Hello to Everyone 2

Monday we were contacting in a busy area where all the taxis pick up people and drop people off. We finished our goal of contacts for the day and jumped in taxi to leave for an appointment for FHE. There was a man that saw us and jumped in the same taxi. I was waiting for the right moment and waiting for the Spirit to direct me on how exactly how to share the gospel with this passenger of life. He had quickly paid for the trip as my companion was searching for money to pay for us. When my companion found and offered the driver our payment the driver refused and said that it was paid for. My companion reminded him that we where new passengers and hadn't paid yet then the driver and the passenger next to me said that the gentleman sitting next to me had paid for us. Then by the time that my companion and I was able to process this sweet act of service the man had told the driver to drop him off at the corner and was leaving out the door. I scrambled for a pass-along-card as he stepped out, but he didn't accept this gift as he waved his hand and shut the door. My companion and I looked back to get one last look at this saint that had done this humble act of service, and he drew a missionary tag on his chest and mouthed the words 'I'm a Mormon!' My companion and I looked at each other in amazement that there were Christ-like people out there in this corrupted world. I thanked Heavenly Father for this kind act and for his influence in the life of this man. I meditated on this for a while and knew that he had received an impression to do something good for someone else and he acted. All good comes from God, and I consider him my angel. I know that I can be an angel for someone else as I listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This is a simple story that has had an impact on my life. I'm thankful for moments.

Tuesday we taught Fernando with Hermano Espinoza. It was very special because Hno. Espinoza bore his testimony of the priesthood authority from God that is on the earth today and shared the blessings that he has received and that he has been able to give.This week we have been teaching Alan (9-years-old) and Sebastian (10-years-old) about the commandments in preparation for their baptism covenant next month. We have to ask more questions to keep the attention of the little boys but they understand a lot and are willing to keep the commandments. Their mother who is less active questioned my companion and I why we would teach the law of Chastity to little boys, and we explained that it's a commandment from God for everyone and that it is good to learn the commandments at a young age. I was sad that she only said that she didn't complete this law when she had them out of wedlock, what she should have done is testified of the importance of this law and use her choice as an example to convince them that the Lords way is better. How selfish for her as a mom to not teach and testify of this law. In my life I have learned from the good and the bad of my family, those around me, and my own decisions. I hope they learn from their examples too.

Wednesday we taught Carlos Hernandez (less active) and his wife Gladis Vidal (less active), and his daughter Jenifer Martinez (recent convert age 10) about temples. He said that he didn't feel worthy to go to church because he smoked and I testified that he could change and that those feelings of not being able to repent and change came from Satan. Jesus teaches of hope and commands us to keep the commandments because he always invites us to follow in faith knowing that He has prepared a way to complete the commandments and covenants. He wants us to succeed and He wants to bless us. I know there are many blessings that await us if we just have faith and hold fast to the iron rod, step-by-step, and enduring to the end with joy.

Thursday was our Zone Conference with President Lovell and Sister Lovell and the President of Chile member of the 70, President Talmage Corbridge and his wife. It was very spiritually uplifting and recorded many thoughts and impressions. I was struggling on how to testify with conviction that the message of the Restoration is the most important message. Everyone tells me that they don't have time and that they are too busy working and doing other things that it made me want to scream out of frustration. Then others were telling me that they had prayed and received an answer that the church is not true. I feel a lot better after receiving advice from my president that I'm a new missionary and that I will learn with time, and he said that there is no way that someone could receive this answer. If you read the scriptures the gospel and the doctrine is the same that Jesus taught. My president advised me to not look at these as closed doors and to not be discouraged but to ask them questions on how they received this answer and what they asked specifically. Wow, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders after counseling with him for just a few moments. Then the other missionaries saw that I was struggling with this and they testified that the Lords Spirit would help me and my desire to share the truth with everyone here in Chile. Then that night my companion and I with two investigators attended a special conference with all the members of the stake in Punta Arenas with both presidents and their wives.

We have been teaching a special family that is ready for the gospel. The mom is Sara and her husband Gilberto, they have two daughters Coni (16-years-old) and Lorena (13-years-old). They are reading and praying and Coni has received an answer that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. Lorena doesn't believe in God and hasn't prayed in the past so we taught her how to pray and testified that if she prayed with faith that she would receive an answer too. There is something very special about this family because as soon as we enter their house the Holy Ghost immediately starts working through my companion and I. It is a very special feeling that I can't describe but I feel the difference when I leave their house, I just look at my companion in shock and say 'what just happened?'…I know it is the Spirit that is directing us so carefully and strong with this specific family. This last visit we talked about the Plan of Happiness and they were very receptive again, but I thing that the truthfulness of our message scares them a little because they said that they don't want us to pass by this week because they need some time to process and research our church because it sounds too good to be true. The mother shared that she was researching our church on the internet and we warned her to research the church website because others had bad intentions and information. I pray that she will search the good books, websites and pray with faith ready for our challenge for baptism that we plan on extending at the end of the week. Wahoo!

Friday we taught Nelidad an investigator who is dating Luis (nickname Lucho) a member in the ward. We have been teaching her and she told us that she has a desire to be baptized to become a member. Wahoo! But she said that she wants to be baptized March 11th on their 4 month anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend. We have been very vocal about our concern of her separating her feelings for Lucho and becoming a member of the church. We taught her about the commandments and what will be required as she makes this covenant with God. As she said that the feelings were separate we told her that we would have to check with our leaders because it was coming up so quick. Our leaders said no because it was the day of companion changes and because it was in the middle of the week and that there are hazards of people being baptized during the week and going so many days with out receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. So we'll have to see what she decides.

Saturday we taught Carolina Quevado who is the family that owns the dog that we have been teaching. It has been extremely difficult to teach her because she is so nice and inviting into her house and family but she is very closed about changing her catholic faith. We have passed with members of the church that have bore testimony and everything but she always tells us that we are welcome but that she isn't going to change. So as I prayed with all my heart as we walked to her house and as we were watching the Restoration movie I was praying with all my might that she would feel the Spirit and the truthfulness of our message that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration of the only true church of Jesus Christ. Then it was a miracle to see her change as we lovingly taught her from our heart, she opened up and shared her concern. She didn't believe that she could change or be forgiven and make those steps to change into our church. We bore testimony that it was possible through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. I told her that she was fortunate to have a family that loved her so much and wanted her to be happy and I knew that they would follow her in to the church through baptism. She has two little daughters Yanela and Monserat that believe that Joseph was a prophet. I love her and her family so much and I want them to participate in the fullness of the gospel.

Sunday was special because I brought my notepad and wrote all my thoughts and things I learned down to remember for later. I'm gaining a testimony of this everyday it is not easy but it is worth it! This day we also taught Mariana the woman that was baptized into the Evangelical church as she was investigating ours. She attended church with us last week and said her experience wasn't the church that he taught her about because the members were irreverent during the sacrament. Wow, this broke my heart to hear that the irreverence of the members was prohibiting her feeling peace during the Holy Sacrament. My companion and I are going to share our concern and disappointment with the ward leaders at our next meeting.There has been a lot of rain and wind. The wind is crazy! I love my companion Hermana Aguilar! I love life! I love being a missionary!

With love
Hermana Krista Wade