Graciela's Baptism

What a week!!! 

This past week was nuts. It was amazing. But heck, Hermana Martinez and I are exhausted! 

On Wednesday, we had splits and Hermana Vargas from Buenos Aires came to my area. We had one of the most spiritual lessons ever! We were teaching our investigator, Jazmin, the Restoration. She is an old investigator from like a year ago and we have just started to teach her again. The spirit was so strong that we almost all were about to cry. She told us that she had never understood it like we explained it that night. She said she would pray and ask if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. And if her answer is that he was, she was willing to be baptized! It was an amazing lesson!

This past week was hectic getting everything ready for the baptism. It was amazing. On Saturday we set up everything for Graciela’s baptism. That night two of our other investigators came to watch the baptism, Jessica and Delia. 

Jessica is 18 and super great. Graciela asked her when she was going to get baptized and Jessica said that she wasn’t sure but that it could happen. Delia, she is awesome, she is 22. But guess what, she lives with the nuns in the convent! Haha. So we can’t visit with her at home. It is super strange, but hey, she came to the baptism and really enjoyed it! 

Graciela's baptism:

Victor and Graciela

Victor and Graciela

 

Graciela and her friend, Carla, who introduced her to the church.

Hermana Carla, Hermana Lorena, Graciela and Mayra (Hija de Hermana Lorena)

There were a lot of people at the baptism and it went super well! She felt super supported. And she told me afterwards that she felt new, clean and that she really had started a new life. She was so giddy, like a little girl; it was amazing!

But the bad part is that the water in the baptismal font had gone down and it was super shallow. So the first time Graciela didn’t go all the way under. So Victor and she knelt down and did the baptism from the knees! We felt really bad... but it went well! 

Sunday, Satan was already working. Graciela’s dad had to go to the hospital so she couldn’t come to church. She will be confirmed next Sunday, but it will be okay! 

Today for Pday we went with the sisters from Obligado, Hermana Loaiza and Hermana Vierialves, to an all-you-can-eat buffet, and it had sushi!!! It was so good and we ate so much food! 

Life is going really well. There is a little bit less stress now that the baptism is over. But honestly, life is amazing and Graciela is now a member!!! 

President LaPierre leaves tomorrow morning and President Svec gets here tomorrow afternoon! 

I love you all!

Hermana Newell

Miracles in Rama 1

Hola!!!!!!!!!(:

This past week has been filled with miracles. Actually these past transfers have been filled with them, and I just can say that my whole mission has been also! This past week ALL of our new investigators were references from members, or member´s friends, and honestly there is a lot of potential in all of them!

The Branch is amazing. The members are helping a ton and the investigators are having spiritual experiences. This is a huge change from what Rama 1 was before. Just within the time that I’ve gotten here something has changed. It was really time for God to show the miracles because they are nonstop! The Branch now is helping us!!! Their help is a miracle from what it was like 3 months ago! The members are excited and are inviting their friends!

Graciela! Heck, she is amazing. This past week we showed both of the Joseph Smith movies; the 20 minute version and the 1 hour movie. And in each one she said that she had chills the whole time. She told us that before she saw them she had some doubts but after she saw them she knew that the church was true! God is so powerful!

She had her baptismal interview this past week. She was so nervous. She was shaking because she was and IS so excited to be baptized on the 25th but she was so nervous for the interview and to not pass! But, as we already knew she would, she passed very well! She is so excited for her baptism. Hermana Martinez and I have talked about how we have never seen someone SO excited to be baptized! She wants to have a calling and serve in the church. She wants to do everything she can to be a good member. This past week she brought a friend to one of the lessons and we are now teaching Alicia.

Alicia is reading the Book of Mormon and is going to come to Graciela´s baptism! The baptism is this Saturday. We are preparing everything to get ready, so it is a little loco but all is well! Graciela is amazing! And just a heads up for Mom and Dad; she might be coming to spend a few weeks with us sometime within the next year! The plans are in the works at least! (:

Bernardina. She is amazing. She is going to take her time for a little bit. She wants to be baptized and she knows that the church is true but she is 75 and she is a little nervous about the water and the about the cold weather. So we aren´t pushing her into anything and letting her feel comfortable. But she´ll get baptized!

This past week was super great. Everyday there was some sort of miracles! We received a reference from a family in a different branch. They work here in our area and they have a friend, David. So this past week we had lunch with the family and they invited David over (like in the district videos when the members ACTUALLY invite their friends to meals with the missionaries. That was a miracle in itself! haha) and we talked to him. He wants to come to church and to learn more!

Life is great here in Paraguay! Tomorrow we have our zone conference with President and Sister LaPierre. They leave to go home on the 28th and President Svec comes the 28th as well! One more week! This past week Hermana Martinez and I have been working a lot with the zone leaders to plan the conference. It should be really good!

Pray for us, but more importantly, pray for Graciela! I love you all and wish the best for you. Keep following Christ. He is the only thing that brings true happiness in this life and the life to come!

Love,

Hermana Newell

This is a copy of the letter we wrote for “Experiences of the Mission.” 

Rama 1, Encarnacion:

Hace 4 semanas una miembro entro en la reunion sacremental y habia llevado a una amiga con ella! La primera cosa que la amiga dijo es ¨Me quiero bautizar!¨ Fijamos una cita para vistar con ella y la miembro por esa semana. Ensenamos Leccion 1 y a ella le encantó, pero dijo, ¨Bueno bueno, me gusta, pero cuando puedo bautizarme? ¨ Fijamos la fecha con ella para que pudiera tener 3 asistencias. De ahi ella siempre queria reunir y aprender mas; ella acceptó todo sin duda. Ella dijo que estaba dispuesta a hacer todo! Esta TAN pero tan emocionada para su bautizmo, nunce hemos visto a alguien tan emocionada para poder bautizarse! Cuando vimos la película de Jose Smith, ella nos preguntó: ¨Porque siento escalofrios en todo mi cuerpo?¨y despues dijo que sentió escalofrios en todo su cuerpo toda la película, explicamos del espiritu santo, fue increible!

Ella quiere tener un llamamiento y servir a Dios en su Iglesia! Ella ya nos presentó a una amiga quien ahora estamos enseñando y dijo que iba a asistir al bautismo de Graciela!

El Bautismo de Graciela es el 25 de Junio. Ella realmente era una milagro de Dios!

Hermana Martinez y Hermana Newell