So this week really was a week of
miracles. I'm going to try to remember everything the best I can because
I don't have my journal with me today. First of all, I want you to know
that everyone here is praying for Alexa. For some reason this week I
have felt an extra need to pray harder for you and Alexa. I have been
thinking about you a lot and really keeping you in my prayers. Also the
missionaries here are praying for Alexa as well. I admit that it has
been hard but can I just say how much my testimony has been strengthened
because of all this? I know the power of prayer works. I know that
because of Jesus Christ and because of His role in our family and our
lives, we have a strong foundation and cannot fall (Helaman 5:12). I
know he is watching over us and I have felt his hand in my life more
than ever.
Last night we had another lesson with Franchesca. I
have been worried about her because of different things and I honestly
wasn't sure if she would be OK for baptism for different reasons. Last
night we went over the baptism interview questions and discussed each
one in detail. She has been praying and she says she feels peace about
being baptized and wants to follow Jesus Christ. We discussed the
importance of the commitment she would be making and asked if she was
willing to do that. She said that she was and I think she finally
understands the importance of reading the Book of Mormon because she
knows it's a true book and she needs to understand it more. At the end I
was able to bear my testimony with her. I don't remember exactly what I
said to her but I know I talked about Helaman 5:12 and bore my
testimony about what building our foundation on the rock of our Redeemer
has done for me personally and for my family. The spirit in that room
was stronger than it had ever been and I could see in her eyes that she
could feel it. When I was done, Sis Patlingrao bore a powerful testimony
as well which added to it. After she was done I asked Franchesca, "What
do you feel right now?" "I feel like God is here" she said. I think
that was the most powerful moment I have had. "God is here" I said. Then
I was able to explain about the Holy Ghost and how after baptism she
would be able to receive that gift to feel God with her always as she
followed Him. We still have a few details to set up but I think her
baptism for Saturday is still going through. Thankfully, I am a visitor
center sister and will be able to stay in contact with her and set
everything up with her bishop and the missionaries in her area when she
goes back to Peru on Mon.
Speaking of blessings of being in the Visitor
Center, I never knew how amazing it really would be to be here,
especially with this new program. So the first day we started the new
program we met this old couple from Washington who were about to
celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. He was raised in one religion
and she was raised in another and they tried Methodist for a few years
but they are moving now and wanted to find another church. I asked if
they had tried the LDS church and they said "no, maybe we will though."
They agreed to have the missionaries come bring them a Book of Mormon
and teach them more and they kept saying things like, "I'm so glad we
left the villages early to come here" and "you made our day with this." I
just told them I was glad too and they made my day:) On the tram ride
back they asked "do you get many people like us?" meaning willing and
excited to learn more. "yes" I said, "That's why I love what I get to
do!" God's hand is in this work so much and I am so blessed to have the
opportunity to see these miracles. And the best part is that I now get
to stay in contact with them and see them to baptism and beyond! I also
had a miracle on the phone with a lady from Mississippi who called in
about United Health Care or something. When I told her who I was she
said "Oh I've heard about Y'all on TV! What is it Y'all do?" "Teach
people more about Jesus Christ" I said. "Oh that so good! I love Jesus
Christ! He just means everythin to me." :)Well long story short, she
agreed to have the missionaries come and she said "I really wanna talk
with you some more too!" So I'll definitely be in touch as well:). It
seems like I've seen tons of miracles like that this week but I think
the biggest one happened on Sunday.
So Sunday night I was on shift in the Visitor
Center and was a little put out by it cause I had to miss the Fireside
that was going on with our Mission President in one of the theater
rooms. I was just giving tours and all and a couple walks in wanting to
go through the presentation of Gods Plan for His Family. We talked with
them for a bit and then took them through the 15 min presentation. After
we asked them about what they felt and all that and that is when we
found out that the young man, Chris, was actually investigating the
church. I asked how long he had been investigating and he said 6mths.
Apparently he had come in to this visitor center 6mths ago (He lives on
the Island) and had self referred to see the missionaries. Well the
missionaries had visited him 3 times and he said next Sunday was going
to be his first Sunday to go to church (he was really excited about it).
Then his friend asked if there were lessons that the missionaries were
supposed to be teaching him cause apparently the 3 times he met with
them they didn't really teach him much. They only shared a short message
and then played pool! They then asked if it were possible for us to
teach them here today. Thankfully with this new program with us being
their "official" missionaries since we can contact and teach them
throughout the whole process we were able to tell them "definitely" So
we had them fill out our guest cards with our information, and we also
asked if there was anyone else they thought could use this message and
each of them referred 2 people! Also on the guest card of Chris where it
asks for religion he put "Mormon":)!!!!! We ended up teaching the
beginning of the first lesson right there and then they said that if it
was OK they wouldn't mind driving here for us to continue teaching them.
So we set up an appt. for them to come tonight! It was so amazing. The
whole time we were teaching him I kept thinking how he reminded me so
much of Brandon. He is definitely so prepared from God and, as he put on
the comment part of his guest card, is so "Excited to learn more." He
told us "I don't want to go through the motions so I'm going to have
some questions." "Good!" we said "That is why we are here! We don't want
you to just go through the motions. We are here to help you understand
and learn more so you can discover for yourself that this is true. Write
down questions that you think of and ask us, we love questions:)" He
also said he loves reading and will start reading the Book of Mormon. No
idea why this guy hasn't been to church or isn't baptized yet after 6
mths! But that just makes me happier that we have this new program here
at the VC. The missionaries in their areas are going to have to take
these referrals we send a bit more seriously! It is estimated that 1/3
of everyone who joins the church started investigating because of a
Visitor Center. That number is now expected to go up to over 1/2! The
work of God will go forth boldly and nobly!
I love this work. I love seeing Gods hand in my life
and in the lives of those around me, including my family. I love you
all so much! This church is so true. Believe it or not, this was a hard
week for me. Spiritually and mentally I felt depressed and physically I
have been sick (yes mom I actually bought pineapple juice). There are
certain things I have been kinda having a hard time with and so I
adopted a new motto. "Pray always lest ye enter into temptation." Prayer
works! Heavenly Father hears me and answers me in ways that I don't
expect but am so grateful for. I am so grateful for the Atonement. I
have been seeing it work in the lives of investigators and less-actives
alike. Its real. Heavenly Father loves His children so much! I love you
so much. I pray for you always. My sweet companion and now all the
sisters here are praying for you. I think we are all being made strong
through this. Thank you for raising us to be close to Jesus Christ.
Thank you for teaching us to have that strong foundation.
Les Amo!!!!!
Hermana Rowley
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