Prayers Realized

Mon, February 21, 2011 5:41:01 PM

HOMEWORK - Many who have known me for some time have realized that I changed quite a lot about 3 years ago when I had my personal conversion. Today I would like to ask a favor - anyone that remembers anything about me, the things I did, anything specific or general about that change, or even your thoughts on it, could you please take a moment to write that down and Dear Elder it to me? Or email it to my mom so she can forward it? Thank you soooooooooo much!

Today I would like to speak a little bit about the two folks that we baptized this week.

First is Walter!

He is kind of a cool story for me because I contacted him, which wouldn’t normally seem like a huge deal but to me it is. Why? When we met Walter I was with Hna. Cano and it was nighttime and he was just a shirtless dude relaxing outside in the street - normally we wouldn’t contact someone like that. He seemed like any other of those who sit in the street at night - nothing about him set him apart. There was no outward reason to contact him, and we almost passed by. But something hit me abruptly, just a thought.. and next thing I know I was talking to him. And so we contacted him. Well from there on out, he showed up at church two weeks in a row before we were able to have a cita with him. When we did, I went in with 2 new hermanas who didn´t speak a ton of Spanish and we taught him about the restoration, and one of them put a baptismal date with him. He accepted. He continued to come to church and we helped him in his personal journey to the gospel. He said nothing made him feel like the things we were teaching and he was glad to have something like this in his life. The day of his baptism came and there was such a peace in the service and everything and he was so happy to be relieved of all the things he had done in his life. He is happy about the new life he is creating for himself and has a hope for the future--a future with family, the temple, and enduring to the end. He is my friend, and I am so thankful to be able to see a change beautify the quality of one´s life.

The other is Hermanita Rosa. Rosa is the woman that we live with. Her sister and her son and her grandson are all members; she had been to the church before, had been taught by many, many, MANY missionaries, and everything, but never had the desire to change.

Her son stood in her baptism and shared his testimony that he knew we had been sent there specifically to answer what were years and years of prayers.

She is such a sweet old lady, and we sing with her every night - the songs and the testimony in them are a part of her conversion, I am sure. Music speaks in some ways we cannot quite describe.

I am happy to be a part of this miracle as well.. her sister cried when she found out she had finally been baptized. That brought my testimony to a whole new level in the sense that we are called to exact places for exact reasons. The day of her baptism she was thrilled and content. The members love her and she loves everyone.

After 80 some-odd years, she said she has felt the peace of fulfilling what the Lord expected for her. Hahaha fun fact, just to give you a bit of her happy, fun, content personality.. when we were taking pictures, someone said to smile with teeth and she flung her arms out and with a huge smile goes `I DONT HAVE ANY!!´ hahahahahha. Of course, in Spanish. I love that woman.

Also a lot of other things have come together this week. People that were lost were found again. Misunderstandings were cleared up. New families have opened up their doors to be taught. And some have received answers they´ve searched for all their lives. I love this work and I know Christ lives. I´m thankful for this opportunity to serve and to see in a wide view the changes the gospel brings to the lives of the children of men.

Two Happy Hermanas (Rippstein & Garff)