Speaking of families, we found a new family of investigators to teach through one of our returning less actives--Isidro! Enter: Salinas family. Jose, Josefina, Jenny, Elia, Evelyn, and Edgar. They are super cool! Jenny--10 year old
Sunday was also very exciting because we had three less actives and two investigators there! Two of the less actives, Jasmin and Isidro, met with Bishop after the meetings and they now have the goal to go to the temple! It is so special to see these people progress. I know that this work is true. I know that it blesses the lives of everyone, no matter what stage of life or gospel progression they are at.
Also, very very exciting, Natalia is getting baptized this week! She's Jasmin's 9 year old daughter and she is so excited! I love her! Um, I don't know what else to say except that she's super smart and has picked up on everything so fast. She's been a huge motivation to help her mom and they are really putting their lives in order. Jasmin will be getting her patriarchal blessing soon and is starting to prepare to go to the temple.
I also received an email from a member in Santa Paula this week, updating me about one of my favorite recent converts, Miguel. This is what she said: (I'm just so excited I have to share!)
"Quick story about Miguel. He received another calling yesterday. Along with being a ward missionary he is also the Gospel Principles teacher. He shared his testimony yesterday about how he gained a testimony of the church. He talked about how he knows that God placed the Hermanas in his life for a reason. He knew that there was a reason why you stopped by his house even though the person you were looking for didn't live there anymore. He couldn't tell you no because God sent you. He has seen many blessings come into his life because of the gospel. He knows that the church is true. His first Sunday at church he was so happy to see so many families together. He wants that for his family. He said up until his baptism he had never heard his kids say, "I love you Father!" It has given him so much joy to hear that now. His testimony was so great. He invited his room mates to church, husband and wife and 2 little kids. They are meeting with the missionaries also. He asked Sister Harker in missionary correlation on Sat night, 'What is wrong with you people, you have the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Why aren't you shouting from the roof tops!!!'"
I am so proud of him! :) Missionary work is the best.
So, I had a really neat experience this week. We had MLC focused on the Plan of Salvation, why it's such an important message to share, and how to teach it simply. At then end, President Felix shared a personal, sacred story about his mother and the last few moments of her life. Recently, I have been very worried about someone who is very special to me. He is a huge part of why I am serving a mission. He is the greatest example of a lifetime missionary I have ever met. He shares the gospel with anyone and everyone he can find. Doctors, taxi drivers, hotel cleaners, you name it--they have heard about the gospel from him. It has been a sort of dream of mine to be able to return home at the end of my mission, sit down in his office, and report to him about the miracles I have been so blessed to see and to tell him about the people who have changed my life on my mission. I have been really scared lately because I haven't known if that dream would become a reality. As President Felix told this story about his mother, an overwhelming feeling of peace accompanied by the thought, "perfect faith castest out all fear," rang in my heart. I have faith and know that the Plan of Happiness is real. That at the end of this mortal life, we return home to the Being who created us, to our Father. I know that no matter what happens, even if there is a separation in this life, I will see my loved ones again. My fear is gone. I know that God knows what is best. I put my faith in Him and trust that this is His plan. He is a merciful Father. I am grateful for the Plan of Happiness that makes families eternal. I know that it is true.
Love,
Hermana Clark