Hello Family and Friends!
Yes! There was a volcano explosion in Costa Rica. We weren't very close, but the ash still fell in our area. We had to wait in the chapel for a couple of hours. It was pretty surreal.
This Saturday, M was baptized! She is the sweetest 10-year-old ever. She's like a sister to me! But sadly on Sunday, the day of her confirmation, she came late and wasn't able to be confirmed. But, we are going to
work this week for her to hold to the rod until her baptism can be completed this coming Sunday.
O and R are doing very well! Today is their anniversary and we are going to teach them how to do Family Home Evenings and bring them a gift! We bought them matching rings that each say, "Por la Eternidad" (For Eternity). We want them to be sealed in the temple as soon as possible! They are so ready!
On Wednesday, we had Monthly Check-up for my trainee in San Jose. The meeting was very motivating and faith building! I loved it! The Assistants challenged all of the trainers to contact a bus afterwards. So, on our way back to our area, I stood up in our bus, asked the chofer [driver] if we could make an announcement, called my companion up to the front with me, and said loudly, "Good day, Brothers and Sisters! My name is Sister Whitman, this is my companion, Sister May, and we are representatives of Jesus Christ from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My companion would like to share her testimony of Jesus Christ with you all today." It was so beautiful seeing my "hija" give her testimony. I testified of her words and bore my testimony as well. We passed out cards with our phone number on them and talked with a few of the people on the bus. It was nerve-racking, but we did it!
We taught A and N the Restoration this week and it was so amazing to hear A say that she felt it was true. We were also able to see E! Finally! He is doing well!
The other day I was reading the article by Elder Bednar in this month's Liahona about the Atonement and it really struck me. Even when I don't need the Atonement to repent of my sins, I can still use it to help me be better. Our purpose in this life is to go from bad to good to better. We go from bad to good through the redeeming power of the Atonement and good to better through the enabling power. If we know, understand, and apply the Atonement, we can be transformed and change our natural man. I invite all of you, along with me, to try to better understand and apply the Atonement in our lives. It's true!
I love you all!
Hermana Whitman