June 10

June 10, 2013
Hola Familia y Amigos,

Lo siento pero no voy a escribir en Espanol este semana.

This week was a good week overall. On Monday we were able to have a really good experience with one of our investigators where we read part of the Introduction to the Book of Mormon, and she prayed to know if it was true. It was a sweet experience, and even though it looks like she's not ready to change her church right now, I know that in the future she'll be able to look back and remember this experience.

On Tuesday we had a wonderful member present lesson with Ana, but I'm sure Hna Whetten will tell you more about that. We were also able to meet with Obispo Cortez as a district and ask how we could help the ward in their missionary efforts. It was a wonderful interview, and we actually were given two referals from members who were trying to contact less actives and ended up finding people who weren't members but were potentially interested. We LOVE member referrals!

Wednesday we spent most of the day trying to contact the referrals from the members, and a few other referrals that we hadn't been able to contact yet. We found a menos activo, and were able to encourage him to find his Book of Mormon and maybe start reading again. We're hoping to be able to help him re-discover the testimony he had when he was baptized.

Thursday was weekly planning, and while we're still not down to 3 hours yet it was definitely shorter this week that last week.

Friday we had our zone training meeting and it was wonderful. I love Elder Riviera and Elder Raises (not sure I spelled that right...)! They always do such a good job, and their trainings always inspire me to be a better missionary. This week we learned about how to extend better commitments, and how to help someone who has set a baptismal date prepare for baptism the most effective way.

Saturday we were able to take part in a youth conference for the Santa Clarita stake. We had two young women with us from 1:30 until a little after 4:00. It was truly an amazing experience, and we really did see miracles. I admit it was a little weird at times because they really didn't speak Spanish, but I feel like we gave them a little taste/training of missionary work, and I hope we inspired them to be missionaries now and go on full time missions in the future. We taught them how important it is to work with the members and went to visit one of the members of our relief society presidency, which ended up with a referral for us that we were then able to contact right away. We taught them to talk to everyone even if it seems a little awkward, and they were both able to give away several pass-along cards. We invited someone to be baptized right at their door, and she accepted (although she didn't want to set a specific date). Both girls were able to give away a Book of Mormon, and they each shared their testimony several times! It was really a wonderful experience.

Sunday was a little hard because Ana (who had confirmed that she'd be coming just the night before) didn't come to church, and didn't answer any of our phone calls or texts. We're not sure what happened, but hopefully we'll be able to meet with her later this week. However, to help balance that out our recent convert and menos activo Andy came to church again this week, also one of our investigators Silvia (who has been investigating the church for years but is afraid to get baptized) came to church again after almost a month, and she actually stayed for two hours when before she's only ever stayed for Sacrament. It was a kind of funny story because Hna Whetten and I saw her leaving after, so we ran after her and asked her to stay, but she said she was too cold. Luckily I'd worn a sweater that day so I gave her my sweater and she stayed for Sunday School! She had to go home and take her medicine after that so she didn't stay for Relief Society, but she said she would next week.

Mostly I really do just love being a missionary! I love this gospel, and I know that it is true and will bless the lives of all those who take it into their hearts. I know that sharing it is the greatest expression of love I can give to the people in Sylmar and to my Father in Heaven. I truly do love Him and these people. ... Oh ... and all of you as well. :)

Love,

Hna Marin Hardy