January Is Flying By!
January 15,2012
Dear Family,
This week was a fantastic week. President Calderon surprised us by
coming to Puerto for a district conference. He was here four days and
spent quite a bit of time with us missionaries. Our zone conference
was very edifying and has given me ideas of how I can improve, such as
emphasizing the importance of family home evenings with our branch
members and investigators.
President Calderon accompanied Hna. Giron and I for a visit, and now
the couple that we visited have a marriage and baptismal date. It was
exciting to see this couple arrive at the chapel yesterday for the
district conference. Afterwards they told us that they really enjoyed
the conference. Also, a sister from our branch invited one of her
work friends to the conference and now we have a lovely new single
mother to teach. Something that I recognize is that God always
blesses us after He tries our faith for a little bit.
Faith is something that I have been trying to focus on learning the
last few months. It`s my personality to worry and doubt. What I`ve
been learning on is that faith, in essence, does not leave room for
doubt. It`s choosing to be happy and hopeful because we know that God
bless us, more that we even deserve. Faith is about having patience
with God`s timing and what He wants us to learn instead of what we
think that we should learn.
A conclusion that I came to this week is that if I put all my efforts
into serving God, the service that I give Him is like a grain of sand.
It`s tiny!!!! I`ve felt quite amazed that God`s work always moves
forward when our service, for most of us, is really quite small.
Sometimes Hna. Giron and I talk about how we always have willing
spirits but we have weak bodies. I would love to work all day, but we
also have to sleep and eat. I`m grateful for God`s patience with us.
I`m grateful the He blesses us for the little actions that we do, and
I`m grateful that He loves us even with all our imperfections.
I hope that you have a lovely week. I pray for you and I always think
about you!
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
ANOTHER WEEK IN LA SELVA!!!!!!!
January 9, 2012
Dearest Family,
Thank you for writing me this week. It`s always fun to skim your
letters a little bit before I print them out.
This week has been a little challenging because we do not have
investigators with baptismal dates. I know that we are doing the best
that we can, but it is hard for our leaders to accept. Something that
encouraged us is that our branch leader told us that he really
appreciates that work that we are doing. We have several recent
converts that are going to receive the Melchizedek priesthood this
Sunday! One of our converts gave a great testimony yesterday.
Hna. Giron and I have been trying to help the Relief Society of our
branch with their visiting teaching program. We`re trying to help the
presidency catch the vision of their responsibility to excite their
sisters. It was pretty funny yesterday because Hna. Giron and I put
up a big posterboard with stickers next to the names of the
companionships that have done their visits solos or with us. As soon
as the sisters saw their names posted up front without a sticker next
to their names, they got crackin. Everyone starting making
appointments with their companions to do their visits. Even the
relief society president started feeling nervous. Hna. Giron and I
pray that in the process of helping the sisters we can have more
references and we can meet less active families.
We`ve finally got branch fellowshipping nights going. The big
challenge will be having enough members and investigators present to
make the nights effective. The members always say that they`ll come,
but it`s never definite. There is a companionship of elders in our
branch, and we`re coordinating the fellowshipping nights with them and
with the brother that is in charge of our branch until we have a
branch president.
I hope that you remember that I love and miss all of you.
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Please send my birthday wishes to Jana!!!!!
HOLA, HOLA, HOLA!!!!!!!!!
January 2, 2012
Dearest Family,
Happy New Year!!! We enjoyed a great fireworks show in Puerto
Maldonado to celebrate the New Year.
Yesterday we had a neat contacting experience. While Hna. Giron and I
were walking to an appointment, an older man sitting outside of his
motorcycle repair shop called my attention. It`s funny because about
ten minutes before we contacted by him, I thought `I don`t really like
walking through this area because there`s never anybody ready to
progress.` God, though, did have someone prepared. I never would
have thought that contacting a mechanic would be so fulfilling, but I
left the contact excited. The contact is named Jose Quispe. He is
different than almost all the men of his stereotype because he doesn`t
drink. Jose is a simple man, but I think he`s one of the `salt of the
earth` kind of people. I hope that Jose and his family can progress
because we are really struggling to have people with baptismal dates.
Sometimes I don`t understand that we don`t have more families with
baptismal goals, but I try to trust the Lord. The good news is that
Hna. Giron doesn`t complain about how many people that we have with
baptismal dates.
This week we`ve been making an effort to teach from the Book of Mormon
more and to invite our investigators to pray about the Book of Mormon.
I hope that this can help us to have more people that receive
testimonies and commit to progress.
I love you all very much!!!
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
January 9, 2012
Dearest Family,
Thank you for writing me this week. It`s always fun to skim your
letters a little bit before I print them out.
This week has been a little challenging because we do not have
investigators with baptismal dates. I know that we are doing the best
that we can, but it is hard for our leaders to accept. Something that
encouraged us is that our branch leader told us that he really
appreciates that work that we are doing. We have several recent
converts that are going to receive the Melchizedek priesthood this
Sunday! One of our converts gave a great testimony yesterday.
Hna. Giron and I have been trying to help the Relief Society of our
branch with their visiting teaching program. We`re trying to help the
presidency catch the vision of their responsibility to excite their
sisters. It was pretty funny yesterday because Hna. Giron and I put
up a big posterboard with stickers next to the names of the
companionships that have done their visits solos or with us. As soon
as the sisters saw their names posted up front without a sticker next
to their names, they got crackin. Everyone starting making
appointments with their companions to do their visits. Even the
relief society president started feeling nervous. Hna. Giron and I
pray that in the process of helping the sisters we can have more
references and we can meet less active families.
We`ve finally got branch fellowshipping nights going. The big
challenge will be having enough members and investigators present to
make the nights effective. The members always say that they`ll come,
but it`s never definite. There is a companionship of elders in our
branch, and we`re coordinating the fellowshipping nights with them and
with the brother that is in charge of our branch until we have a
branch president.
I hope that you remember that I love and miss all of you.
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Please send my birthday wishes to Jana!!!!!
HOLA, HOLA, HOLA!!!!!!!!!
January 2, 2012
Dearest Family,
Happy New Year!!! We enjoyed a great fireworks show in Puerto
Maldonado to celebrate the New Year.
Yesterday we had a neat contacting experience. While Hna. Giron and I
were walking to an appointment, an older man sitting outside of his
motorcycle repair shop called my attention. It`s funny because about
ten minutes before we contacted by him, I thought `I don`t really like
walking through this area because there`s never anybody ready to
progress.` God, though, did have someone prepared. I never would
have thought that contacting a mechanic would be so fulfilling, but I
left the contact excited. The contact is named Jose Quispe. He is
different than almost all the men of his stereotype because he doesn`t
drink. Jose is a simple man, but I think he`s one of the `salt of the
earth` kind of people. I hope that Jose and his family can progress
because we are really struggling to have people with baptismal dates.
Sometimes I don`t understand that we don`t have more families with
baptismal goals, but I try to trust the Lord. The good news is that
Hna. Giron doesn`t complain about how many people that we have with
baptismal dates.
This week we`ve been making an effort to teach from the Book of Mormon
more and to invite our investigators to pray about the Book of Mormon.
I hope that this can help us to have more people that receive
testimonies and commit to progress.
I love you all very much!!!
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Monday, December 19, 2011
Dec. 18, 2011
Hermana Giron, Presidente and Hermana Calderon,
and Hermana Blunck
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dearest Family,
Here are a few notes for you.
Grandpa and Grandma Blunck-I`m going to miss spending Christmas Eve
with you. I hope that you are safe and snug in your home and that you
feel of my love for you.
Sister Lazott-Thank you for writing to Sister Giron. You are so
thoughtful. She`s coming back from Cusco tomorrow and will be
thrilled to find a letter on her desk.
David and Sheri-I admire how hard you are working to be missionaries
in your community and I know the Benjamin and Hunter will be terrific
missionaries.
Dusty and Janeece-Mom sent me some adorable photos of my nephews and
nieces. I know that you are fantastic parents and I look forward to
returning home to you. I`ll be ready to play.
Mom and Dad-Thank you for the lovely Christmas package. I`ve seen the
jewelry box but I haven`t opened it yet because I want to have a fun
surprise on Christmas Day. Today I shared some of the cookies that
you sent with my zone. The missionaries just about died. They loved
the cookies. I think I might only have 30 mintues to talk on Christams
Day. Make your list of what you want to share!
Stephen and Shara-Thank you so much for looking into the housing for
me. I don`t know what I want as far as the social scene goes. I`ll
ask Mom and Dad for their advice and then have them tell you my
decision.
I love you all very much!!!
Merry Christmas.
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
and Hermana Blunck
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dearest Family,
Here are a few notes for you.
Grandpa and Grandma Blunck-I`m going to miss spending Christmas Eve
with you. I hope that you are safe and snug in your home and that you
feel of my love for you.
Sister Lazott-Thank you for writing to Sister Giron. You are so
thoughtful. She`s coming back from Cusco tomorrow and will be
thrilled to find a letter on her desk.
David and Sheri-I admire how hard you are working to be missionaries
in your community and I know the Benjamin and Hunter will be terrific
missionaries.
Dusty and Janeece-Mom sent me some adorable photos of my nephews and
nieces. I know that you are fantastic parents and I look forward to
returning home to you. I`ll be ready to play.
Mom and Dad-Thank you for the lovely Christmas package. I`ve seen the
jewelry box but I haven`t opened it yet because I want to have a fun
surprise on Christmas Day. Today I shared some of the cookies that
you sent with my zone. The missionaries just about died. They loved
the cookies. I think I might only have 30 mintues to talk on Christams
Day. Make your list of what you want to share!
Stephen and Shara-Thank you so much for looking into the housing for
me. I don`t know what I want as far as the social scene goes. I`ll
ask Mom and Dad for their advice and then have them tell you my
decision.
I love you all very much!!!
Merry Christmas.
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Puerto Maldonaldo, Peru.
This city borders Bolivia. She is training a new companion from Honduras, Hermana Giron. This is a picture of a baptismal service they participated in.
Hermana Blunck is sporting a very short hair cut in all of these photos. Getting a haircut here in Peru is always an adventure, you just never know how it will turn out. After a good cry and a few tears it was tiime to get on with the Lord's work once again. Thank goodness our hair continues to grow! Sometimes
we just have to laugh about life adventures.
Hermana Blunck and Herman Giron.
 |
| One of the Lord's newest memebers of His church. |
Dec 12, 2011
Dearest Family,
This week is special because President Calderon is here to celebrate
Christmas with us. Today he brought us to a lake called Lago
Sandoval. Tomorrow we will have a Christmas dinner with him.
I`ve attached a few photos. They include a few photos of our most
recent baptisms and from Lago Sandoval. I need to take more pictures.
I`m super excited for the Christmas phone call. I love you all dearly
and miss you!
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Dec 5, 2011
Dearest Family,
After making a quick trip to Cusco for a trainer`s meeting, Hna. Giron
and I enjoyed a lovely Sabbath day. Yesterday was a good learning
experience for me. On Saturday night, we brought a couple from the
branch to meet one of the families that we`re teaching. The couple
planned with the families to pass by on Sunday morning to go to church
together. Yesterday morning, I felt devastated to arrive at church
and see the couple from the branch without our investigators. It was
hard because the elders in our branch had a ton of investigators that
arrived and seeing them made me wonder if we`d been doing something
wrong. Well, Heavenly Father had a lesson for me because our family
ended up arriving after the sacrament meeting. They arrived late, but
they came!!!
The same thing happened in the evening, and once again I didn`t have
faith like God deserves that I give Him. He never lets me down.
Hna. Giron and I planned with a family to go to the Christmas fireside
together. When we passed by the couple`s house, it was locked up. I
felt sad because I was so excited for this couple. (Hna. Giron tells
me that one of my weaknesses is instantly giving my heart to the
people that we teach.) In turns out in the end that our couple showed
up to the Christmas fireside a little bit late. I feel a little
embarrassed that I get to worrying about things when everything always
works out according to God`s plans.
After our two experiences yesterday, I felt pretty humbled but
grateful for God`s patience with me. I`m super quick to doubt, but He
still blesses me.
I hope that you have a lovely week. I love you!!!!
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Nov 28, 2011
Dearest Family,
Happy December!!!! Thank you for your lovely emails.
The special and humbling event of the week was receiving news from
Yuli, a recent convert, that she is pregnant. Yuli has not been able
to get pregnant for two years. Over two months ago, my companion and
I were inspired to promise Yuli that God would bless her with the
opportunity to have another baby by marrying and by being baptized.
During my entire mission, I`ve heard that we have the authority to
promise specific blessings to our investigators. When Yuli told us on
Wednesday that she is pregnant, I instantly felt humbled and reverent.
God really honors the promises that His servants make to His
children. I don`t share this experience to be proud. More than
anything, I am humbled to know the God is willing to fulfill a
promised blessing that one of His servants, an imperfect servant,
gave. Now I seek inspiration more than ever as my companion and I
promise blessings to our investigators.
Hna. Giron and I are getting along really well. This helps us to work
effectively together and invite the spirit. Yesterday we visited a
terrific family of four that is a reference from one of the sisters in
the Relief Society. We both believe that this family is prepared and
will progress. I`ll wrote more next week as we see the progress of
this family. Hna. Giron and I are working hard to be able to receive
references. We are in charge of the relief society activity this
Saturday. We are going to make it a lot of fun, but we`ve also put
the entrance requirement of a friend or a less active member for the
sisters to be able to enter. The relief society sisters are beginning
to trust us and that really excited me.
Funny experience--Hna. Giron told me this morning that I was sleep
talking last night. In my conversation, I invited one of our
investigators named Lili to be baptized!!! David and I are quite the
pair now. While my companion recounts that I was inviting people to
be baptized in my dreams last night, I remember dreaming about our
home and all the Christmas decorations. I hope the decorations are
coming.
This week I`m going back to Cusco for a trainer`s meeting. I`m
excited to finally be able to participate in the mission trainings!!
I pray for every one of you.
With all my love,
Hermana Blunck II
Nov 21, 2011
Dearest Family,
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
I am thrilled to hear that Stephen is home and that he is healthy. I
know that God really looks after our family, and so He blessed Stephen
to be able to have his surgery while in good health and with Shara and
Mom present.
At the beginning of the week I made a quick trip to Cusco to pick up
my new companion. The church has a new training program for new
missionaries and President wanted me present in Cusco to receive my
companion and learn about the program. The program is called `My
First Twelve Weeks.` It is an amazing program that can really help a
new missionary develop terrific skills. My new companion is Hna.
Giron. She is from Honduras.
I felt really nervous when President told me that I would receive a
new missionary. I feel very humbled because I feel like I yet have
many teaching skills to develop. The good news is that Heavenly
Father helped me to overcome the nervousness quickly. Rather than
feeling nervous, I now feel a great responsibility. I want to teach
my companion `My First Twelve Weeks,` but she has yet to catch the
vision so it`s not something that she is anxious to do. I can`t be
too strict with her, but I also feel responsible to guide her in the
right path. I feel like it`s a fine line and I need lots of
inspiration.
This week we had a lovely baptism of the brother of our district
presidency`s first counselor. He received the priesthood yesterday,
and that delighted me. I know that this brother is a true convert and
will be a great leader.
I miss you very much. I want to write you letters with more detail.
I send you all my love,
Hermana Blunck II
Nov 14, 2011
Dearest Family,
I realize that this week is a big week for the family. Stephen and
Shara, I want you to know that I`m praying for you every day, even
while walking down the streets of Puerto. I fasted for you yesterday.
I would like to be with you to help you. I pray that you`ll be able
to feel the Lord`s support as a sign that I have all the desires to be
with you.
We have changes tomorrow. Hna. Grijalva and I were caught off-guard
last night because we were informed the Hna. Grijalva has a change.
Her change is the other sector of sister missionaries in Puerto!
She`s staying here but is changing companions. I`ve been asked to
come to Cusco for a few days. Maybe I`ll receive some training. I`m
a bit nervous.
Something that I learned this week is that references do not come when
a missionary asks for them. References are won by winning the
confidence of the members. This week the brother of the first
counselor in Puerto`s district presidency will be baptized. The
parents of these brothers are going to come from Lima. I`m thrilled.
The brother that is the counselor in the district presidency gave us a
great reference last night as we taught his brother.
Right now we are low on investigators with baptismal dates, but I know
that I have to have a lot of faith. Satan is working really hard on
me right now that feel fear. I know that Hna. Grijalva and I needed
to be together for six weeks because she helped remind me that I have
to put my confidence in God. Hna. Grijalva also helped me to remember
the fundamentals of being a Preach My Gospel missionary, which is to
use the Spirit to understand the real needs of every investigator and
to teach with the Spirit after listening intently to the
investigators.
I sure love every one of you. I can`t read your emails without
tearing up. I am blessed indescribably.
With all my love from Puerto Maldonado,
Hermana Blunck II
Dearest Family,
This week is special because President Calderon is here to celebrate
Christmas with us. Today he brought us to a lake called Lago
Sandoval. Tomorrow we will have a Christmas dinner with him.
I`ve attached a few photos. They include a few photos of our most
recent baptisms and from Lago Sandoval. I need to take more pictures.
I`m super excited for the Christmas phone call. I love you all dearly
and miss you!
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Dec 5, 2011
Dearest Family,
After making a quick trip to Cusco for a trainer`s meeting, Hna. Giron
and I enjoyed a lovely Sabbath day. Yesterday was a good learning
experience for me. On Saturday night, we brought a couple from the
branch to meet one of the families that we`re teaching. The couple
planned with the families to pass by on Sunday morning to go to church
together. Yesterday morning, I felt devastated to arrive at church
and see the couple from the branch without our investigators. It was
hard because the elders in our branch had a ton of investigators that
arrived and seeing them made me wonder if we`d been doing something
wrong. Well, Heavenly Father had a lesson for me because our family
ended up arriving after the sacrament meeting. They arrived late, but
they came!!!
The same thing happened in the evening, and once again I didn`t have
faith like God deserves that I give Him. He never lets me down.
Hna. Giron and I planned with a family to go to the Christmas fireside
together. When we passed by the couple`s house, it was locked up. I
felt sad because I was so excited for this couple. (Hna. Giron tells
me that one of my weaknesses is instantly giving my heart to the
people that we teach.) In turns out in the end that our couple showed
up to the Christmas fireside a little bit late. I feel a little
embarrassed that I get to worrying about things when everything always
works out according to God`s plans.
After our two experiences yesterday, I felt pretty humbled but
grateful for God`s patience with me. I`m super quick to doubt, but He
still blesses me.
I hope that you have a lovely week. I love you!!!!
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Nov 28, 2011
Dearest Family,
Happy December!!!! Thank you for your lovely emails.
The special and humbling event of the week was receiving news from
Yuli, a recent convert, that she is pregnant. Yuli has not been able
to get pregnant for two years. Over two months ago, my companion and
I were inspired to promise Yuli that God would bless her with the
opportunity to have another baby by marrying and by being baptized.
During my entire mission, I`ve heard that we have the authority to
promise specific blessings to our investigators. When Yuli told us on
Wednesday that she is pregnant, I instantly felt humbled and reverent.
God really honors the promises that His servants make to His
children. I don`t share this experience to be proud. More than
anything, I am humbled to know the God is willing to fulfill a
promised blessing that one of His servants, an imperfect servant,
gave. Now I seek inspiration more than ever as my companion and I
promise blessings to our investigators.
Hna. Giron and I are getting along really well. This helps us to work
effectively together and invite the spirit. Yesterday we visited a
terrific family of four that is a reference from one of the sisters in
the Relief Society. We both believe that this family is prepared and
will progress. I`ll wrote more next week as we see the progress of
this family. Hna. Giron and I are working hard to be able to receive
references. We are in charge of the relief society activity this
Saturday. We are going to make it a lot of fun, but we`ve also put
the entrance requirement of a friend or a less active member for the
sisters to be able to enter. The relief society sisters are beginning
to trust us and that really excited me.
Funny experience--Hna. Giron told me this morning that I was sleep
talking last night. In my conversation, I invited one of our
investigators named Lili to be baptized!!! David and I are quite the
pair now. While my companion recounts that I was inviting people to
be baptized in my dreams last night, I remember dreaming about our
home and all the Christmas decorations. I hope the decorations are
coming.
This week I`m going back to Cusco for a trainer`s meeting. I`m
excited to finally be able to participate in the mission trainings!!
I pray for every one of you.
With all my love,
Hermana Blunck II
Nov 21, 2011
Dearest Family,
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
I am thrilled to hear that Stephen is home and that he is healthy. I
know that God really looks after our family, and so He blessed Stephen
to be able to have his surgery while in good health and with Shara and
Mom present.
At the beginning of the week I made a quick trip to Cusco to pick up
my new companion. The church has a new training program for new
missionaries and President wanted me present in Cusco to receive my
companion and learn about the program. The program is called `My
First Twelve Weeks.` It is an amazing program that can really help a
new missionary develop terrific skills. My new companion is Hna.
Giron. She is from Honduras.
I felt really nervous when President told me that I would receive a
new missionary. I feel very humbled because I feel like I yet have
many teaching skills to develop. The good news is that Heavenly
Father helped me to overcome the nervousness quickly. Rather than
feeling nervous, I now feel a great responsibility. I want to teach
my companion `My First Twelve Weeks,` but she has yet to catch the
vision so it`s not something that she is anxious to do. I can`t be
too strict with her, but I also feel responsible to guide her in the
right path. I feel like it`s a fine line and I need lots of
inspiration.
This week we had a lovely baptism of the brother of our district
presidency`s first counselor. He received the priesthood yesterday,
and that delighted me. I know that this brother is a true convert and
will be a great leader.
I miss you very much. I want to write you letters with more detail.
I send you all my love,
Hermana Blunck II
Nov 14, 2011
Dearest Family,
I realize that this week is a big week for the family. Stephen and
Shara, I want you to know that I`m praying for you every day, even
while walking down the streets of Puerto. I fasted for you yesterday.
I would like to be with you to help you. I pray that you`ll be able
to feel the Lord`s support as a sign that I have all the desires to be
with you.
We have changes tomorrow. Hna. Grijalva and I were caught off-guard
last night because we were informed the Hna. Grijalva has a change.
Her change is the other sector of sister missionaries in Puerto!
She`s staying here but is changing companions. I`ve been asked to
come to Cusco for a few days. Maybe I`ll receive some training. I`m
a bit nervous.
Something that I learned this week is that references do not come when
a missionary asks for them. References are won by winning the
confidence of the members. This week the brother of the first
counselor in Puerto`s district presidency will be baptized. The
parents of these brothers are going to come from Lima. I`m thrilled.
The brother that is the counselor in the district presidency gave us a
great reference last night as we taught his brother.
Right now we are low on investigators with baptismal dates, but I know
that I have to have a lot of faith. Satan is working really hard on
me right now that feel fear. I know that Hna. Grijalva and I needed
to be together for six weeks because she helped remind me that I have
to put my confidence in God. Hna. Grijalva also helped me to remember
the fundamentals of being a Preach My Gospel missionary, which is to
use the Spirit to understand the real needs of every investigator and
to teach with the Spirit after listening intently to the
investigators.
I sure love every one of you. I can`t read your emails without
tearing up. I am blessed indescribably.
With all my love from Puerto Maldonado,
Hermana Blunck II
Monday, November 7, 2011
Dearest Family,
Happy birthday to Grandma and Grandpa and Sheri! I am with you in spirit on your special days this month!!! I sure love you!!!
I want to thank you for writing me and thinking of me every week. I feel very grateful and blessed. There are lots of missionaries, including my companion, that never receive emails from their families. Please forgive me for being behind on my hand written letters. I will get them in the mail soon.
This week was a very good learning experience. Hna. Grijalva and I have had some struggles, but I think we`re overcoming them. The mission has helped me to overcome my fear to talk about problems. When I started the mission, I tried to keep working without talking about the problems, but it didn`t help. I think I surprise Hna. Grijalva a little bit when I regularly bring up problems in our night time planning, but it`s the best solution that I have when we don`t `llevar bien.`
We contacted two female attorneys this week. I enjoyed the experience. One of the ladies told us bluntly, `I don`t like your religion.` We gave the woman a little bit of time to explain her feelings, and she expressed that she doesn`t like that we don`t get up to clap and shout. We responded to the attorney that what really matters in a church is the doctrine. Everyone has different methods of worshipping. I enjoyed the experience because I felt afterwards that the Spirit had really helped us to respond with an answer that was appropriate for the woman. As an attorney, doctrine and principles matter to her. I think that she will always remember that what matters about the LDS church is the doctrine, and I hope that someday she will accept the gospel.
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
Friday, November 4, 2011
Dearest Family,
I feel like I`m in Oregon. The rains have set-in in the jungle. Fortunately, I have my handy pair of rubber boots.
President Calderon visited us this past week. He gave several trainings to the leaders here and we missionaries also attended. I really, really appreciated the trainings. He also gave training to the missionaries that clarified everything for me. I feel confident now that I can work as God desires and President Calderon will be happy with those efforts. To put it simply, I can focus on looking for families to baptize even if that means that there will be less baptisms.
When I arrived in Puerto, Hna. Benites and I had several baptisms. During some of the baptisms I felt confused because the Spirit was agitated within me. I didn`t feel joy in the baptisms, but my mind couldn`t make sense of why I didn`t feel calm. I thought, `They`re baptisms. I should be happy.` I expressed my concerns to my companion, and she replied that baptizing children is often a means of motivating parents to learn about the church. This comment quieted me. In fact, I felt a little bad that I hadn`t considered that perspective.
President Calderon`s visited helped me because he talked openly. He said, `We don`t want to add the church`s list of inactives. Few, few young people stay active after their baptisms. They come to church mainly for the social interactions. Even if the young people are intelligent and they like learning about the church, few of they will remain active. Many young people excite missionaries because they are excited about the church, but the excitement quickly fades.` I know what President Calderon told us is true because I`ve seen it a lot. It`s a different story when children are baptized with their parents. They stay active.
In sum, I realize that what the Spirit led me to feel with my previous baptisms was the Spirit talking to me. The Spirit didn`t tell me exactly what was wrong, but I definitely felt confusion. That confusion signified that not everything was as it should be. I`m glad now, however, that I can finish my mission working towards what really matters most.
Love,
Hermana Blunck II
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