We are Christians

Blog: We are Christians

During Zone Class, President appeared (we were grateful to have arrived on time!) and participated in the class. I felt like his teachings of the plan of salvation were just for me: many of my questions were answered and my testimony of the plan increased ten fold. I know the Plan is true! And real! And perfect. Christ made it possible.

On the street, a man accused us of not being Christians, and refused to hear our testimonies. I felt awful, but remembered 3 Nephi 12:11 and 12, which says that we are blessed because the prophets, too, were persecuted and rejected. How hard it must be to be a prophet...

We carried out our first English class in the chapel. I was nervous and felt unprepared, but Heavenly Father helped me to go forward with faith and teach what I know. I love teaching! Two investigators came, and Hnas. Allred and Alvarez also accompanied us. At first we thought both of the investigators were ours, but it turns out that one, Leonardo, actually lives in Hna. Alvarez's sector. Sad for us, happy for Hna. Alvarez. I felt a special spirit when we helped the investigators read from the Book of Mormon. Leonardo (who originally said he was only interested in learning English, not religion) was fascinated by the chapel and came to church the next day!

We're finding that many of the less-active members in our ward have joined other churches (adventists or jehova's witnesses, to be exact), but we're trying to have lunch with them in order to at least bring the Spirit back into their home.

Many of our investigators have chronic illnesses. The first counselor gave one of them a priesthood blessing, and she felt the Spirit warmly embracing her. Balbina's never-ending tears were evidence that she had been awstruck (as Elder Holland explained) by the feeling that God really does know her. The only difficulty is getting her to church because she can hardly move...

Another investigator takes care of a woman with dimensia. During our second visit to sing to the old woman, Tulia, the caretaker, Olga, asked to see our "bible." She was fascinated and excited to read it.

Betty, who has come to church with her granddaughter, told us that she realizes she needs to choose between The Church of Jesus Christ and the Jehova's Witnesses (she's listening to both missionaries.) I have faith in Moroni's promise that God will answer and guide her to the true church!

I went to Lo Canas with Hna. Araujo for an exchange and was impressed by her courage and boldness. She knows the doctrine, is not ashamed of it, and teaches it 'al tiro'. She knows how to do her job. It's amazing how just one year working as a missionary transforms us into messangers of the Lord. I still don't believe it sometimes.

Finally, to avoid any signs of trunkiness, Hna. Urzagaste and I set the goal to not speak of things that have to do with before or after the mission. We just barely started, so I don't know how effective it will be, but I hope it helps us to focus on the work more and more.

I know that this is the only true Church of Jesus Christ. 2 Nephi 31:21. The scriptures are my best friends. (And as Hermana Urzagaste said, the Bible and the Book of Mormon are the perfect marriage, ha.) Christ is my strength, and Heavenly Father is my Guardian. I love them, and my goal this year is to serve Them, and thus come to know Them better than ever before. I only hope that I can help others to come to know Them, too. 

Nos vemos! ("Si no nos vemos, vamos al oculista," dijo un investigador)
Hermana Sharp

P.S. My companion, from Argentina, had never tasted tacos (how that can be, I don't know) so we made them for lunch today. Yum