Week 57 - "We walked away, energized with the power of the Spirit in our veins and smiling like we had just been given the biggest birthday surprise of our lives. It was incredible how the Lord inconspicuously directed us specifically to that house, to that man, in that same moment."

September 3, 2014

from the top of Santa Lucia

The world is so messed up. I don't know if you noticed, but this week was somewhat of an eyeopener. It is incredible the influence of Satan on the minds of the people. We contacted a man the other day who asked us where is God if there is so much evil in the world. It got me thinking a bit because I have wondered the same thing at times. How can there be so much bad in the world if a Being like God exists? But then I realized that it isn't God at all.

Surprise!

The people, like the Israelites in the Old Testament, are corrupting themselves. Does Satan exist? Of course. Is he powerful? Yes. His power and influence are very real. But because God knew he is influential, He gave us the power to choose. Maybe the devil has lots of fun, diverting things to offer.

Maybe his reign is growing and the quanitity of his followers is growing every day. But is that God's fault? No. He instructs us, he guides us and he directs us daily to avoid the things that lead to destruction. He wants the complete opposite of the worldly happiness for us. He desires us to find the things in the world that lead to eternal joy and peace. But He cannot force us. He can't tell us what to do or when to do it and make us do it. He is more powerful than Satan, but they both have the same ability for influence. It is our choice and our responsibility to follow Him and fulfill our part in order to gain the true and everlasting happiness. Sorry, rant overwith, I will move on to a different topic.

Tomando Mate B)

Hmm. This week was a long one. Nothing new has occured, we're still contacting and working hard to find people. Seems that the weather with the rain and cold is effecting everything. The people mainly. The people here in this sector are especially hard-hearted. We yell to their houses and they don't care to open the door. I know that God has people prepared and we will find them in the areas we are least expecting. For instance, last night. We were

wandering around the dark streets. There isn't a lot of life after 8 in

the night. Everybody is living their lives and cooped up inside to hide from the cold. We walked around for a good 25 minutes trying to decide which street would be best to contact. Hermana Reyes is really very incredible in finding people. She stopped randomly in front of a (I pre-judged, I know. I already repented) large, spacious and beautiful home. The garden in front was trimmed, the outside of the home well-kempt. It was a very nice place. And usually the type of people that live in them don't even open their doors. But this one was different. We yelled and a man with 40ish years opens the door. He comes out smoking, which is always fun. He had the courtesy to fling it away when we started talking to him. His name is Raul, he has 2 daughters and is married with a job. He told us a bit more of himself, then the cool part happened. The Spirit opened his heart and his mouth. He started to

The two of us!

tell us from what I could tell a somewhat personal story. He had been in a coma because he had overstressed himself from work and everything he was doing. He had almost died, but came back. He was in a physical therapy hospital because he forgot everything, then one day, he prayed to be able to be healed and to leave to find his family. And there he was in front of us, fit as a fiddle. Hermana Reyes gave him a Book of Mormon after explaining that it is another testament of Christ and that it is also the word of God. He told us God presents Himself in miraculous ways and supposed that maybe we were sent to him for a reason. He accepted it, told us that he may go to church on Sunday and that he was going to talk with the rest of his family to fix a time we can pass by to teach. Wha -? We walked away, energized with the power of the Spirit in our veins and smiling like we had just been given the biggest birthday surprise of our lives. It was incredible how the Lord inconspicuously directed us specifically to that house, to that man, in that same moment. I know that the Lord guides our work. Because if He didn't and we did, nothing would happen. God is all-powerful. He is wise and perfect and He loves us. I know that this is His work and His church. He helps us when we strive to help others. 

I love you and hope your week is full of miracles!

Hermana Castleton