I began to wonder if I would
ever see a baptism in Peru. If I ever would see someone really have
the testimony and the conversion strong enough to change.
"Fernando", a 13 year old boy
passed the test. =) We had been teaching him for about a month and his
mom was really excited for him but rarely would sit in the lessons. One
time just came up and interrupted us and said.. "Every time you come in
my house I feel something different, a peace, a love, its
inexplicable." She went on and on, and I was so excited and happy that
she had recognized something so vital,so important.. the Holy Spirit. I
had the hugest smile on my face and I asked her "Do you know what that
is?" She said what? And I got to explain. She is great. However, the
time came as it does with all people under the age of 18 to get a
signature from the parents that he could be baptized. It really is
crazy.
I have met so many youth here
who want to be baptized but are waiting until they are 18 because their
parents wont let them be baptized, and they are strong. They still
come to church, they read their scriptures, and they pray always. I
seriously am so impressed.
But that was tangent. Sorry.
When
it came time for the mom to sign the permission slip of "Fernando"she
wouldnt sign. She was so excited for him before asking what it would be
like and all sorts of things, and but when we asked for a signature, we
were outside of house talking with her for half an hour. It was crazy.
We decided to come back later that evening after she had talked with
her husband. Unfortunately Fernando had not been very nice to his mom
when she mentioned that he should probablly go to church for a few more
months before being baptized and he reacted poorly and so his moms
feelings were hurt. I honestly dont know how she eventually signed, but
she did, and she told us at first she was scared, but after thinking
about it some more she felt a peace.
Fernando
was baptized this Saturday and confirmed in church. He told me he felt
like his feet werent touching the floor when he was confirmed and
received the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is so great. He told us thank
you over and over and how he felt so much joy. His mom wants us to
baptize her son.. but her son only is 6 years old. His brother came up
to us later and wants us to talk to him about the gospel. Fernando
really wants everyone to be baptized in his family, and I can see how
the gospel is already helping them be more unified and is filling their
home with more love.
One
day one of our appointments fell through and Martin told us that we
should stop by the house of "Claudia." She is about 75 years old and
cant come to church because she is very very sick. I got to hear her
testimony though and it brought me to tears. I thought Id share her
story with you. Martin is a teenager who was baptized 3 years ago and
likes to go to appointments with the missionaries often. He passed by
her house with the missionaries 2 years ago and all three of the young
men felt like they should knock on her door. Claudia told us how this
day she decided she would change and do what God wanted and that is when
the missionaries knocked on the door. With time she came to have a
testimony of the gospel and wanted to be baptized. One of the elders
told her that she couldnt be baptized because she has basically a hole
in her body, a permanent wound with a bandage that cant get wet, so even
when she bathes she is very careful to cover her bandage with a towel.
She looked at him and said "Oh what little faith you have... I am the
one who is sick, and you are healthy, and still I have faith. I will be
baptized." The Elders were scared to baptize her, but she decided to
be baptized anyway and told the Elder, and YOU will baptize me. That
day of her baptism she went into the font with nothing but her white
baptizmal clothing and her bandage beneath. She was baptized, and after
she was buried in water and rose again clean and went to change, she
inspected her bandage. Her daughter looked at her in astonishment and
said.. "How come your bandage isnt wet?? How is it possible?! Tell me!
Why isnt your bandage wet?" And you know what she said? "Because Jesus
had his hand right here over my bandage."
Really it was a miracle.
I
feel so blessed to be able to be in Peru with people who have so much
faith. Its incredible. What boggles my mind still is how her son and
daughter arent members, are strict catholics and refuse to let the
grandaughter of Claudia be baptized. Her time will come. I know. Im
hoping that little by little her mom and dad will want to talk to us.
Luckily, the next day I got to talk to her dad, in Engilsh. He didnt
talk to the missionaries before, but he said something about being in
Iraq for some kind of security job and then I found out he spoke English
and we had a pretty good conversation. I love that when that happens...
when someone doesnt really want to talk to the missionaries, but they
because you are different and understand a different part of life that
they understand also, then they want to talk and then they realize that
the gospel really isnt just for a couple of people living in San Diego,
Lima, Peru. Its for everyone in all parts of the world. Its really
beautiful.
I know with all my heart that the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet
of God, and that through him the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored.
It is beautiful how it is going forth to all the world. When my Dad
was serving here in Peru there was only one stake. Now there are 100. I
feel so blessed to be a part of it.
Pray Always. Read your scriptures. Go to church.
Love,
Hermana Julia Chanel Bendixen
No comments:
Post a Comment