June 23, 2019

Yesterday we had our Sunday of Fast and testimony meeting. It was the best Sunday meeting I've ever had in my life I think. It started off with a great Ward Council in the morning and I think that just kinda set the tone for the rest of the day in the chapel. 

We taught Ricardo a couple of lessons this week. One of the lessons we taught about Fasting and paying tithing and fast offerings. Ricardo fasted with us, and even paid a fast offering on Sunday. During one of the lessons Elder Zamudio invited Ricardo to share his testimony in the meeting on Sunday if he wanted to. Sunday rolled around and the meeting started. I shared my testimony and others as well. There was a pause of people going up and I kinda looked over at Ricardo and he kinda gathered himself, stood up, and marched to the podium. He shared his testimony about the Book of Mormon. It was so incredible to see and hear. Two or three weeks ago he asked us what a testimony was. He also had a ton of questions about the Book of Mormon, things that he had obviously read from the internet. We encouraged him to read for himself and he knew that he needed to. He read all of 1 Nefi this week and then we sat down and talked about it. He had a lot of great questions. He told us that during the week he was feeling really down and depressed and overwhelmed but he took out the book and started to read and it all melted away. He said that that was when he knew this book was true. It was incredible to hear him say that in the lesson. So the testimony he shared was super simple on Sunday, but that he knows the Book of Mormon is true. His testimony invited even more the Spirit to the chapel and every one felt it. He inspired a couple of other members to share their testimonies too and they said that he was such a good example.

So after he shared and a couple of members as well, Vicente walked to the podium too. He is 10 years old and was baptized in January. We are working with and teaching his Mom. Anyways, he stood up and shared an awesome testimony about how his baptism has helped him and how the church helps him. And at the end he said, and hopefully my mom can get baptized soon. Honestly, I think I heard a collective aaaww when he said that. The best part is that his mom was there to hear that. A couple people later, and Byron also stood up and shared his testimony. It was such an incredible and humbling experience. I'm so grateful God has trusted me to help and teach these people.

Mirta came to church again for the first time after not being there a while. When we talked to her on the phone she said she has been thinking about the date for her baptism like we invited her to do and she said she wants to do it the 29 of June. That was so exciting to hear. 

Demet is a Haitian man whose wife got baptized a number of months back. He comes to church every Sunday without being invited pretty much. But he told us after that he wants to present his daughter in the church. It has been a little hard to communicate with him but it may be that he is opening up even more to the church now.

I don't know if I mentioned this last week but we now share our sector with Hermanas. It's going to be really really good for the ward and people we teach here. We need to coordinate better our work with them.

Oh, and uhm, other really big news we just got a couple of hours ago. We're going to be getting smart phones in our mission. One of only 2 missions in our area to try it out. The other is Uruguay. That's going to be a major change.....

I think I've been a little long-winded this week so I'll leave it there.

But Congratulations to Scott for his Graduation this week!!

Love you all.

Elder Brighton