The ward continues to amaze me. We had 6 investigators at church and 3 less actives and we didn´t call or pass by a single one. It is the ward that makes all the difference. We are seeing so much progress here because the members are willing to work and are doing it! They are visiting with their neighbors and family and preparing people so that when we get references they are prepared for the message. They are willing to leave with us and there are very few days when we don´t have a member in the majority of our lesson. I know I say this every week but the ward and the members bring miracles. If you are not taking an active part in the missionary work in your area, I invite you to do so.
One of our little investigators that I mentioned last week is a 10 year old boy named Wellington. He is going to be baptized next Saturday and is so excited to be able to do it. We had our first few lessons with him this week and he does so well paying attention. His family isn´t interested in listening to us for right now. We are working with the ward to try and plan services so that maybe we can win their trust a little more and open the way to teach them in the future. We had a family home evening with him in one of the primary presidency´s house on Monday. On the way home a guy yelled at us in the street to stop and talk to him. He explained that he was baptized a long time ago and hadn´t gone back in about 10 years. Afterward Wellington commented that he never wanted to be that guy. When I asked him where he wanted to be in 10 years he said a mission.
Ysmenia is the golden investigator that every missionary has ever dreamed of. Last Thursday we taught her for the 2nd time and she had 2 of her neighbors there. During the lesson she shared the story of Joseph Smith and then said, "I know this is true. I still haven´t been baptized or anything but I have a testimony of this message." The spirit was so strong! Her daughter, Carla, has been coming to church for the last 10 months. The missionaries didn´t know that she wasn´t a member until last month. When they figured out they decided to start to teach her but she studies in Santiago during the week and it is hard to catch her when she comes to visit on the weekend. The two of them came to church on Sunday and then we were able to have a lesson that night with them. We extended a baptismal date for March 22. Ysmenia asked, "I can really do it that fast?" We assured her that if she keeps the different commitments that she can do it. Carla was a little more hesitant. She said she wants to be sure that she´s not going to back out on it. I told her that if her only worry is that she is going to leave the church then she is probably ok. It means that she has a great desire to do what is right and stay active for the rest of her life. She said she´s been reading the Book of Mormon on the bus and has been able to have a few missionary experiences. She knows the church is true. I told her that Satan makes us think that we have to be perfect and that we need to put off doing the good things and disguises it good reasons. I assurred her that if she continues to prepare that she will feel ready in a few weeks. Ysmenia then added that with baptism she´d have the spirit to help her stay strong. Perfectly timed comment. Carla accepted and we´re going to have the missionaries in Santiago help us teach her during the week since she lives there for school. I´m really excited for them and Ysmenia said she is very excited to be baptized with her daughter.
It doesn´t stop there. Ysmenia had another reference for us a few days later when she invited her brother over and shared her experience in church on Sunday. She testified that the scriptures contain all the knowledge we need here on earth and that we just need to study them to be prepared. Then she shared about how you can just feel that the church is true and the things you are doing are right when you follow the spirit.
Last night we had one of the most amazing lessons I´ve ever had in my mission with Ysmenia. When we went she told us that she had studied every pamphlet we´ve given her again including the scriptures in back. She is so excited for her baptism and is the epitome of humiliy. Last night she had us repeat things a few times to make sure she got every point of the lesson down and sometimes would repeat things after us as well to make sure she remembered. She said she´s going to make sure she reads the Book of Mormon every day in addition to the pamphlets we give her in the lessons. When we shared her baptismal plan with her she asked if she needed to read the entire Book of Mormon before the 22. We told her no but I know that if it was necessary she would do it in a heartbeat. After the lesson she told us that she has to teach a class to kids with learning problems every other Sunday until May and that she is going to miss about 3 or 4 Sundays. She asked, "Will this stop me from being baptized? I will still be there the Sunday afterward to receive the spirit and then it will be over in May but I committed to this months ago and there is no one to take my place. I don´t even want to do it because I know I should be in the church." I can´t describe the emotion I felt as I saw this woman humbly asking us if there is any way that she could keep her baptismal date which she is so excited and ready for. I felt impressed to tell her we would need to talk with the bishop to make sure he was ok with it and understood what was going on. She humbly and quietly said, "If we need to we can move the date to May." It wasn´t in the way of "I´ll get baptized whenever" but rather you could see her faith and acceptance of God´s will. Then I realized why I had felt impressed to say that. It was a test of her faith. She is wonderful. Immediately afterward she started thinking of ways to cover it and asked us to pray for something to come up. I have never seen someone so prepared to accept the gospel. Someone so humble and willing to put all aside and follow the Lord. She has such a great desire and the spirit is so strong in her house. I can´t express the love I have for this woman and I am so excited to see her be converted in this gospel. I know the Lord sees her as someone so special because I feel like I almost can´t contain the care I have for her and the excitement I feel when we visit her.
I love my mission! I testify that there are miracles all around us every day. When we are willing to give everything to the Lord, and even put our righteous desires on hold if it is His will, we are so immensely blessed. I know that He is answering my prayers here in Puerto Plata and I am so humbled and grateful to be here.
Wish you all the best!
Hermana Ewell
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