This week has been really crazy with some of the best experiences I have had in the mission but with that new level of joy I have seen some really sad things happen as well.
The first great thing that we were able to see happen was the amazing response from the branch to our words about tithing. We told them that they had been unfaithful and it was actually some pretty harsh words but we knew we are not going to be strong if we don´t live every single commandment. so we told everyone to pay their tithing and stop robbing the Lord. This week the amount doubled from a normal week of what we receive and we know that it will keep on rising. It is amazing to see them be inspired by the words that the Spirit gives us. I had never appreciated how much of a blessing it is to pay tithing and I am not even paying it right now. It is hard to tell someone that has next to nothing to give part of what they have, but we have learned that tithing is more a principle of faith than a principle of economics.
Thursday, after an amazing lunch and the beautiful trip back from Puyo, we had a lesson planned with the Chavez family and we went into it pretty scared. They had a baptismal date but earlier that day had called us and told us not to invite anyone to come to the lesson with us because they had some things to say to us. I was thinking that they might have stumbled across an anti-Mormon website and had questions and doubts about the things they read, and I was right but only partly. They told us the reason they wanted us to come alone was because they wanted to share some personal feelings and experiences that had happened about the gospel last week. They told us they had found some anti-Mormon stuff but they didn´t read much or care because they had already received a testimony of the Book of Mormon and because they know the invitaciones the church does are good and that which inviteth to do good is of God. Afterwards they testified of how the gospel had changed every single one of their lives. How they use to fight more, be negative and focus on the wrong things in their lives but there is a visible and spiritual difference in their home and their attitudes. Once again in that moment I felt overwhelming gratitude for always having had the gospel in my home. Then Francisco told us that we were his favorite teachers, what he meant by that was in school you have your favorite professor and it doesn´t matter what is going on you can´t wait for his class because he is such an amazing teacher. We are that for him, but teachers of the word. The joy I felt during that lesson as they asked some of the most profound questions I have heard on my mission was indescribable. I have never felt like that before. I felt as if every moment that was ever hard or tiring was erased by the pure love that filled me in those moments. It strengthened my testimony about every aspect of the gospel and this work. It lifted me to a higher vision of what a family can become through Jesus Christ.
This week with the motivation from that experience we have had others that are changing the way we work as missionaries. I was reading as well earlier that same day in Mosiah 23:21 the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people, he trieth their patience and their faith. http://scriptures.lds.org/en/
I feel that those moments were the reward for passing a test of patience of faith. I felt the power of the Lord in that moment in way that I can never forget. The changes that I have seen in that family could not have happened in any other way. Living the gospel of Christ has had a greater effect on them than any other thing could have ever done.
Before I forget things that I really need. A new journal I am about use the last of the one I have and they don't really sell any nice ones here that I could find. Some Qtips I cant find those here either. And if you could give me some news about Ryan I haven´t heard anything since the start of the mission.I love you all so much. I have been thinking and praying for all of you.
Hope that everything in this new school year goes great.
Love Élder Vomocil
