One day we were contacting in a really nice part of our area. These houses would be considered big in the states and so you can imagine how richy this area is. Pretty much all have security cameras and an intercom system in the giant wall that surrounds their houses. That makes it a bit hard to communicate with the people inside. We saw one house that didn´t have a wall, or bars, and was beautiful. We were excited to actually be able to knock a door and started walking towards it. We quickly learned why they didn´t need any of that protection when 8 GIANT dogs came running after us ready to attack. Hermana Santana wanted to run and I yelled to tell her to stop. Luckily nothing happened and the dogs stopped at our feet but we were still pretty freaked out. haha.
So after a few days of feeling discouraged and lame and praying I remembered that we have this wonderful thing called fasting. So I got down on my knees and started a fast to help me refocus on my purpose as a missionary, to find the people in our path, and to help the investigators we have be able to recognize answers and progress. On Sunday we woke up early to help Rosa get all of the kids ready for church. For the first time, the entire family came! Dariana and Silaini participated in the primary program and it was absolutely adorable. Aminadia also came to church, along with 5 less actives that we have been working hard with. After church we passed by a members house and she gave us 3 references of other less actives that she knows. Another less active accompanied us to an appointment, and while we were walking a deaf person flagged me down and signed that he would like to learn more about heaven. Luckily I knew what he was saying after teaching Carlos and we put an appointment with him.
In the past few days we have also encountered a new family to teach after a member showed us a hidden part of our area that we didn´t know existed. (Here the houses are stacked on top of and behind each other, and there are entire neighborhoods hidden behind other ones!). We had another one of the families that we are teaching reading the Book of Mormon together and praying to know if it is true. We also had 2 really cool encounters while we were heading to other appointments. One we walked past and saw that this guy appeared a little sad. We started talking to him and found out his wife had left him after a fight and that he was worried about her. We listened to him and offered to stop by and see if there was more we could do later. He said he would love a message about God. Another one was yesterday on the way to a service (which I will describe a little more later). We decided to take a car to the mission office because we were late. We NEVER take a car there because it´s better to just walk and save the money. We ended up being the only ones in the car (which is weird because usually there´s 7 people crammed in there.) The driver asked us if we were headed to the institute in front of the university and we told him yes! He then started to explain that he had visited the church more than 20 years ago and would like to do so again. We gladly told him we could help and ended up spending 10 extra minutes in the car talking to him about the gospel.
The Lord really does answer our prayers. He knows us. All we need to do is remember Him and show our commitment to Him and then ACT on it. All it took was a simple fast and a lot of help from our Father in Heaven. Because really we can´t do ANYTHING without Him. I learned a valuable lesson this week about turning to Him in EVERYTHING. And not just because it´s hard but with REAL INTENT. Intending to act on the answer that you receive. Then we got to work. And we may not see all the fruits of our labors but we are working and I know that the Lord´s hand is in everything.
Yesterday we had a cool opportunity to help with an emergency service. On Monday one of the areas in our zone had 55 houses burn down. Yesterday we went to help clean up the rubble and we will be headed back tomorrow. We worked for 5 hours hauling cinder blocks, ash, and burnt remains of belongings up and down stairs and out into streets to help clear the site. It absolutely broke my heart to see all of these homes completely destroyed. It was also cool though to see the community helping and offering food and water to us volunteers and a few of them helping lift some of the rubble as well. The people without houses are sleeping in the chapel there. I found a little kitten hiding in one of the houses and felt so bad for the poor little thing. I picked him up and brought him out to the street to see if anyone recognized him. Of course all the camera crews started swarming to me "Americana con gato! This is perfect!" "Americana, what is your motivation for being here?" "Americana saves the cat from the rubble" etc. It was kind of really funny but I just tried to respond to their questions and explain that we are missionaries for the church just trying to help out. No one claimed the poor little burned thing so we took her home with us for the night. I bathed it and fed it some milk and then this morning we found a member that is willing to help nurse it back to health.
If I had more time I would talk about what it is like when the gas goes out in your house and you can´t cook, or you find one room infested with maggots, or go 2 days without water. But suffice it to say that I am learning the importance of emergency preparedness. (If you haven´t thought of water to bathe yourself and boil things, I suggest you look into it. We were blessed and had 25 gallons in back). The mission is an adventure. It is hard. But I have never been more happy in my life or felt more fulfilled. This really is the Lord´s work. He knows and He loves us. If you are struggling with something get down on your knees and ask Him with real intent. Pray for a missionary experience! Pray for help with discouragement! Then get on your feet and go to work. He will put the people in your path. He will put the words in your mouth. But you have to be willing to walk and open your mouth. He is with us every second of every day when we welcome Him into our lives. I invite you all to do the same. Look for the service you can render and the people in your path who are waiting for someone to teach them about their Savior.
Love you all! Have a splendid week!
Hermana Ewell
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