Hey family!!
Wow, the week has really flown by!! We
really have had another week full of miracles!
First, the grand news is that we have a
baptism this Saturday May 9th. His name is Juan Manuel. We have been working with
him hard for about three months. He has been incredible!! I have truly seen his
faith grow in Christ. I know without a doubt that he is ready to take this jump
to take upon himself the keys to open the gate to return to our Father in
Heaven.
Wow, it has been an incredible journey to
actually get to teach him the past two months. He has been in and out of living
at the hospital on the bed ide of his sick father, so he was always very
difficult to find. Now, he is more then ever ready to take the baptismal
covenant. I am so excited to help him and to be there for Sister Pardo's first
baptism!! It will be so great to see her start her mission in her first
transfer with a baptism. Aren't baptisms just the best!?!
News from the island…everything is smoothing
sailing! We have had a great week working hard to get more help from the
members. Each day, in the area that we are working, we have been stopping by to
make visits to the members just say hi and to try to leave with a couple of references
to track. We also have made it a goal to visit the bishop every week or every
two weeks to create a confidence in us to know that he can trust us with the
less-actives in this ward. It really has been making a difference to see him
open his doors and talk to us. When we started, it was only the wife talking to
us and we would only get to talk to him for like 10 minutes. But the last time we
visited, he told us all about their history in the church and callings. We are
slowly but surely winning his confidence! Really this work can't function
without the complete confidence of the bishop. I am so appreciative of the
opportunity to work hard next to great leaders in this ward. Sometimes, it
feels like we are all running in the same race but it just takes a while for everyone
on the team to realize that we aren't running separately for ourselves but that
it is a relay race. We have to pass on the baton but it there are times we want
to hold on to the baton for longer then necessary. That is one thing that I
have really learned here in Ponce.
There are times that I personally have
thought “Well, we can work all day long teaching people. We don't really need
the members. We just need then to, on Sundays, help invite them into the
family.” But really it is everyday that we need the members. First, we need
them to show us the area. We are foreigners in a land that they have lived in their
whole lives. Second, they can tell us more then anyone who will accept and
reject our message, who they feel may be ready now for our message. I have
really learned what it means for it to be every member’s duty to help in
missionary work, not just the missionaries. I feel like I really was a horrible
member before and can't wait to be the member that can help in every phase of
missionary work just like a missionary but with a normal life. Hahaha!
So, I can't wait to see you all this
Sunday!! I am more then excited to be able to talk to you all and get to hear
your voices!! I love you all so so much and hope you have a splendid week. I
challenge each of you to be the member that I want to be. Help the elders in
our ward with a reference to someone you know that could benefit from this
gospel!!
Con Amor Siempre
Hermana Harris
PS Only nine months to go!!
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