This week has been a humbling week. We have seen so many miracles and
tender mercies this week. Marcia is a woman that was a mormon.org
referral. She has requested a free bible. We went to visit her a few weeks ago
and she had some questions about the church. She said that she wanted to come
see our church and we could come see hers. She was doing a presentation this Saturday on all of the missionary
work that she is doing. So we asked the Zone Leaders for permission and they
said that we could. It is a small group of Brazilians and the service is in
Portuguese so we needed translators. That was a cool experience in itself to be
a minority language and not know what anyone is saying. The church is called
foursquare and it is a big christian church in Brazil. It was really cool. A lot
of clapping and shouting and singing and standing. They were all so nice. And
afterwards Marcia invited us to come to her home again this week to teach her
more about our church. I have never thought of going to potentials as a way to
gain their trust but I think that it helped Marcia to trust us more. As we
showed that we are interested in knowing what she believes. It made me really
appreciate other beliefs and religions. We do things a little differently but
there are a lot of good people who are trying to worship God and doing the best
with what they know.
On Sunday church was about to begin and this unknown number asks when
church is and what time it starts. So we were excited thinking it was someone
that we had contacted in town. But a man walks in named Rick who is a member and
had gotten our number from his friend. He is here for the summer and is from
Gautama-la. We told him about Yanedra and he said that he would love to come
translate for us. It was an answer to our prayers. We were so excited. So we
went to visit her that night and we set up an appointment for this Thursday. And she is excited to
learn more. She also invited us to go to her church with her. So we went with
her Sunday night. And this one was
in Spanish so we again needed translators. It was a lot like the other church
from the night before. They had us stand up and sang us a welcome song. They
were so nice. The Pastor came and introduced himself to us afterwards and his
wife is actually a baptized member in Salvador. He was really surprised when we
told him that we were Mormon missionaries.
We also received a new investigator from the sisters in Boston. He has just
moved here to Nantucket and they were starting to teach him there before he had
moved. So we are really excited. His name is Tieroll.
On Wednesday for FHE,
Danielle who is a less active gave the spiritual thought. Sister Vaai felt like
we should ask her to. She hasn't ever come to church her and has been to FHE
once a few months ago. But she came and gave a beautiful thought on repentance
and what it means. It was really cool. I think that people just need to feel
needed.
We were able to go visit Rosie this week. We had dinner with her on Thursday. She is such a funny lady. We
asked her what her spiritual goals and she said that she really wants to serve a
mission. Her husband lived with her here for 13 years and then decided to move
back to the Philippines and has since been unfaithful to her. But she is so
loving and forgiving towards him. She is such a strong woman. We really enjoyed
getting to visit her again. Rosie Set up a lunch her friend Dida who has been
coming to church and us on Saturday. We are really excited to get to start to teach
her. We have been so blessed this week with things moving forward with our
investigators and potential investigators.
Lacy will be here on the island this weekend and will be coming to church.
We are hoping to get to set a baptismal date with her while she is her with the
group. We really feel like we need to keep her spiritually progressing before
life wears on her too much and she completely breaks down. So we are hoping to
help her set a date. She is so ready her life is just really crazy.
We have quite a few summer visitors now. We have about 10 new people who
come every week. And we love them. We have two young couples from Utah, two
people who are here for the summer plays, Rick, and then Carolyn who comes here
every summer with her husband. So it has been really nice. On Sunday Jackie, the woman we met on the
bus, came to church with her fiance. We think he was a little overwhelmed with
his first Mormon church experience being in a basement:) But we hope he felt the
spirit!
Patrick and Kathleen are doing well. Patrick came to church on Sunday by himself. He is about in his
sixties but he is so fully of energy. And he has such a strong testimony of the
gospel. We are hoping to have him come out with us to an investigator lesson
here soon.
Life is really good her on the island. We find out if one of us is leaving
on Friday. We hope that we get to
stay together for one more but we will see. I know that the church is true. And
that all of us are apart of something incredible. I know that God has an
individual plan for each of his children to return to him. I am learning that if
we think less about how things affect us and more about the people around us
that things get a little easier. It is easier said that done, but is true. I
have found that sharing the gospel becomes hard if you start to think about how
you are going to find more people to teach or how things are affecting you. And
it becomes a lot easier if you love the people around you and focus on how much
they need the gospel. I love you my dear family. I hope that you have a
wonderful week. As Sister Vaai always says, "God is soo good." Have a wonderful
Day.
Love Sister Abbey Lou Rushton
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