Hi!! How is everybody? I hope you
are all doing well and having a fantastic summer! How has the weather been and
what have y'all been doing? I miss you all so much and love you lots!! Well
Life her in the west Texas town of El Paso has been fantastic! This past
Saturday we had 4 people get baptized!! It was just so amazing, and I feel so
blessed to have this opportunity to share the gospel.
Ok so for the stories of the week.
Story 1 On Wednesday we were going
to visit Tara (the girl who read the Book of Mormon in like 3 weeks. Crazy
right!). But this visit was not going to be a happy one because since she had
not gone to church twice she would not make her date of the 22nd. So we go in
and say hi and start talking, and when I bring up here baptism she gets really
excited. She says that she has been looking forward to it for the past two
weeks and can’t wait. And it was at this point that I had to tell her that
since she had only gone to church once she could not be baptized on Saturday. I
thought that she was going to be so sad and disappointed, but instead she just
smiles and says this. "But I did go to church twice once with you and your
ward, and the other time when I was on vacation. I looked up the meetinghouse
and printed out the directions so that my mom could take me. And while the rest
of my family went shopping I went to church." I was dumb founded!! This
young girl never ceases to amaze me, and I just love her so much! So we
finished the lesson and set up her interview.
Story 2 On Friday Kevin had his
interview with President Perez (he is the mission presidents representative
down her in El Paso). And Kevin comes out of the interview and the President
asks if we would come in. So we do and he then explains to us that Kevin is not
ready for baptism. He told us he was so that he could please his mom, and us.
But the thing is that I really knew that he wasn't ready. Something kept telling
me this but I ignored it thinking that if he thinks he is ready than he is
ready. The President gave us some advice to help him and us, because he knew
that we were both pretty new to the field. But I did learn to never ever ever
dismiss a prompting, no matter what it is. And that I will make sure that the
investigator is 100% ready before they are interviewed.
Story 3 So Saturday finally came
and we were getting everything ready for the baptisms of the Garcia's (Dee Dee,
Katherine and Brandi) and Tara. So many people came to give support that we had
to move out of the primary room and it to the Relief Society room! But the
baptisms went amazing, and we got to stand on the stairs by the font to watch.
The spirit was so strong and I know that everyone felt it! After it was over
and we were having refreshments I asked all of them how they felt. Katherine
and Brandi said really well and then ran to get cookies. Tara said that she
just felt so clean and happy. But Dee Dee's answer was the best; she said that
she just felt so light that she could float up to heaven. And she was so grateful
that we had found her family the gospel. WOW! It was just amazing! The next day
they were all going to get confirmed. And The Garcia’s come but no Tara... So
we text her and ask if she needs a ride, she says no and that she is on her
way. Well church starts and still no Tara! I was freaking out as the Garcia's
all go up and get confirmed. And then the bishop looks at me from the stand and
mouths were is Tara? And all I could do was mouth back and shrug on her way. So
we text her again and it turns out that she had car trouble! After the
sacrament was over she finally get there, and I was able to breath again. So
the bishop says that they had forgotten an item of ward business and called
Tara up to the stand. After its over the ward mission leader leans over to me
and say, " I was getting really worried there for a second." And I
just had to nod and say me too. After church Dee Dee's husband Adam (who was
already a member) came over to me and shook my hand and said. " I have
been waiting for this moment for 10 years. I have been praying that my wife
would find a place that she could feel at peace. And even though I was inactive
for so many years the lord never forgot about my family and me. And I am so
grateful that you and sister Rose found us that day. Thank you so much!"
If I could have hugged him I would have but he was so grateful that he started
to tear up. I am so grateful for the amazing experience God gave me to
witness all of these wonderful people come to Christ.
And finally story 4 Yesterday was
the "Work of Salvation" Broadcast, and it was amazing! I hope that
you all got to see it or can go online and watch it!! The work is truly moving
forward and I feel so blessed to be apart of it. But the Missionaries cannot do
this work by ourselves, and we need your help. We all know someone, or a whole
family that could be greatly blessed by the message of the restoration. And it
is the missionaries’ job to teach these people, but we need help finding them.
So please be willing to help the missionaries, and to help them find people to
teach. I know that it is not the easiest thing to tell people about the church.
I think because it is special and sacred to us, that we do not want people to
be little the truths we have. But if it is so special then why should we not
share it? The Lord does not want just a select few to have his gospel but
EVERYONE!!!! Yesterday Elder Packer said "Any invitation that is based on
love of the person, and the love of Christ can never be taken in
offense." Again I know that going up to people is hard, but at least
you all will know the people that you are talking to! Because I have no clue
who any of these people are! But that doesn’t matter because I know that they
are all children of God, my brothers and sister. So think of someone, think of
anyone who you feel that the Lord has prepared and help them find the truth.
Elder Holland said in his talk 'The first and Great Commandment' " I need
someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel
and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and
loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble
message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it
is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty
God, and it is to change the world." If this is the work of God and we all
know that it is, IT WILL NOT FAIL. Remember that we are all missionaries even
if we don't wear a tag.
I love you all so much and want you
to know that I am "honnored" to be a missionary for the Lord. I know
that this gospel is true and I love my Savior Jesus Christ with all my hear.
Keep fighting the good fight and keep the faith. So that we can finish the
course with joy.
With all my love
Sister Chatwin
P.S. It, it was, Soap poisoning!
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