But it happened, and it was AMAZING. We
placed three Book of Mormons with their family, and invited them to read
and ask for themselves if the book was true. It felt so natural. It was
the first time I had asked someone to truly ask if the Book of Mormon
was true, and it felt so easy. We invited them to come to church, and
they promised they would. Sunday came around, and we spoke to Maura that
morning and she said she would be there, but she wasn't. I was so sad, I
didn't even know what to do. But my sweet companion reminded me that
the Lord is is His work. He knows what He is doing. We did our job, we
testified of the gospel's truth, and He will do the rest.
Being a missionary is like a huge
emotional roller coaster. You are so close to spirit all the time that
you feel everything with more intensity. I feel so much love. Like love I
didn't think I could feel for complete strangers the moment I meet
them, but I do! It's the weirdest thing! The members in my ward are
amazing! They are so loving, and even if they aren't I feel so much love
for them anyway. And I don't even know why!?! It's seriously crazy. But
I know this blessing is coming from my calling, and I was called to
serve in their ward and to love and serve these people. So the Lord has
blessed me with this love for so many people I never thought I would
ever know. So, when Maura and her family didn't come to church, I felt
like I had just been broken up with. So sad, because I wanted them to
come feel the spirit and love of the ward and the Lord for themselves. I
love Maura and her family, and I know that if it is God's will, and if
they put forth effort to learn, they will, and they will know this
Gospel is true.
I
am so blessed to be serving a mission in these days. Life is not easy
for many people here in Houston. It is a humble place where I serve, and
I am daily meeting more and more of God's children. What a blessing it
is to see the gospel in action, and to see how it changes lives. I am so
grateful to be here, doing what I am doing. It is NOT easy. There are
many times where I am so exhausted I just want to cry, and go home. But I
take a moment, and remember my purpose. This is NOT about me. I have a
purpose here and I'm not in it. My purpose is bring others unto Christ.
It's not about me crying because I can't watch vampire diaries or go to
the beach lol. I am a missionary, and this is my job. I hope you are all
trying your best to be obedient and to keep the commandments. The only
way to happiness is follow Christ, and keep his commandments. I learn
that more and more every single day. Thank you for all your love, I miss
you all and hope to hear from you!
WRITE
ME letters about your lives and your experiences in becoming closer to
Christ. Nothing uplifts a missionary more than hearing that from loved
ones <3 But mostly just write me. My mailbox is sad :(
Until next week!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Carbajal
