Monday, February 23, 2009

Rita, Maria, and the familia Suazo

Okay, I want to tell about a few things that have been special to me lately.

First of all, Rita. She´s really amazing, and is doing so well. We had the FHE last week and it was perfect for her and her 8 year old daughter that will be baptized with her. I´m so grateful for the members that help the mission work, and especially this family. Rita has been struggling with depression, and she told us that just the day before we taught her for the first time she and her husband were talking about getting a divorce. She was really struggling, but she told us that since we´ve came there has been a peace in her house, that she is content and happy and things are good with her family. She calls us her ¨angels¨ but the thing is, its nothing that we´ve done, it´s what SHE has done, she prays everyday and strives to understand the Book of Mormon. She´s invited the Savior in her life and he has made changes and helped her to be happy! I am very content to see her and see her and her relaionship with the Savior grow.

I don´t know if I´ve talked about Maria Nohemi yet, but she is another lady we´re teaching, she´s really old and about 150 terrible health problems. She has (I don´t remember what it´s called) I think a colonoscopy or something which makes things difficult, terrible arthritis, psoriasis( I can´t spell that) all over her body, is really overweight and can´t hardly walk, but does with a cane. Also, she lives alone and doesn´t have any family to care for her. That´s just the surface of it all. But long story short, she has an incredible desire know Heavenly Father and Jesus better and to better herself. Even though it´s hard she´s come to church with us the last two weeks with the help of members to take her. But her problems would be reason enough for anyone else to not go to church. Her faith is incredible. The other day we were with her and at the end of the lesson, my comp asked her if she felt up to say a kneeling prayer, I thought for sure no, but she told us it was no problem and that she wanted to. I was a little worried, but she knelt down anyway and said a prayer. When it was over, she couldn´t get back up. It was terrifying! We were trying to help her, and she was exhorting every bit of strength she could. Hna Alv and I were nearly in tears to see her struggle and we felt really guilty... But when she got up, she just wanted to lay down on her bed for a minute. As she laid there we talked with her a little bit and asked her what her favorite food is, the most tastiest food she could think of. She thought for a long time and finally she told us what sounded the best to her. Pizza. Haha. It was so precious to hear her after thinking it out so long to tell us she wanted pizza. We brought some to her the next day and hope she can forgive us for putting her though that physical struggle. But I know she will be blessed. She tells us that she feels happier to have Heavenly Father be more a part of her life and wants to get baptized. I think she´s 80. I´m really excited for her.

One more thing I want to share... There are some advantages with living with two other Hermanas. Together we are team teaching a couple people and one family in particualr. The familia Suazo. The mom and dad aren´t married because the mom is still married to another guy, but he wont let her get a divorce. They have 3 little kids and they are being prepared for baptism, but everytime we go to teach, the whole family listens which is really great to have the support of the parents because usually we don´t have the support of BOTH parents. They are really interested and always have good questions. This family never really prayed, not even in their personal prayers, but they´ve been taught how and the importancia of prayers and are really trying to say their prayers as a family. The other day we taught a lesson and at the end, we asked the dad, Omar; to give a prayer. The whole family knelt down and the mom passed the book of mormon over to him because we always write the steps of the prayer in the back. But she she passed it over, Omar kind of patted it down like ¨I don´t need this anymore¨ and proceeded to say a prayer. What a special experience. I have never heard anyone give a more humble prayer. Omar really was talking with Heavenly Father. He understood his relationship with him and was trying to express his love for him, and his family. I peaked a little bit and noticed him using his hands as if he was having a conversation with someone and wanted them to understand. This experience and a few others that I´ve had with complete families praying is so incredible. I don´t think there is anything more beautiful than a family praying together.

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