Bolivia Bound

MISSIONS!!!!!

October 21, 2013

Well, basically I love the mission. Every week in the mission is fantastic, and this week was no exception! Hermana Lopez and I are still working together great! She’s super fun, learning really fast, and I’m learning a bunch from her as well. As a trainer, I’m also much more painfully aware of my weaknesses and my sometimes less-than-Christ like attributes. Maybe that doesn’t sound too fun, but I’m super grateful for the opportunity because I know that the Lord gives us challenges to help us learn to be more like Him. I’m learning to be a lot more humble, apologize more, and I’m doing a whole lot more repenting every day and striving always to be closer to the Savior.

We are super happy here in Braniff because the work is picking up like crazy! We have this miracle family in our ward, la familia Aillon. They have decided to take it upon themselves to be the missionary family of the ward, and it’s incredible. First, they have a grandson, Marcos, that isn’t baptized, so he’s going to get baptized either the 30th or the 2nd, depending on when the person that’s going to baptize him can come. Then, they have a daughter, Carla, that decided she wants to serve a mission and has started accompanying us to lessons all the time - fantastic. Then, they gave us referencias for two families and a teenager of 14 years, AND had a family night in their house with all these people and more. Awesome!!! So we visited their referencias this week, and one of the families, a single mom, Marcela, and two of her three children (the third is 7 years old), accepted baptism dates for the 16th of November! Also, the 14 year old, Nahuel, accepted a baptism date as well! We’re totally stoked, and we totally love the familia Aillon. Members rock!!!

We also have good news with Monica and Naneth. They have decided that they DEFINITELY want to get baptized. Unfortunately, they haven’t had time to meet with us a whole lot this past week, so we haven’t been able to teach all the lessons and they have to wait until the 9th to get baptized with Fabiola. But no worries, we’re super excited for the 9th. Monica and Naneth are incredible, and I love seeing that they have hope for the future now. Their dad died when they were young, and it was a joy yesterday to explain the Plan of Salvation. Now they know that they can be an eternal family, and they’re super happy. I love the miracles of the mission.

Soledad, unfortunately, isn’t going to get baptized, at least for now. We’re praying that someday, she will be ready to accept this gospel. Fabiola, however, is progressing toward her baptism! She has accepted the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity. We now just have to help her really understand the importance of going to church, because she has only gone to church once so far.

Finally, we’re still working with menos activos and conversos recientes! It’s always a great feeling when we see someone who hasn’t been to church in a long time show up at the chapel. We were especially happy yesterday to see one sister, Raquel. She and her husband are members, but her husband is active while she isn’t. Her husband, Jorge, brings their four children to church every Sunday, and it’s hard for him to have that kind of responsibility, along with his calling, every Sunday. Also, their oldest son, Abacuc, isn’t baptized because he’s afraid of water. So, we’ve been working with the whole family to strengthen them. Sometimes we have family nights to strengthen everyone, sometimes we visit with just Raquel, and sometimes we visit with Abacuc to teach him the missionary lessons and help him prepare for a baptism. Little by little, we’re working to change this whole family, and we were thrilled yesterday because Raquel came to church! She changed her work schedule to have Sunday as her free day. Woo! This is the first step to getting her active, getting Abacuc baptized, and getting this family sealed in the temple, and I’m stoked.

Missions rock!!!!!!! If you’re thinking about serving but aren’t sure, do it. It’s the best decision you’ll ever make. Love you all!

Love,

Hermana Chelsie Faulk