30 June 2014

Raíces Fuertes

Hola Hola!! 
Wow, can you believe it? Today, starts my last transfer here in the mission. 6 weeks. That I know will go by SO FAST. 
BUT, I am happy to say, that I AM STAYING IN MY AREA AND WITH MY COMPANION!! :D We were both super excited when the assistants called us to say we would be staying ;) This transfer is going to be fun! The last one... but it will be a good ending :)

Sad to say... Chile got eliminated from the World Cup this week. It was a sad day... like normal, the whole country stopped to watch the game, and after... we knew they lost, because we could feel the sadness. 
I never thought I'd be so into sports, but I've been super excited to hear everything about World Cup, and wanting to watch the games! haha in 4 more years, Ill watch it for sure ;) haha 
Even though it's sad, we are kinda relieved, so we can keep working good haha. We were lucky that the games were usually during our lunch or meetings, so it didn't affect us too much, but just an hour or so sometimes was during work time. And it was hard! haha! 

Happy Anniversary to mom and dad this week. Wow, 23 years! How fast time goes... 

We had a great week! We saw miracles! 
There is an investigator, Mirella, who I've been teaching for a while now.. since February. She was a reference from a member, but we could only go in the mornings so we couldn't ever see her that much. She always told us only the morning, because it was when her husband wasn't there, since he would "never like to listen to us". She couldn't progress well because he was "hard" "closed" and couldn't ever go to church or anything because of him.
Then, there was a baptism in the ward a few weeks ago, and we invited Mirella. She showed up with her husband, and they loved it!! 
Little by little, we started teaching the husband, Waldo, too. Wow, is he a miracle! Mirella is super excited that Waldo is recieving the lessons now, and they are planning to be baptized on the 9th of August. We could always see the desires in Mirella, but I thought it would be a while until she could do anything. Waldo prayed, and ended the prayer saying "We are going to do it, it's not going to be easy, but we will do it. And the missionaries are going to be happy!" And Mirella cried and was laughing and super happy! 
They are studying the Book of Mormon together and learning a lot! 
Now, just the trick. Waldo and Mirella aren't legally married... Waldo is married and not divorced to someone else, due to the recent laws of Chile permitting divorce. His "wife" and he are separated for more than 20 years, but she is wanting money from the divorce. We are asking for a miracle... to be divorced and remarried to Mirella in 6 weeks. Keep them in your prayers ;) 

The other. Angelina. She had mentioned to us that she didn't feel ready for baptism, so we changed the date to the 26th of July. She accepted. We shared with her the importance of a testimony and her own answer. She started studying and applying the stories in the Book of Mormon, and we've seen more excitement in her. Last night, we saw her. She told me that she WILL be baptized the 26th. She feels so good in the church, better than in "her catholic church". Her grandma that raised her passed away, and her uncle that she lives with was drinking a lot, and she made the decision. She was going to do it, because she wants the help from the Lord. 

The last, is Elmer. Who also has a goal to be baptized the 9th of August. He has been investigating the church for a LONG time, but never could because his "wife" (not married) lived in Peru. She is a less-active member, and he was waiting for her to come here, so they could get married, and he could be baptized. She came a few weeks ago, and they are trying to do all they can to get married quick, and be baptized too! 

It was an amazing week ;) So far, we have 4 investigators with goals to be baptized this transfer! It should be a great ending! ;)

My companion and I studied DILIGENCE this week. Diligence. Endure to the end. Strength. Will to the Lord. Until the end. It was a great study, that I definitely needed this week. 
Diligence doesn't only mean keep working. But to keep working with your heart, might, mind, and strength. It means to be obedient. It means to use time wisely. It means to have the desire to keep working. To want to keep going. 

My companion had a letter from her brother that she read to me, and in a few lessons this week. About Bamboo. 
Bamboo grows 32 meters in a month, so like a meter a day. Or 5 cm an hour. So fast, you can SEE it growing! You can cut it down from the bottom, and it will still continue to grow 32 meters monthly. (Different from any other tree, that if you cut it at the trunk, it stops there). 
But the interesting thing... if you go to plant it right now, and nuture it well, you won't see anything. Not the fault of the ground, climate... because it can grow in any weather, in any soil. So, why won't it grow?
It actually IS growing. Bamboo grows down first, for 7 years, strengthening its roots so it can withstand quick growth and strength. 7 years of strengthening. So when someone comes and cuts it down, it will keep growing. 
How interesting, that our life could be the same. If we focus on strengthening our roots (but more than 7 years....) by having a testimony, praying, reading the scriptures and applying them, going to church, having spiritual experiences, inviting others to come to church or activities... we are strengthened. So when a trial comes and "cuts us down" we can keep growing. We are still strong. It won't affect our growth. We still have our strong roots. 
I loved this comparion. "Be a Bamboo." Do all you can to have your roots strengthened. 

I love you all lots! Take advantage of the time you have... because you never realize how fast it goes, until it's almost over. 
See you soon!

--Hermana Severtson

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