So wow- a LOT happened this week you cant even begin to imagine!! I do not think I have ever been BUSIER in my life!!! which is saying something....well first off I will tell you we set a date with our investigator Izola I have been telling you about!! she is so prepared- she made us cry with her testimony she bore after we invited her to be baptized she said, "I will- I will because I trust the Lord and He has led me this far,and I will continue until he tell me to stop." then she said, "and I love the Book of Mormon. I KNOW that book is true- and I won't stop until I get to the temple. I want to be in that white castle of the Lord." we showed her a picture of the salt Lake temple and she went silent- she was in complete awe- she just said- "I want to go inside there." She is being baptized to achieve her goal of going to the temple- it will be in 2 weeks. She is amazing!!!! We are so excited, and so blessed by the Lord to have had the privilege of teaching her and being taught by her example of faith.
Also- Cierra came to church this sunday and is progressing nicely- she is being baptized the week after Izola. We taught them about prophets and we taught her the "Latter prophets" song and all her siblings haha- it was precious!! they all know all the LDS prophets now!! :) truly- I LOVE being a missionary- i cannot imagine not being a missionary- I am at the point now where I don't even want to go home. I love being a missionary- I love it. I don't want to be in the world again! if it weren't so exhausting/all consuming I would want to be a full time missionary forever. I love it. I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!!! The Lord has taught me great things- my mission has saved/change my life. it truly is- I know who I am- I know God's plan- and I know what I am to do the rest of my life and how to go to him for support/strength.
I also received the incredible and touching news- the hernandez family who i love SO MUCH just emailed me- they were just SEALED IN THE TEMPLE FOR TIME AND ALL ETERNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was BAWLING- THEY DID IT!!!!!!! They looked SO HAPPY AND BRIGHT!!! I have never seen them happier. they did it. they are an eternal family. That is why I'm out here. To help people be with their families for eternity. I love it. worth every sacrifice. every one. These people are a part of me forever.
also- we had a lesson with a 13 year boy who we have been trying to teach for FOREVER!!!!!!!! I cannot express how special this young man is- he has a special spirit- his family has been lost to drugs and his older brother to gangs- he lives with his god-mom (adopted mother almost, but not legally, just by love) who is a less active member of the church which is how we found him. and I tell you I would die first before I will see Uvon get swallowed by gangs and drugs! He has such a light about him. we taught him about the BOM- he loved it- we have another appt with him next week. I will do everything in my power to strengthen this young man- I told him all I see in him and all his potential- he was riveted- listening intently- he's special. he wants to be a good person. Also- Harmyni the little 10 yr niece to Cierra who we are teaching? well at our last appointment she came up to me and hugged me and wouldn't let go- I could feel something was wrong so I just hugged her then she looked up at me dead in the eye and said, "Will you be my god-mom?" My heart melted- what came to my mind was the line in my patriarchal blessing that said, "there will be many that will call you mother" and I teared up and she just kept looking at me waiting for a response- so I looked her in the eyes and told her she would be in my heart forever and even after I leave I promised her I would find a way to keep in touch with her the rest of her life. and i meant it. I will. (she is adopted by her grandma bc her mom is a drug addict).
so yeah- that is a bit of the missionary work side of things, the most poignant experiences. Now- to tell you about the Missionary Leadership Conference we spoke/taught at- wow. I can't even tell you how amazing/draining that was. I have only been to an MLC meeting once before, so to be speaking at my 2nd one, and not just teaching but teaching all the leaders of the mission, and the AP's was really intense. We were given 30 minutes to teach/speak- which is the longest I have ever been asked to speak/teach. It was an incredible experience that I know I need for future experiences- I still have lots to learn-but the Lord is teaching me. I can tell you- the best part of it was when i was testifying of the hastening of the work and of the importance of this work and the foundation we are laying for future generations- i felt so full of power and peace from God. It was amazing- but i seriously have never prayed harder in my life than before that presentation- I would be useless without the Spirit and I know it! so I prayed and prepared spiritual A LOT for weeks previous- and He came through :) A lot of people came up to me after and said that it addressed a specific thing they were struggling with or concern they had- so the more I hear that from various missionaries who I respect a lot the more humbled I was, and knew that it was truly Spirit led. It was just such a testimony builder to me of how to receive, recognize, record, and share revelation so it can bless the lives of others for it's intended use. and afterwards president stood up and told me, "Well done." I respect President more than anyone (except for you dad and mom) so that is something I will never forget. he is a second father to me.
So yeah- it was quite the week! Afterwards I was drained. but we still went out and worked :) God helps us!! Anyways- I love you all so much. I love this work. It snowed in Florida this week too! It was the first time in 7 years- it was so weird- but now its back to sunshine. Mom- let me know how your teaching went and Jared/dad let me know all about the court of honor! Love you so much.
Sister Bertoldo.
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