Week 78/76 La Ultima Vuelta | The Last Lap

Eighteen months is such a short time to live a life of experiences. 

Happiness and sadness, trials and triumphs, changes and challenges.

I've seen the difference that the Gospel makes in my live and in the lives of those all around. 

I've gained a testimony that cannot be shaken. I know that God's plan is perfect. It always has been, and always will be. 

I wouldn't be who I am today without Chile. I'll forever be celebrating the 18th of September, eating completos, and drinking mate! 

Highlights of the week!

- We returned to visit our soccer player friend Ezequiel, he offered us mate! We had to politely decline. Then he offered VIP tickets to his next game, the hermana that was in the lesson with us, agreed to take her 11 year old son. They said it was a blast and they won 3-1!!

- Nicolas met the bishop, and is progressing muy bien towards baptism!! Just keep him in your prayers so he can feel ready by Sunday! 

- Soc soc celebrated 182 years!!!!

- We got surprise front row seats in a police chase

- We went to 2 baptisms on Saturday. One for a friend of H.Ortiz in Bio Bio, and the other for the relief society's daughter in Chillancito! Habia lots of happy reunions!

Ok this last one was a huge miracle!! 

So on February 20th, we were in intercambios, an hermana invited us to a FHE at her house, and said she'd invited a friend. Me and Hermana Toro taught about Jesus Christ, and gave him a Book of Mormon. That's how we met Carlos. 

A week later, Hermana Ortiz and Hermana Hales taught him again and invited him to be baptized. He said yes! Then we had to pass him to the elders in chiguayante, where he lives. It was a good lesson and he had lots of potential but I kind of forgot about all that. 

Flash forward to this Tuesday. The hermana found us outside the church, and she was like "hermanas, remember Carlos, he has a date to be baptized! I'm not sure if he's really going to, but it's pretty cool!" 

I was beyond excited! Thursday morning we see a photo of Carlos and the elders, saying that he passed his interview and is ready to be baptized this Saturday!!! He was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!! 

The hermana went to his baptism and everything! 

I played but a tiny sliver of a role in his story, but it was a giant miracle for me. To be part of and see the process and to celebrate with the hermana. It's a feeling that is very unique, and I'm going to miss it a lot!

"Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted. But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day." 

They are in the hands of the Lord and they are His. I'm so grateful to be a part of the harvest! El campo sigue siendo blanco! Yo sé que es así. Sé que el Señor prepara sus hijos. Él me preparó a mí. He visto y vivido milagros. Doy gracias para siempre a mi Amoroso Padre Celestial por todas las oportunidades y aventuras! Amo a Chile, las personas, la cultura, y la vida que me ha dado! 

Amo cada uno de ustedes, quienes me han apoyado y amado! Nos vemos pronto! 

-Hermana Pratt