Our mission president told us that he had a vision that by the end of this transfer, every companionship in the entire mission will have a baptism. I can honestly tell you, Hermana Macias and I have never worked so hard in our entire lives! We have fasted and prayed constantly, and we made it a goal to be exactly obedient to the tiniest detail, even speaking Spanish 100 percent of the time with each other. (A very hard goal to maintain by the way!). It's been so hard - we've encountered plenty of fallen-through appointments despite our best efforts. But sometimes I think the Lord works last-minute, because He wants to see how bad we want something before He blesses us with it!
So about a month ago, a young family - Manuel and Trista and their four kids - moved in with the in-laws (Manuels' mom and step-dad, La Familia Ramirez). Manuel was baptized when he was younger but as he got older he became less and less active. His wife Trista is not a member.
When we heard they moved in, we felt prompted to stop by and see if they needed any help with adjusting or the move - by the time we got there, they didn't any help whatsoever but we managed to have a chat with Trista, and we got to know her and her situation. Trista is American and doesn't speak a lick of Spanish. Her mom is a less-active member. And oh, she heard about the temples from la Familia Ramirez and decided that she kinda wants to find out what that is all about! We asked if we can come by and teach her a little bit more about how she can get to that beautiful white castle-like building that is the Temple.
The Familia Ramirez are one of the most wonderful families of the ward, and they initiated the Jauregui's practice of scripture study, prayer, and family home evening. While we were not visiting, they answer all her questions and teach her simple principles and doctrines. They take her to church, and she has been to church for about 3 weeks in a row now.
Last Tuesday, so with only 2 weeks left in the transfer, we went into a lesson with her with the goal of setting a baptismal date. As we taught the Restoration, we could feel the Spirit so strongly. Everything we were saying seemed to just go straight to her heart. I felt the Spirit prompt me to recite the First Vision and I was nervous as first because I hadn't really practiced it as much in English, and I had messed it up over and over in companionship study that morning...But as I was speaking the words of Joseph Smith, I felt like I wasn't even speaking...it is the hardest thing to describe. I forgot I was speaking - the Spirit was literally placing the words in my mouth! and as I finished, I felt a rush of chills all over me.. and Trista just says, "Wow..."
In the same lesson we invited her to be baptized on the 13th of September, THIS Saturday. And she said yes.
She is so excited. She doesn't speak Spanish - but she loves the Spirit that she feels at church. She loves reading and praying in the family. She says she sees her relationship with husband get stronger and stronger, and she says her family hasn't been this happy in such a long time.
Also, Gabino Rodriguez, who was baptized on August 1st, received the Priesthood last Sunday, the 1st of September, and will be baptizing his daughter Siomara on the 20th of September, which will be her 8th birthday :)
We can see the Lord's hand in helping families become eternal. That really is the goal after all. Baptism is just la puerta - the gateway - to all the blessings that God has in store for each and every one of us. We enter into this covenant with Him so that he can bless us continually, so that we can be happy, so that our families will be together forever. All we have to do is follow His commandments - which, by the way, are only there to help and protect us in the first place! In reality, who has the better end of the deal?
I love you all so very much!
Hermana Blanchard
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