Wow! Week 4 in Flores!
Although the baptismal dates of A, J, C, and L fell through because they haven't come to church for 2 Sundays (with the exception of C who came last week), we still have hope for them. Also, we have had to drop E and S. They couldn't accept the Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith, but they are more than willing to keep accepting visits from us and talking about God. It made me sad, but it just made me realize that perhaps they are not ready at this moment. They are a very good and stable family and we will still visit them every once in a while. They want to invite us to a "culture night" some time to share their culture with us (they are both from Nicaragua), which will be fun!
But, three other investigators came to church yesterday! A young man named J, and S and J (a mother and son)! We met J through, believe it or not, C! We seem to always find new people with him. :) He has a lot of trials and we are teaching him the Plan of Salvation right now to help him realize that he does have a purpose in this life. S and J are our neighbors and they are so great to be around. S had a lot of questions about Joseph Smith and why people call us Mormons and we were able to finish teaching The Restoration with them this last week and it seemed to provide the answers she needed. J has downloaded the church's app on his tablet and is always prepared to use it when we visit them. They both seemed to really like church as well!
Our ward had the primary presentation yesterday and it was a real tear-jerker. It was cute to see all of the little ones bearing their testimonies in our little chapel and we had some good laughs too from a few of the children who were very timid. Towards the end of the presentation, the congregation sung the first 2 verses of "How Great Thou Art" and the Primary sung the rest. Yes, yes, I cried. That hymn always touches my heart and it was so incredible to listen to the young ones of the church singing their testimonies.
One thing important that I learned this week is the importance of prayer. On Sunday in Relief Society, we learned about meaningful prayer, as well as in a FHE we had with members that night. Then I really got the message when I read where I had left off in Preach My Gospel about praying to have the spirit and again in 1 Nephi 18 in my morning studies.
This really made me reconsider the quality of my prayers. Where are our hearts and minds when we are praying? Are we really praying as if we are communicating with our Heavenly Father? Are we really confessing our desires and pleading for the things we need? There is power in prayer. It is our opportunity to communicate with God Himself. This privilege should not be taken lightly. It humbles me to know that a being so powerful and great is interested in what we have to say to Him. I know that God answers prayers. Sometimes it's not when or how we want it, but we must realize that maybe what our Heavenly Father has planned for us is much better than what we have planned.
Verse 21 in 1 Nephi 18, really struck me. This is after Nephi is loosed from his bands on the boat and he says: "And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm."
Prayer has the power to calm the storms in our lives. I know that God answers our prayers. But, we must pray sincerely, faithfully, and repentantly.
I love you all! Press forward. There is nothing the Atonement of Christ cannot solve.
Con amor,
Hermana Whitman