Week #12

Hello Family and Friends!!!!

I am happy to report a good week this week! Many things happened and I would love to share a few of the special moments in my week.

This week has been a really trying week for Sister Ferrari and I. We have been trying so hard to find new investigators but we have had no luck in finding those individuals that need the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Man it was super discouraging! But, let me tell you what made the week so amazing. Less Actives. I cannot express how much I love the less actives in the ward. I never new how much we touched them until they came and told us.... let me tell  you a few of the experiences.

First off there is Brother Okenyude. He is Haitian. He has been inactive for many, many years. Sister Hunter (my last companion) and I went to go and see him at his home, and he was so nice and sweet! We love him so much. But, then he called us later and pretty much told us that he didn't want us to come anymore, and we weren't sure why. So we respected his decision and decided to try again in a few weeks. But, we had transfers and everything changed.... Then we were at our North Zone Conference and He called us after and told us that he wanted to be active again and he wanted to bring his wife into the church. 

Oh my Gosh!!! I was SO excited because I love that man! He came to church and I told him how happy and excited I was to see him there, and he took my hand and shook it.... he said, "thanks for not giving up on me". Wow..... That made my whole life change. I never knew that just from talking to him and expressing our love for him and his family and our desire for him to come to church could make such a difference. He is now coming to church and is becoming active again!!!!!:)

Then there is the Sanchez family. They have been inactive for a year and they have had missionaries over for dinner A LOT. But, she just never came to church. Then Sister Ferrari and I went to their house and ate Cuban Food. (fyi: cuban food is super delicious!!!! And Mom, fried platanos, bananas, are the best!). Our investigator Family came to church after that and the Sanchez family went up to them and told them to stay active after their baptism, and they bore their testimonies about how they were inactive and we brought them back and how they wanted Liz and her family to go over to their home to eat food with them. WOW!!! God is amazing!!:) Kill two birds with one stone!! Woot woot!!:)

Then there is Nancy. I cannot express how much I love that woman!!! I have loved her since the first moment that I started to talk to her. She has had many missionaries in the past come and talk to her, but she never had the desire to go to church. Then Sister Ferrari and I went, She flat out told us that she wanted to change her whole life! She misses the blessings of the church and she wants to have a temple recommend again. And she said that Sister Ferrari and I just clicked with her and have helped her to realize that..... She came to church with her Jewish boyfriend!!! YAY!!!:)

God has blessed us SO much with our less actives! When you have faith in God, you can do anything! 

The part that is the golden star of our week was the baptism of Liz and Nicklus!! IT HAPPENED!! That was the bestest experience that a missionary could hope for. We changed a families life and their relationship with the spirit and with God's help!! I feel like how Ammon felt in Alma 26. In verse 12 it says:

" Yea, I know that i am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I Can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land for which we will praise his name forever."

It is SO true!! Without the spirit and the light of Christ and God, I would not be able to do a lot of the things that I am doing right now. God had blessed us with a family, who was prepared by Him to receive the Gospel and to be baptized. Before we found them we had a terrible Sunday where none of our investigators came and they told us not to come back. Our world was tumbling down. I love the verse in Alma 26:27:

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

After so much hardship God blessed us to find Liz and her family outside their house that day. I know that God sent Sister Ferrari and I here to find Liz and her family. We were able to change their life, relationship with each other and to help them to stay together as a family!! God Loves all of us and he wants us to be TOGETHER. Liz, Greg, Nicklus and Marice are now working to help Greg and Marice to be baptized. It will happen!!! When Greg was at the baptism, just watching his wife and son be baptized and the love of the ward by the MANY people there to support them, his heart was softened and he wants to be baptized soon.:)

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! Even though it is hard at times, God ALWAYS blesses you in the end. I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!!:)

Sister Salmond

 

Liz and Nicklus Baptism!! Greg and Marice are going to be baptized sometime soon!:)

 Sorry this one is side-ways...I couldn't rotate it.