Week 46 - San Rafael

Hola todos!! Este semana fue ocupado, cansado, y un poco divertido. :) 

Monday was a super fun pday for us! We actually did something and we went to this little part of the beach. We had to hike a ways to it but it was probably the greatest decision ever. It was cool outside and we ran around for a while and took some nice pictures. It was a SO fun and nice to be outside for a bit.

The Beach

We were able to do more exchanges this week and I was able to go with sister James to Rhona Park! Sister James is just incredible and so so fun, we had a blast together and she is just the most loving person ever. It's a blessing to be able to go on all these exchanges with different sisters they all are so great and teach me so much about being a missionary. I got to meet some of the people they are teaching and we had such an awesome family home evening about Christ.  I think Christ has become my favorite thing to talk about out here, it's just such a cool opportunity to share with others the things they can access through Christ.

We also played a game with the family and if you were wondering adult headbands is super hard, I don't recommend you play it unless you have a significant portion of time laid out. Sister James and her companion actually share an apartment with Hermana Rivera and her companion and that night we actually had to take Hermana Rivera to the ER for stomach pains. They aren't sure what is going on still so they have her on a diet but please keep her in your prayers if you could. If the diet doesn't work she might have to go home to get more tests done and she so doesn't want that. So our night was spent in the ER.

But Sister James and I got to hang out for a while and got to know each other she's so excited to be a missionary and hearing the goals she was holding herself to was inspiring. It reminded me how much goals can motivate us. And the elders so lovingly came to the ER to give Hermana Rivera a blessing during that time. The Priesthood power is real and made the pain she was feeling lessen a lot. So that was the real adventure for the week and I was glad to be there to help Hermana Rivera as much as I could she's the greatest. 

We did get to visit with a part member family this week and the non member husband set a return appointment with us and said that they would see us at church on Sunday. It was our first time meeting with them and he was taught about a year ago so seeing how the Lord has touched his heart was very exciting we hope to continue meeting with them. They have two cute little boys that were playing with us while we tried to teach. 

We visited with Jaro our investigator as well!! We had a super awesome lesson with him where we taught the restoration. Jaro was super involved and made a lot of comments. He also had read in the Book of Mormon and had tried coming to church the past week but hadn't been able to find the church and he had also brought a friend with him. He is a missionary without knowing it after our first lesson he told his friend that he needed to meet with us because he was confused about some beliefs. So cool!! But we visited with him and he accepted the invitation to be baptized once he learned more and found it was true for himself! He also invited us back and told us we should coke twice a week which never happens. So it was very exciting!! Prayers that all can continue well with him. He is so awesome.

We did go and visit Alma Jara for a little bit and she has been having some bad back problems so she hasn't been to church in a while so it was good to see her. She asked us if we wanted a chicken, I’m talking a living chicken.  She said we could kill it and that the meat was super good fresh, we loving declined. 

We also meet with the Escamilla family who are my favorite. Their little boy Cali is our investigator and he has a complicated situation but we talked a lot about baptism this week and why it's important. The three kids really get the gospel and it's the cutest seeing them all trying to answer every question. He said that he was nervous and we were able to talk about how sometimes in life we can be nervous about things and that things can be hard but if we are following what god wants he will always bless us with so much more happiness.

And we found another part member family! The spirit lead us to be there at the exact right time when they were coming home so they let us in. We had a lesson with the whole family about giving thanks and the wife really opened up about the doubts she has with the church. My amazing companion bore such strong testimony. We talked a lot about our purpose as missionaries and how we weren't sent out to be professors of the Mormon religion but we are here because we know the joy we find from the gospel and if we can help someone to feel the joy of God’s love then we are fulfilling what we are trying to do in inviting people to come unto Christ.

So it's been a busy week with many ups and downs. The church's Christmas initiative will come out this week! #LIGHTTHEWORLD I encourage you all to share it with as many people as you can the gospel is so great and I love it with all my heart! Have a super fantastic thanksgiving!!!!! Remember all that we have to be grateful for, there are way too many blessings to count always. Hug your families and love them!!! Love you all!!

Con agradecimiento y amor, 

Hermana Foster

San Rafael District

A mini violin one of her best friends sent