Transfers are today. Sadly, Elder N leaves, and I still don't know who is coming here. If we follow my pattern, it will be a Latino. Elder N is bummed, because like I said, there's a lot of good stuff coming up. I'm so grateful for Elder N, and learned so much from him. We had so much fun completing a year together but we worked SO HARD. So many good stories and I know so many good people here in Coronel Oviedo. I like to think this week we made my Dad proud. For the last 6 weeks, every coin that has entered our hands we have collected in a jar. On Saturday, our true year mark, we went to Tia noe, a fancy pizza place and used the money to buy a yummy pizza. We spent the morning adding up all the coins and taping them together like Dad does. We paid for the 75 mil dinner with all coins. Here in Paraguay, 1 mil is the largest coin they have. Many of the coins weren't a mil. hahaha We had to wait a little bit after the bill for the lady to count it all up and make sure it was all there. It was. Then today, for our last lunch we are making in house blue bacon cheeseburgers. Doing one year right!
I wanna take some time to talk about a really special experience I had this last week with an investigator names H, who I have known since Saturday. She's 68 years old and the sister of a strong, active member. Her sister on Thursday, asked us to please come by on Saturday to meet her sister. So on Saturday, we roll in and meet her and she is SO EXCITED to see us, to sit us down and get us whatever we need. We sit down for a little bit and after talking, learn that she doesn't just want to meet us, she traveled to Oviedo TO see us, the missionaries. She's a little sick, and told us an experience she had with a bad leg. Years ago, for the longest time her leg, from an accident, wouldn't heal. She tried everything with medicine, doctors, everything, but nothing helped. One day, 2 LDS missionaries come to her house and gave her a blessing, a prayer of health that is performed through something called the Priesthood, which is the power of God and his permission to act in his name, something we proclaim fervently that the Church of Jesus Christ holds. They put their hands on her head, and proclaimed in the name of Christ for her leg to be healed. They proclaimed and demanded a miracle. The next day the leg began to heal rapidly and over a short amount of time became completely healthy. Living far away and unable to make contact, the missionaries never came back.
Fast forward to now, she is having problems with head pain. Her son, was wanting to take her to a professional in Brazil. She refused and said, "If you're going to take me anywhere, you're taking me to my sisters house 450km away, in Coronel Oviedo, so the Elders can give me a blessing like last time."
While telling us this story she looked into our eyes and said. I came here because I am sure that you represent Jesus Christ, just like him you walk the streets, and preach his gospel and have the power needed to heal the sick. I KNOW you have God with you, and I knew that if I could get here, with my sister, you two can heal me.
Well, if that didn't make my eyes go a little wide and make me sit up a little straighter.
We had a spiritually intense lesson and talked about the Gospel of Christ and performing the correct baptism by the correct authority. She had some problems with it, one didn't understand why her last baptism in the name of Christ didn't count, why other churches would say they have the power, and that she lived so far away she was afraid she wouldn't be able to find a church there to attend. After a strong testimony from her sister, and loving council, she accepted the fact she needed to look into it and receive an answer from God that this was all right.
Afterward, she asked me to give her a blessing of health.
A silence fell and a spirit filled the room as I opened my mouth. I had words come to my mind in the most relaxing way possible. I wasn't thinking of what to say, but words were coming to my mind. I have never felt the Spanish language leave so naturally from my mouth, and come so clearly to my mind. As tears found their way down my cheeks, I was able to state the will of the Lord powerfully and clearly, and let her know of the love God has for her specifically. It was truly a moment of the gift of tongues, as I knew the words I was saying truly were not mine.
The next day, she was in church with us, and really enjoyed the meeting and spirit she felt. When the sister missionaries went after church to visit them, H told them, "I've not only received my answer, but have seen the fruits of the power of God in this Church. This is the truth, and where I need to be. I do not want to wait another minute to be baptized."
Truly a miracle, and an incredible experience.
I know it's nothing due to me. I know she was prepared long before I was even in Paraguay. I've only known her since Saturday, but my feelings of gratitude are very tender towards my Heavenly Father to allow me to be a part of her story.
This work is true. Miracles exist today. The power of God is upon the earth, and they are accessible to us, no matter how unworthy or discouraged we may feel.
I love this work.
Till next week-
Elder Parker John Yocum
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