Prayer

Celeste's baptism. 

This is me, shoved in a truck with a bed to take the Hermanas to their new area. 

Making tamales with the Samayoa kids. That is all corn in the bucket.

Mi Familia,

This week was a little bit crazy but also super good. The Lord always works miracles in our lives when we keep walking in faith and seguir adelante hasta el fin. I am so grateful for prayer. I love praying.

 17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

 18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.

 19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

 20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.

 21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

 22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.

 23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.

 24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

 25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.

 26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

 27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

That is a lot of crying and praying and pouring out your soul... prayer is how we invited the Creator and Maker of this earth to just take charge of it all. Prayers puts things, worldly things or problems or sicknesses or our own selves, in His hands- after we did all we were asked to do, and then we just get to watch the miracles. It is like opening a door for blessings and angels to come in. I am going to pray more.

This area is great. I really am so blessed to be here. Everyday from 5 to 6pm I get to see the most beautiful sunset in the whole world. I just look out at that sky and think about how much Heavenly Father loves us. I am learning so much and realizing so many things about working by the Spirit and revelation. I have had some great experiences this week that have testified to me of why I still need to be in this area. We found some great families and we are hoping to see some good progression in them. I felt like we should go visit the house of some old investigators that moved out and see who else moved in. The family that moved in is so so special. The dad, Santiago, was actually baptized years ago but went inactive and the mom just had an operation where they amputated her leg so her heart is soft and needs healing. They have 3 children and are very positive. We are really praying for this family, la familia Garcia, and hoping that they can start progressing.

 There was an evangelic church party meeting thing in the house of the Samayoa family this weekend. They are still my favorite and the daughter is progressing towards baptism. It was their turn to host the church meeting because all their family in Xetenam (their aldea de Huehue) goes to this church. So they invited us. I wanted to go but thought that probably wouldn`t be the best idea, so we just went early to help set up and show them we love them before the preachers started preaching. We got to teach through example by telling them that we couldn`t drink the coffee, helping people with their english homework, setting up all the stuff- and then I asked the dad if we could sing for everyone before we left. So we sang ¨Soy un hijo de Dios¨. It was the best. He played the guitar because I had practiced it with him a little bit earlier this month and everyone loved it! Someday, one of those people will be baptized. The daughter, Marleny, that is progressing towards baptism was beaming and so happy to tell everyone that we were her friends. It was great. I love all the people.

The night before Celeste`s baptism we had the most beautiful lesson about the Plan of Salvation in the home of the bishop. She is friends with his daughters and they have been a great support to her. Her family didn`t want to come to her baptism and it was super sad so we had a little noche de hogar together so she felt supported by someone. It was such a powerful lesson! The bishop`s brother-in-law just happened to be there. Oscar was also baptized when he was a teenager, ended up going on a mission, marrying a returned missionary, and is now raising his family in the gospel. Because he was baptized, his 2 sisters also followed and now have husbands that are in stake presidencies or bishoprics. It was so special for Celeste to hear the effects that one person`s righteous example can have on generations and communities. Oscar was also very touched as he related his experience and the night was so special. As we reviewed the plan of salvation I just felt so much of Heavenly Father`s love. That He really is in the details of our lives. That He watches our steps and notices everything we do and just helps us all along the way. Everyone went around and shared a little testimony and Celeste talked at the end too. It was beautiful. What a special experience it was to watch her conversion and see her grow and progress. She is so great and has started to go out with us to share her testimony and teach other people. She has a lot of potential in the church and in helping her family find the gospel. She invited so many non-members to her baptism and they all came. She even brought a friend to institute on Tuesday, said the prayer, and in it asked Heavenly Father to ¨help me prepare for baptism this week and also bless Julio to know that these things are true too so he can be baptized like me.¨ I love converts.(Luke 22)
 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 

I have been studying the scriptures in a new way that I love. I study to find a principle like in Moroni 7:33 ¨And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedientin me.¨ And then I find a story or passage to illustrate the principle like 1 Nephi 17:50-51: 

 50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

 51 And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?

It helps me to be able to apply things to investigators and see their specific needs. I love the Book of Mormon. I love the gospel. And I love being a missionary. The zone is doing well. The changes were inspired and all is good in Huehue :) We are loving the work. I love taking the Sacrament. I love learning about the Savior. I love sharing His message and being a representative of Him. He is my best friend.

You guys are the best! Have a wonderful week :) Loving you always and forever!

Hermana Jane McGill