Hector y Patty :) we have fun weekly planning
Dear family,
I am just filled with gratitude and JOY because of the experiences that I have on a daily basis, but especially lately. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. He is merciful, he is good, and he loves us more than we can even imagine. I hope you were all able to feel of that love this week and thank him for everything that he has given you! I'm sorry I wasn't able to write last week! I will do my best to catch you up on what's going on.
So we have been working really closely with a family, Hector and Patty and their children and grandchildren, who are going through some extreme financial problems and can't pay tithing, otherwise they are progressing flawlessly and desire more than anything to be baptized into our church. The way we met them was pretty miraculous, and it seems like Heavenly Father is really reaching out to them in obvious ways. With this in mind, my companion and I have spent at least 6 hours this month planning for them together and trying to plan lessons perfectly to help them have more faith. On top of that, we have made it a priority to really pray with faith on their behalf, and fast for them too. I feel as if I have put most, if not all, my spiritual energy toward them and to be able to understand Heavenly Father's will for them as far as their lessons and commitments go.
Last week, we felt inspired to teach them about the eternal blessings of the temple and obedience to the commandments that is required to obtain those blessings. It was a beautiful lesson, and they said that they wanted to make the temple their goal as a family. So we promised we would get them a picture of a temple to remind them every day what to work toward.
Well, we didn't see them at all the rest of the week. When we came by for our next lesson, they told us that they were busy with family in town. When we called them a couple days later to see how they were doing, they told us that the hail (yes, we had ping-pong ball-sized hail this week in 102 degree weather) had completely destroyed the roof of their house, and they wouldn't be able to take the lessons until they figured all of their finances out. They were also staying at the hotel because of the situation with the house. At this point, my companion and I were crushed and really discouraged.
A couple days later on Saturday, we were desperate to have some sort of contact with them, but we didn't want to bother them or stress them out more than they already were, so we decided (or were prompted) to drop off a picture of the Gila Valley Temple on their door with a note and a scripture. We also decided this Sunday to do a special 36 hour fast for them in hopes that something miraculous happens to strengthen their faith despite their new financial problems. Well, the next day in Sacrament meeting, we pulled them aside and explained that this Sunday was special and will be a time of fasting and sharing testimonies. We told them that they were both welcome to participate and share their testimonies too if they felt inspired. Halfway through the meeting, I noticed Hector getting restless in his seat, then he got up and started sharing his experience with the missionaries knocking on his door and just feeling drawn to them for some reason. After a while (he talks ALOT), he started sharing an experience that he had had the night before after he received the picture of the temple. He said that he had a dream, that the Angel Moroni on the top of the temple was talking with him and asking him to come inside and that he had something very special to tell him. He was there with all of his family, and was happy to go into the temple and see what was inside. After he told about his dream, he told the whole congregation that he knows that this is the true Church of Christ, and that he can't wait for the day when he and his wife will be able to enter into the temple and receive those special blessings. My companion and I just cried the whole time.
We had a lesson with them after church, and they will be getting baptized on the 18th of July! What a miracle.
Fasting works, prayer works! It is all real and so powerful! Please take some time this week to thank Heavenly Father for his tender mercies. Please pray to see miracles! They will come in abundance!
Love, Hermana Townley
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