from left to right: Alejandro (the Bishop's son), Elder Evans, Elder Simmons, Obispo Cigarroa, Elder Andrade, Elder Soria, and Hermana Bishop
I didn't want to leave Transmountain North!!!
We were finally getting into a good rhythm - establishing daily contact with the focus families, especially all the recent converts. Three families are working towards getting sealed! I feel like every time things are running smoothly and you're getting along with your companion, and you don't WANT to get transferred, that's when you're transferred. But that's how it should be - we can't grow in our comfort zones. :) I feel satisfied, however, that I did my best - I did all I could - for the Transmountain ward.
Hermana Bishop is a little nervous about taking over - we had a mini weekly planning session and made sure the Area book was completely up-to-date. Letting her see the organization and structure of missionary work, I hope, will help her continue feeling capable.
I'm excited to be going to a new zone! It'll be strange not to have the Chamizion phone call every Wednesday, and zone sports at Hondo Pass, but it'll be a wonderful opportunity to branch out. :)
One of the many amazing miracles we saw this my last week in the area came in the form of a referral from Hondo Pass Elders. They noticed a family on their records that they had never met before and asked if we knew them. We replied that we didn't, but immediately went to contact them and met the Padilla family. They are AWESOME! There's four kids - Yameleth 11, Mayte 9, Ruby 6, and Liam 3. The older girls have been going to English ward on occasion, which is why they're on the English ward list. But, the mother, Jessica, doesn't speak English! So we're working on getting their records transferred over to our ward. :) We asked them while we were there what their hopes and dreams are for the future. The kids mentioned wanting to be doctors, or a truck driver for Liam. Then we asked what they want as a family. They said, "An Eternal Family!" So prepared! Right then and there, we made a plan with them to get them to the temple to be sealed! It was an AMAZING lesson and miracle to see and to be a part of.
We also had a miracle phone call this week. A non-member or less active man named Adam called us out of the blue. "Are you the Elders?" He asked. "We are missionaries - how can we help you?" we asked. He asked us if we could give his daughter a blessing. She is in a Children's hospital and has had three surgeries in the past two weeks. We passed it off to the Elders serving in that area and they gave the little girl the blessing. Heavenly Father truly guides His children to the Church!
Recently, our Mission President shared the following quote:
“Trying to please others before pleasing God is inverting the first and second great commandments. It is forgetting which way we face. And yet, we have all made that mistake because of the fear of men…. For example, some young missionaries carry this fear of men into the mission field and fail to report the flagrant disobedience of a companion to their mission president because they don’t want to offend their wayward companion. Decisions of character are made by remembering the right order of the first and second great commandments.” (Which Way Do You Face? Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy, General Conference, October 2014).
This is applicable to everyone; I know it's hard - it's super hard to put God first sometimes. At times the glorious mansions and castles in the eternities seem so far away on the horizon that we feel like we can explore the thorny side-paths and trails and not get lost - only to look up and find that we're completely turned around. I know the strait and narrow path seems long, but it's so worth it! You have to learn to appreciate the flora and fauna from behind the guardrails and not go trampsing around out of bounds. I've learned that throughout my life, and I'm reminded of it every day.
Hermana Smurthwaite
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