Can I just
say HOW excited I am that Christmas is nearly here!?!?! Most of you are about
to have your Christmas break, with time to spend with your family and friends!
So fun! This week we want to do all sorts of things as a district … go
caroling, bake Christmas cookies for our friends and members here, little acts
of extra special and spontaneous service and, of course … tell everyone about
why we celebrate Christmas while we teach them even more about Christ. I CANNOT
WAIT!
I truly love
and admire my new companion Hermana Worthington. She is adjusting so well and
is just on fire and incredible. She has such a bright light about her and is
always smiling! Even though at this time she is struggling with the language,
she keeps pressing forward. She is a breath of fresh air to the Bilbao Zone! I
love new missionaries (even though I still feel like I just got here myself
after 7 months). She works so hard and is just a little ball of fun! I´m
excited to see what these next 11 weeks have in store!
Some of the
people we are working with are progressing so well, especially Mayra and Alex!
They BOTH were in church on Sunday! Mayra is 19 and is from Columbia and Alex
is 20 from Bolivia. It´s fun working with them because I feel like we are able
to relate to them, and we have all become great friends. Everyone in the ward
is so loving and supportive. They have taken these two in under their wing, and
have been there for them, in the good times and the harder ones.
The Victoria
and Bilbao Zones had Zone Conference with President and Hermana Pace this past
Friday. I love them so much and I could never thank them enough for all they
are doing. They work so hard and they are exhausted at times. They have the gas
pedal ALL the way down, and they inspire me as they continue to give their all
for US and for the LORD. On Saturday, there was a beautiful baptismal service
of a 19 year old girl within our zone. We were able to go, and Alex came with
us and loved it! After the service, President Pace talked with Alex and us for
about 45 minutes. The Spirit was so strong, and I know Alex felt it. President
Pace talked about the importance of prayer and scripture study and going to
church. He told him that these seem like simple, basic things that we can brush
off, especially when we are busy, and put them into the "if I have
time" pile, when instead many of the other things we do should be in that
pile. That really hit Alex, and I think he is really starting to realize how
important it is and that, when he prays, God WILL answer his prayers. Alex is
stressed out with college exams this week, so please keep him in your prayers!
I know that when we put God first, everything falls into place, and it´s no coincidence.
We talk to
many people here, all day every day, but last week I realized once again, why I
am here. Throughout Saturday evening, we talked with a woman who was shocked
and touched to believe that God really did love her and know her personally as
His precious daughter. Then we talked with a different woman who we found
crying on a bench, who just needed a hug and to know that God is aware of her
and is there for her; and later we talked with a man who was happy to hear
about our message of Christmas!
We had a
conversation with one man named Rafael, however, that I will never forget. We
were on our way home, it was cold and wet, and we were about to turn in for the
night when a man stopped and stared at us. He began reading our chapas
(nametags) and asked if we are students studying abroad. We began to explain to
him that we are actually missionaries for our church, The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He took a step back, confused, and asked.
"Really? If you don´t mind me asking, how old are you two?" We told
him that we were 19 and 20 years old. At this, he chuckled and asked,
"Then what are you doing? You are two very young, pretty and smart girls …
why aren´t you out living your life, dating, studying, and preparing for and
starting your careers and lives? You are losing and wasting your time!!" I
simply smiled and said, "This is the best thing I could be doing right
now. This experience is only a short one, and it is preparing me more and
better than anything else could. I wouldn´t trade these moments for anything."
He still didn´t seem convinced. He began asking who made us come here, and how
much they were paying us to spread our message. Once again I smiled and said,
"You want to know the truth?" At this his face changed, hoping to
hear something of that sort. I went on to say "This is voluntary. I chose
to come here, because I wanted to come; because I know it´s true. I KNOW it is
true. This gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ, has been the GREATEST blessing
in my entire life, and ALL I want to do at this moment in my life is to share
it with others … to show people hope and TRUE joy, and how they are sons and
daughter of an Almighty God that loves them so much. This experience is
preparing me for the rest of my life and is training for me as I strive to
learn and become the best daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, student, etc.
I could ever be. I am living my life like this now, so that I can have this
same happiness throughout the eternities. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior
and through Him we can be made strong and be happy forever." He was
completely caught off guard, and didn´t really have anything else to say. He
took our card and walked away. I don´t know if I will ever see Rafael again,
but it was in that moment, like many others before, that I knew why I am here.
I love this gospel, and I invite you ALL to discover this Christmas, what is
the best thing you could be doing? What are the most important things to you, and
what goals have you set or should you set to change your priorities? This is
the perfect time to start fresh with a clean slate. The New Year is also coming
up … what are you going to REALLY change? Make goals, and reach for them and
achieve them. With God, ALL things are possible.
I love you,
and just want you to be everything you were BORN to be. I believe in you, and
so does your Father in Heaven. GO FOR IT! No regrets!
Les quiero,
Hermana
Lydia Pamela Vance
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