Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm………………… Where do I begin?

I sure do love being a missionary. There were so many crazy things this week but when I sit down to write, i cannot remember anything at all…… Let’s see.

I taught my first lesson in English. Yep, that’s right, in ENGLISH! The Elders gave us a reference of a young woman. When we walked up to the house a bunch of young girls ran out shouting our arrival. We met Yesenia. She is part of something like the Peace Corps and she wants to learn English. She already speaks very, very well, but she needs someone to practice with. At first, I felt a little bad, thinking that she just was interested in the chance to talk to a gringa, but we started to talk about the church and she was very interested as well. I felt so clumsy trying to teach in English, but the spirit was there. She surprised us both and asked what was required so that she can be baptized!!! What?! It was a miracle, but we will see what happens! She came to our English class on Friday too….

This Friday we had our Thanksgiving Multi-zone conference. It was amazing but really weird at the same time because, it was my last multi-zone conference….. AAAAAAAHHHHHH! But moving on, it was wonderful! We talked about some changes that we are making in the mission, new directives, and new goals. We watched the new Christmas initiative that the Church has put out #hanacidounsalvador and wow, it’s beautiful! You should all watch it! I felt the spirit so strongly! We also got our flu shots and celebrated an early thanksgiving! We even had a turkey lunch with cranberry sauce! So very delicious!

So on Monday we went to visit the sister that had told us she did not want to be baptized, and she had changed her mind. We visited her every day, praying with her, reading the Book of Mormon, and helping her to feel the spirit. We had everything ready for her baptism on Sunday. We left early on Saturday to go and buy the refreshments, we confirmed the talks and musical numbers and then we stopped by her house in the afternoon to give her some final moral support. But from the moment we walked into the house something was off, and we sat down to talk with her.

She did not want to get baptized….. She had just changed her mind and that was that. It was really disappointing, but I am glad that she was honest with us and that she shared her anxieties with us beforehand. She said that she still wants to come to church and keep learning, but that she was not ready to be baptized right now. So, we will keep working with her and we will see what the Lord has in store.

On a slightly happier note, we have been working with the son of our ward secretary who just turned nine and hasn’t been baptized yet. He is getting baptized on Saturday!! But his Dad is super busy with work and his calling so it has been really hard to find him and teach him. Yesterday we had to get permission to go to the Stake Center in Chalchuapa so that we could teach him while his dad was in a meeting. We talked about the first vision and the Restoration of the Gospel. It was such a beautiful lesson and it felt so good to be able to explain the gospel in such simple terms. The spirit was so strong and so beautiful!

Yesterday was third Sunday, and the missionaries were asked to give the talks. I was so nervous, in the past there has been a lot of tension between missionaries and members, and it’s all about a good presentation. I wrote my talk about three times and nothing felt right. Finally we were sitting there in church and I still had no idea what to do. I had written some final thoughts but nothing seemed right. For the Sacramental hymn we sang “I stand all amazed” and the spirit hit me so strong, saying “just bear your testimony about the atonement”. I stood up to speak and for the first time in my life, I totally gave an impromptu talk.

I don’t really remember all that I said, but I remembered the story of Alma, how his own experience with the atonement inspired him to share the gospel. How many of us have received a change of heart, have been born of God, and if we have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, can we feel so now? And what are we doing so that someone else can sing it too? I also spoke about the sacrament. How many of us partake of bread and water? And how many of us partake of innocent blood and broken flesh? I was afraid of being to direct, of offending someone, but then the spirit came to my mind and the words of Mormon inspired me. I told them that it is not my job to ask for references, or to ask them to leave and visit with us “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.” I am here to preach repentance, to invite others to come to Christ, not to give a pretty sermon about missionary work. I’m not here to talk about the work, but to do the work, and well, that’s what I am trying to do.

En fin, I think that it turned out okay. My comp said that the spirit was really strong, that’s good.

I sure love you all and I hope that you are never afraid to open your mouth and share your testimonies. Thank you for all your love and support.

Hoorah for Israel!

Love, Hermana Hipol!