December 18, 2017

Ode to JOY!

HOLA! 

I wish I could bottle up all the love and joy I feel here and give it to the whole world. I cannot even express how many miracles we are seeing. I know they are all direct result of sacrifice, faith, and this 40 day fast. I find the most joy when I forget myself and give all my energy to the work and to all these wonderful people.

Vanessa. She is the most changed person. The first time we met her, she claimed she was atheist, and just was very quite and quite dark. Not very smiley, and didn't really respond to much of anything we said, but agreed to let us come back, but she wouldn't give us her number. Well we show up with a member this week and the member's experience opened Vanessa right up. She rejected the first invite to church, but at the end she begged the member to come pick her up. (She forgot and was out of town, but she is coming next week.) We were able to meet with her Sunday night, and she was a completely different person!! She told us that the day after our last visit, she said she woke up so happy and was even dancing around the house! (She even went to her classes, which sounds like it has been awhile...) She said she had no idea why, and I told her that I do! THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST CHANGES LIVES!! She loved the message of the restoration and she prayed that we can continue to meet frequently so that she can continue to change. It was remarkable. I love being a missionary! I know that I don't do anything, but the spirit changes everything!

Gustavo is just thriving! He is so so excited to be baptized! He loved church Sunday and just always tells us how happy he is. He came to a baptism and just loved it so much. He told us last night how he just has to come to church one more time so he can be baptized and he is so sad that he fell down the stairs. When we told him we needed to move it to the 30th and we explained the 2 times at church rule, and he corrected us and told us how he will go to church for the rest of his life. He, too, is a completely different person. He glows with the joy of living the gospel. He will be baptized probably at the very moments Jake and Dana are being married. I am so happy to be here! 

Willie and Fernando are also doing excellent as well. They are now best friends with Gustavo too and they are thrilled for his baptism. Yesterday was one of my favorite moments in my mission with them. We met Yamileth, Fernando's pareja (but they aren't married...), and she too is golden. We disected Moroni's promise and bore powerful testimony. In the middle of the lesson, we stopped and just talked about how we feel and helped them identify the spirit! I really felt like the room would explode with love and joy, and I know that one day Fernando and Yamileth will be sealed. They are discussing seperating so they can be baptized. They are just like our little family here. I love them! And they are introducing us to all that they can, and are making plans to invite so many more. 

The area is growing, and my companion is doing excellent as well. We definitely had a hard start to the week, but we had huge spiritual pay-day these last couple of days.

I am so grateful to be a missionary, to be right here, right now. I feel like I have just been molded, shaped, changed, and polished, and I love every minute of it. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I have come to know him so much more. I know He lives, and the joy that comes from knowing Him and truly following him is far better than anything else in the world. I love you all! 

HAVE THE MERRIEST CHRIST-CENTERED CHRISTMAS!
Hermana Read