I
could name this week, week of miracles. Small miracles. Big miracles.
It's all the same for me. It's just another brick added to my testimony...
Brick? I don`t know why I used brick as an analogy but I guess it
works... jajaj. My testimony grows day after day of this work, of this gospel, of my family, of my future... Words can`t explain it.
Alejandra
Ortiz. One of my most favorite families here in the sector of Las
Arenas. She has the heart the size of my mom`s heart. Thee most
thoughtful, loving, unselfish person to us missionaries. She has been
meeting with missionaries for exactly 1 year. She is convive (Living
with her Partner) and he is still technically married (very very common
here in Chile) His Wife-Ex Wife-Confusing situation hasn`t wanted to sign
the divorce papers, so he was needing to pay a giant fee of like 6
Millones de Pesos (About 12,000 Dollars) which obviously he couldn`t in
order for him to get divorced and then Get married to Alejandra and then
Alejandra could get baptized.... She is converted. Comes to church
every week, (except for the weeks she gets lazy and sleeps but that's
okay I don`t blame her too much) She was a huge believing evangelica (I
don`t know what that is in English). But now adores the missionaries for
what they have taught her. I'm just another missionary who was blessed
to get to know such a prepared person. Juan (her partner) has a little
trouble with smoking, As an inactive member for many years, he has the
will to come back, we have been joking around of when he will stop
smoking every time we go over, I hide his cigarettes and stuff like
that. This past week, Juan received a call from him Wife-Exwife asking
him why they don`t just get divorced already.... Tears came into his
eyes when he told us this, He said thee most spiritual prayer, Thanking
God for the Miracle to Soften the Heart of his Ex Wife... Alejandra is
now soooo excited to finally after 13 years of Living together, Get
married with Juan, they have a 16 year old son, Fabian who is a stud,
Recent Convert and a 5 year old, Patty. The Day we went over for them to
tell us the great news, Juan Handed over his last pack of cigarettes
to me and I handed him the rest of my sunflower seeds, Thee greatest switch I could have ever made. He committed to never smoke again and
prepare so he can baptize his wife in the upcoming months. A miracle. I
love that family. I will never forget that night! The sunflower seeds
have helped him these past few days and now has 3 days without smoking
and the urge to smoke hasn`t been too strong. I love them. and I love
our father in heaven for making all that happen. Softening the heart of
the Ex Wife.
Dayanna said the opening prayer in sacrament meeting. I was a proud missionary that day. So spiritual and ready.
I
have become a professional at receiving personal revelation 5 minutes before I have to give a talk in sacrament meeting because one of the
people didn`t show up who was prepared to speak... I love that about the mission. I could talk about this gospel for days. I spoke about all of
you guys :) I love my family and the examples I have. People like hearing
I have 12 Siblings, even though not all are blood, I still tell people I
have 12 Siblings haha.
We saw another great
miracle, (Sorry I'm running out of time, I won`t be able to tell you
everything) Lets just say, offering service and helping build an
addition to a new families house was able to soften their hearts to come
to church, and the Dad asking us, When Can I Get Baptized? Such an
awesome family. He has to get divorced and married as well... Go figure.
But It was awesome to see that family of 3 come to church with us. And
P.S. I'm a baller constructor. I have a good future in Construction ;)
Today we hiked up the highest mountain here in Antofagasta. Overlooking the
whole city. I literally live on the moon. Thee driest desert in the
world. But it's so gorgeous! I love Antofagasta.
That's all the time I got Family. I'm happy. Cambios this upcoming week, They call us on Saturday, so we will see what happens. I have 6 months in my sector so its possible que me voy.
Love yal with all my heart. Mom you are an angel.
Elder Paxman
1 comment:
What a GREAT week!!! I just love hearing about the work you are doing to help people turn to Christ and change their lives. Isn't it amazing and awesome that all of us, no matter who we are or what our past has consisted of, has the chance to change!! There is just so much hope in that. And you're right, you live on the moon--except for the beautiful ocean, it certainly looks destitute! I love the pictures and hearing about your experiences in far away Chile. Keep up the good work.
Love,
Julie (and Tom too)
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