Blessing A House

DOC

I was talking to a friend on Monday and he kept using the word "The Gospel" a lot and in my head I still hadn't figured out how the gospel applies into my life. I had been teaching it, and I know that I use the steps, but I didn't know what the effects of using the Gospel looks like in my life. But then I realized that if programs fail, if life is falling apart, the Gospel is the one true for us to return to our Heavenly Father and Beco9me like him. And THEN, I read something aomewhere that the Holy Ghost is the messenger of Grace! And that's why we srrive to hear it and follow it. You would think that would be an easy thing to recognize but it's alright, it finally *clicks* in my head now. 

They had sent out a message on Tuesday saying that I was going to give my departing testimony the next day and I was a bit shocked that they would have me go so early in the transfer. Since I started my mission, I had watched all of the old missionaries baar their testimonies and I took those moments to think about what I would say if I went up there that transfer. It helped me measure my spiritual progress. I fumbled through my words and missed the part that I wanted to share, so I wanted to share my testimony here. God will tap you on your shoulder (maybe he already has now) and he will ask you to drop your nets and follow him. You will know what those nets are. But I can testify that Repentance is also a change of Perspective. He will help you change your perspective of the world, of your enemies, of anything. I want to invite you to consecrate your talents to the lord, not to bury them. And I would invite you to study the word Grace. I know that our Savior Lives, so that we can live with him again. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Well, brothers and sisters, I have never used so much energy in my life trying to keep myself focused on the work than here in these last few weeks of my mission. It may look on my emails that I am super trunky, but I know that God knows that I am giving it my all right now. I was given some sweet assurances from the Spirit that he is proud of all that I have done and I am so grateful to be his Disciple. 

Presidente Ruiz passed away around 3pm on Monday and we watched his funeral on Saturday. All of the Ogden missionaries went in person. I was grateful for the moment to think about him and how he always came up to me and said"Con Confianza Hermana Vestel!" And made us do the wave at sports games. He truly was a great leader and support for us Spanish Missionaries. 

Somehow by the end of the week we just focused on a lot of LSIs. One of them really touched my heart:

I had first met him at an English activity and he was super cool. They were adopting an 8 year old Child and was hoping that the missionaries could teach him what he couldn't so that she is prepared. Well, the Elders got whitewashed out and lost contact with him. We went and started to walk down a street... and we felt the prompting which turned out to be his door. He was blown away. Later Hermana Bastian got the prompting to do a pass off lesson this week with the English Elders and he was just almost in tears asking her how did she know to ask to meet with him in that moment. We talked about the Spirit with him and he said "you know, I want this for my girl but I feel like I need this message right now just as much as she does". He has been through a life full of guns, drugs and gangs and he wants to change. He says that our message makes him uncomfortable but only because he knows that it is what God wants him to do. He was tired of doing it his own way. I appreciated hearing his story and realized that I can appreciate my own story too. We came back the next day to give him a blessing and we blessed the house too and all I can say is... something left. Elder Abbott mentioned that the believes that we poked a bear the night before and Dave said "sorry that I'm the bear" and he replied 

"No, the Adversary was the bear. He has been very comfortable in this house." After the blessing Dave felt that two Chevy trucks lifted off of his shoulders. He looked at us and said "I have no idea why you decided to help me, (because they don't speak spanish) but I am so grateful. I will never forget you. 

My comp cried herself to sleep one night (she's all good don't worry) so I heated up my stuffed animal pig (that was given to me when my grandma passed away) and I put it right next to her In bed and then I put a sticky note saying "Te quiero Hermana Bestie-ahn!!". It was cool because I know that Service is something that plays a big part of my life and I had been praying to know how to serve my companion this week. It made me realize that he will give me those opportunities. 

Sundays are always where I focus my emails the most because they always have a lot of Miracles. We were by the front doors and I saw Mario walk in. Y'all, my jaw dropped and I was about to cry. I have only seen him at church once in these past 3 Transfers. He was baptized right before I got there and he went inactive. All of the lessons, all of the prayers, and then the miracle came much later. Then we had so many of our friends show up (Angie, her husband and kid, Maderlyn and her daughter Tiffany!! Rossy, Paula, like 80% of our teaching pool!) It was so cool when we walked them to relief Society. We prepared to give a Missionary work lesson to the adults, and then they told us right as it was starting that we were giving it to the Youth instead. We improvised and it warned out well! I love teaching the youth!! 

And THEN, Hermana Bastian gave Angie her coat, with our car keys in it... and Angie went to Ogden to get some clothes. We decided to start walking home from Church and Maderlyn's Sister saw us and gave us a ride! And miracle #2 the back door was unlocked to the house so we could actually go inside! It eas like 42° and windy so it was a great relief to be inside. 

Thanks for listening to my stories! I have my exit interview this week. Wish me luck!

Hermana Vestel