February 17, 2014
Hola!
This
week was so amazing. At the start of the week I was a little depressed
for some reason. But after the events that happened, everything
changed. First, on Wednesday, Hermana Juana was married! We went and
helped her get ready, and then we went to the registro civil (I don’t know what
that is in English) and we were able to see her get married. And then
afterward we went back to her house for a dinner with her family and friends in
the ward. It was a lot of fun, and it was so nice to see her so
happy. It’s crazy to think that this wedding has been in the works for a
long time, at least since I got here in December, and finally she got married
this week. And the whole ceremony only lasted 7 minutes. So much
waiting and preparing for just 7 minutes! Anyway, it was so good, because
finally on Saturday, she was able to get baptized. That was a really
beautiful experience too. At the beginning of the day I was really stressed
to make sure we had everything ready, the clothes, the talks, the music, the
whole program, and to make sure the font was clean and filled and
everything. Everything turned out fine and the program went really
well. Juana was baptized, and like proud parents my companion and I
watched from the side as she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Afterward we asked how she felt and she said
it was this indescribable feeling, and she felt relieved of all her sins, and totally
pure and clean. She bore her testimony afterward, and shared how she
first came to know the missionaries. She had moved in with her boyfriend,
and he was at work, and she was at home alone and just felt so completely
alone. She cried and prayed for help and comfort. And then the
missionaries came knocking. They taught her the first discussion, and she
knew that Heavenly Father had answered her prayers and sent her these
angels. From then on she took the missionary discussions from many
different missionaries, and shared how much the gospel has blessed her
life. I feel so blessed and lucky to be the one with her to see her get
baptized. It was really a beautiful experience. Also to see the
priesthood put their hands on her head and bestow her with the Gift of the Holy
Ghost. She and her husband have the goal to go the temple in a year, and
want to serve a couples mission when their kids are grown up. They are
such an amazing family.
We
also have this other investigator named M. She is 15 and is such a
sweetheart and has the strong desire to get baptized. We just have to get
permission from her parents, which is a little difficult because they don’t
live here, but she´s going to hopefully get the permission from her uncle
here. I really hope so, because she is also just so amazing. I don’t know
her very well, but I already just love her so much.
I
know that this gospel is true with all my heart and I know that the gospel
blesses families and allows us to be with our families forever. And I´m
so grateful to be here to share this message with others.
Thank
you all for your love and support
Con
amor,
Hermana Tijerino
______________________________________________________________________
February
10, 2014
Hola!
This
week was pretty good, although it had its up and downs. I don’t know why
it is literally so hard for this wedding to take place! Everything was all
ready for Hermana Juana to get married on Friday and baptized on Saturday, but
something happened with the abogado (lawyer) and she couldn’t get married on
Friday. She called Thursday night to tell us it’s going to be this Wednesday
instead, and she´ll get baptized this Saturday. I was really
disappointed, but I’m going to pray really hard for everything to be able to go
through this week. She is so great and I just love her and her family so
much. When we were at her house this week, we washed her clothes, and I
got into a soap fight with her two little girls, and it was so fun.
Also,
my new companion arrived last Monday. Her name is Hermana M., and she is
from Peru, not Bolivia like I thought. She has like 10 months in her
mission. She´s really nice and sweet, but it’s a little hard because I’ve
been taught to do things a certain way, and she does things differently, so it’s
hard sometimes (to agree with her) estar de acuerdo con ella, but we´re getting
there. I´ve been surprised how much I am able to speak Spanish.
I’ve had to take on a lot of responsibility showing her around and introducing
her to people, and somehow I’ve been able to do it. I think the gift of
tongues is really coming. And I think I can do a lot more than I think I
can.
Anyway,
since this week is Valentine’s day, I just want to express my love that I have
for this gospel. I love my Heavenly Father and I am so grateful for the
plan he has for me and for the opportunity I have to be here sharing the gospel
with these amazing people. I have learned so much how the gospel is
centered around families, and I am so grateful for my family and for the
blessings I have received from being raised in the gospel. I love the
people here, and I want these blessings of the gospel for them. Sometimes
it is really hard, because people don’t follow through with their commitments,
but when we do the things the Lord asks, he blesses us. The things that
are the most simple sometimes are the hardest, but the most rewarding. Seguir
adelante! I love you all, my family, friends, and leaders, and thank you for
your examples.
Con
mucho amor,
Hermana Tijerino
______________________________________________________________________
NOTE: In order to protect their privacy the names of my companions, members and investigators will be omitted and their name tags obfuscated.
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© Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia - 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and posted photographs without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jennifer Tijerino and Mission Adventures in Bolivia with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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