I'm Not Quite Dead Yet!

Hello hello hello! This week was awesome!

 

Tuesday morning was Pedro's baptismal interview. We walked with him to the church so our district leader Elder Hilton could give him his interview. He passed with flying colors and was so happy. We walked him from the church to his house and talked about how he felt. It was super cold but none of us cared. When we got back to his house and said goodbye, he had the biggest smile on his face and said "Hermanitas, gracias por salvarme" (Sisters, thank you for saving me). It was such a sweet moment and I almost cried because the Spirit was so strong.

 

Afterwards was probably the best District Meeting I've ever had. We talked a lot about the Plan of Salvation and what it means for us and for the people we teach. We all ate lunch together afterwards and talked about deep doctrine, which Is a favorite subject of missionaries :)

 

After District Meeting we did a trio exchange with two companionships of sisters. Sister Nielsen went with Sister Rogers and Sister Hale in their area in Plainfield, and I went with Sister Robinson and Sister Troconis in their area in Scotch Plains. It was a pretty easy exchange because the sisters I was with are superstars and know exactly what they're doing. Sister Troconis is from Venezuela and has only been in the mission for about two months. She just barely joined the church about a year and a half ago, but she knows so much. From watching her teach it is hard to believe that she is so young in both the mission and the Church.

 

Wednesday we came back to our area in Elizabeth and went to a Noche de Hogar (family home evening) activity at the church. Two elders in the ward, Elder Jacobs and Elder Strech, did a cool Book of Mormon battle reenactment game based on the war in Mormon chapter 9. Some of us were Nephites and some of us were Lamanites and we had to throw "weapons" at each other. It was super fun!

 

Thursday was Thanksgiving!! Our zone did a Turkey Bowl in Newark with another zone of missionaries and it was actually really fun even though I'm not the world's biggest football fan. Last year it was snowing and super cold, but this year it was a good temperature and we had a lot of fun. We were definitely sore the next day though. For dinner we went with the Ortiz family (a super great Dominican family in the ward) to the house of a friend of theirs who lives by Scotch Plains. Turns out there were four other companionships of missionaries from different wards who were also invited so it was really fun to be with them. The house was so crowded and there were probably fifty-something people there. The hosts said that they had lost count of how many people they had invited and they weren't expecting that many. But luckily there was enough food for everyone! It was a good mix of American food (turkey, potatoes, etc) and Dominican food (rice and beans and fried plantains) and it was awesome!

 

Friday we had MLC in Morristown. I always learn a lot during MLC. President Taggart talked a lot about trusting the Lord because he has a perfect plan for us.

 

Saturday was rainy and wet but we still were out working a lot and found some cool people! That night there was a wedding for some members of the ward and they asked the missionaries to sing a song for everyone. It was really pretty and of course there was a ton of great HIspanic food.

 

Sunday was such a special day because Pedro was baptized!!! He showed up early to church in a brand new white shirt and tie. He was so excited to be baptized. President and Sister Taggart happened to be there because they gave talks in Sacrament Meeting (with translators) and they stayed for the baptism! Also Sister Ivie was able to come from her new area in Perth Amboy to see the baptism :) It all went really smoothly and so many people from the ward were there to help and show support. They even already had his home teachers assigned and introduced them to him. I am just so grateful for all the miracles I've seen here on my mission and for the change I've seen in Pedro since we first started teaching him in August. Before he started learning about the Gospel, he was so lonely and didn't really know his purpose in life. Now he is so happy and has a place and knows why he is here. He just radiates joy, because that is what the Gospel does to people :) I am so grateful God put us in the right place at the right time and we were able to talk to him on the street that day.

 
 

People keep asking me how I am feeling about "dying" in 2 weeks and I don't really know what to say because it still doesn't seem real. I know it is almost over but I am still working hard and giving all I can to the Lord. In the words of my favorite comedy, I'm not quite dead yet! ;)

 

<3 Hermana Harris