August 8, 2016 - True Conversion

Hermanas Keith and Allan

Intercambio with Hermana Gubler

Hello everyone! What a very interesting week it has been! On Wednesday we had MLC with all the leaders of the mission and yet again it was so amazing! The spirit was so strong and we left so edified and inspired. It was incredible. We talked a lot about becoming like Christ and purifying our hearts so that we can better help those around us. I know when we become more like Him and follow in His footsteps, we will be better positioned to lend a helping hand because we will be able to love them and see them as He sees them. MLC is the most wonderful experience in the world and I'm so grateful I get to be a part of it! :)

We had quite a lot of things fall through this week, so many times we were just left walking left and right all over Guayama, but in the end we ended up seeing so many miracles! We had three investigators show up at church and two of them we didn't think would come! It was super exciting to see them there!  And M. was there too, and he even had a white shirt on! He's basically already a member. :) He's super prepared and perfectly ready for his baptism on the 20th. Unfortunately, Victor didn't want to be baptized this Saturday, so it didn't happen, but he loves the gospel and just wanted a little bit more time, so I know he'll continue in the states and hopefully he'll be baptized over there.

Also, we had one investigator that we had an appointment with but our plans before that fell through and we felt like we needed to go to this investigator earlier. So we did, and turns out her husband had just got home and was about to leave again, but we were able to teach both of them and her husband had a ton of questions! He's been really hurt by some people in his life and has been searching for some answers and some peace and the Lord guided us there right at that moment to be able to lead him to the source of truth and help him with what he's struggling with. It was an incredible experience. We'll be passing by again tomorrow and hopefully they'll find what they're looking for and come unto Christ.

So, it's kind of funny that Elder Allan shared the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis because that's what I was going to share today. :) I was studying that story this week and learned so much from it. It's incredible that they had that faith to bury all of their weapons of war and just lay themselves down in front of their enemies to be killed. It shows how strong their conversion truly was. Their hearts were completely changed and converted to doing good and following Christ and they turned away from the very thought of doing evil and fighting their enemies even in defense of themselves! It just makes me wonder, How converted are we? Have we buried all of our "weapons of war" and are completely dedicated and converted to following the Savior at all times? If we give our all to the Lord and leave behind any and all resistance, that's when we become instruments in His hands. That's when we become example to others so that they may be able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just like the death of these Anti-Nephi-Lehis brought the conversion of thousands of Lamanites, we too can help bring others to Christ through our own personal dedication to the Lord and His teachings. I just love this story so much and am in awe of all they did. I hope I can become like them and have that incredible, unwavering faith and complete conversion to the Lord.

I love you all so much!!!!!!! Thank you for everything! And CONGRATULATIONS mom on finishing school!!! You're such a wonderful example to me and I love you so much! Good luck with school Heidi and Amelia! And thanks Dad for your love and example to me! I love you all so much and I hope you know that and never forget it. Love you!

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~Hermana Allan