Week 56/76 New Beginnings, Same Me

Linares 2, with hermana Hafer. It's been a crazy weekend. 

Linares is a cute branch (that's becoming a ward next week!) It's almost the very end on the mission limits and we live where the city meets the country. The view of the mountains is very pretty and reminds me of Utah! 

I've been trying to get to know everyone and it's a little overwhelming. Although I'm training hermana Hafer, she knows the area and the people and it feels a little like she's training me. 

We have 3 friends progressing más o menos.

Ricardo - guy in the street who talked to the missionaries in a park one day. He said he'd come to church, but didn't show up. Is usually found on the drug corner, but says he's not taking drugs. Has an old phone so we can only get in contact by call or visit said drug corner. Likes to talk about Christ, but never infront of his friends on the drug corner. He has a baptism date for the 28th, but we can't have baptisms that day because of Stake Conference. We will see how it goes. 

Araceli- Is scared of church people, thanks to past experiences. Almost came to church, but got sick from some undercooked meat. Watched conference, met an hermana from the branch (whose testimony was maybe a bit fuerte and might have scared araceli more), but she's super sweet, and we want to help her feel the spirit! 

And Carolina - super bacan! Drove us to church and found out a friend from her work is in our branch! Wants to learn more, but doesn't want to set a baptism date yet. Is super ready to be baptized, just needs that final push! So I'll keep you guys updated! 

And that's about all I've learned in Linares these past 4 days. 

Walking in the street yesterday, I was thinking about why I had been transferred to Linares, and what my purpose is. Well my purpose as a missionary is to invite people to come to Christ, to find, teach, and baptize. And while that has been my purpose for the past year, it really hit me yesterday that I'm here to find God's children, teach them eternal truths, and help them make and keep convenants with God. 

In 2 Nephi 9:41 it says "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name." And in Colossians 3:8-10 it says "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" 

The "putting on of a new man" happens when we are baptized, and can be renewed each week, when we worthily partake of the sacrament. 

I have gained a deeper understanding of my purpose as a missionary as I have studied, taught, and seen the gospel changing the lives of people who I thought were strangers. 

I know that the covenant path is the only path that leads to eternal life and happiness, and I'm here to let everyone in Linares know! 

-Hermana Pratt