The Lord is definitely hastening His work and His timing. The lost sheep are being found and the Shepherd is leading the work. The days here on my mission are a only blink and the weeks are a short breath. Another week is gone - and yet the effects are everlasting in my mind and heart.
I testify to you that His hand is in the work and I am constantly in awe -- seeing it daily. This week we had several wonderful experiences and it was no different - tender mercies right before our faces.
One such instant was when I went to the electric company to turn off the power for one apartment we had closed. I was sitting there with Elder Young (he is such a trooper) and we were waiting for our number to be called. FYI - When we go to a place such as this - we just have to call it a half-day field trip. Believe me, you don't want to be in a hurry and it is good to not have any expectations either.
So anyway, we were sitting there and I was thinking of a landlord, Virginia, and her husband, Jose, now well into their 80s. They had been with me last time I was there because we tried to change their account so the bills for the new apartment would come to the mission office. Unfortunately, we didn't get the account changed correctly and it was still messed up. So I was thinking of her and wanting to go visit her. She was one of those amazing landlords who had become my friend too, welcoming me into their home. But... It had been awhile since I had had the time to be in her house because of the vigorous schedule we had been keeping. So I was wishing I could go see her, but I knew it was too much to ask Elder Young to go. Her home is hard to get too and the traffic is horrific. I even told Elder Young that I needed to go see her. I didn't know how we could fit it in our schedules. Well, I was just thinking of her and then I looked up and who did I see? Yes! Virginia! I was so stunned, I just looked and then looked again and then I waved to her. I nudged Elder Young and he was in disbelief.
Could this perhaps be a "Think and ye shall receive"? I knew that "Ask and ye shall receive" worked... but Wow! How could it be? Out of all of the millions of people in Puerto Rico and Virginia was there! She came over and sat down by me and we talked like no time had passed. She said that she had lots of errands on her list and that she was going to go to another place first, but she decided to come to this place to pay a bill.
She ask why we were there. Elder Young responded that we were there for her. We not only did we get time to catch up, we also got to help her get her bill straightened out too. It was a tender-mercy miracle.
I'm so blessed and I am grateful for my missionary testimony. I have learned so much and I know the Lord is very aware of us and he leads us to the people who need us the most... or he leads them to us!
This past week we also went to see a lady who my husband, Elder Young, had baptized 30 years ago. Sister Lugo is now in her 80s and she struggles with Parkinson Disease. She told us that she is no longer able to go to church and she is so sad about that.
This is a picture of Elder Young with the children! (I took a pic of her pic).
It was so great to see her joy - knowing their joy.
That, to me, was worth it all ... it made our day.
My favorite scripture for the week: Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon [us] because he hath [called] us to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent [us] to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of the sight to the blind, to set a liberty them that are bruised."
The church is TRUE!!!
