Chile con Grace-o: Our Efforts to Do Something Great

Hermana de lluvia <3

OhhhhhK let me tell you about JP. JP was an antiguo investigador who we re-contacted during my first few weeks here in Las Condes. He's really great but he lives something Hermana Briggs and I have named 'the buffet life', meaning he just kinda floats from church to church, taking the things he likes, leaving the things he doesn't like and moving on. The other day we taught him the word of wisdom. That is one of the things he has decided he does not like and he hasn't been very interested since then. Rewind, since the week we met him, we have been inviting him to come to church and every week he doesn't come. Fast forward, this week we have zero contact with him and he calls us de la nada and says he's comin' to church and to save him a seat. He came, stayed all three hours, made lots of friends, and loved how he felt there. YEAH JP! He's a wild card! Stay tuned to see what happens this week!!!

This was a little bit of a tough week actually. Nobody really wanted to listen to us. Also it gets dark by 5:30 or 6 and when it gets dark, the people go to bed. What they forget is that the missionaries still have 4 hours left to get their rears in gear and share the gospel, but that's a tough thing when there's nobody to teach! Todo bien, we're finding the way.

BUT, there are a few really bright little spots in kinda a cloudy week:

°°one is that today it is raining for the first time since August and I am a little bundle of JOY. You already know we went puddle jumping. I LOVE THE RAIN!!!

°°Jessica! Jessica has a pretty hard life and has lost a lot of loved ones lately. We found her the other day as we were walking kinda fast to get to an appointment. When we saw her, we said "Hola!" and kept on walking. After about 30 seconds I stopped and said, "Woah, we have to go contact her!" So we went back and shared a message with her about eternal families. We felt strongly that we needed to contact her by talking about the temple and how families can be eternal. She teared up and told us about her son-in-law who died recently and left his wife and two children fatherless. She said what we shared with her was the best news she has heard in a long time. She asked us to teach her how to pray because she had only ever been taught how to resar (honestly don't know what that is in english, but it's the memorized catholic prayers that they do I guess) and she wanted to know how to have meaningful communication with God. It was a really powerful lesson and exactly what she needed to hear. She found so much comfort and wants to learn more, and we almost missed it because we were in a rush! I was reminded of just how much the Spirit can guide us if we are worthy and open and sensitive to His promptings!

°°another little ray of sunshine is that we have been praying praying praying for a less-active family who is trying to get back on their feet and come back to church. In their efforts to do something great, they have seen so many trials, but also so many miracles. The mom was cleared of brain cancer, the dad was able to talk to and reconcile with his estranged father before he passed away, and they have a goal to be sealed some day as a family in the temple.

I am learning (again) that amazing things happen when we show God that we want to keep his commandments and follow the Savior. I have seen it many times throughout my life and here on my mission, but it amazes me each time, all the blessings that await each one of us when we make the changes necessary para acercarnos a Dios y hacer las cosas que Él nos pide. Es increible, de verdad.

Y'all did not take my challenge to share the gospel and report back very seriously. Only cute Mom and cute Sister Carolyn Scott shared with me their experiences. OTRA VEZ! Get out there and share the things that you believe! Love y'all! Hope you're happy and smiling. Besitos!!!

Love,

Hermana Siebach