Week 8 in La Serena

From: Alison Royal <alison.royal@myldsmail.net>
Sent: Mon, May 9, 2011 10:17:40 AM

Hola Querido Familia y Amigos!

First off, I am still feeling so happy about getting to talk with my lovely family yesterday! And I am also remembering all the dumb things I said and how difficult it was for me so speak English. Haha I guess that is one of the benefits of speaking 100% Spanish 100% of the time. But it was so good to hear from you. I love each of you so much! And I am grateful for your prayers :)

OK, since I already told you guys about my week, I will try to focus on talking about some of the miracles the I witnessed this week in the mission!

First: Carla and Pablo. They are an amazing family. Pablo is 19 and Carla is 20. They have a 3 year old daughter Ignasia and Carla is 7 months pregnant. When we first started teaching them, they seemed very distant, especially Carla. I thought she really disliked us. But we have witnessed a very amazing change of heart. This week, we taught them about the Plan of Salvation and extended a Wedding date for them. They accepted! The next day, we ran in to Carla and Pablo in the street and Pablo RAN up to us waving a paper in his hand. He had just came from the Registro Civil and to reserve the date for their marriage! They are going to get married on the 4 of June and (drum roll.... ) get baptized the same day!!!! Hermana Jones and I were so excited! They are progressing so fast. They bought sticky notes to mark up their scriptures and keep a study journal haha

Second: Manuel and Jamila and their baby Manuel. We found Manuel and Jamila the first day that I arrived in the mission. In our first lesson, We knew that Manuel was special, but Jamila was a inactive member (she used to be the relief society president) but after the death of her mom, she stopped believing in God. After the first lesson, again, we witnessed a change of heart in her! And Manuel has a hunger for this message. His responses are always so funny, "wwoooaahhh!" haha. But this week, in a lesson, we were talking about the plan of salvation and eternal families. We invited them to pray together and ask the Lord if they should get married, so they can eventually can be sealed in the temple. They agreed. They next lesson, Manual was so anxious and eager to get started. We sat down and with his scriptures in hand, he asked "So, are you going to get started with a prayer" haha we both laughed and began with the lesson. At the end of the lesson, I felt prompted to ask them about a date for their wedding. It was silent for a while. and I worried that maybe I shouldn't have asked. Manuel then broke the silence by PROPOSING to Jamila for the 3rd of JUNE! He will be baptized on the 4Th as well! Hermana Jones and I were in shock. Trying to hold in tears and laughter. It was the most amazing feeling of my life!

We have 3 other amazing investigators who are preparing from their baptisms. Roberto is a 19 year old boy, who really wants to know what God wants him to do. Eliud is a 17 year old boy, whose family recently joined the church. They used to be VERY devout members of the Protestant Pentecostal church. He is the only one who has refused to join, but again, his heart is changing! And Maria Jofre is amazing. This week, she was diagnosed with Cancer, but she is turning to the Lord rather than running from him.

I guess the theme of this email is that the Lord will change our hearts if we let him! That is the miracle of the gospel. We can be changed from sad, addicted to drugs, angry, broken, stubborn. If we let him, I know the the Lord can change us into the people we want to be. Trails in life always come, but all we have to do is run to the Lord rather than run from him!

I love you all so much! I am so happy to hear to good news from home. LES QUEREMOS MUCHO

con carino,

Hermana Royal