Bautismo de Jorge

Cooked up some chileno Pastel de Choclo and later this week, guess what?! Jorge got baptized and I am soooo happy. We have worked with him since the first lesson 4 or 5 months ago, but I like to think that time is something mankind has formed to measure life by (achievements, monetary wealth, failures, deadlines, capacities). When in God's hands, and life always is, it is incredible how God works everything out just right. He's not as interested in the yesterday as He is in the present moment, right now. He cares about who we are and where we're headed, not who we were or how fast we're getting there. 

Jorge was so excited and part nervous but ever since he got his answer a couple weeks ago while praying with Williams, he knew it's what Heavenly Father had been blessing him with. Although his whole family is still in Venezuela, Jorge shared his testimony with his mom. In too hot water, he was baptized twice :) Once out, his smile was even wider.

Hurrah

Two catholic converts sat in for one of Jorge's lessons, which was awesome because he comes from a catholic family. He passed his interview and will be baptized this Saturday!! :) Pray for him if you can! Found an investigator (from Hna. Cazares' area) whose child Andrea has epilepsy and can no longer walk or talk. Through the seizures and complications, her daughter is taught that God loves her and knows how strong she is. I loved how the woman taught her to always talk to Him and how she described and understood her own relationship with the Lord as a mother for Andrea. I really admire people's faith of every religion that brings others to believe in Him.

     The next time you form prejudices of someone, challenge yourself to flip your view of them to the possible positives.

     Satan makes us wrestle with the past and weary (she meant wary) of the future; Christ shows us the past with fondness and newfound wisdom and the future with wonderment and conviction. 

Love, Hermana Jerman

"What a Day to Be Alive"

All my companions together except Hna. Cazares

Jorge accepted baptism! Hermana Solis got transferred! I love her! Now the sisters here are Hna. Laurie and Johnston. We taught the final lesson to Lila, a ten year old whose dad is less active and family is part-member. I love her and her sweet mama. She was baptized and confirmed Saturday and Sunday.

Jerri and Lila after her baptism

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." Marcus Aurelius

Love, Hermana Jerman

Pomegranate sunset

Marty Robbins & Band Sing at FHE

Why be angry, confused, or reluctant toward God? Similar to being unforgiving, you hurt yourself most and are denied the full blessing of trusting fearlessly. Investigators have asked us why all the modern-day prophets are white. I know that the coming forth of the freedoms described in the Constitution and the United States through the founding fathers were divinely inspired. They did not deny that it was by God. This was crucial for the restoration of the Church in a place prepared and predetermined unlike any other nation. Now there are apostles from various ethnicities as the gospel continues to establish throughout the earth.

I met a woman who moved from Santiago whose old bishop there was my mission president and a family visiting from the Canary Islands – fun to pick out their dialect. Got groceries on pday with the missionaries and sang Spanish hymns at a rest home for FHE. Pulled weeds at a community garden after. A senior missionary couple took us to a restaurant and the fire alarm went off so I stuffed napkins in my ears and just kept eating. I've had to drive to the temple in the motor home lately and I think I resemble a 12 year old kid driving a stolen vehicle from the looks I get. Although not all temples are "standing temples," Mt. Timp has workers stand whenever a patron enters. It reminds me of their true royalty. As chorister in prep. meetings, I sometimes hesitate to pick my favorite arrangements because they are sacrament numbers. Yet, as we sing them, I remember that the temple is all about the Atonement :) I feel like being in the house of the Lord is like having a personal conversation with Him through the spiritual revelations we can receive.

I've recovered so much since I came home and will hopefully be well in a jiff. I have really missed my Chile family and the culture there, but I was required to return for American doctors because of being misdiagnosed by sonogram and tests and lack of treatment. It's been cool though to see how teaching the gospel is still the same fun service and love here in the Orem, UT Mission. They think my hernia was caused by a chronic cough I had back in October and depression from when I didn't sleep for 7 consecutive days in December. I really wanted sure answers to the why and how. That, however, is all part of this journey of faith. Sometimes, the answers just aren't necessary. Maybe we'll get them later, maybe not until heaven. It's difficult because I didn't want to think about anything else besides being a missionary and giving the Lord my all. I love missionary work – but God is good to us and I know this path is hand-picked by Him, so I'm just excited to see where He takes me :)

Love, Hermana Jerman

Our investigator Jorge at church

We like petting zoo p-days

Fence too tall and ponies too small

Singing at the rest home

Cena con Nacho Libre

Yikes, missionary work with no skirt or shoes

Cooked crepioca for my family, a Brazilian dish I learned from my companion. Had a surgery, my first time back to the hospital since I was born, and I got to say I was so pumped. I don't know why but after a priesthood blessing and checking in, I got my IV and a hospital gown that looked like a tapestry. Once they filled me with anesthetic, jiminy, I was waking up to the RN pulling off my oxygen mask :) My teeth chattered from the anesthesia for a little but then I was up and going that day.

Ready for hernia surgery

Had dinner and FHE with Gabe, a convert, and a member from Mexico.

When I speak with Hermana Laurie from Concepcion, she thinks it's funny how much street talk I picked up while tracting. Here's a few of the chilean idioms:

1. Ciao, pesca[d]o = See you later alligator (literal translation: Bye, fish)
2. Lo pasamos chancos = We loved it (We passed it like pigs)
3. chinita = ladybug (little Chinese woman)
4. Tienes malas pulgas = You're in a bad mood (you have bad fleas)
5. Salto lejos el mani = Mind your own business (The peanut jumped far)
6. Que pavo = How dumb (What turkey)
7. po = um (no meaning whatsoever but a favorite for all)
8. buena onda = good vibe (good wave); Que onda = What the heck
9. muy de piel = very loving, good natured (very skin)
10. al tiro = right away, immediately (to the shot)
11. No me pesca = He doesn't pay attention to me (He doesn't fish me)
12. palta = avocado - a very important condiment for them :)
13. taco = traffic (taco)
14. cachipun = rock, paper, scissors
15. nispero = loquat (apricot)
16. tantos porotos/tantas lunas = it's been awhile (so many kidney beans/many moons)

Stepped on a bee in barefeet and felt like I had elephantiasis for a couple days and wore a couple ice packs around because of post-op symptoms, haha. Besides that, I was feeling grateful for having grown up in Utah. Heavenly Father really picked some good real estate when he led the pioneer saints to this place that we can now drive 15 minutes to the mountains, 4 hours to the desert, and 10 hours to the ocean. 

While teaching the Restoration to Socorro, God shined light through her window right as we were telling the 1st Vision. He sure works in mysterious ways :) Later Hna. Solis wanted a shaved ice near an investigator's apartment. We decided to first see if she was home. When she opened the door, she was crying. We gave her hugs and she told us she had just had an argument with her husband. I definitely don't know yet what marriage is like but I was glad I had the Savior's Atonement to be able to help her know that He knew. Christ's suffering does not take our own hurting completely away, but rather because He knows how we feel He knows what blessings we need more than just what we want. He gives us another chance, a source of hope. Before we left, we sung to them "I Feel My Savior's Love." Don't forget that with or without clouds, the sun is still shining for you. Went to Juan's baptism who about a year ago he fell from a building, so three priesthood holders lowered him in the water. Helped 5 missionaries cook arepas (Argentinian fried bread) and ate them Navajo Taco style :) Ate a corn on the cob like Nacho Libre's (Elote – rolled in mayo, queso crema, and Tajin) at a member's. 

Arepas Mexicanas ;)

I read that in regions of S. Africa, when someone wrongs another, they are surrounded by the tribe while they say all the good they have done. To them, each person is good, yet sometimes we make mistakes as a cry for help. The belief is that unity and affirmation alter behavior more powerfully than shame and punishment. 

For Sunday School, the lesson was on our spiritual gifts. I thought of the parable of the talents. Although talents were a currency, talents can also be unique abilities or gifts. We shouldn't burry our spiritual gifts. Instead, we should work and serve and utilize them to further develop and discover more about ourselves. After all, our spirits are wise beyond our years as eternal beings. I think it's pretty fun to get to know everyone better since we've all forgotten who we innately are. One of our greatest flaws as mortals is we often forget our worth. Though not in comparison to God's Only Begotten, maybe the symbolism of Abraham sacrificing Isaac was also for you and I. Maybe God feels somewhat similar when He sent each of us to earth to suffer and have sorrows and sin; but He knew something we must learn to discover: the sacrifice will end in joy because of the Lamb of God.

Love, Hermana Jerman

Farm stop with the missionaries to see the baby alpacas (I think I'll have an alpaca farm in the mtns sometime ;))

Abound in Good Works

Last Sunday we attended the youth devotional by Pres. Nelson at the conference center. Picked up 5 missionaries on pday for errands and gave a ride to a member who helped us find potential investigators. The next day, we had no car for a lesson so I drove them in the motor home :) I got called as the chorister for our temple staff meetings and went to a fireside for the ordinance workers. 

• Today and now is the perfect time to change --–> Pres. Nelson
• "Trust God with your life; after all, He gave it to you." Al Carraway

Love, Hermana Jerman

"But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Had dinner and a lesson with a recent convert and investigator and trained new ordinance workers at the temple. One investigator wasn't home for a lesson, so we taped baked bread onto the handle of their door, haha. Then we did service at a member's, climbing trees to prune and spreading mulch. Knocked doors at a trailer park, found 2 new investigators, and ate homemade Chilaquiles for dinner with members from Mexico. 

Many people we talk with think that Mormons believe that only by our service and actions can we be saved. On the contrary, nor are we saved by belief or grace alone. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). It is not our works that will save us – only Christ can; but it is by our works and trying to live His gospel that we access that saving grace "after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23). "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?.. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you" (Matt. 7:20-23).

The Relief Society General Presidency reminds us, though, that our "list will never be finished. It isn't possible... Do what you can each day, ask the Lord to fill in the gaps, and then a new day starts and you begin again. That is part of the beauty of being disciples of Jesus Christ – that we are never done, that there is always something else to do, and that there is always room for improvement... Doing better doesn't always mean doing more. And if you [pray to ask for] and do just 1 inspired thing each day, you are nevertheless the Lord's agent... Try. Pray. Trust. You don't have to do it all." 

Don't forget that God really does love us! The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that "the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice, they will suffer for their sins [as though there had been no Redeemer]; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving Father's heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain." 

Elder Orson F. Whitney 

A time or two or more in our lives, we might be those who wander from the path. While teaching the Restoration as a retention lesson for Williams, we looked at the image on the pamphlet cover of Christ holding a lost sheep. In the background, there is a mountain range, hardly the place for a lamb. I thought about the rocks and hills and rivers that cross our way, and sometimes that is what it takes to ready us to look for our Savior. Some may need to cross more mountains than others. Maybe, like those who continually clung to the iron rod until they fell down at the tree of life, we'll arrive in heaven dirty and bruised with broken pieces where our Shepherd will pick us up and dust us off with care and say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21).

Love, Hermana Jerman