Week 57/76 Look Mom He Made It, A Bittersweet Baptism

This week I took my first colectivo. Picture a taxi, but it works like a bus, with a route, and you're just there with the two other strangers and the driver, is that a thing in the states? like a group uber? but cheaper. 

We had zone conference and had to take a bus to chillan, that's new. Unfortunately I didn't bring my headphones along do we'll never know if they were playing Wakanda Forever with a spanish voiceover or not, but from the little I saw I think it'll be a good watch when I get home. 

I spent an embarrassing amount of time running around the church gym to find a hidden chocolate bar, like one of the kids from Charlie and the chocolate factory. I didn't find one, but I was really close so they gave me a participation candy bar. 

President used the activity as an analogy for our work in the field. And I was a perfect example. At one point I thought to check in one of the many little trash cans around the room, but there was only trash inside. Then my companion even moved the trash can to look around it, nothing. When the time ran out and the APs revealed the rest of the chocolate bars president said "Hna Pratt look" and Elder Alas lifted up the same trash can and a retrieved the undiscovered candy bar.

I'm trying to apply this to my work every day, not just looking in the trash can, or moving it a little, not just knocking the door once, or sending one message, but actually lifting the trash can, trying until I'm absolutely sure that the chocolate isn't there. 

We spent many afternoons walking the streets, knocking every door, and fighting for the energy and/or a miracle to keep us going. Here's a few that we saw.

 - we found the house of a little boy we met in the park last week, his mom wasn't interested, but the fact that we found the house without anything more than "close to this park" as an address, was miracle enough for me. 

 - an abuela told us she wanted us to visit her, she doesn't like the elders, but said she'd love to talk with us! 

 - a different abuela agreed to read a folleto, then when we came back she said her grandson is a member of the church, turns out he was baptized 2 years ago in the other branch

 - we watched Elder Godoy's talk with an inactive member, as the video ended she said "yeah, that one was for me" and told us she was going to start preparing Ethan, her 9 year old, to come to church! 

So yeah, we ended every day completely exhausted, but I only slept through our alarm once! 

We still don't have a single baptism date set, but our friends are glowing with potential! 

Ricardo, from the drug corner, came to church with us. He was ready to turn around and head home, but I stepped between him and the door and we convinced him to give it a try. He listened intently to the talks, and by the end of sacrament meeting he had a new light in his eyes. A ward missionary walked him to elders quorum, and when we called him later he said he wants to come back next week! 

Carolina had to miss church this week, but she said she wouldn't make any other committments so she doesn't have to miss another Sunday. We taught the plan of salvation, and she had even taken study notes on the chapter we told her to read!  We want to decide on her baptism date this week! 

Nicolas met the missionaries in July, he has a desire to change his life. Called us one night just so he could introduce us to Florencia, his 8 year old daughter. Marked every scripture we read together and said he would read the rest of the chapter that same night. Self committed to come church next week. Will also be invited to be baptized this week! 

So many more miracles happened this week, but this email is already so long, I just want to end with the greatest highlight of the week. 

5 months ago sitting in relief society we got a referral from Facebook, Javier. We got in contact and I spent months watching him progress. Between his 2 weeks on 2 weeks off work schedule, lots of lessons falling through, lots of fasting and prayer, (especially from my mom) lots of councils, and careful planning, and infinite faith in the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, Javier was baptized and confirmed a member of the Chuch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this weekend! 

Tell me about your miracles this week! 

- Hermana Pratt