February 10, 2014

Hola familia mía!!!

¿Cómo les va? How are yáll doing? I hope that yall are doing great!!

This week I learned A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!! More than anything that the Lord answers prayers. This week I prayed that more of yall could write me this week (not as a complaint, just that it would be nice) and I kind of knew that yall would. I think I received twice as many emails from yall!!!! It is something small, but the Lord answers our little prayers.

We had a few roadblocks this past week. February in Chile is when almost EVERYONE goes on vacation. RESULT: our investigators left, but it is ok. Our investigators that were progressing kind of disappeared and it seemed a little daunting this week, but we continued to work. We did not teach as many lessons this week as normal, but we worked hard. We went with a member to visit someone, who wasn´t home so we stopped by a few contacts we made. A month ago we followed up on a contact and came as an answer to his prayer. His name is Ivan. He went on vacation before, and happened to be there when we went. The last time, he did not trust us (we only talked outside of his house) to tell us all his problems so the member we brought with us was able to befriend him in a way that we couldn´t. We had a short lesson, in the street but he said that he would come to church. Many investigators, let alone contacts, have said that and never come. But as we were sitting in church, we saw him sitting there too!!!!!!!!!!!! He truly wants to make changes in his life, and the member was there for all of it, so we did not have to do anything this sunday to help him. The members make a huge difference, even if we are only contacting or tracting. Also this sunday came a inactive couple for the first time. He gave up his work on sunday and are making big changes in their lives. It is amazing how the Lord works individually with every person (every one of His children) and is there waiting when they are ready. The Spirit testified to me, that I can work SOOO hard, but in the end the Lord does it all. We are just instruments. He is in control of all the situations, so we do not have to worry too much, just work hard and He makes up the difference.

I had a really cool spiritual experience this week. I have been trying to pray out loud at least once a day in my personal prayers. It is hard because my companion is always there, but I have found little moments here and there. It is amazing how my prayers have changed. I know that Heavenly listens to me, I KNOW it! I know that I am His daughter and that He loves me. We truly can have a spiritual experience and feel His presence through prayer. I am still learning a lot, but I have gained a stronger testimony of prayer (that is why I knew more of yall would write me this week). I just know that prayer is powerful. It also helped me get rid of some of my pride. Some things that I had prayed for in my other prayers, when I prayed out loud I did not pray for them. It did not feel right and I just lost the desire to pray for it. I was more spiritually intune, and I can´t really explain it, BUT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND PRAYING OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!! I saw a miracle in myself.

I also learned that we have the power. We choose our fate. We choose what we put into our bodies, what we do everyday. No one has the power to take away that choice. I cannot place blame on anyone for my choices. THey may have influenced me, but in the end I CHOSE! Maybe this is just a revelation for me. That if I want to do something, then I just have to do it! It is that simple (ok sometimes no but a lot more than we realize it is simple). It was really freeing to realize that I had the power to choose. I am thankful for agency, the freedom to choose.

I love yall a lot and hope that everyone is really good!!! I am praying for yall (and the Lord is answering)!

con mucho mucho amor,

hermana taylor