Hola!
Okay, we don´t have a pet, but we have a stray dog that has
stolen our hearts and followed us around for an entire day. It has a broken leg
and is the skinniest dog I have ever seen. We fed it some food (he loves pizza)
and then he decided it wanted to be a missionary as well. It would wait outside
of people´s houses and then continue with us, always following right behind. We
now keep a little bowl of water outside our casa incase it comes and needs a
drink. Anyway, this week was the most special week in my whole entire life I
think. So on MOnday at a family night, we watched the movie about Thomas S.
Monson with Mauricio at Miriam´s house. After the movie, he turned to us and
said, ¨"I need to get baptized earlier, on Friday!"Of course, we had no
problem with that. Then, on Wednesday night at the chapel before his baptismal
interview with our district leader, we were trying to solidify a time that
could work for our bishop and ward mission leader to be at the baptism, and
Mauricio said, "Can I just get baptized tomorrow?!" So, Wednesday
night our ward mission leader was an angel and planned a baptismal service, we
called almost every member to invtie them, and somehow with divine help it all
came together. Hermana Chant and I had been praciticing to sing "O mi
Padre" to the tune of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." As
the service began, he just kept telling us how excited he was to be able to be
a part of the true church. He told us how he had been praying before he met us
that he would find a way to become closer to God. He told us that when we met
on the bus and we told him we were missionaries, he felt something different in
his heart and heknew Heavenly Father had answered his prayer. He was just
glowing at his service. As
we sang, of
course the Hall crying genes I inherited from my mother kicked in, and the
fourth verse was a struggle. As we sang, "Padre, Madre, quiero veros en la
corte celestial.. Si, despues yo acaba cuanto tenga que cumplir, permitid me ir
al cielo con vosotros a vivir," my heart literally swelled up and it just
hit me so strongly how this precious son of our Heavenly Father can now return
to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father. My favorite line of that hymn
is the end, when in english it translates to "allow me to go to Heaven to
live with you." Mauricio can do that now. He was baptized exactly 2 weeks
after we met him and had our first lesson. The Lord´s hand is so prominent and
visible in our lives, we just have to recognize how close he truly is. My
testimony of hearts being prepared by angels was so strengthened by our
experience with Mauricio. The very next day after his baptism, he came with us
to visit and teach and again on Sunday. He told us he is going to convert all
of his family, friends, and then all of El Salvador! He even brought a friend
to church, who is now extremely interested in the church. Mauricio is
recieveing the priesthood next Sunday and is going to bless the sacrament. How
incredible this work is. Miracles happen and my heart is just full of gratitude
that I got to be a witness to the reality of how the Gospel changes lives. He
told us we saved his life, but I know we were just instruments for the Lord´s
love to shine thorugh and touch his already prepared heart.
Oscar, an old investigator that we are re-visiting, told us
that one day he was feeling really alone and down, and felt like he should read
the Book of Mormon (this was during the time that missionaries hadn´t since him
for a long time). He told us that as he read, he came across a scripture that
touched him and lifted his spirits, and he no longer felt the sadness he felt
before. It´s incredible the Book of Mormon´s ability to reach out to each of us
and console our personal, unique needs. The Book of Mormon gives us a deeper
understanding of the Savior´s atonement for every single one of us. I love how
the Savior suffered for the entire world, taking upon Him our trangressions and
afflicitions, yet He can be so personal for each of us. He is my Savior and my
Redeemer. Ah! A miracle occurred at church yesterday! Hermana MIriam, who never
comes to church when it rains, came! She even went to the temple prep class and
stayed for all three hours! She is now working towards being able to go to the
temple. I can´t wait for that day.
I accidentally told a little girl my real name, ooops. We
were visitng a menos activo and her daughter, and her daughter´s friend told me
her name was Allison, which isn´t too common of a name here, and before I could
stop the words from coming out of my mouth, I said, "Oh, that´s my name
too!" Then I realized 1)My name right is Hermana Haynie and 2)How strange
it felt to say my name was Allison because it really doens´t feel like it right
now. Allison or Ally just sounds bizarre. Definitely going to take some time to
get used to being that again after my mission. The people here always laugh as
they try to pronounce Haynie. If only I had a more Latin last name!
I love this work. I love being able to do my best to take
care of this little part of the Lord´s vineyard here in Girasoles. I never want
to leave! The people are so dear to me and have so much love for us. As
imperfect as I am, I know the Lord is helping me to overcome my weaknesses and
I am trying to give all of myself to Him so that He can make of me what He needs
to.
All the love in my heart goes out to all of you!
Hermanita Haynie
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