March 16, 2015

March 16, 2015

There are two miracles in San Lorenzo that are getting baptized this week.  One of them is named Mattias and one of them is names Mirium.

Mattias - - -  You remember the old man that we are always sharing with, and his son is a member.  Well, he has another son named mattias, who is 12 and after like 12 weeks of teaching, and taking to church and everything, he is getting baptized tommorrow.  We had to wait a while to get permission from his mom (who literally is at home once every 2 weeks, for like 3 hours in the afternoon.  (She also sleeps in her house, but only when we are already in our house, so we never ever could find her.)  Also. Mattias was really nervous and always said he didnt know if he wanted to get baptized, and never would say yes because he was nervous his mom would say no.  But his mom wouldnt say yes unless mattias said that he actually wanted to get baptized.  So we fasted one day that we would find a way to baptize him, and the next Tuesday we walked up to his house, and there was his mom, and then his mom was super nice and gave permission.  It was such a miracle.  And then even better than this, after we left mattias talked to his mom and said ¨You and Dad have to get baptized tooo!¨ And I really think that they are going to progess really fast and get baptized (and married!!!!  I may finally have a wedding) really soon.  But then again, I may not be in san lorenzo for much longer, so we will see.

The second miracle is Mirium.  She is the sister in law of graciella (a recent convert.)  And she met us, and started sharing with us and went to church 3 times in a row, and everything just worked perfectly.  She knew from day 1 that she wanted to get baptized.  The other day we were teaching restuaracion and she asked ¨Are there really that many churches.  Because when I was  alittle girl, there was only the catholic church.¨ She is so cute.  I am gaining such a testimony (through the good lesson and the not so good lessons) that all you need in this world is faith, not super super much knowledge.  Because I have had some lessons with people a little bit more wise to the world, and some of them are super smart, but cannot understand the gospel for the life of them, because they are too prideful.  Really, the kingdom of God will go to the meek because they are the ones that will see the tree of life and the iron rod, and cling to it, following with faith instead of standing at the trailhead debating the different waays that you could get to the tree and how far off the ledge you could get and still make it, and how if you went into the great and spacious building, but still called out to your kids to follow the iron rod, your kids will still make it to the tree.   Anyway, back to mirium, because she is not like this.  She is humble, and willing to follow the Lord through all things.  They live in a house with 4 rooms and a concrete floor, and they have 10 kids, 5 dogs, 3 cats, and 3 adults.  Its crazy, but it is my home here in paraguay.  I love her house so much.

Anyway, Love you all!

Hna Jarman

Jess S—

What!!! Eliza Smith is going on a mission.  You can safely assume, nobody tells me anything.  My mom casually brought up in her email last night that Jake and his fiancee were at the wedding.  FIANCEE!  I didnt know he was dating someone.  Ya, nobody tells me anything.  Haha, but its all good.  Sorry that I havent been so faithful in writing you.  I am going to write you a really big email next week, dont you worry.  Because I stuggle with this same thing.  ForEVER I thought that the last step of repentance was not having the desire to do that sin or mistake again.  And I felt sooo bad because I never was fully repenting.  But then one day I was reading in d and c 25 for language study, I was oracticing my spanish words, and it says Emma, blessed are ye, for thy sins are forgiven and ye shall have a remission of your sins.  And I randomly had this super strong wave of the spirit hit me, and I understood so much more because I realized that I could have a complete remission of my sins, knowing that I STILL had these same weaknesses.  Jess, studying the atonement and gaining a working understanding of it has changed my mission and my life.  The way I teach, the way I look at people, the way I look at myself.  The atonement is sooo big.  I dont know how I didnt understand it comp'letely in Jerusalem, but now I am finally starting to dip my toes in the wonder that is the atonement.  I LOVE the scripture in John 3, 16. Just love it.

I will write you more next week.  I have to organize my thoughts,

Hna Jarman