Bolivia, Montero—Week 5

Dear Family and Friends,

A little bit about our busy week:

Exchanges—I went to Santa Cruz with Hermana Tijerino and Hermana Mulusaca came here to Montero with my companion. It was a good exchange. I got to know Hermana Tijerino and her area better. Everyone there mentioned how well I speak Spanish, so that’s good. Well, I only have 3 months left, so I’d better speak Spanish well! It dawned on me today that I only have 2 transfers left and this one has just flown by—only 2 weeks left of this transfer. I’m super nervous. I’m not thinking about home or anything, but all of my dreams are of me at home or visiting people I’ve taught. Crazy! I’m focused, though, and I’m going to stay that way until the end!

“Y”—She was baptized a year ago with her son. Her husband hasn’t accepted the Gospel yet, mostly because he has problems with the Word of Wisdom. “Y” is very strong, though, and is the Stake YWs President. Today we went by to help her print names to take with her to the temple tomorrow. The whole ward left last night on a bus to go to the temple. “Y” will be receiving her endowment and her son will do baptisms for his family members.

“F”—She was also baptized a year ago and today she will be sealed to her husband and her 2 children. Her father recently passed away and she was so sad, but told us she was going to the temple “no matter what” to get sealed.

Family “D”—“M” wasn’t home, but we made tacos with them tonight. It’s so hard to see them in the situation they are in. They really don’t have money for food or for the necessities—like toilet paper. Right now, they are using notebook paper in the bathroom. I just feel so helpless sometimes. We can only help them strengthen their testimonies, which I know is very important, so they can receive blessings from Heavenly Father, but still they are in need physically and there’s nothing we can do to help. I hope the ward can step in and help them out a bit.

“A”—He’s a 75-year old inactive member that we’re teaching.  He has decided to come back to Church and says he wants to study the scriptures for 30 minutes every Saturday, but he says that if the Ward doesn’t talk to him, he won’t be coming again, so hopefully the Ward will be kind to him.

Baptism—We attended a baptism of the Elders—a family and an older man got baptized. Some of my favorite times in the mission are baptisms.

Sunday—One of the most stressful days in the mission are Sundays. Although we only taught 3 lessons with investigators this week, and 11 with converts/less-active members, I know we are at least making a difference in the “D” Family’s lives. They are getting so much better! They came to Church early this morning and stayed until the end.

Joseph Smith—Tonight we had FHE with Hermana “M” and her family. We watched the Joseph Smith movie. I love watching it and I never get tired of it. I know that he was called of God to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth. I know that opposition comes more when we are doing what is right. I thought about our week. All of our appointments falling through and walking all day in the blazing sun, and I know that Joseph Smith suffered so much more, but I loved the words he says at the end of the movie: “Brethren, Shall we not go on in so great a cause?” It doesn’t matter if we aren’t baptizing 100% of the people. What matters is that we are putting our hearts and souls into this work and, like Joseph Smith said, “While we are building the house of the Lord, He is building us.” (mas o menos eso dijo) Or in our case as missionaries, while helping people build their testimonies, the Lord is building us.

I know that the Church is true and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings happiness and joy. I know that families can be together forever. This week our ward went to the temple. It’s a huge sacrifice for them to go, but they went. Two families were sealed and many others received their endowments.

For those of you who live close to temples, (APOVECHALOS! Or in other words, USE THEM! Do the temple work! Go often—as often as you can! Because when we remember our covenants, we can complete and grow more and more.

I love you all!

XOXO Hermana Nelson