Baptism!!!

This week has been a little stressful. Im still in the south waiting for a flight out to the north. So we are doing the trio thing right now and training hna. Gutierrez from California. Shes wonderful in every way and we love her. This week has been very successful and we are very grateful for the new comp.who has brought great things to our companionship. We feel blessed to work with her. The Lords hand in the work this week brought us to have the faith neccessary to bring a 9 yr old to the waters of baptism. The majority of his family being active in the church made us think that he was surely baptized by now but when we were teaching the mother in the middle of a service project that we were doing for her (we intended to recieve references) We ended up finding out that her very own son was still not yet baptized and they didnt want to baptize him until their grandmother could come down from the north of Argentina someday and at least until his brother (whos serving now in chile) could finish his mission and attend his baptism. Well we didnt feel the need to push them on getting him baptized right away up until we recieved revelation. When Hna. Milmont and I were talking about why we think im still here in this area and that there must still be a reason for it. Hna. Milmont said "hermana, im terrified to train, I have learned so much from you and I still feel like I need you here because I still have yet to learn so much and I dont think I can train without you." I knew she was sweetly trying to help me feel some closure or reason in my waiting here and then she said... "Hermana, I dont think you are ready to leave right now, I feel like theres something more you need to do here before. I dont know why, but Familia Tello is coming to my mind and I feel that you will play a big part in him being baptized." Just in that moment, the spirit spoke ever so clearly... saying Lucas Tello needs to be baptized without hesitation, he is priority! So we focused on him. We spoke with his parents. Did service for the family. Obtained many references. Taught lucas very throughily and careful and tested him on what we taught. Im proud of his great efforts of studying what we left for him and practicing THE OLA!!!!

Which was our Mission presidents revelation on the step and process of faith. That we need to ORAR, LEER, Y ASISTIR to act in faith! This has brought us wonderful success teaching such simple and important doctrine to these people. Lucas knows and is overly excited to recite the OLA and all of the steps of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He now understands where he came from and where they are going as a family. It was a miracle week. The lessons were very spiritual and I believe they touched the hearts of his family deeply. For him to recieve an answer of the Book Of Mormon, I asked an inspired question... "Lucas, how do you feel about your father?" he glanced down at the book of mormon, and his lip quivered... and he barely mustered "I love my dad." tears filled his eyes and his fathers. He ran to his fathers arms and hugged him. I saw a vision of him and his family running to Heavenly Fathers arms. It touched me. The spirit spoke through me again and I said.. "Lucas, the love you feel and the love your dad feels for you, is only a small part of the love your heavenly father has for you both. Do you want to run to the arms of your Heavenly Father?" "yes I do. and my papa too. and all my family!" "ok" I said,"He wants that for all of you also... so when do you need to be baptized?" "este sabado! Puedo?" haha so it was a special experience to be a part of. His brother on his mission ended up sending them a dvd clip of congrats to his little brother with all of his companions in the video. It was really special because it reminded me of when I heard the news of my little sisters baptism while I was also serving. It was very very special. I feel that they are all very pleased. It was beautiful to see all of their family, less active and active come together and feel the Saviors love in this one boys great faith to follow the Savior. We are starting anew this week, contacting all of our references and we are going to cover the whole area for Hna. Gutierrez to get a feel of things. Its funny watching new greenies come into the field.... they are so fresh outta the world and every little thing catches their attention. Its fun to see the change the mission brings. We have met the bishop the first night that she was with us and his whole family had us eat the famous Argentine ASADO and it was good. They call it a sin to be here and not try it haha. it was a fun experience but Im just going to have to be vegetarian again when I get home because this stuff is SO unhealthy! We plan on visiting him again tonight and kneeling in prayer for continuing to strengthen this area. We are happy. We are grateful. We are obedient. And we are working hard. WE ARE LOVIN IT! thanks for all your prayers and love! i send you all my hugs and kisses via email until I see you in a little while. CHAO!!!!!

 

love

Hermana ashley ann gillum