A Belief in God Cures All

Juan Carlos, our recent convert, got the Aaronic Priesthood, did baptisms at the temple and even came with us for a couple lessons! We set a goal to prepare himself for a Patriarchal Blessing. We're teaching Sylvia again. She disclosed that the main reason her husband left her and their three children was because of her desire to be baptized and their now differing beliefs. She is eager to come to church but works on Sunday between one of her three jobs. We talked about bringing her righteous desire before her Father in prayer; He clears the way for the good when His children ask. Like the scripture in the Book of Mormon, if you don't have raiment to give but merely your desire, that is enough because you are giving your heart. 

We've been working with a less active Chilean family and the wife came to sacrament! Taught Spanish primary class for the 5 year olds, gave a church tour for Rocio and Sarah, knocked doors, and ate dinner with a member family. As an apostle has done with many copies of the Book of Mormon, we invited Brandon to label one with a specific question and highlight the responses throughout. I like the idea of having a chronological library of person revelation and progression. 

S. Gifford Nielsen of the Seventy spoke Tuesday to the MTC after having a meeting with President Nelson that day. The Prophet said that Monday night he awoke and obeyed as the Spirit instructed him to study the temple ordinances until allowing him to go back to bed at 3:30 am. Then, as usual, he got up at 5:20 am. He laughed saying he used to get night calls to perform heart procedures but now he gets called at night without the phone ringing. I know our Prophet is a man of God and that at 94 he really will stay up into the wee hours to receive guidance for us. Temple ordinances and covenants are what all of the people on the earth, or in it, need :) Let's not wait to go to the temple or "sleep in" when we're called to work with the Spirit.

"Where there is faith there is love. Where there is love there is God. Where there is God there is everything."

Love, Hermana Jerman

Elder and Sister Purvis from my childhood ward.

My class drew the Plan of Salvation on the chalkboard

Unity <---> Joy

That's what Bonnie Cordon, President of the General Relief Society, spoke about at this past MTC devotional. As I've restarted the Book of Mormon, I love how often Nephi recognizes the Lord in his writings. Do we talk of Christ and rejoice of Christ as the prophets of old did and as a living prophet reminded us to last week? Is the Lord at the center of our thoughts, interactions, and schedules? This week I also learned that when the people of Israel carried the Ark of the Covenant across the River Jordan with the promise of walking on dry land, the water did not part until they got their feet wet. The miracle comes as we hold on to the promises the Lord has made and then act with the faith that they will be fulfilled, even if those promises are not realized when you think you need them nor once you step into unknown, rushing waters. 

 Love, Hermana Jerman

I love Jesus and I love conference

Shared a message with the Murillo girls. Since they're 9 and 11 years old and their mom hasn't been meeting with us, we cannot enter so we teach them at the doorstep. I love them, and I know that they are precious to Heavenly Father. 

President Nelson embodies excitement for spreading and living the gospel when he speaks. With the changes he has given, the old fulfilled and the new revealed, it is not an invitation to do less, but rather a higher and holier responsibility entrusted to us by the Lord. Some specifics from the Prophet were 1) that our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been more imperative and 2) to pray to feel deeply the Savior's love for you when you go there. It was fun to hear different groups of missionaries cheer as the temples were announced, too.  

Love, Hermana Jerman

Full Circle

Hna. Johnston and I met a new investigator + Rocio, a single mom who just moved from Colombia to study english. She accepted to tour the church and come on Sunday. We also met with 3 of our recent converts all together and a couple from my old ward. Had a lesson with Marco Antonio's family in preparation for his interview to be ordained in the Aaronic priesthood. Taught Jonathan from Chile. He lived in Villa Alemana, one of my areas while I was there! 

Love, Hermana Jerman

Holy Guacamole

Did proselyting in the motor home with Hermana Laurie. We shared a scripture with some abuelitas chilenas we found and started teaching English to Rubi. Elder Nelson spoke at the Tuesday night devotional. He promised us as the Lord's witness that "there is life beyond the veil with certainty" and hopes that our souls may be engraved like the temples with "Holiness to the Lord" when we pass through it. As temples are places set apart for sacred purposes and we ourselves are temples for the Holy Ghost and our own spirit, he invited us to be holy, a person set apart for sacred purposes.

"The more we serve the more substance there is to our soul... Indeed, it's much easier to find ourselves because there's so much more to find." D. Todd Christofferson

Love, Hermana Jerman

                         Cat that lives on the MTC grounds

"Smile! Jesus is coming" {Sis. Prolo}

I think the MTC branch I go to feels so much like what heaven could be because there are lots of good people from different countries in one place and purpose. Met missionaries coming from Samoa, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Pohnpei +. Did TRC to help missionaries learning Spanish teach an investigator. Sang "Nearer My God to Thee" with the MTC choir and our director told us the context of the lyrics (Genesis 28:11-19). 

When Jacob hears Esau wants to kill him, he wanders into the desert and sleeps on a rock.

"Though like the wanderer the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone." 

Hard things, or the crosses in our lives, can become good and bring us closer to God.

 "Nearer, my God, e'en though it be a cross that raiseth me... There let the way appear, steps unto heav'n... Angels to beckon me, nearer, my God to thee... Bethel I'll raise." 

Bethel, meaning House of God, is the name Jacob gave to the location where angels appeared, he received his endowments (steps to higher covenants), and the veil parted to God. 

During the devotional, Elder Richard G. Scott's story was told of 2 sister missionaries who entered a house where men grabbed them and locked them in a room. Kneeling, they prayed for God to save them. When they opened their eyes, they were in a alley on the other side of the wall. We have the power of angels to minister to us. Also got to teach Paola and a Chilean family with the hermanas.

Oh, and when you don't understand an aspect of the gospel or a commandment, just know it's from a Being far greater and superior in wisdom. Don't go complicating it. Live it, love it, try new things, and make every second point to Jesus. 

Keep it simple, mate :)

Love, Hermana Jerman

That'll Do

Our desire to become like the Savior is what matters. 

Months ago, we met Juan Carlos outside his apartment when we were looking for a neighbor and this past week he was able to be baptized :) At the MTC, I interpreted meetings, listened to devotionals, and helped the missionaries learning how to contact. 

Elder Richard Holztafel of the Seventy spoke to us and announced that the Preach My Gospel subtitle will be changed from "A Guide to Missionary Service" to something like "A Life-long Guide to Missionary Work." It's not only to be studied by those set apart. Our purpose as missionaries and members is to invite others to come unto Christ. When we act and think as true disciples of Christ, everyone we meet will come closer to Him even if they don't accept Him just then. 

Love, Hermana Jerman

Juan Carlos' Baptism