Hey Heap Fam,
This week was on my top 5 best weeks of my mission for sure. It was just one of those weeks when we felt so guided by the Spirit it wasn´t even funny. We prayed last Monday so that we could find a family that was going to get baptized this month. We ended up finding more than just 1 family. So it starts off last week in our zone meeting. We talked about how vacations are over and how its time to get back to work and the importance of living worthily and having faith to have God do the rest. It went really well. Elder Hunter and Elder Ashcraft from my generation are 2 of the district leaders so thats pretty fun. My companion and I committed everyone to be obedient and ask God with faith to put a family in there path to get baptized this last week.
AFter the meeting we went to a family night while some other Elders went to eat in the mall next to our church. While they were there they contacted this lady and her son and they wanted to listen to the missionaries. They live in our area and we went the next morning to see if they were really interested. We got to her house a little late because we spent the morning cleaning up after the Elders that left bright and early (the district of Elder Hunter stayed the night at our house because they live far away and there wasnt any transportation for them after the meeting) Anyways, we got there and at about the same time she walked up to us. She had a huge smile and told us that she didnt think that we would end up finding her house. We had an amazing lesson and she said she wants to be a part of the church. Her husband died a few years back and she wanted answers. We explained a little of the plan of salvation and made an appointment to come back when her son would be there. They are both awesome. Her son is going through a divorce and he has 2 daughters. He´s awesome. Their names are Irma and Eric. They went to church and should get baptized at the end of the month.
We were so pumped walking out of the appointment, but we still felt like there was another family waiting for us. We found some more people on Tuesday, but none that were really interested. Wednesday we spent the day contacting everything that moves, knocking doors, visiting old investigators and searching for ´´the family´´. We had success and taught a ton of lessons, but we were still frustrated at the end of the day because we couldn´t find that family they we knew God would help us find. We did everything to be worthy of having the Spirit. Every morning jumping up at 6:30, studying, not spending time with members or in the food appointments, praying million times a day etc, etc. Every morning we would get on our knees and pray that we could find this family that Heavenly Father needed us to find.
Thursday, we started off the morning knocking doors. We have decided that we just are going to walk in the streets contacting people and we only knock the doors that are open. We didnt want to waste even 1 minute knocking doors if the people aren´t even home. So we got to a point where we were done with our appointments and so we just stopped on the street corner. We didnt have back up plans or anything. My comp asked ´´So now what should we do?´´ I didnt really know, but with lots of faith and a big smile I told him that we were going to go find the family before lunch. We only had like 45 minutes before the food appointment.... So we turned down a street and started walking. Like 2 minutes later we both saw a lady hanging up clothes and my comp looked at me and told me that that was her. We went and contacted her and she said that her house was a mess and she didnt want to let us in. We talked for a little bit longer and persuaded her to let us in to offer a prayer for her home and her famliy. We went in and sat down while she called down her daughter in law and her 2 other daughters and we sat at the table, prayed and started teaching. It was a good lesson and they understood perfectly. We taught the Restoration and invited them to church. We explained how much it can bless a family that might be struggling to have unity and love and peace in their home. We taught them how to pray and the mom (Nelva) said the closing prayer. In the closing prayer she started´´Padre Celestial..... and broke down crying... after gaining composure she thanked our Heavenly Father for sending 2 young men to her home to teach the gospel. She said ´´thank you Heavenly Father because I have been praying for guidance day and night so that I can know how to have more happiness in my life´´ she said ´´Now father, I know that you love us and know us and have a true path here on earth to guide me and my family´´ She struggled through the whole prayer and it was really hard not to fight back the tears. We shook their hands and put another appointment for the next day. I have never felt like I did at that moment walking away from that house. I felt like God knew exactly where I was and what I was doing and that that is where He wanted me to be. It is an incredible feeling knowing that you can and are an instrument in the Lords hands. I felt like Lehi when he tried the fruit of the tree of life and wanted his family and all of the children of men to try it. I just felt like getting on my knees on the dirt road and thanking my Heavenly Father for blessing us to find ´´the family´´. God answers prayers. Like it says in Ether ´´God can´t do any miracles among the children of men until after they show their faith´´ They went to church and we presented them with some other families at the church building. They are way excited. My ward has a bunch of young men and young women which will help us out with this family (the family Castillo Gonzalez). It´s probably the biggest ward I have been in in my whole mission. It was great to see them in church. I love being a missionary.
So yea, it was a great week. We continued finding more people after, but if they don´t go to church it is hard to continue with them. If they dont go to church, they can´t progress. This week we had 11 lessons with members present and 18 other lessons. Thats a lot of teaching in 5 days. That is apart from teaching in the door and contacting in the street. I feel good about the work that my comp and I put in this week. Elder McElvain is awesome. He is a spiritual giant. This is his last change so we are going to give it all we got this change. I´m excited.
This next week we are going to do interchanges just about everyday. We got to help out the other districts and other missionaries. Now that I know how to get around my area and all that we will be able to do that more. This last week our zone did better in every aspect then the week before so we are just looking for progress week by week. Queretaro isn´t known for baptizing a whole lot, but we have great members and a great stake President so we will see what happens.
Oh.... and its freezing. Really really really cold. Especially in the morning. The members say that usually its not this cold, but I´ve been using sweaters and my jacket every day. I also bought some sweats with the rest of the money that you sent me. It came in handy even though I didnt need to buy shoes. Thanks!
AND, I´m so pumped that the Ravens beat the Patriots....that just made my day. I thought they were going to play the Chargers in the next round, but I guess it will be good to beat the Colts and get them out of the way. I´ll pray for Todd´s health!
And to answer your question about dangerousness here in Mexico. Yeeeea, it´s a little dangerous in the state of Mexico. Like in my last two areas, I´m sure if you came down we´d be fine. I know lots of missionaries have their parents come down, but it´s your call. I havent asked President, but I´m sure it´s cool. Out here in Queretaro it is a lot more safe. We even hitch-hiked this week and the guy that took us was way nice. The people are a little bit more wealthy here in Queretaro so I think that makes a small difference.
I´ll leave it up to you guys though. What ever you think is best. I´m down for whatever.
Well I´m going to try to send pics really quick so I´m going to end the email. Just know that I´m healthy and happy and loving every minute.
Con amor,
Elder Greg R. Heap
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