Hello!

 

Everything went great this weekend with the baptism of our family we have been teaching. I thought I'd try and tell their story a little bit better! Here goes...

 

We were teaching a less active sister in the ward about a month ago, when she told us that she had a referral for us. The referral was a friend of hers that lived fairly close. We got lucky, because at that precise moment her friend passed by the house. The less active member called her over and introduced us to her. Her name was Natividad. We started talking to her and asking her about her and her family. She explained to us that she is from Belize along with her two children, Teófilo (16) and Eiden (15). While living in Belize, she met a Nicaraguan, Alejandro, and they were married a short time later. They stayed in Belize for a while, but after a few years, they decided to move to Nicaragua. She told us that they had been living in Nicaragua for about a year now. We gave her a brief explanation of our purpose as missionaries and how the restored gospel could bless her and her family. We set up an appointment with her for the next day.

 

In our first visit with Natividad, she expressed to us her concern for her two sons. She wanted them to find good friends in Nicaragua and join a church. She also explained to us a few challenges in her family, and that they had never been that religious. Her husband Alejandro was at one point a youth leader in an Evangelist church, but stopped going two years ago. We told them that the Church could bless their family, and help them to find more peace and love. We also explained to her how her two children could find a good group of friends in the church that would help them live righteous lives. After explaining the importance of baptism in her life to accept Christ as her Savior and become clean of sin, she accepted a baptismal date for the 24th of August.

 

The following day, we were able to meet Teófilo and Eiden, because they showed up to church with Natividad. We introduced Eiden and Teófilo to Nestor, a priest in the ward who is preparing to serve a mission. They instantly became friends. Natividad really enjoyed all the classes, and even participated a lot. Later that day, we visited Teófilo and Eiden to get to know them a little better. We explained to them our purpose as missionaries, and told them that we help prepare families to be baptized in the true church of Jesus Christ. It was a little hard to teach them, because they are really quiet and don't talk much, but they both accepted a baptismal date for the 24th of August, as well. They pretty much talk perfect Spanish by now, but every now and then I had to explain things to them in English.

 

A few days later, we were finally able to meeet Nativdad's husband, Alejandro. Alejandro works as a security guard at Valenti's Pizza. He was a little hesitant to talk to us at first because he had heard a lot of things about the church. His mom was a member but passed away a few years ago. A couple of his sisters are also members of the Church, but have been completely inactive for years now after the death of their mom. We gained his trust prety quickly and found ways to make him laugh and know that we were his friends, and really wanted to help him and his family become happier and more blesed. Alejandro knew a little bit about the Bible, because he had been a member of an Evangelist church for a few years, but we noticed an emptiness in him...more than anything he needed the restored gospel in his life to become a better husband and guide his family in the correct path. Alejandro told us that if God answered his prayers and made him feel like this really was the true church, that he would be willing to be baptized along with the rest of his family the 24th of August.

 

The following Sunday, the whole family showed up to church. That week, Teófilo and Eiden started going to seminary every day at 6:00 pm with Nestor, and they began to particpate in all the youth activities. Nativdad began to notice a change in her boys, which made her really happy. Natividad really loves to read, so she began to read the Book of Mormon a lot. One night really late, she read the chapter that we had left for her, Alma 38, and began to pray to know if it was true. She was laying down in her bed at the moment, but didn't feel any answer. She asked herself, "I wonder what the missionaries meant when they said I need to pray with real intent...?" She decided to kneel down and pray again. she said that as soon as her knees touched the ground she felt peace and a good feeling overwhelm her. She recognized that as her answer. The next day she told us about her experience and said, "I know that the Mormon word is the true word. I know that what you have been teaching me is true. It will be hard but I know I need to be baptized. "

 

Over the course of the weeks that followed, they came to church every week. Alejandro was able to stop drinking coffee, which was a miracle. Alejandro had drank coffee every day since he was a young boy. He substituted coffee with the famous Nicaraguan drink, Pinolillo. Alejandro also began to read the Book of Mormon and felt that it was true. He began to change his way of acting and his relationship with Natividad improved a lot. Alejandro and Natividad began to attend all the ward activities as well.

 

Saturday, they were baptized! Their baptismal service was really spiritual. President Russell and his wife surprised us and randomly showed up! Nestor baptized Teofilo and Eiden. The first counselor in the bishopric, Octaivio, baptized Alejandro and Natividad.  Alejandro and Natividad both shared their testimonies. Alejandro shared his testimony about how he had seen a lot of changes in his family. He said that all his life he had seen the Book of Mormon in his house but never read it. He expressed his gratitude for the Book of Mormon as another
testament of Jesus Christ. He said that he knew this was the true church, because he could feel it in his heart. Natividad shared her testimony about how grateful she was that God had brought her all the way to Nicaragua to get to know the gospel. She talked about how hard it was to leave all her material posessions behind in Belize and come to Nicaragua with her family, but that now she understood why it was necessary; she had to accept the gospel and be baptized with her family. She talked about how much her boys had changed and how happpy their family had become. She testified of the Book of Mormon as the "true word" and she said that God had told her this was His church. I don't think there was a dry eye in the whole church. There are few things more beautiful than hearing recent converts testify of the restored gospel and how it has changed thier lives. there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord has been preparing this family for a long time. They are going to have a great future in the church.

 

Oh by the way...A week ago the Relief Society president asked Nativdad to give the lesson in Relief Society today. So not only was Natividad preparing to be baptized this week, but also to give the lesson in Relief Society. She is awesome! She wasn't even scared or nervous. She is really good at talking in front of groups of people and teaching, so she felt comfortable doing it. All the sisters in Relief Society said she did great. I LOVE THIS FAMILY SO MUCH!! My hands hurt from typing so much. Hahah.

 

My new companion is named Elder Mann. He is from Arizona. We get along really great and I can already tell we're going to work really hard! I'll tell you more about him next week because I'm a little short on time.

 

Love you guys! 

 

Goodbye Elder Velasquez

 

Now I'm jamming with Elder Mann