The Hardest and Best Week Happy September! Chilean Independence day is coming soon. Fiestas are on the rise...and I dreamt that I had returned to the States and was depressed because a Chilean flag was nowhere to be seen:P ---Wednesday was tough. No one wanted to listen. We were rejected quite rudely by a man because we had not returned a couple weeks ago on the day that we said we would. We had meant to return, but Violetta, the member who we had asked to come with us, had receieved a strong impression that it was dangerous for us to go. So we didn't. When we stopped by again this week, he called us liers and "cast us out" of his front yard. Another former investigator did the same because Sisters before hadn't answered his emails and he was offended. And to top it all off, we knocked on a door and a man emerged, immediately begining to demand signs and answers and "why is the mormon church different than the Catholic church" and telling us that there is no way we can believe what we believe. He was a modern day Korihor (Alma 30). ---Rodrigo González, a 52 year old man who was almost baptized 30 years ago in Canada, finally received the saving ordinance this Sunday. In a desperate search for more water, we turned to the leaky firehose to finish filling the font on time. It was a fiasco, but also an answer to our prayers. That's him in the picture with Bishop Rodriguez. ---Our temple tour with 22 year old Diego, an inactive 7th Day Adventist, turned out to be on Saturday morning instead of Thursday as President had advised. The Spirit was burning like a fire in our hearts. We think Diego is scared to abandon his old beliefs and accept the fulness of the gospel. I was praying with all my heart, might, mind, and strength that he would come and feel the Spirit testify to him. Like Lehi, I was overcome by the Spirit (1 Nefi 1:6-7) because my desire for Diego to accept the gospel was so great. I know this desire is evidence of my personal spiritual growth. ---Following Hna. Hunter's inspiration, we fasted to find a family to teach. Sunday afternoon, after ending our fast, we went to Carolina and David, investigators who weren't there for our first return appointment. Miraculously, this time they were both home, listened to our message with the light of Christ apparent in their eyes, and introduced us to their 3 year old twins, Consuelo and Santiago:) For this and many other experiences, I know that Moroni 7:33 is true: "Es por la fe que se obran milagros." The Lord grants our righteous desires. ---Elder Jackson taught us in District Class how to plan better in order to have more lessons with members. Thus, we worked on overcoming laziness and shortsightedness this week, and were able to achieve 6 lessons with members present! Many are thanks to Javier, a reactivating less-active member who wants to be a ward missionary. He neither works nor studies, so he happily accompanied us to many lessons with Rodrigo. Also, as we pushed ourselves in this area, the Lord blessed us with two opportunities to meet and teach non-members during lunch this week. ---John 1:39-42 taught me a beautifully simple lesson: Bring others to Christ, using His words. So that's what I'll do:) Much Love, Hermana Sharp

Happy September! Chilean Independence day is coming soon. Fiestas are on the rise...and I dreamt that I had returned to the States and was depressed because a Chilean flag was nowhere to be seen:P

---Wednesday was tough. No one wanted to listen. We were rejected quite rudely by a man because we had not returned a couple weeks ago on the day that we said we would. We had meant to return, but Violetta, the member who we had asked to come with us, had receieved a strong impression that it was dangerous for us to go. So we didn't. When we stopped by again this week, he called us liers and "cast us out" of his front yard. Another former investigator did the same because Sisters before hadn't answered his emails and he was offended. And to top it all off, we knocked on a door and a man emerged, immediately begining to demand signs and answers and "why is the mormon church different than the Catholic church" and telling us that there is no way we can believe what we believe. He was a modern day Korihor (Alma 30). 

---Rodrigo González, a 52 year old man who was almost baptized 30 years ago in Canada, finally received the saving ordinance this Sunday. In a desperate search for more water, we turned to the leaky firehose to finish filling the font on time. It was a fiasco, but also an answer to our prayers. That's him in the picture with Bishop Rodriguez.

---Our temple tour with 22 year old Diego, an inactive 7th Day Adventist, turned out to be on Saturday morning instead of Thursday as President had advised. The Spirit was burning like a fire in our hearts. We think Diego is scared to abandon his old beliefs and accept the fulness of the gospel. I was praying with all my heart, might, mind, and strength that he would come and feel the Spirit testify to him. Like Lehi, I was overcome by the Spirit (1 Nefi 1:6-7) because my desire for Diego to accept the gospel was so great. I know this desire is evidence of my personal spiritual growth.

---Following Hna. Hunter's inspiration, we fasted to find a family to teach. Sunday afternoon, after ending our fast, we went to Carolina and David, investigators who weren't there for our first return appointment. Miraculously, this time they were both home, listened to our message with the light of Christ apparent in their eyes, and introduced us to their 3 year old twins, Consuelo and Santiago:) For this and many other experiences, I know that Moroni 7:33 is true: "Es por la fe que se obran milagros." The Lord grants our righteous desires. 

---Elder Jackson taught us in District Class how to plan better in order to have more lessons with members. Thus, we worked on overcoming laziness and shortsightedness this week, and were able to achieve 6 lessons with members present! Many are thanks to Javier, a reactivating less-active member who wants to be a ward missionary. He neither works nor studies, so he happily accompanied us to many lessons with Rodrigo. Also, as we pushed ourselves in this area, the Lord blessed us with two opportunities to meet and teach non-members during lunch this week. 

---John 1:39-42 taught me a beautifully simple lesson: Bring others to Christ, using His words. So that's what I'll do:)

Much Love,

Hermana Sharp

 Rodrigo's baptism and I am cutting my  companion's hair and it turned out really good.