It's been a good, standard
week. Got to spend the majority of my time here in good ole Mitre
working with Elder Tello. Getting after it, hunting the elect (our
investigator pool is shallow, but progressing well).
1st
- Updates on our pool: Daniel and Gabriela Chuychuy are progressing
very very well! We whipped out the Word of Wisdom and Tithing this week.
Both times, we left them with the pamphlet to study, and both times we
got there and they had read and comprehended and were in agreement!
Hahahah they actually taught us the Law of Tithing better
than we could have taught it to them :) - so now, we're just waiting on
the details of their marriage, which they're sorting out, and we'll be
seeing a great new family enter into the path of eternal life!
Our
other investigator is Tamara, the younger sister of a young woman
who is getting active again, Camila. We're having trouble reading Tamara
- she's shy and still hasn't made it to Church yet with Camila. We'll
see how things go.
So the highlight of this
week was repentance! On Tuesday in our leadership council, I gave a
training bit on rescuing the lost sheep with a South America South area initiative to strengthen the wards and hasten the work. I felt like I
didn't prepare as well as I should have, and it didn't shake out as well
as I wanted. I felt throughout the whole council that I had a lot of
things I need to change in terms of balancing out the work - building up
the Kingdom through baptism, rescuing, and retention. It was a great
catalyst to change some things I've (not) been doing.
What
a blessing it was then, to be able to return to the land of my
inheritance, aka Limache, the following day. I began my mission there,
and spent a long yet eternally satisfying 7 months there. Well, I took
advantage to go back and try and be a better Triple-Crown missionary. I
planned our day consulting old planners and we ended up finding a few
new people, one of whom is a legit elect who accepted a baptismal date.
He went to church with his mom 3 years ago (she was a member), but fell
away when she died. He never got baptized. We opened our mouths and did a
ton of contacts.
The best part, however, was
visiting 5 families - 4 convert families and 1 woman that I helped
reactivate. Cesar Miguel Palma, then Victoria Gonzalez, followed by
Maria Salvatierra, the familie Correa, and finally Aldana and Gabi
Yapura.
The visit was awesome and I felt the
Spirit strongly as I tried to testify of the blessings of enduring to
the end despite the opposition. The best was with Aldana and Gabi, who
kept firm and strong the 1st 6 months after I left, but who have since
fallen away. It was a sweet reunion, but I
wasted no time to get to the problem. We read Alma 36:12-25 and
discussed repentance, and I asked if they believe that the Libro de
Mormon is the word of God. Gabi said yes, Aldana said she likes parts
but isn't sure of it. I shared a really powerful experience that helped
me obtain a testimony of said book. }
I've
dedicated a lot of study time to the Atonement, and I'm trying to figure
out just how Aldana can apply it in her life to find healing and forget
the past. Haven't reached any concrete answer other than the Bishop
needs to play a huge role. Well, we set up interviews with him that
just perfectly coincided with the temple dedication recommend for the
new temple in Cordoba! So now they'll be getting to participate and
hopefully can keep working with the Bishop and the members to make the
transition back to the straight and narrow.
Dad - any advice on how to help Aldana?
I know this Gospel is the path to happiness. Let us all press on!!!
Don't let go, don't ever give up! The Church is true, the Book of Mormon too.
We can all be more obedient and thus be brighter lights for those around us!
Elder Isaac Blake
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