Wow so a ton has happened so this is gonna be a long one...
Elizabeth and Cesar:
So a quick update on some great things. We have been meeting with Elizabeth a lot and they have actually both started coming to English class which is great because it's extra time we get to build relationships with them and teach them some more!! Some crazy stuff has happened so let's get into it. For one, they came to church which is absolutely amazing... They both stayed for the second hour while their kids headed to primary. Second hour (because we are in an English ward) was only my comp and I, the teacher, and Elizabeth and Cesar because we had the class in Spanish. But it went super well, they were participating and we're connecting with the teacher and the class went great!! Here's where the good stuff comes in, after class, the teacher goes up to them and asks "What are you guys doing this Saturday?" and I flash a glance at my comp like 'this is boutta be the best thing ever', and Elizabeth says nothing, and the Member invites them to have dinner at their house. And so I start freaking out internally like this is amazing, and then the member turns to us and invites us too. So we get super hyped about that. We met with them that week and helped them progress further...
Saturday comes and it's around midday and we called and sent a text to the member asking when the dinner will be and if they still planned on having it. No Response. A little while later we call and shoot another text again, No Response. It's now getting to the evening and we start getting really nervous and scared. It's now pretty late in the afternoon and we try one more time and no response still. So we assume it's not happening sadly and shoot a text to Elizabeth to see if we could meet that night when Cesar gets home.... And she responds saying they can't because they have plans. So that was a great day for us.
BUT WAIT. We come to find out that Elizabeth and Cesar actually went over to the members house and had dinner without us, LOL. So the next day comes and Elizabeth and Cesar come to church again!!!! THEY ARE SO HYPE!! Just an FYI, we have to do the translating through headsets and it is very stressful for me, and I struggle quite a bit sometimes because some of the things they talk about because I have zero clue how to say it in Spanish. For example there was a story of how the speaker was once a farmer and had to do lots of chores, one of those was working a machine that collected grain but would miss some grain sometimes. Anyway, it's just really hard for me to translate and talk about. But anyway, back to the story.
That week comes and me and my comp, Elder Beckstead, decided that the time has come. We feel it's time to put them on date. We set up a lesson to meet and we get there, set the chairs up outside her apartment, and begin talking. Talked about Jesus' baptism as an example to us, yatta yatta yatta. We extend the invitation to be baptized and she says yes!!!! Then she asks about Cesar (because he got caught up at work), and we said he could get baptized at the same time as her. Then she asked about her son, Christian (he's 9 years old!!), and we said, "yes absolutely if he would like to", however, it would have to be after her as he hasn't been present in the lessons and we still need to teach him. BUT IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!!
Fast forward to the next meeting we have, and we actually get invited to go inside the trailer (their home) which we have never done, and she had cleaned the entire trailer and had chairs set up for us. It was the nicest thing ever. I was super happy just from that alone. Not only that but Cesar was there, and Elizabeth pulls out a chair and grabs Christian and puts him on the chair and tells him to listen to us, lol, Elizabeth is the best. We extended Cesar a baptismal invitation and after a few questions because he had been baptized already and asked a few questions, he was down. And a couple things have happened where Elizabeth has asked us literally "Is there anything that we can be doing to help prepare ourselves to be baptized" and also "I was reading the Book of Mormon and was wondering if there was any part in particular that you wanted me to read." Things like that make me so happy!!!!!!! Shows their dedication to the Lord and just brings me so much joy. We have a ton of jokes between us from some things they have told us because I ask some Spanish questions, for example in Venezuela they say "Todo fine", which is really funny to me, and we always throw it out there sometimes. We are getting really connected with them and I can feel the love the Lord has for them so strongly.
Great Experience!
Fast forward to that Sunday and Elizabeth came to church again with their family, and of course I have to translate again. I'm stressed but say lots of prayers before the meeting starts for the gift of tongues and to help me help them feel the Spirit. Anyway the talks start and I didnt know what was going on but I was translating insanely well. I was keeping up through all the super crazy stories that I 100% didn't know what to say. But I was keeping up and I didn't even have to think, it was just flowing out of my mouth. It truly was a miracle for me and an experience I will hold dear as there was no way I could have translated all the talks without God giving me a push. I am so grateful and have a testimony of the gift of tongues. I love the Lord and what He does for me.
Anyway Elizabeth and Cesar are on date for this Sunday, and we are going to meet with them basically every day to get them ready. I'm so proud of their decisions and am so excited for them. Keep them in your prayers please!!
Sad Story Time:
Sister Silsby and a very old sister in our ward that bakes for us every single Sunday. She is absolutely amazing and has a rock hard testimony. Every week she calls us and meets up with us to give us groceries and refuses to take a no. She is a great help and an amazing woman and member to everyone around her. We got a call from a member the other week, telling us that while carrying brownies she had baked, she fell on her side and broke her hip. So me and my comp stopped by and checked in on her. She seemed to be doing really well, she was throwing jokes out left and right and was apologizing for not being able to feed us today which was really sad but we assured her that she has nothing to worry about and thanked her. She asked us to give her a blessing and of course we did. She told us she had a surgery the next day and she will be back at it soon. Flash forward a week later and we stop by again to see how she is doing and to give her the sacrament. She was doing horrible. She hasn't or drinken anything in days. She hasn't been given an IV, and can hardly move. She told us that she had a heart attack during the surgery. She looked awful.
(Mom take this part out for general email)
She starts telling us about lots of different stories from her life, about how her husband was such a great man and great priesthood holder before he died. And how she misses him and loves him. She talked about stories of different missionaries she has met and how she has been helping missionaries for over 50 years. Specific stories from her childhood. She then mentioned how the nurses were angels but at one point they were working on her and had to lay her on her side and push on her to do something and she said it was the worst pain she had ever felt in her entire life. She just wanted it to be done, she was yelling and crying but the doctors said that they had to do this or she might day, and she told us that she told them to let her die, it was the worst experience she has ever had. Hearing that brought me to tears, on how such a kind, amazing, innocent, loving, selfless person could suffer this much and really shook me.
(okay you can continue mom, maybe make the sentence make sense lol, thank you <3)
However she then began to testify of the Savior and the gospel, and how it's the biggest blessing in her life. How she knows where her husband is and where she's going. Talked about how Christ died for us and gave up everything. And that touched my heart and brought the Spirit. She could barely speak and open her eyes but she continued to testify.
Some other stuff has happened but that's for another email I'm running short on time. Quick scripture I liked talking about a promise that was made to each and every one of us...
Mormon 9:21
21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
That promise is unto all, you, me, friends, family. Believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Trust in him, and ask the father in his name, and it shall be given unto you. I love all of you, I love my Savior, I love my God. I love the plan God has set forth for us. I love the gathering of Israel that is taking place at this very moment. I have a testimony of it, no matter what this world throws, the work will continue. I love you all, sorry this is so long.
Do a great week!!! (words of my dad)
Elder Harby
The first picture is with Elizabeth!
