It's hot here. REALLY hot and it's not even summer yet. We go tracting and are dripping sweat... Unphased. We have seen so many miracles that it really doesn't matter what the weather is like.
Nothing like chasing down a chihuahua in the ghetto for 30 minutes to touch the heart of a former. This cutie old woman answers the door with flour and what not all over her hands and the dog goes shooting out the door. Just picture it- two sister missionaries in skirts running down the street looking like fools trying to catch this little pup. It wasn't a nice one either. Luckily some random guy helped us out and we were able to go inside and have a lesson with this former, Maria. She is from Honduras, has been to church a few times in the past and was soooo close to baptism, but then a previous elder has offended her so she was done with the missionaries. Sister missionaries to the rescue. She has two daughters and they are so sweet, hopefully she will be able to open up to us.
Unfortunately this week our Octavio's did not progress. Life got in the way. The main problem being working on Sunday. It's such a shame because we know that what he is lacking is a spiritual experience where he can't deny that it is true. Since we are now teaching his son hopefully they will be able to progress together. We are planning on giving them a church tour this week and crossing our fingers it will be just the thing to help them have that experience we are wanting them to have.
I was talking with a member this past week and she had asked me my feelings about home and if I miss it and what I am most nervous for upon returning home.. Granted I have a good while... But we got talking about the person I would be when I got to that point. I had mentioned that I don't want to come back a completely changed person, but I want to come back a better person. I know I have written home about this a lot recently and it's because it has become an important
part of my mission. Each day I want to make sure I am a representative of my Savior, some days are easier than others. (Aka Florida drivers are worse than Vegas drivers and that's the truth.) I know this topic has been coming up so often in my letters, but I just feel that it has been a huge part of what I am learning here in Orlando.
Last Tuesday I had the coolest missionary moment while in the library. We walk into the area where we normally internet proselyte and a young guy was like "god bless you".... Obviously we started talking to him and he said he had never seen missionaries before and that he could feel something different around us. We gave him the Mormon.org website since he was on a computer and after looking around on it for a little while he asks us if we have "one of those books". Claro que si. He then goes on to tell us a little about his beliefs and this 19 year old truly had such a love for Jesus Christ that it almost didn't seem real, there was no denying that he knew who his Savior was. We taught him a quick restoration lesson and he loved it. We then explained to him how he could come to know for himself. I know that each one of us is born with the light of Christ. What a blessing it is for me everyday being a able to connect with this light in every person I come in contact with. There is a quote from Elder Robert D. Hales that I love saying, "You may already know, deep in your soul, that God lives. You may not know all about Him yet and do not understand all His ways, but the light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and intensified by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ, which you are born with." Before my mission I felt like I had a good relationship with God and Jesus Christ, but I am the closest I have ever been, it hasn't come all at once and each day my knowledge of them grows, but I know that they live and love each one of us.
If you're struggling to know if there is a God I encourage you to read Alma 30:44 and then pray to Him. I am a witness of His tender mercies and love.
Have a great week!
Con amor,
Hermana Brooks
Nothing like chasing down a chihuahua in the ghetto for 30 minutes to touch the heart of a former. This cutie old woman answers the door with flour and what not all over her hands and the dog goes shooting out the door. Just picture it- two sister missionaries in skirts running down the street looking like fools trying to catch this little pup. It wasn't a nice one either. Luckily some random guy helped us out and we were able to go inside and have a lesson with this former, Maria. She is from Honduras, has been to church a few times in the past and was soooo close to baptism, but then a previous elder has offended her so she was done with the missionaries. Sister missionaries to the rescue. She has two daughters and they are so sweet, hopefully she will be able to open up to us.
Unfortunately this week our Octavio's did not progress. Life got in the way. The main problem being working on Sunday. It's such a shame because we know that what he is lacking is a spiritual experience where he can't deny that it is true. Since we are now teaching his son hopefully they will be able to progress together. We are planning on giving them a church tour this week and crossing our fingers it will be just the thing to help them have that experience we are wanting them to have.
I was talking with a member this past week and she had asked me my feelings about home and if I miss it and what I am most nervous for upon returning home.. Granted I have a good while... But we got talking about the person I would be when I got to that point. I had mentioned that I don't want to come back a completely changed person, but I want to come back a better person. I know I have written home about this a lot recently and it's because it has become an important
part of my mission. Each day I want to make sure I am a representative of my Savior, some days are easier than others. (Aka Florida drivers are worse than Vegas drivers and that's the truth.) I know this topic has been coming up so often in my letters, but I just feel that it has been a huge part of what I am learning here in Orlando.
Last Tuesday I had the coolest missionary moment while in the library. We walk into the area where we normally internet proselyte and a young guy was like "god bless you".... Obviously we started talking to him and he said he had never seen missionaries before and that he could feel something different around us. We gave him the Mormon.org website since he was on a computer and after looking around on it for a little while he asks us if we have "one of those books". Claro que si. He then goes on to tell us a little about his beliefs and this 19 year old truly had such a love for Jesus Christ that it almost didn't seem real, there was no denying that he knew who his Savior was. We taught him a quick restoration lesson and he loved it. We then explained to him how he could come to know for himself. I know that each one of us is born with the light of Christ. What a blessing it is for me everyday being a able to connect with this light in every person I come in contact with. There is a quote from Elder Robert D. Hales that I love saying, "You may already know, deep in your soul, that God lives. You may not know all about Him yet and do not understand all His ways, but the light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and intensified by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ, which you are born with." Before my mission I felt like I had a good relationship with God and Jesus Christ, but I am the closest I have ever been, it hasn't come all at once and each day my knowledge of them grows, but I know that they live and love each one of us.
If you're struggling to know if there is a God I encourage you to read Alma 30:44 and then pray to Him. I am a witness of His tender mercies and love.
Have a great week!
Con amor,
Hermana Brooks