Monday, July 25, 2011

Jamaica, Jamaica



Date: July 25, 2011
Area: Jamaica, Queens

Companion - Sister Alavardo


Dear Family!

This week was FANTASTIC! Alright so...Where to start. alright so this week we were able to meet with Jose Martinez (our progressing investigator) for a family home evening. We went to Hermana Alarcon's house and so her along with another member named Anna were present. We were able to teach him El Evangelio de Jesucristo. (The Gospel of Jesus Christ) It really helped to be able to have another member there to add an additional testimony. We were able to explain to him that he can be the pioneer of his family to join the church and that he is setting such a wonderful example to his family. He really enjoyed having family home evening and was super excited to meet with us again, and to further progress towards baptism.



We have been able to do a lot of tracting/finding. We found two new investigators whose name were both Jose! So we now have THREE investigators named Jose! ( So sometimes we like to sing..."Jose,Jose,Jose..." haha) anyways We were able to meet with Melbyn our investigator whom we contacted on the street about 2 weeks ago. When we got to his house one by one 3 other men came down the stairs. Melbyn then informed us that His brother Dalin (22 Years old), along with his Cousin Alex (16 years old) and cousin Delbyn (22 years old) all wanted to hear our message. He loved our message last time and now had the desire to share it with his family. Man! I was just overwhelmed with Joy! We now had 3 new investigators with the blink of an eye :) We taught them the restoration and they loved it! We gave them the Book of Mormon and assigned them some homework that they could all do together. They were really excited about our message and we have another "cita" appointment with all 4 of them this Friday! I am so excited!




On Saturday we had an appointment with a man named Victor. He was a referral that a member gave us (Guido Gallardo - aka funniest guy alive). So we went to his house and taught him the restoration. He informed us that he was Catholic but that he wanted to know more. During the lesson we found out that half of his family (his mothers side) were all pretty much Mormon. He was really attentive during the lesson and had a lot of good questions. We invited him to church on Sunday and he said that he would love to come!




So then we had an appointment with Jose again, where we were going to teach him the word of Wisdom. We were rushing to go and meet our member who was going to accompany us during his lesson. Right when we got there we recieved a phone call from Jose telling us that he was going to cancel. Ah I felt my heart sink to my stomach. We then began plan B and were going to catch a bus to go and teach some potentionals. Right before we got on the bus Jose called us back and said that we could come over and that he was available now :)




I wanted to shout for joy :) Ok so we went over to Jose's house and taught him the word of Wisdom. We had him make a list of things that we should intake and things that we should not intake (aka foods, drinks, etc...) He was SO excited to know that there was a church out there that believed in keeping our bodies healthy. We also read with him in the Doctrine and Covenants 89 about the blessings that the lord promises us when we obey the word of Wisdom. (For when the lord gives us a commandment he always gives us the strength to follow it and always promises a blessing) He was So excited!




After this we reviewed with him the questions that he was going to be asked to be baptized! I was filled with joy from head to toe when he responded YES! to knowing that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was true, and that the prophet Joseph Smith was true! When we asked him what it meant to him to have a living prophet on the earth today this was his response. "It is a blessing really"! He knows so much and has such a high level of understanding. We go to teach him, but half the time he ends up teaching us! He has such a desire to do what is right.




The next day he informed us that he went into work to tell his boss that he will NO longer be working on Sundays. He understands the inportance of keeping the sabbath Day holy.




Saturday we contacted this cute little guy from Honduras who was selling (shiskabobs) I dont know how you spell but anyways he said, " Why dont you guys write down my name, number and address, I would love to hear more about the word of God." HA ok you bet we will! Made our job easy :) So on Sunday we called him to invite him to church! He said that he would love to come! To we waited for Pedro on Jamaica Street. And there he was in his shorts, blue polo t shirt and a ball cap! ha He was all smiles and just happy as can be! He came to church and was attentive throughout the entire thing! He even came to gospel principles! He had to leave early to go and visit a relative in the hospital. But I know that he felt the spirit and wanted to come back next week :)



Speaking of Sacrament meeting the Temple Presidency came and spoke to us :) It was really really neat! They spoke to us about the importance of making sure that we ALWAYS have a temple recommend and that we never let it expire and that we are attending the temple as often as we can. I can't wait till I get to go to the temple at my half way mark :)



“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. ( Mosiah 24:11)



I love this scripture! We have trials in our lives for a reason, and I love knowing that our Heavenly Father is in charge. And most of the time he does not take the burden away, however he does give us the strength to get through it. And that is all that matters!



I love this gospel! I love NY! And I love you family! Can't wait to hear from you next week!



Love,
Hermana Gray

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