A Week of Miracles

May 25, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

This was a week of Miracles. I feel like I say that every week, but this was the Olympics of miracles…because after working as hard as Michael Phelps (okay, maybe that´s a lie, but I feel like we are eating as much as Michael Phelps. Why does everyone want to give us food on the SAME days), we finished the week with a mountain of miracles. Many small, but some that are GOLD.

What is really exciting is THIS. We have two baptisms scheduled for this Friday!! AGHHHH!!! And I am on top of the world. One is Elma, the other is Sofia. I don’t know that they´ll both happen, because we have much to work with the two. So PLEASE keep them both in your prayers. And us as well, because we want to make sure they are both prepared for this step.

As follows, the miracles a la Hermana Elma...

First, we went to teach her Monday night, and as we walked up to her house 

We went to pick her up on Sunday morning for church, but we were a tad bit late (which, believe it or not, is NOT usual for us. Yes, all you Monroes reading this can gasp in amazement..) But when we arrived, no one answered the door. We waited, and then, bummed, we headed off to church, and lo and behold who had left for church on her own because we hadn´t arrived on time...Elma. And at church, the talks were ALL about her major doubts and in relief society she started to cry and said she knew she had "felt the holy spirit" and had received an answer about her baptism. Also, a funny story about a lesson with her...we arrived at her house and we could see that someone was at the table and so we thought maybe she had visitors. Dang. But hermana Centurion said "noo hermanas, she is probably just reading her book of mormon!" and i told her "yep! And all of our families in our ward didn’t answer their phone last night because they were having family home evening!" and we laughed and thought I was soo clever and then.....we entered, and she had been reading the book of mormon and taking notes. AH! To top that off, she invited us to have Once (its like dinner...kind of.) with her because she wanted us to talk to and meet her neighbor! Because she wanted her neighbor to learn more!

But the Miracle a la Sofia…

This is what I just can´t believe. Sofia is fourteen years old, and is the only non-member of her family. Her family was baptized four months ago, and they are the ones that feed us every day (with three course meals and a cook and food that is sinfully delicious) but because she wanted to be rebellious, she decided not to be baptized. Honestly, in this sector, I have prayed about this Chica more than anything else, written her a billion notes with scriptures, fasted for her.... The president told me that The Lord wants her to join her family, and we needed to help make it happen...But we had a lesson with her family, and she was acting like she wasn’t listening, and didn’t care, but at the end, I felt the spirit prompt me that we needed to invite her to be baptized. So we did, I invited her, and I promise you that the Lord guided us to say what needed to be said, to ask what needed to be asked, and she ACCEPTED. Oh. Such a miracle. But what really is a testament to me is that I felt like I was a just a little tiny part of a grand grand work to bring this family into the gospel. I got to talk to the missionaries who have worked with this family, and their prayers that Sofia would join her family, the prayers of the family, EVERYONE, has contributed to this miracle. I was only the mouthpiece. And I feel so humbled that we had the opportunity to contribute, even if just a little. 

But Really, it is such a treat to be part of this work.

And for a little funny bit...in the words of Hermana Reese, sometimes having two investigators is like having more than one boyfriend. You don´t want to tell one that you have a cita with the other! We passed by Elma and she insisted on giving us Once, but right after that we had already promised to have once with Violetta and so we had to have TWO. So we sacrificed ourselves and ate all of the cake that Elma had specially prepared for us because it is the favorite of Hermana Reese, and then ran off to eat with Violetta. Yep. We are really self-sacrificing, us missionaries hahahaha.

But I am off to finish preparing for our ward activity tonight! I love you all, and hope all is well!

p.s...KATIE! I got your letter! And the letters from the YW! THANK YOU! Katie, there is a letter currently in the mail for you! 

All my love,

Hermana Monroe