Hola!
Most importantly.... J---- GOT BAPTIZED!!! He was also baptized with one of the elder’s investigators in the same ward. So F----- was also baptized! I didn't teach F----- but we got to know him pretty well, so the double baptism was awesome! They both bore their testimonies after and it was really neat. J----- talked about all the support he had received and said, "Thanks Hermana K---- and Hermana Sullivan, you were fundamental." I was so happy, and he had the biggest smile. At the baptism there were 69 people, 12 of which were missionaries, 7 family members and the rest were ward members. Incredible support! His family was there to support him and his wife told me she was emotional because of the spirit she felt. She now has a baptism date for July! Also my mom sent a package with a bunch of Haz Lo Justo (CTR) rings for when people get baptized, so i gave one to J----- and to F-----.
On Sunday, we had stake conference which included Elder Clayton (President of the quorum of the 70), Elder Viajar, and the Santiago Temple President Elder Wilhelm. I only understood about 50 percent but it was cool, and I got to meet them after for a few mins. It was a cool experience.
Cool fact: The presidency of the 70 doesn't have counselors. Rather, it has 7 presidents and there is one President that presides over the rest (Currently Elder Clayton) Read D&C 107:93-94 to understand why.
Well...where to start. We had "emergency" transfers on Tuesday. A set of hermanas were fighting (like one threatened to hit the other...) and it's been really hard because my comp doesn't understand that it takes a lot of time to be the nurse especially with the problems we've had this week. So she kept getting upset when I was on the phone with the doctor, my president, or a sick missionary. We would have been fine and found a way to work through the difficult things but another Hermana was demanding transfers so president switched with my comp and I. So my new companion is Hermana T----- from Uruguay! She also speaks zero english but I think she'll be more understanding with the time it takes to do the nurse stuff. Also I now get to lead the sector and I've only been here for 2 weeks, it's also the biggest hermana sector in my mission...good luck to me! When we had transfers, my comp got to go and say goodbye to the members, one of them decided to make her a pie, but her little toaster glass is broken so my comp stood and help a cardboard box over it for 30 minutes to bake the pie, it was funny, and the pie turned out great!
The nursing side of my mission took up a ton of time. For example, this week an elder had to have surgery for a 6mm kidney stone that got stuck, another elder had to have his toe worked on because of an infection, another elder had to have a tooth pulled do to an infection, and an hermana was so sick she could barely walk. All of which were going on for 2 weeks-2 months before they told me they even had a problem. Which made the problems a lot bigger. But I ended up going on divisions with the Hermana who was sick. I took her to her dr appt and stayed home with her for a day. That way both our comps could work and I could work on things at home which turned out really nice. I may have also taken a guilt free, much needed, 2 hour nap. But this week has been insane!
STORY THIS WEEK:
Pushing Against The Rock:
There once was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared to him. The Lord told him He had a work for him to do, and showed him a large rock explaining that he was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, and for many days he toiled from sunup to sundown; his shoulder set squarely against the cold massive surface of the rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man showed signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture - placing thoughts in the man's mind, such as ``Why kill yourself over this?, you're never going to move it!'' or ``Boy, you've been at it a long time and you haven't even scratched the surface!'' etc. giving the man the impression the task was impossible and the man was an unworthy servant because he wasn't moving the massive stone. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man and he started to ease up in his efforts. ``Why kill myself?'' he thought. ``I'll just put in my time putting forth just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough.'' And this he did or at least planned on doing until, one day, he decided to take his troubles to the Lord. ``Lord,'' he said, ``I have labored hard and long in Your service, putting forth all my strength to do that which You have asked of me. Yet after all this time, I have not even budged that rock even half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?'' To this the Lord responded compassionately, ``My friend, when long ago I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength and that you have done. But never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. At least not by yourself. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed, ready to quit. But is this really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled; your back sinewed and brown. Your hands are calloused from constant pressure and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your ability now far surpasses that which you used to have. Yet still, you haven't succeeded in moving the rock; and you come to Me now with a heavy heart and your strength spent. I, my friend will move the rock. Your calling was to be obedient and push, and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom, and this you have done.''
Many times we are far too close to the subject to really understand the big picture. But God knows. He knows me and He knows you. He knows exactly what we need. Satan also knows us. He knows our weaknesses and he knows how to break us down. The decision is; will we let him? God never once asked the man to move the rock. He simply asked him to push. In the end God said, "I'll move the rock." In the words of Elder D Todd Christofferson, "Let your covenants be paramount and your obedience be exact. Then you can ask in faith, nothing wavering, according to your need, and God will answer. He will sustain you as you work and watch. In his own time and way He will stretch forth His hand to you, saying, "Here am I."" Our father in heaven is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will always be there to say, "Here am I." But that also means we must have faith and say, "Lord, help me." Faith and obedience are key in life. Without faith, obedience is almost impossible. And without obedience, faith is hard to find. It takes an effort on both parts. When the Lord asks something of you, take a moment to see the bigger picture. Step back, pause, and ask "What is it im really supposed to do or learn from this?" This week especially with emergency transfers I've taken a step back to ask "why?" and although I don't know the exact answer I know the lord has a plan for each of us. I know he doesn't ask more of us than we can handle. And although sometimes I feel like missionary work is the same as pushing a big rock that isn't moving, I also know my testimony is stronger, my scriptural knowledge is far greater than it was when I left, and my Christlike attributes are increasing (far from perfect but I'm better than I was). The Lord isn't asking me to move the rock by myself, he is asking me to be obedient, have faith, and give it everything I've got. And I am.
Have A Wonderful Week!
Hermana Sullivan
