One miracle I`d love to tell ya about real quick. Yesterday my companion and I were walking (and we had been a little mad over something small, I don`t remember what, but we weren`t talking. Stupid, I know) when we passed by the gate of a little old man who was working in his lawn. We both, independently of each other, felt impressed to talk to him. We offered to help him mow his lawn, and he accepted! First miracle, somebody let us help them!! So I started mowing his lawn with one of those REALLY heavy ancient metal lawn mowers that doesn`t have a moter, and hermana Silva was chatting with the guy, getting to know him and telling him who we are. We finished doing all the trimming and everything, and it was then time to go, becuase we had a meeting in the church. We asked if we could say a prayer, and he, seemingly suprised that we wanted to pray with him, kept saying "right here? Now?" We explained prayer, hermana Silva said it, and then when we finished we looked at him, who stayed silent for a minute until he said "Now, I`ve been catolic my whole life, and I´ve always said (that repeated prayer that catholics say) every night, and I´ve never felt anything like this before. I don`t know if it`s just becuase it`s cold out, or if I`m shaking, but I`ve just never ever felt anything like this." What a privilage to be an emassary of the lord for a lonely son of Heavenly Father who is in such desperate need of help and love. He afterward told us all about his schedule so that we could visit him when he was sure to be there. He lives alone except for his grandson, who studies and has a girlfriend and is never home. He has children who live near but never come to visit him. It really was a cool experience for me, and my companion and I both left with tears in our eyes, blurting out apologies to each other for being so stupid hahaha. We had an awesome week of miracles and have been able to find some more people searching for Gods love.
We also had a really good lesson with Manuel. He came to church again! We were talking about the second coming of Christ for the gospel principals class when he asked some really profound questions. There was a member in the class who has been an institute teacher for years and years that day (Capo) who taught ME something new. One of the differences between the Mormon church and the catholics, or with any other religion, is that we are preparing people not only for the milenium, which is the mission of other churches, but for the life that will come after, the Celestial Glory. The focus and teachings of other churches will get there people to the milenium, but they wont be prepared to make and keep temple covenants that will take them to the highest glory. The teacher and this member explained priesthood authority and how the real priesthood has been restored and that, straight up, the catholic church has no priesthood, and Manuel took it super well! He said it made sense, and is enthusiasticly looking to learn more. He`s reading the book of Mormon and is easily understanding every teaching we`ve brought to him so far. He even invited his son to church Saturday night, but then the son left to a carrete and stayed there til 6 in the morning haha, so that didn`t come to pass. But really, some days the mission just beats you up and some days it makes you float.
This week the father of a part member family passed away, and the funeral was held in the church building. Chilenos do viewings a little bit differently: Instead of a scheduled time, the church was open for two days so that people could come by when they had time. The viewing was ended by the official funeral, which took place on thanksgiving (which is not a holiday down here, btw.) Our bishop asked us if we could sing in the funeral, but the problem was that it would start at 2:30, and our lunch started at 1:40 and was about a 15 minute drive from the church. We called the member to tell her we probably weren`t going to have time, but she, hahah being chilena I guess was like "NO! How could I let you go without lunch! We`ll make time!" So we were all just like, uhh, okay, lets just pray it works out. We also felt kind of bad because we had called her earlier in the week to ask if she could make a cool thanksgiving lunch for us two gringas who are here haha, so we were obligated to go and eat the freaking thing. So she comes by, picks us up, we head up and help her get the table set, eat the ENTIRE almuerzo (soup, casserol, salad, crambrule, mashed potatos, HUGE helpings of everything) in about 15 minutes, then scramble back into the car to head to the church. The member lives on top of a gigantic hill that has steep twisty roads, and by the time we all got to the church we were ready to hurl. The musical number turned out okay but afterwards we all headed home to recuperate from gigantic stomach aches and headaches. It was definatly the worst thanksgiving I`ve ever had haha.
I LOVE the campaign that the church is doing this year for Christmas. Twentyfive days of service, each with a different challenge and opportunity to be the light on the hill that members of the church are to the rest of the world. Please go watch the video and then print out the calendar and start finding ways to serve your fellow man. I know this church is true. Everyday I know it more. I know just how aware of us Heavenly Father is and how much he`s cheering us on. He loves all of you and wants you to succeed. Trust him.
https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world?play=hero
Sister Ashlee Bowling
♥ from Chile!
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