Member Missionary Miracles

Hi friends!

Last week, during Stake Conference President Sing (the 1st counsellor of President McClellan) gave an amazing talk about member missionaries - or in other words, members participating in missionary work in small and simple ways. Some examples he gave were asking friends/neighbors if they would like to meet the missionaries, or going out and visiting with them, or praying for them - or in other words, just doing what you can to help out (he even gave a super cool family history - missionary work crossover activity that a ward did in Guatemala). It was a super inspiring talk that moved me, just as well as it did the members.

Anyways, this week the ward helped out a ton with missionary work, and here's how!

 - One of the counsellors of the Stake President (President Guevara) came by to repair the baptismal font. It's been out of service for the past 4 months, but now it works as new!

 - On his way back home, he started chatting with a woman in the gas station and invited her to learn more about the church.

 - He communicated with the Branch President to send us the referral, and now we're working with her to help her come to church next week!

 - Speaking of the Branch President. He, the ward mission leader, 3 amazing young adult members and the sons of Albaluz all accompanied us to lessons with her to help her prepare for her baptism!

 - ALBALUZ WAS BAPTIZED! The Branch President baptized her, and his new son-in-law confirmed her a member of the church. Half the branch also showed up to support her at her baptism

 - Remember those three young adult members I mentioned earlier. All three of them are planning on serving missions, and we went visiting with the three of them on Thursday to help them get some practice for their future missions. They loved it!

 - A member that lives kinda far away from the church has also been a member missionary because his neighbor sent us his referral because he wants to go to church with his friend. We're helping them to coordinate and come with us as well!

 - The members of the branch went to the temple on Saturday, and on Sunday they had a temple testimony meeting where all the members testified about the power of the temple. This week a bunch of new people also showed up to church, so it was a super special and spiritual experience for everyone!

 - We have two new referral friends that joined us at church and commented that they want to keep going to keep feeling the peace they felt there. They also want to go to the temple now too! (I dunno if they even know what the temple is, but they want to go!) We're excited to keep teaching them

 - Another member pulled me over at the end of church and told us that she has a friend that she's inviting to church (new member referral??? )

Anyways, the work went great this week! Which is awesome because it doesn't always go great. This week I was able to see many miracles, many of which came at the hands of the members in this branch. I'm so grateful to get to know them and serve with them and inspire them to continue to serve their neighbors! Things certainly aren't easy, but it's entertaining to see my growth, and the growth of my friends.

Transfers are coming up this week and my companion Elder Elias is leaving. It's sad because I really enjoyed my time with him, and we were able to see many miracles. But, I'm also excited for this final stretch of my mission because I'm going to be training! I've never done it before, but I've wanted to train since I finished my training and saw the other people of my generation training other missionaries. I hope I can do the best I can and that we will have a fun and successful time here in San Marcos!

Keep on keeping on! You guys are amazing and I love you so much! I'll talk to you next week!

- Élder Grant