July 10, 2017

New Record: 12.40 Miles in one day, without a morning run.

Hello from Sunny Sunny Valencia! 

This week was a bit interesting with our investigators. Many citas fell through, but still miracles are happening as well, and I am sure there are so many more out of my sight. 

One of my favorite moments this week was singing for one-legged member Vicente. He is so lonely, but has one of the most beautiful testimonies I have ever heard. We decided to bring him some light and joy through the powerful spirit of music. We went in and just sang and talked a bit. One song he really wanted us to sing, he couldn´t remember and he was describing it, and I had no idea what he was describing but the spirit just whispered, ¨Come, Come Ye Saints,¨and sure enough that was it. He is very hard of hearing and has to watch TV through a gigantic magnifying glass because his eyes are so bad, but he sang right along with us, and thanked us for the visit and for bringing the Spirit he desperately wanted. He bore sweet testimony of how he knows he is never alone because he always has the Savior. It really struck me just how marvelous the gospel is and how much joy and peace comes from no where else. I know my Savior knows each of us personally and the mission has really showed me How to access the incredible power of His atonement.

The atonement and the moments leading up to it have been the focus of my studies recently. The spirit has really opened a whole new level of understanding to what His sacrifice really means and as a missionary, I get to teach people How they too can access that. It is the greatest thing in the world! As I partook of the sacrament yesterday, I really focused on Him and pleaded for forgiveness from all my mistakes, and the light and peace that filled my heart just confirmed, once more, that everything is true and that everyone can have that if they will just choose to Follow Him. 

We had a great lesson with a Ghanaian man named Nanabucka. He is a sailor and usually lives in Belgium, when he isn´t on the boat. He works on a ship 9 months out of the year and spends three on land. He is living here for the next month and a half with a friend and is working here as well. We talked about the restauration and he told us all about priesthood authority of prophets without us even saying a word. It was amazing especially since that is one thing africans especially really struggle to understand. He is really excited about the Book of Mormon, but unfortunately didn´t make it to church.

Jose and Esperanza should be going to the government today to find out about a marriage license!! YAY! And other miracle, on a whim we tried Sara´s number again, and it was reconnected! She picked up, but couldn´t talk, but at least we didn´t lose her.

Many little things to keep the days sweet and the work good. I adore my companion! We have a wonderful time together! We work hard and we have fun!

Last night we went to Pilar´s house for a Family Home Evening (she is like a grandma to us here and doesn´t hesitate to put us to work in her kitchen. I love her!) with her and the dear Senior Sister Missionaries. Pilar fed us spaniard empañada after empañada (mind you, we had just been stuffed full by africans 2 hours prior. Oh the joys of missionary life haha), but it was a wonderful time! We had to be there to translate because neither speaks a lick of the other´s languange. But we had a beautiful little testimony meeting about the temple and family history work. I just was once again filled with gratitude for the greatest family on earth and for the incredible blessings of the temple. Oh how I miss it, but it just makes me work all the harder to help others to also have that in there lives. To all my dear family THANK YOU, and to all my dear friends THANK YOU! Your prayers are felt! 

I know the Gospel is true! I know Christ lives. I know hard work makes all the blessings sweeter. I love love love being a missionary! Have the best week and find someone you can share your testimony with this week. :)

Con mucho Amor,

Hermana Read