I cant even express the feels from this week. So this saturday was supposed to be like celestial saturday ya know Petra's baptism day, but what a crazy week of plot twists we have had. So on Wednesday she had her interview with President Layman, one of the counselors of the mission presidency who served in Chile, and he was amazed by Petra's faith. At the end of the interview he asked her is there any reason she shouldn't be baptized and she replied "No puedo esperar mas". OKAY WOW PETRA. She is amazing, all this week we knew the adversary was going to be out to get her, which it was. She has been living with her boyfriend Vicente who was somewhat interested but not really ready to make big commitments like Petra. The elders were actually teaching him at one point, and somehow they got in their heads that law of chastity really meant just living in seperate rooms in the same house. Hm, that caused some problems. So Vicente didn't know he actually had to move out til' like Wednesday. here's the Vicente story: He has a wife in mexico that he isnt able to divorce because her dad is psycho and would take his whole estate if he tried to divorce and then Vicente wouldnt have any inheritance for his kids back in mexico. So marriage wasn't an option for him and petra. Then me and Hermana Short went to a bunch of mexican tiendas around here because they have a lot of people that try to rent cuartos which is all Vicente can really afford. WE found a bunch, but all way expensive too. Then we found out Vicente is the only one with income that could pay rent for Petra's apartment. So basically he couldnt leave or else Petra wouldnt have a place either and they both dont have any friends or family that could take them in right now. Insert heart break. We were with both petra and Vicente friday night really late (repented later about that) and were trying all we could to find a way that she could still get baptized but also keep this incredibly sacred law of God. The spirit was telling me, for probably longer than I realized, that she wasn't going to be able to be baptized this weekend. This drama wasn't the way she should start her membership in the church. We told Petra we would have to wait a while to find a more permanent solution for them both and she just cried. It was probably the most painful thing I've had to go through on my mission and Hermana Short and I just came home and cried. It just hurts me to see people who are so ready and know the truth and know they need to be baptized by someone who holds the proper authority of God and then the circumstances are just out of their control. Saturdaywaking up was really hard and we were emotionally unstable and couldn't get ahold of Petra so even more sad. I remember just praying and I dont know a good word in English but just rogand y suplicando a Dios for something to help us out that day. Someone to serve. And let me tell you, God answers prayers. WE had to stop by our branch president's house in the morning and he was working on his yard and we asked if we could help so we gloriously got to help pick weeds for about and hour to which he gave us some pasole and told us "you answered my prayers, there was no way I was going to get this all done today". Then one of our less actives called us and said she's been working on cleaning her backyard all morning and could use some help, so we were able to transfer bricks and clean up her whole place for a few hours to which she told us that she was increibly grateful, and then came to church the next day. It was such a tender mercy, and even though it was just us serving people, it was what I needed to get my spirtual food that day. I know God listens to our prayers. All day on Friday I was praying and fasting for Petra to have God send his armies of Angels to help her, and the whole night I felt like the angels were the ones doing everything they could to stop the baptism. I know that they really did, because that was not the day she was supposed to be baptized. I dont know why. I don't know if its for her to help strengthen her faith and testimony or if its so that soon Vicente can also come unto Christ or if its because someday there is someone who needs to see her be baptized that couldn't be here this week or I really dont know, But I know God has a plan and He loves His children. This is His church. And His work. And I'm so grateful that for 9 months I've been apart of it. So that was long, but basically the week. In lighter news, a bird we named Timmy had babies in our ceiling this week. I guess shes a Tamara. I love you all! Hermana Reed
1 Comment
Gina Bodine
5/3/2017 07:24:19 am
You amaze me. I love your beautiful spirit sweet sister!
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Hermana Fallyn ReedMissionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Federal Way, Washington Mission. July 2016 - January 2018. Archives
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