OK, so yes, dad, this week was just great, just splendid really:)
Yesterday Thais was baptized! I didn't have time to clue you all in
on the story last week, so listen up. Last Saturday we were sitting oustide of
our apt. playin with this dumb cat that our neighbors have- I really don't even
like cats but I was kind of bummed that we had to return to the house a little
bit early because Sis. Dias' foot was really bugging her. so there I was just
looking at a cat for 1/2 hour when a man and his daughter passed our house and
then returned and asked us if we knew where the mormon missionaries lived. . ..
ummm yes,. .. .Yes we ARE the missionaries!! *running and shouting* Ok, Enter
Valdimir ( a member but inactive), and Thias, his 12 year old daughter. Valdimir
explained that he was already a member but that Thais wanted to start receiving
the lessons and that they had been praying that past week to be able to find
the missionaries and to know wher the church was- and then they starting
looking, and THEY found US! Ok, this doesn't happen very frequently, we are the
ones that knock doors, they knocked ours! It was so obviously someone who had
been prepared by Heavenly Father and who was sent to us! Thais has such a
desire to change (she, unfortunatly has already been involved in some horrible
things because of the places and the people she was living with) her life, to
be sister missionary and to LIVE the Gosple! She acceppted baptism without
batting an eye, is inviting all of her friends and neighbors, has already
started doing Personal Progress, gave US an invite to her baptism and wrote us
a letter thanking us for everything the day before her baptism. I feel like I
haven't done anything haha but feel so privileged that Heavenly Father let us
help this chosen daughter of His! I was reading in Alma 26 and it really put
into words what I have been feeling about all of this:
3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites,were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold,how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light ofGod! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us,that we have been made instruments in the hands of God tobring about this great work.
30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this,that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and wesupposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be themeans of saving some.
35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you,there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we,since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, evenunto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, andall understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is amerciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent andbelieve on his name.
Actually it says
EXACTLY what I want to express- I love being an instrument in his hands so very
much!
Something that
Thais really understood and applied in her life is the principle of repentance.
I have been thinking about that a lot this week and found some really beautiful
scriptures. In 3 Nephi Christ tells us:
13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than
they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be
converted, that I may heal you?
14 Yea,
verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal
life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and
whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto
me.
Repenting
is not only a commandment but a blessing as well! Christ loves us so much and
is just waiting for us to choose to repent! In Alma it's talking about the
Anit-Nephi-Lehi's and how they followed this commandment:
17 And now it came to pass that when the king had made an
end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took
their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s
blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.
18 And
this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that
they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood;
and this they did, vouching andcovenanting with God, that rather than shed
the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and
rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than
spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.
19 And
thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought tobelieve and to know
the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than
commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they
buried the weapons of war, for peace.
My
invite for all of us: choose just one thing to bury deeply and truly just let
it go, and you will see Christ's mercy and feel such happiness. The Gospel is
SO happy. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to be happy! That's why they
give us these commandments!
Speaking
of Happy. This Saturday I was able to go to the Temple with Sis. Dias and
Sis. Cox and a young man who they baptized when they were comps who is now
getting ready to serve a mission in less than a month! The only word I can use
to describe that day-Happy! Beyond almost anything! It definitely was one of
the happiest days of my life:) To be with 2 of my dearest friends, with someone
going through for the first time, in Brazil, as a missionary-true happiness.
Heavenly Father wants to give us all experiences like this, frequently!
Sorry
that I used so many scriptures this time but I love the Book of Mormom and
learned a lot this week and they just applied perfectly:)
I
love you guys so stinkin' much!
Looove,
Sister
Ventura :)
Yeah, so everyone at home is getting married and stuff and I'm over here just trying to give a friendly peck on the check to this guy. . . buuut he wasn't having it. #foreveralone #missionaryproblems. Yeah, I don't even know if hashtags are cool anymore . .. hahah, Kaylee and Maddie, that's for you ok??! :)a
