Week 82.... Still, Small Voice!!!

A Day in the Life ...

This week was a great one for Elder Inman and I. We have been helping a lot of people who should be getting baptized here soon. 

This weekend we will be baptizing a lady named Clementina Molina. She has been a super awesome investigator. I actually found her with my last comp Elder Woods. It was kind of funny because we found her and she was super strong in her religion. We taught her a little bit and at the end of the lesson we invited her to go to church. She said she would go. So Elder Woods and made plans to look for her and take her to church. That first Sunday she went to church. After sacrament meeting she had to leave so we walked her out of the church and we began to ask her how she liked church, and how she felt. She then replied, “I thought it was super boring”. She didn’t like it at all. In her church they have musical instruments and sing, and she said she feels the spirit that way. Elder Woods and I looked at each other and were like... well here we go. We then began to explain to her that if she keeps coming she will feel better. That the Spirit speaks to us in a STILL SMALL VOICE. The spirit will not talk to us in a voice of thunder, but in a way that is super subtle. We told her we would be passing by her house in the next few days to explain more. After that lesson she has been progressing ever since. She has not missed a day of church. She has been reading and praying every night. 

One day Elder Inman and I went over to her house and she did not want to let us in. We insisted that it would just be a moment. She said that she had been having problems with her husband and that it was not a good time. I offered to just say a prayer. After a while of being insistent, she let us in to say a prayer. We gently walked in and we offered a heartfelt prayer. After the prayer we asked her how she felt. She began to open up a little to us. Apparently her husband is a drunk and has been using all their money to buy alcohol. She wants to kick him out of the house. All the stress and pain that her husband causes her has really affected her health. We began to teach a little bit about the importance of our message and how it could help her. You could see that her eyes lit up. She was at the point of breaking down. My comp then invited her to pray and ask if these things were true. We all knelt down and listened to her prayer. As she began to pray you could see that she really was praying from the heart. She humbly asked the Lord to show her if these things were true. After finishing her prayer we sat there in silence and listened to the promptings of the spirit. 

  

We sat there for over a minute as she sat and pondered what she was feeling. Finally after about 2 min. She broke the silence explaining to us what she had felt. She had felt a warm feeling come across her. She felt that all her pains and sorrows were lifted from her. We then went on to explain that those feelings came from the spirit. She knew without a doubt that these things were true. Clementina is a really awesome lady and she has made the decision to be baptized this Saturday. We are so happy for her and happy for what she has done.

In this moment right now, I have felt that I am doing what the Lord wants me to do. This has been the best time in my whole mission. I feel like I am getting the hang of the missionary work. It is funny, because a lot of Elders would tell me that it takes you 18 months to learn how to be a missionary and the last 6 months to apply it. I feel like I am in that application time. Obviously, I am not done learning, but I feel like I have never seen or ever been this happy in my whole mission. I love the work! I know that our Savior is at the head and He leads and guides this church.

Sister Balden

Week 81.... Feed My Sheep!!!

I have been able to learn so much this week. The highlight of the week was definitely when I listened to a talk given by Elder Holland.

It is titled “FEED MY SHEEP”. 

This talk was given to the Missionaries in the MTC. The whole week I was thinking of this talk. He tells of the story of Peter and Christ. After Christ’s death Peter does not know what to do. So what does he do? He goes back to doing what he knows best... Fishing... After a long night of fishing and catching nothing, Christ says cast the net on the right side of the boat. When they cast the nets on the right side of the boat, the nets begin to fill. They become so full that they can’t even pull the fish in. John says, knowing the man on the shore is Christ… "It is Him." 

Peter being a very valiant and brave, he jumps out of the boat and swims to shore. This is the part I love the most. Christ turns to Peter, looks Him in the eye and Says... “Peter, Do you love me?”

Peter responds “Yes.”

Christ then asks him again, “Peter do you love me?”

 “Yes Lord, I said I did” responds Peter.

 And the Third time Christ asks,

 “Peter, DO YOU LOVE ME!!!!”

“YES!” responds Peter. 

“THEN FEED MY SHEEP.” 

"Do You Love Me?" (click to watch clip)

 John 21: 15 - 17

15¶So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 

16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 

17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep  

I have been pondering this passage of scripture this whole week. I have realized that as missionaries, we are literally feeding Christ sheep. We are called to this work to bring back his lost sheep. There is no better work than the missionary work. I can say with no doubt in my Heart. YES, Lord, I Love thee. There is no other place I would rather be. There is no other work I would rather do.

We have a lot of people who are coming close to being baptized. Clementina, Nataly, Matias, and Maria. These are all people that have made the decision and they all have dates to be baptized on the 23^rd of April. These are some of Christ’s lost sheep and I hope and pray that we can bring back these lost sheep. 

For those who are preparing to serve a mission, I want you to know… keep going, keep preparing… because there is no greater work. I love this work and I know God guides us in this marvelous Work.

Things with my new companion, Elder Inman, have been so great. We get along really well. We work super great together as well. Our ideas we have, we are just able to bounce them back and forth... it has been awesome. 

Week 80..... TOMORROW!!!

General Conference April 2016

Conference Weekend is my favorite weekend of the whole year.... and this Conference did NOT disappoint!! 

I  have never been so spiritually uplifted in all my time here in the mission. 

I hope each of you were able to be spiritually uplifted this weekend just like I was. What a privilege we have to listen to Prophets and Apostles of our day, that literally speak the Word of God. This weekend I was spiritually edified and I was able to feast upon the words of the Prophets.

I want to share a few of the things I was able to learn as we were taught by these many wonderful men:

1. WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN

2. FAMILIES ARE FOREVER

3. TEMPLES

4. PRIESTHOOD ORDINANCES

5. MARRIAGE 

As each and every one of the speakers went up and gave their talks, I could feel the Holy Ghost penetrate my bones. I don’t know why but this Conference was different than any one I have ever experienced before. I don’t know if I was more in tune or what, but as each speaker went up, I felt chills run down my spine as they delivered the most powerful talks.  

Again, my favorite talk was given by the one and only Elder Holland. He never ceases to impress me. His talk entitled “Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders Among You” was one that has not left my mind since hearing it. His talk focused a lot on the Love that God has for us. He spoke of the dangers and scares we have of  TOMORROW; how life just keeps going. We live in a world of many afflictions, trials and pains. He said, “The first great commandment of God is to love God with all your heart, might mind and strength!" BUT THE FIRST GREAT TRUTH IS THAT GOD LOVES US WITH ALL HIS MIGHT!!!" As he said that, I couldn’t help but feel the love of My Heavenly Father.

It doesn’t matter what we may be facing, it doesn’t matter our imperfections; because despite our imperfections God loves us PERFECTLY!!! God will never desert us, He will always stand by us. 

Elder Holland said, "If we give our heart to God and do the best we can to live the Gospel, Tomorrow will be magnificent." 

Keep trying, Keep Loving. "Fear not, I will Help Thee" 

"His divine love will be with us… especially when we struggle."

Elder Holland final words were...... 

"SANCTIFY YOURSELF; FOR TOMORROW GOD WILL DO WONDERS." 

Click here: Elder Holland's Talk

I testify that God loves us perfectly and no matter what we face He will be there for us. Trust in Him and everything will be alright. 

This week has been a great one! My new comp is Elder Inman from Kaysville, Utah. 

I am excited to work with him and continue to bring back Christ’s lost sheep through baptism and repentance.

Week 79.... The Blessings of Baptism!!!

This week was one I will never forget. We were able to accomplish our goals and were able to see two baptisms this weekend. They were both super spiritual. We saw two great people make the greatest decision they have ever made. Their baptisms were super special. We were able to bring two families together, which made it that much more special.

Gabriel is the coolest little kid I have ever met. He is 12 years old. I think he is the smartest little kid. He comes from a really poor background. His mom and dad are really struggling financially and it is sad to see their conditions. Gabriel’s mom, Marcela, got baptized about 8 years ago, but has not gone to church for about 5 or 6 years. We found Gabriel four weeks ago, and from day one he has been ready. We started teaching him and I have never seen a kid so ready. Everything we taught him, he would understand. We taught the commandments and he knew them by memory. The first time we met him, we made a baptismal date with him, and from that moment I have never seen that kid look back.

He was determined to be baptized. He has been reading the scriptures a ton and has found a lot of comfort in reading. It was awesome to see his conversion and see how this great kid could make a huge change. He is now leading his family and making them do reading as a family. He has gotten involved with the youth and now has many friends. I know he will serve a mission. He is the best little kid. 

Daniela was a miracle. She was the lady that had her interview done and she was ready. Daniela has been listening to the missionaries for a while. Her mom got baptized about 6 months ago. Daniela was never really interested. As we taught her, we thought she wasn’t progressing very much. She never really answered the questions we asked. She was very timid. Finally we did the interview thinking we would do it so we could get to know what she needed. She then told the Elder that she had been doing everything in secret. She had been reading and praying. She had received her answer. After that interview she has been nonstop talking about the Church. She impresses me so much to see her huge change. She had many changes to make, but after she had her answer she did everything because she loved God. Her baptism was really spiritual. Her mom was able to give one of the talks in her baptismal service. She got up there and began to bare her testimony. She was so grateful for her daughter and her decision to join the church. Her eyes began to fill with tears. The whole room was moved by the power of the spirit felt in that room. I looked at Daniela and I could see the light begin to beam from her eyes. 

I love to see the changes that the new converts make. Their eyes glow as they begin to see the light. She is a great convert and will continue on strong.

It was an amazing week and we were able to see many miracles. We know God has blessed us so much and also these two amazing people. Every baptism is a miracle and with each one, we see them gain that light and the happiness.

Alma 36: 24:

24 Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance ; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

I have seen and experienced this joy. There is no other thing that I would rather do than to help my brother and sisters in Chile come and experience this joy. I love being a missionary. For those who are about to serve, or are serving; just know there in no greater joy than that of missionary work. Ya, it has been hard, it is not easy... but it is all worth it. 

I love being here and I love my Savior. 

I know this Church is true and this truth brings HAPPINESS AND JOY.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Week 78.... Interviews and Oceans!!!

P-Day at the beach

 Elder Woods  will be finishing here in a week, so we have been working super hard so that he can finish with baptisms. We started off the week having a lot of people who were progressing, but not a lot were too sure if they wanted to be baptized quite yet. We had our minds focused on a few people. Mainly Daniela and Gabriel. These 2 were definitely the closest to making the decision. We did everything in our power to help them prepare. 

On Thursday we went over to visit Daniela. This was going to be the visit where we asked her if she was going to do it or no. She has always said that she was going to do it but needed more time. She didn’t feel too ready and felt as if she was getting pressured. She was scared to live the commandments after her baptism. So, Elder Woods and I go into this lesson knowing that it will be crucial. We decide to go and ask her a bunch of questions to see if she is ready. As we ask them, her answers were awful. We began to talk about things that didn’t even matter. She had doubts that would pop out of nowhere. She would ask things about the Bible and about Adam and Eve. As we got further along in the lesson, it was getting clearer to us that she was not ready. She was not taking these steps seriously and that she didn’t want to do the things she needed to be doing. As we left the lesson we told her that a missionary was going to come over Saturday to do the interview and see if she was ready. She agreed to let him come over and meet with her. As we left the house Elder Woods and I looked at each other and felt very discouraged. We felt we had done everything for her. We felt that all our hard work had been for nothing. We just sat there and said how can this be? But after a second of sadness we looked at each other and said I don’t care what happens… she will be baptized. 

Saturday finally came around. We met up with the missionary that was going to do the interview for Daniela. Elder Woods went with him and I went with his comp. For the next hour and a half Elder Page and I walked around contacting and trying to find people. My mind was focused on what could be happening in that interview. I was so nervous about what was going to be done. After about an hour and a half I get a call from Elder Woods and says we need to meet up at this certain place to switch back. His voice sounded kind of sad. My heart dropped knowing this was going to be bad news. As we made the walk to where they were, only negative thoughts entered my mind. As we finally met up with them the look on their faces told me that she didn’t pass. Elder Diaz, the one who did the interview, went on to tell me that she doesn’t want to get baptized. She is going to move in with her boyfriend and doesn’t want to listen to us anymore. He said that in the interview she felt too pressured by Elder Boyer....... I began to feel the shame. My heart sunk... then all of a sudden Elder Woods and Elder Diaz yelled in unison: SHES GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!! 

WHAT?? NO WAY?? SHE PASSED HER INTERVIEW???? Daniela had passed her interview. She had been so ready for baptism. She had been secretly reading and praying and she has always wanted to get baptized, her only fear was getting in the water. She had never told us that. When Elder Diaz began to talk to her, apparently she opened up to him.  So we announced her date in church and she will be getting baptized on Saturday the 26 along with Gabriel. 

We are so happy it is going to be a great way to end Elder Woods mission. We are both so happy and we know the Lord had provided for us.

 I love to see the changes that people make in their lives. The mission is amazing!!

Lomas Coloradas Beach...

Week 77.... NO LIMITS!!!

Things are going great here in Chile. I am just continuing to learn and grow each day. It is amazing to see how as we put our trust in God we learn and see things that we would have never seen. The mission is the best place to change. I feel like as I have prayed to become closer to Christ, I have been put in places of trial, and I have been put in places of discomfort so that I have opportunities to change and grow. I love it so much.

 This week I was able to learn a ton. I feel like I keep saying the same thing. But it so true. This week I was able to do some mini- transfers and I got to know some new missionaries. I always love working with the new missionaries because they come in with so much faith. Whereas with us missionaries that have been here for a while, we kind of set limits and our faith has a limit. The newbies always teach me limitless faith. And that is how I feel like each one of us should be. I always ask myself.... 

"WHAT WOULD I DO IF I HAD NO LIMITS?"

 When I answer that, then I ask myself..

 "WHY AM I NOT ACCOMPLISHING MY GOAL??"

 I am usually not accomplishing my goal because of fear or maybe even lack of faith. But being with missionaries who don’t know better, they have no fear and they just want to baptize millions… and I love it. 

Also, this week we were able to see a lot of opportunities for growth. Elder Woods and I have been working so hard at finding tons of people to teach. I have never worked this hard. I have seen so many miracles. I could literally write all day about the miracles we have seen. But we have so many great investigators and I love seeing them coming and participating in the repentance process. It makes me so happy to see them leave the darkness of their lives before, and spring into the light of this gospel. 

This week we were faced with a big challenge. We had a Stake Conference, and the stake center is a place about 30 minutes away, and no one in our sector as far as investigators have cars. So the whole week we were thinking about how were going to get the people to the Conference. We decided to go out of our comfort zone. We decided to rent a bus. And on Sunday, we went around and picked each one of our investigators up. There were a lot of people that came and it was awesome to see how much they loved the Conference.

 The Sabbath Is a Delight: Elder Nelson (click to watch)

The Conference was given by Elder Nelson. It was given to all the stakes in all of Chile. They have been really focused here on making the Sabbath Day a delight. So each talk  was given on that theme. One of my favorite parts was when Elder Soares of the 70 started talking about LOVE and showed us how Christ loved us. I know I talk about love a lot, but it is a characteristic that I have been thrilled about. I have seen that love is the changer. Everything done with love is better. If there is no love, it will not be successful.

I LOVE TO LOVE!!! 

He went on to share this scripture:

Luke 7: 36-50

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 

 I hope each of you can read these scriptures; it helps me so much to see the example of our Savior. He accepted people even when they were making mistakes. Many times in our lives we will be asked to love people even when they are not perfect. No one is perfect. But there is no greater love than loving thy enemy and giving thy life for someone else. 

I know that as we develop the pure love of Christ, and just as CHRIST LOVED THE SINNERS but not the sin, we will feel HIS LOVE. We will grow to be just like Him!!

Week 76.... The (Chilean) Title of Liberty!!!

San Pedro Zone Conference

We had some great experiences this week. I feel like this point in my mission has been one of the biggest growing moments. I have felt that in these last few weeks I have learned things that I thought I would never learn. I have seen and done things that I never thought I could do. I have never been so happy. I have never had so much fun. This sector has been my growing sector. For a long time I  felt that I had hit a plateau and that I could not increase. Getting here in this new environment, and getting to know the people I now know has increased my learning and growth beyond my limits. I truly feel like, at this point in my mission, everything is clicking. It is amazing to see the growth I am having. I love it so much.

Over this last week Elder Woods and I had many spiritual experiences. One of which happened in our Zone Conference on Tuesday. We had been thinking for a long time how we could animate the missionaries. We decided after reading the story of Moroni and the title of liberty, to make our own TITLE OF LIBERTY… but CHILEAN STYLE: 

Alma 46: 12

12And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it— In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

Alma 46: 20

20Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.

So what we did was we brought in a Chilean flag with the words "In Memory of our God, our religion, our freedom, our peace, our sectors, our zone, and our mission." 

We read each one of these scriptures and asked each mission to come up and sign the flag symbolizing they were making a covenant with God. That if they made this covenant, God would bless them in their work and in the sectors. 

As we testified, the Spirit filled the room. We were in silence as each missionary came up and signed the flag. We could finally understand what it was like for Moroni, and what it was like for those people. 

We know God will bless us if we put Him first. If we give up our desires… HE WILL BLESS US!!