 |
| Silvio with his CTR ring!! Thanks uncle Craig!! |
Ok first off I received your other package! I loved the package mom. I look at those quotes and receive a lot of motivation. The skirt fits perfect. I loved hearing how the missionaries are doing in the ward. My dear family, do all you can to make those that are taking the discussions feel welcome in the ward. We are starting a new thing that only the members can baptize those that are going to be baptized. We have a lot of people that are becoming inactive because the missionaries leave and they don't feel welcome in the ward. I want to hear how you guys are doing the work.
Mom don't worry I am going to tell you all about Silvio. Hermana Cortez and her companion Hermana Michael are actually the ones that found Silvio. But they never had the opportunity to teach him. They passed by his house a lot of times and he wasn't there. They actually found his brothers first. Hermana Cortez told me that she felt something so so so special from this sweet boy and that they needed to teach him. We actually taught my very first lesson with his dad. Silvio sat right next to me and we began to teach lesson 1. The restoration. His face lit right up when told the experience of Joseph Smith. And after we taught the first vision, we taught him how to pray and that he too could receive an experience and know that this church was true. I remember his first prayer. He said the words and he had so much faith. Well we continued to teach him the lessons and we had taught him all of the lessons in like 3 weeks. We were so excited. The first time we visited him he wanted to be baptized. The week before his baptism he told us with tears in his eyes that his dad wanted him to wait. He was so sad. We were in the front porch of his house and we asked him what he wanted to do. Well, we said a prayer. We knelt down and he said a prayer. His words were from his heart, the sweet boy. He asked that his dad would let him join the true church on the earth. He wanted to be baptized and he ended with stating that he knew he would receive permission. His dad wasn't against him being baptized but wanted him to wait for a while and get to know the church more. His dad is a member and his mom isn't. He lives with his dad but his dad, because of hard things that have happened in his life, has fallen away from the church. Silvio didn't even know that he was a member. The day after Silvio said that prayer we went with the papers for his father to fill out and sat down with the two and asked if his father would sign the papers. But before Silvio bore his testimony to his father and told him why he wanted to be baptized now. The spirit was so strong. His dad signed the papers and Silvio was baptized the next week. Even though the water was cold, He was happy. You remember the story about his mom. His dad didn't come to the baptism. Well the day that Silvio was baptized he brought a friend. .His friend was at his baptism and the next Sunday when Silvio was confirmed a member of the church I brought his mom and his sister Lucia. This Saturday is the baptism of Silvio's friend and his sister. We taught these two friends of Silvio with him and on many different occasions we would be begin to teach them and they wouldn't´t understand. Silvio turned to his friends, explained the topic, bore his testimony, and then asked if they would live the law. Just so you know the lesson was on the law of chastity. HAHAHA Hermana Cortez and I were struggling because we knew that the mom of these two wasn't living the law of chastity. But Silvio taught the lesson and the two kids understand it better than I or any other missionary could have taught them. Yesterday his friend's sister came to church by herself because the little brother was in trouble with his mom but she has been coming to the young women activities and is growing in the gospel a lot!!! Silvio yesterday in the sacrament meeting helped the piano player by holding the papers. And he has received a talk that he will be giving in the primary program in about three weeks. He has given us 5 different references and right now we are teaching 3 and 2 will be baptized. He always wears the CTR ring that we gave him, and he is always looking for ways that he can bless others with this gospel. He is my little brother. I love this kid so so so so much. Even right now I get teary eyed talking about him. He doesn't have the support of the family. But he gave us the direction for his mom and he wants the elders to visit her. And his dad little by little is responding to us. Silvio is a miracle and a missionary. Those children need to know that they are the ones that can share the gospel better than anyone. They are closer to Christ than anyone here in the earth. Their friends that don't have the gospel can have it through them! There is no greater joy.
This week was hard. You guys remember that Oscar and Catalina moved out of our area. They were going to get married. Well this week Mariela, Raul and olga and their family, and Diosnel moved out of our area. We cant teach them anymore. Do you know how frustrating it is to know that they live somewhere where I cant go and they are like the golden investigators!!!!
Oh while I'm thinking about it. I would love if you could send me for Christmas different ideas for family home evenings. This is really the way that so many are enjoying the gospel. Or even in an email would be great. Some different ideas. This is the last week with my companion. Next Tuesday is transfers. And I know that things are going to change for me. Today we are going to have the activity of district and we are going to hike the hill Lambaré again. Its raining. Yesterday and today it rained a ton! Its amazing how much the people don't like the cold or the rain. This Saturday is the baptism of Silvio's friend and his sister. They are so special. The little boy is a little stinker sometimes. He reminds me of Jared in some of the things that he does. But I love him. And his sweet sister hopes for a better family. She wants the best for her life and her future family. She told us a story this week about how in school they are taught to say prayers a certain way. The catholic way. It was her turn and she stood up in front of all of her class, turned to her teacher, and asked if she could say the prayer a different way. The teacher was surprised but said yes. She started and ended her prayer with Heavenly Father, and "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen". WOW!!! Hermana Cortez and I were so surprised. The first time we taught this girl she didn't want to be baptized because she thought that her baptism in the catholic church was valid. This same girl walked to church yesterday in the rain alone. This same girl assisted all of the mutual activities with the young women in the ward. This same girl is so excited to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this Saturday, and as she says, have a happy family one day. What blessings!
I love you guys so much. i think about you a lot. Write me letters and send them please. It is so lovely to receive letters from you guys.
Love,
Hermana Ross
No comments:
Post a Comment