Week 28, Primero de Julio - Week of Milagros (Miracles)

"Hey everyone this week was full of miracles and faith and the Holy Ghost.

So our hard work is finally paying off here in Primero De Julio. I will relate two experiences to all of you.

One begins in the late morning of a slow day. We had been walking for a long time, trying to work with the ward registry, but nothing was really working. I finally just sat down and decided we needed to try something else to get someone to teach. I remembered this thing that I had read in one of the books in our house. It talked about trusting in the spirit to guide you. I knew that God knew where we could go to have success that morning. We just needed to be able to receive his instructions. So we began to earnestly pray for the guidance of the spirit. We humbled ourselves before God, acknowledged our needs and his power and then put ourselves into his hands. I told my companion to write down 4 streets in our area and I would also write down 4. I listened and as I did, I could feel the spirit guiding my decisions. I got "righteous hunches." I also prayed that my companion would be able to recognize the impressions of the spirit. Well, the time finally came to read our lists, combine them, and pick a street to go to from that. 

As I listened to my companion read off his list, awe at the majesty of God, and gratitude for his mercy and revelation that he had showered on us, his servants, filled me. We picked out of all the streets in our area and three of the four we had written down were the same. That was a sign if I ever wanted one. We went to that street and found many people to talk to, find, and teach. I was so grateful.

The Second Experience. It began with a hard day. A day where our first appointment fell and the backup plan with it. And that was basically the story for the rest of the day. We contacted, we used the registry, we went to everyone we knew, we tried to get references from member, we used every recourse possible and yet nothing was working. It was a trial of our faith, but I am grateful to be able to say that we continued onward with energy and faith in the Lord. Every time we felt dismayed, I just said "Let's go gather Israel" and we kept going. Well I knew that we could never fail, not with the Lord on our side so we kept going with a great attitude. 

It paid off. At the very end of the day, we decided to visit one of our interested people. It was an unscheduled visit but we needed someone to go to so we did. We arrived and had to teach in her courtyard because the inside of her house was filled with loud, noisy relatives and kids who were all busy doing things. But in spite of all that, we began to teach her the second part of the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. As we taught and shared scriptures the Spirit rested upon us. It was not strong waves like with Victoria and Francis, but rather a light, but powerful presence that went to our very hearts. It was peaceful. She felt it too- her name is Flor. She recognized that she was feeling the spirit and, although she had so much knowledge of the Bible, was humble enough to recognize the truth of our message and the Book of Mormon. That was really impressive to me. I realized that humility really is the key to opening the heavens.

We asked her, "How does all this make you feel?" She replied, "I'm kind of afraid because this means that I don't know as much as I thought I did." That reply was truly a reflection of her humility. To admit that maybe she didn't know as much as she thought. To be willing to accept the will of God in spite of tradition, in spite of comfort. 

I know that faith and humility are the keys to the heavens. Our faith brought forth miracles, as it can in everyone's lives. Our humility before God lets him guide and direct us. May we all strive to be more humble and to really seek the will of God with a heart full of faith. 

Adios!

- Elder Walbom

p.s. Also, the President of Guatemala just changed and the new President's goal is to clean Guatemala. So he sent the military to patrol all of the streets of the city that I am in- Mixco. The head of security for Central America advised our President that all of the missionaries here should enter their houses at 6. So our schedules are different and we are supposed to carry our identification at all times and there is random patrols of armed militants roaming the streets. But, the work goes on."

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