Bolivia Bound

Feliz Dia J

March 17, 2014

Well, life is going great for Hermana Hincapie and me. We were overjoyed to see the miracle baptism of Anyelo, as I talked about last week. He was so thrilled to get baptized, the ward was excited and about 40 people went to the baptism - we’re really starting to see the missionary spirit in our ward! And then to make things even better, our two families with baptism date for this Saturday, the familia Solis and la familia Cuellar, came to the baptism and brought someone else with them! They really liked the baptism, and commented that they’re more sure that they want to take this step. La familia Solis, single mom Wilma and her daughter Paola, also had their baptismal interviews yesterday. Also a miraculous story - on Saturday, we did the pre-interview, and Wilma hesitated on Joseph Smith, insisting that she wasn’t 100% sure that he is a prophet of God, even though she has said previously that she knows that he was. We didn’t know what to do, and were praying silently to know how to respond. After talking about it a little bit, I had the idea to pray, right then and there, to ask, so we kneeled down and she prayed. After, we talked about how she felt and she said she felt embarrassed/ashamed for having prayed. I wasn't sure what to say to that, but Hermana Hincapie was able to powerfully bear her testimony because when she had doubted previously about the Book of Mormon, she read it and then felt embarrassed/ashamed as well, because she felt like she was asking God something she already knew perfectly well to be true. When Hermana Hincapie said that, Wilma felt the Spirit and acknowledged that she really did know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, she was just nervous and doubting in her testimony. That was a miracle for me and a testimony that God has us in this area for a specific reason - if Hermana Hincapie hadn’t had that same experience as Wilma, maybe she wouldn’t be getting baptized this Saturday. So we’re pretty excited to see these families enter the waters of baptism!
This past Wednesday was my birthday - my only birthday in the mission! I can’t believe it’s ending so fast! I’m going to try to attach a few birthday photos along with the photo of Hermano Anyelo’s baptism. My pensionista (the woman who makes our lunch, Hermana Susana) made a cake and then after singing happy birthday, stuck my head in it - tradition here, ha. And my companion surprised my with a big "Feliz Cumpleaños" banner that she had the chance to do the day before because we were in an exchange. So it was a fun birthday. Thank you once again, Mom and Dad, for the package. Especially thank you for sending two of everything because I could share it with Hermana Hincapie and she loved it. 

I want you all to know that this gospel is true. It changes our lives, our very beings, if we let it - if we truly live the gospel and not just "halfway." The little things, scripture study and prayer, are so essential for our true conversion. If you don’t feel as close to the Lord as you’d like to be, I invite all of you to study your scriptures more deeply and pray more profoundly, because in that way, we receive of His spirit and are purified, our very hearts are changed, by the Holy Ghost. I love being a missionary!

Love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Love,

Hermana Faulk

We’ll see if I can’t get these last few photos sent...

 well, it looks like I can at least get the photo of Hermano Anyelo’s baptism. Woo!