Miracles of the week

Making pizza with Hna Ramirez, our cocinera

Dear family:

This week we had a zone conference, where the zone leaders Elder Cardoza (Honduras) and Elder Tabango (Ecuador) taught us to be more direct when we teach the message of the Restoration. They also asked us to start presenting ourselves as authorized servants of God before we even begin teaching, from the moment we contact someone on the street. It was truly inspired counsel, because as we applied it in our area, we saw some immediate results.

One miracle happened yesterday evening. We were visiting a Catholic family for the second time, and when we asked if they had read the pamphlet about the Restoration or prayed to know if our message was true, they said no. So we started over with lesson one, explaining in a very direct manner how Christ had restored His true and complete Gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith. Hna Merrell concluded, `Hoy en dìa, la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es la ùnica que tiene esta autoridad para enseñar y bautizar. Es la ùnica iglesia verdadera de Dios.` (Today, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church that has this authority to teach and baptize. It is the only true church of God.)

That got their attention. The husband of the family, Edgar, asked us, `Are you saying that the baptism I received in the Catholic Church wasn`t done by someone with God`s priesthood authority?`

We answered: `Your baptism was great because you were showing your faith in God. But showing faith isn`t the only reason we need to be baptized. We need to be baptized so that we can be cleansed from sin and start new lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. The only way you can be cleansed from sin and born again is by being baptized by someone holding the restored priesthood authority of God. The only church that has that authority today is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.`

He was left thinking. After the closing prayer, he followed us to the door and said, `Look hermanas, several years ago I had a classmate that goes to your church. Right now he`s serving a mission, like you, in Panama. Before he left he gave me a Book of Mormon. But until now I didn`t really understand what it meant, or that I could pray and ask God if your church is true.`

It was a great experience. It strengthened my testimony and my faith. Earlier this week, I had been feeling a little down because even though we`ve been contacting like crazy, we hadn`t found very many people that were really interested in listening. But when we taught that very direct lesson to Edgar and his family, the Spirit testified to me (at the same time it testified to them) that what I was saying was true.

I know it is true! God has confirmed it to me, time and time again, through the power of the Holy Ghost. I know it`s true, and you can know, too, when you ask Him. Matthew 7:7-8. It will make all the difference in your life.

In other news, WE HAD A BAPTISM! Gilberto, Jr. (I may have mentioned him) was baptized Saturday night by his younger brother, Edwin. Then his mother shared her testimony. It was a beautiful service. This Gospel is such a blessing to families! The family truly is ordained of God.

I hope you all have great weeks!

Much love,
Hermana Henrie

Last p day we de-iced the fridge with a hair dryer, a knife, warm water, and our fingers. haha :) It is now a beautiful, very clean fridge.