On Monday night, we were so excited to go to Estela and fill out her baptism record and get her so ready for her baptism on Tuesday night. We arrived at her house and she started telling us that she wasn't ready, that she couldn´t get baptized because she was going to have to move...etc. She gave us a lot of reasons why she couldn't get baptized, but really Hna Jensen and I mainly just felt she wasn't telling us the truth. We went home that night and I was just frustrated that Estela wasn't trusting us and telling us the truth. Our district leader called us and was telling us something about her baptism and then I broke down and told him that estela might not be getting baptized. (I think i cry a little too much for no good reason. In the moment I feel like the world is ending but then it always turns out that God is just making sure I´m learning the lesson I need to learn...) Then the other hnas got home and told us that Maritza, a member, said that Estela called her and was talking to her about some things. So tuesday in the morning we went to Maritza´s house and asked her about what Estela had said. She told us that she explained that she shouldn´t get baptized because she feels an obligation to someone, but apparently I was frustrated for no good reason because Estela was still getting baptized, and for the right reason! So tuesday night we arrived at her house to walk with her to her baptism. We arrived at 6¨30, and we waited there for about an hour before Estela even got home from work. Her baptism was supposed to start at 7, but really didn´t start until 8ish. But the
baptism went really well! Her brother, who is a member but hasn´t been to church in like 6 years went to her baptism and was crying and smiling at the same time because he was so happy about his sister making the decision. The spirit was strong! It always is nice when your companion can play the violin like a pro too!
On tuesday night we got a text from the zone leaders saying that we were going to have cosechas in different zones to help the zones that haven´t baptized yet, baptize. We have the promise this month that every companionship is going to baptize. So on Wednesday morning we packed up two guaguas full of missionaries (we are in the DR so of course we fit WAY too many people into the guagua! Probably 25 missionaries in a 10 person guagua....haha) The guagua that I was in headed to Los Molinos. Hna Jensen and I went to a place called La Ureña and contacted our lives out searching for pepole prepared to be baptized. There, we gave away 12 copies of the Book of Mormon and found many prepared people! Then we ate some lunch and packed up the guagua again and we all headed to San Pedro! Hna Jensen and I continued to contact and give away books of Mormon. We found a very prepared family in Santa Fe! The excitement of all the missionaries was soo coooool to see! At the end of the day we all met up at the stake center (there were missionaries working in every area in San pedro) and we all knelt down and said a pray thanking heavenly father for the success and miracles we had seen that day. There were about 65 missionaries working in ONE zone. We were able to put 40 baptismal dates in 3 areas that didn´t have any baptismal dates before that! On the way home we were all tired, hot, but very very happy! We sang hymns all the way back to the capital! I wish you could all see the videos....it was incredible!
On Thursday, we did an intercambio and i went with Hna Falcon to the assistant´s area. (hna jensen and I have been helping with the assistant´s investigator that is getting baptized this month) We taught Raiza, and she told us that we was ready for baptism on Sunday!
Friday morning Hna Jensen and I went to go over the baptismal questions with Raiza, and she passed with flying colors! Then we got picked up to head back to San Pedro. This time we worked in the area of Kennedy. Hna Jones is serving there! We we able to contact more and find more prepared people! That day 25 more baptismal fechas were set for this month! There were people calling the assistants asking permission to do baptismal interviews that very minute! So many miracles happened! Again, we sang heading back to the capital! My heart was so full of happiness and excitement!
Saturday we headed to my first area, MENDOZA! To do a cosecha there. We went to the area of Villa Carmen and visited a girl that already had her baptismal interview, passed, but then said that she wasn´t ready, so didn´t want to get baptized anymore..even though she already passed her interview. We talked to her and invited her to pray to God and ask when he wanted her to get baptized, and she said that tuesday was good....THE LAST DAY IN OCTOBER! Miracle right there, people. Then we went to go teach Raiza again, but she wasn´t home. We then found out that her cousin had just gotten murdered, so they were over at their house helping out with that and to be with family. I feel like someone has to die every time someone has a baptismal date. It´s terrible. So we wrote a note and left it for her hoping she´d get it and go to church and her baptism the next day (and we prayed a lot). Then we went and taught Summer, He is now preparing to get baptized this saturday!
Sunday, Estela got confirmed! She was hugging the whole bishopric a lot because she was so happy! Then, during Sunday School, we got a call from the Assistants asking us to talk to Raiza over the phone and basically persuade her to leave her house and go to church and her baptism. She wasn´t wanting to leave the house. So over the phone, we sang I´m A Child of God and we prayed with her. After about a 30 minute conversation, we came to the conclusion that she wasn´t going to leave. So we just continued to pray and have faith. Later that afternoon, they asked us to go to her house and talk to her in person, so we went and after 5 minutes of talking to her and her mom, her mom said, ¨so when can Raiza get baptized?¨ We asked Raiza if that´s what she wanted, and she said yes and we put the fecha for tuesday (tomorrow). The elders told us we were miracle workers, but if I have learned anything this week, I´ve learned that it is ALL Heavenly Father! I am not an extraordinary missionary, but the Lord is extraordinary. He can work miracles, and any miracle that ¨we work¨ is always in His name. Heavenly Father has given each and every one of us talents and gifts to bless His children. I know that this is HIS work. I love being an instrument in God´s hands and being able to see so many miracles and blessings! I love you all and hope you all have the greatest week ever! We´re always going to have opposition, especially when we´re about to see something amazing, so we just have to have faith to overcome the opposition and push forward!
Les Quiero!
Hermana Lawrence
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