The Work is Hastening

Well... another week gone. Time just flies. As a matter of fact, today marks my 8 month mark in the mission. Hard to believe but alas... here we are.

The week was good. Another of those weeks that feels like nothing happened. Things do happen. But when you do the same thing everyday, it all kind of runs together. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's just hard to keep track sometimes of the little things that happen. But I'll see if I can remember.

A couple of weeks ago, Hna. Dustin and I were walking down our street toward our house, when this girl named Micaela stopped us in the street. She asked us about the Book of Mormon and wanted us to come back to her house and tell her about it. It was late that night and we didn't have time right then, so we fixed another time to come back and left. When we did go back to teach her, she was the coolest, smartest person ever. She completed her commitments and really did her part to search for her answers. The last time we went back to teach her, she told us she can't keep taking the lessons because her whole family is really Catholic and they wouldn't accept her if she lived a different religion. Oh man. That hurt. She was really sad about it too. She told us in our second lesson that she was Catholic but that she really wasn't in agreement with a lot of their practices. So obviously we gave her a Book of Mormon and told her to read it. And she did. "I believe everything you've told me." she told us. "It all makes sense. But right now, I just can't risk losing my family." I shared with her Alma 26:27 "bear with patience thine afflictions and I will give unto you success." (It's one of my absolute favorite scriptures BTW) We invited her to keep reading the Book of Mormon and keep pondering its message. And she will. The Lord has his time for every person. We had the opportunity to plant that little seed of the Book of Mormon. And just as the seed that grows in secret, (Mark 4:26-29) one day, she WILL be ready. The Book of Mormon works MIRACLES.

In other news, Hector's the best person ever. Love that guy. Such a weirdo. But so great. He's like my spirit animal. We went to talk to him last night to see how his first fast went. (Friday, we talked to him about fasting with purpose and committed him to fast on Sunday. When we asked him what he could fast for he suggested, "a girlfriend?" Haha. Maybe...) He only managed to fast for the night before. He had to eat breakfast. *eye roll* But anyway, we got talking about miracles. "I don't really believe in big, amazing miracles," Hector said. "sure they can happen, but the everyday miracles are people. God's not going to take away all of our problems if we ask Him. He's going to send people to help us in our trials. Those people are the real miracles."  I should just reiterate at this time that Hector's really not a sentimental guy. He's really intelligent and closed off. But he continued. "Like you guys. For me, and I'm sure for other people too, you're a real help." (my tender heart!) It was seriously the sweetest thing. I'ma miss that guy...

Just as my title suggests, the work IS hastening. After a long time of drought here in Barrio Terminal, the work exploded and we've had baptisms almost every week this transfer. Yesterday at church, they had to fill more cups for the Sacrament because there were too many people there. That doesn't happen! It was so cool. Less actives are reactivating and we're finding the people the Lord has prepared for us to find. After church, I was watching all the people file out of the building, giving besitos and waving as they all headed off on their motos, and I was just hit with the coolest feeling. I can't even describe it. It just felt right. It was like, "Yeah. This IS the right place." Ugh. So cool. I love the Gospel so much. It has changed ME. I'm here to help other people make that change but at the same time, it's happening in me. I love the Lord and I love this work. I'm so grateful to be apart of it. Just take a peek at Alma 26:16 to get an idea of my thoughts. It's a current fave. Well, until next week, sending lots of love.

Hermana Hein