How To Fix A Broken Heart

Helllooo family and friends!

This week was crazy.

○ Juan, our amigo from Guatemala, accepted a baptismal date. If he feels ready, he'll be baptized at the end of this month! I'm SO EXCITED for him. 

○ Carmen's family is progressing. Last Wednesday, we had an amazing lesson with them about faith. Carmen also loves the B.O.M. and reads it nightly after her kids go to bed.

○ We're helping reactive a family. In December, the Bishop's family gave us some Christmas presents to hand out. One of the families we visited was Irma and Anderson's. After we got out of our COVID quarantine, we passed by their house and they invited us in without hesitation! Since that day, we've gone back once a week to review the basics with Irma and to prepare Anderson for baptism.

 Last week, we were able to teach o.l.a ( orar - pray, leer - read, asistir- attend church). Anderson's a hand on learner so I thought it would be cool to demonstrate the principles with his basketball. Dribbling was reading, aiming was praying, and shooting was going to church. He really liked it. In fact, all week long he practiced with his basketball! Instead of actually reading and praying, he just said them while he played with his ball - So, in his mind that counted. Haha he's such a cute kid! 

○ It snowed in Georgia. That doesn't happen too much, so it was pretty wild.

○ Spiritual thought of the week: Be responsible. Accept yourself as the person in control: "If others are at fault and need to change before further progress is made, then you are at their mercy and they are in control over the positive outcomes or desired results in your life". Lynn G. Robbins, teaches us to trust in Christ's atonement by NOT seeking for justice. In doing so, we deny Christ's grace and take upon ourselves his cross that he already bore. 

"Having faith in Jesus Christ is to trust that because of his atoning sacrifice, He will correct all injustices, restore all things lost, and mend all things broken, including hearts. He will make all things right, not leaving any detail unattended. Therefore, 'ye ought to say in your hearts- let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to th deeds." (D&C 64:11)  - Lynn G. Robbins

I love y'all! Thank you so much for all the emails. If I didn't get back to you this week, I will the next. 

Love, 

Hermana Pulver

Focus

As a fifteen year old boy, McKay worked on a sod farm that required the use if a harvester that weighed fourteen tons. One day, he was assigned to work with his friend on the back of the harvester. While walking alongside, he thought he could jump up onto the platform to sit with his friend. However, he misjudged his jump and fell in front of the double set of dual wheels underneath the platform. Immediately, realizing his future, he tried to escape but the big wheels caught his shoes and threw him to the ground. Thus, placing him directly underneath the path of the wheels that were now going to roll over his entire body. By the time the fourteen tons had finished their work, McKay had completely lost consciousness. The first thing he remembered when he opened his eyes was excruciating pain. He couldn't breathe, as one of his lungs has collapsed.

In a matter of minutes, Stan, the farm manager arrived out of breath. Quickly realizing that McKay was about to die, he knelt down to give him a priesthood blessing. As Stan started to speak, the hope of living entered into Mckays mind. It seemed to him as every word said gave him power and purpose to live. Because of his deep trust in God, and "laying hold upon the word" he was successful in pursuing a career path, having a family, walking again, and becoming a leader for so many. 

Reading this BYU speech, really made me reflect. These past two weeks have been filled with a lot of ups as well as a lot of downs. The Peruvian family we were teaching, was failing to keep any reading commitments we gave them. Last Wednesday, we walked in and both Sister Marks and I could immediately feel that they hadn't read the chapter we left them. While they were happy because we were teaching them the language, we were very sad. We knew that we were going to have to drop their family for a little while until they picked up that blue book. I remember driving home, and just feeling so frustrated and sad. 

Later in the week, we met for the second time with a man named Juan. He was from Guatemala, and also had wanted the English classes we offered. At the end of each lesson, we also offer a spiritual thought. For that day, we chose to share the restoration. I dont think I'll ever forget the look on his face when we gave him the B.O.M and told him the story of Joseph Smith. Repeatedly, with very big eyes, he stopped us and said wow. As we were teaching, he was diligently following along in the pamphlet and asked as many questions as needed. Both Sister Marks and I could tell that he was truly understanding what he was hearing and reading. From Juan's lesson I learned the power of laying hold upon the word of God. 

As Elder Gary L. Pocock once said, " As we lay hold upon the word of God, it lays hold upon us, guiding our thoughts, words and deeds, drawing us ever closer to the Great source of those inspiring words." As a missionary, I hope with all of my heart that people take time to focus and understand our message. With Juan I could recognize the blessing and principle of truly placing our trust in God. However, with Richard's family I saw distraction. While they were initially excited about the message we shared, they allowed other small topics to cloud the good. 

In order to understand the scriptures, we need to be centered. We need to become wholehearted with all of our might, mind and will- totally invested and totally engaged. Once we master this principle, we will then be confident in trusting the Lord to receive personal revelation. However, if we do succumb to distraction we may not achieve what we hope. As Anthony Ramos goes on to say, " One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power..... in fact, I believe most people fail in life simply because they major in minor things." Don't multitask the important things. Haha its impossible, trust me. 

Updates on the Good:

- Carmen and her family from Ecuador are progressing. She's come to church four times and loves it.

- Anderson, a young boy we're teaching, lights up every time we come to visit. His smile is the cutest and his desire to do and be good is inspiring. 

- We started in person English classes

- Zone conference is next week!

- Beatriz, the inactive member we're working with, filmed her testimony so we could post it to our FB page. 

I love y'all. If I didn't respond to your emails, just know I feel bad and I'll get to you next week. Haha thanks!