Dylan's baptism was fantastic, and
we didn't even have to do anything so that was awesome!
This week we didn't end up having
too many lessons, but that's ok! We finished up all of our lessons with Dylan,
so that she was ready to be baptized on Friday! We also got to visit with
Natalie a few times. She's so sweet and I love teaching her. We are just having a hard time finding
fellow-shippers for her, but we will figure that out hopefully soon!
Wednesday was good, we had our zone
meeting, so we drove up to Sahuarita and learned about how to teach repentance
to our investigators. It was a good reminder that our purpose as missionaries
is to invite others to repent and change, so they can have greater access to
the Atonement in their lives! They also fed us Panda Express afterword, so we
were all happy!
Then not much else happened until
Friday. Friday we had interviews with our mission president. They went well! It
was funny because that morning I had felt prompted to bring my Book of Mormon
with me to the church instead of just using my iPad and then as soon as I got
into my interview I was so grateful to have it because he asked me if I had
learned anything lately from reading the Book of Mormon. I was able to open it up and find something
to share rather than just trying to make something up on the spot haha. Anyways
he gave me lots of great advice about less active work because a lot of our
work is with less active members which is good, but it also keeps us from
finding those who are ready to be baptized. Anyhow, it was cool because he
helped me realize that well it is good to be teaching less active members who
really need us we also need to remember that members are also able to help
reactive less actives whereas missionaries are the only ones who are able to
have convert baptisms. Our purpose is to help people accept the gospel and
receive ordinances necessary for salvation.
Afterwards we had a pass off lesson
with the Sahaurita sisters and we're finally able to teach Eric for the first
time! He is a very interesting person, I like teaching him though because he
takes time to think before he answers questions so it allows the Spirit to be
there more strongly. Right now we are trying to help him understand why it's so
important to know for ourselves that the church is true.
Later that night we were rushing all
over the place to get to Dylan's baptism on time and turns out they didn't even
really need us there early because when we got there Brother Allen ( our Ward
mission leader) had already started filling the font and all we had to do was
set up chairs and take pictures :). It was a beautiful baptism! It was cool to
see all her family there for it, especially her dad who isn't a member and
hasn't gone to any of his other daughter’s baptisms. We were also happy because
her mom was able to give the talk on baptism although before a few weeks ago
she wanted pretty much nothing to do with the church because she was pretty
inactive, but with lots of events that have happened lately, prayers, and
hardworking members we have seen miracles happen and her heart be softened.
Then some of the young women had a special musical number in the middle and as
they were singing a few more families in the Spanish and English Ward walked in
so we had to set up some more chairs. It was so beautiful and I could feel the
Spirit so strong :). Her family looked so happy after the service, and I know
they could feel the love all of us have for them!
Anyways that is about it for this
week. Yesterday I was able to study a little about prayer and the Holy Ghost
and I loved a scripture in Romans 8:26-27 that says:
"26 Likewise the Spirit also
helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the
saints according to the will of God."
I just thought that scripture was
very interesting because it says right there that the Spirit makes intercession
for us which is something that we usually think of when we think of Christ and
so I was thinking about what that meant. Anyways I think that it's cool to
think that the Holy Ghost makes it possible for us to access the Atonement.
Like Jesus Christ made intercession for us by suffering and paying the price
for us so we can repent, the Holy Ghost is what cleanses us and makes it
possible for us to understand God's will and to have the will power to follow
Christ. I hope to always live worthy of the Holy Ghost and the healing power of
the Atonement in my life. I love what Brian K. Ashton said in conference
;"Repentance is not a backup plan just in case our plan to live perfectly
fails. Continual repentance is the only path that can bring us lasting joy and
enable us to return to live with our Heavenly Father." I know that in this
life we are supposed to make mistakes, that's why we have the Atonement,
because none of us are perfect or will be perfect. We will only be made perfect
through Christ and that only comes as we repent and strive to live worthy of
the Holy Ghost in our lives because "Receiving the Holy Ghost to a greater
degree further moves us along the path of being born again." I know this
church is true and I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who never
gives up on me or any of us when we make mistakes! I love you and hope you have
a good week!
Con amor,
Hermana Burgoyne
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