1. A Story
2. Gracias
3. Family
4. Prayers
1. So we went to Navora's house this week and had a shock, the father of her sisters had returned. I learned something very important, something that I have taken for granted all of my life and something that I didn't even think existed. We went there and we were invited to sit down and immediately something was wrong. Every time we have gone there the Spirit was waiting for us and as soon as we were in their house the Spirit flooded in, but with this man there, there was nothing. We started to talk and invite the spirit like missionaries do, but when we said anything that invited the spirit he would do something to counteract it. For example, we asked, "Navora, How's your day?" Then her 'kinda' father (father of Navora's youngest sister, *Not married, just living there) said "Her day has been perfect. I entered her life again!" "OK, well, what is your name, sir?" "Carlos, gringo!!!" Whenever he talked my anger would rise and I felt my blood boil, in other words, I felt the Spirit of Contention. Eventually, after about an hour, we were able to hit the topic of the church. It is hard to dodge the topic of the church for an hour with missionaries! We found out he is apart of AA and well, I don't know what it's like in the states but here it is crazy! They have their own Bible and everything! It is different than anyone else's! We were able to start with a lesson. once we said the prayer my companion, Elder Fuentes started to 'planch' (get after) the father. This was necessary because in that hour we found out that he is using this family to get the things he wants like money, drugs, alcohol, and more. I followed with an outpouring of love, something we have found that works really well when we have to 'planch'. It went well and we had a good reception with the family even with him. then we moved on and started teaching Navora about the restoration, but something was still wrong. I had not understood some things and I was not feeling the Spirit so I decided to testify of Christ, a sure way to bring the spirit to a house! When I finished I asked Navora a question about how she felt about the church and about prayer. She started to answer and the father interrupted her and she got up and left the room for a little bit, when she came back she started to cry. I was concerned because our last visit she could not feel the Spirit because she believed that God did not love her. We taught her that she was a loved daughter of God and that he loves her. We ended with a priesthood blessing given by me. But this time it was different. I still didn't feel the Spirit. This is kinda where it ends. We had to leave because our Bishop was getting mad at my companion. They were yelling at each other and I was sitting in between them thinking "What is happening?" (I rely on the Spirit right not to understand what is going on when a plan derails). When we left I tried to ask my companion what happened and he wouldn't say. So I waited an hour and a half for us to drive back to Juan Eugelio in silence, which is so weird! After we got to the church building we got our and I told my companion to tell me what happened. It turns out the father was calling Navora the mean things people call me because she spent time in America, and even worse things, things that people are scared to call a messenger of God. So, yeah, things went south fast and we found out why she doesn't feel loved. Near the end, even I felt like yelling and almost wanted to attack the father. That is because the whole family started to talk this way to Navora.
Guys, the whole time I thought they were talking to me that way. I have to share with you what the nametag means to me. It is a Shield of Faith, when people are in need of protection they can come to use and find shelter from the shafts and whirlwind of the devil and of the world (Helaman 5:12). I failed my job, I can't begin to say how mad I still am and we are kinda waiting to go back because both of us still really want to condem that father.
Now time for a 'planch'. All those fathers who read this and don't take care of your family the way God says, beware. Especially those with daughters. I felt the sadness God had for that man and I felt and still feel that his evilness for hurting a beloved daughter of God is beyond sadness and dwells in the depths of hell! The way I felt is like nothing I have ever felt before! I know missionaries are more in tune with feelings and feel more than normal and that is a gift of the Spirit. I feel the love God has for people and for the world, not in its fullness because I believe that would break me in cases like this. Because I felt... I can't describe it but I beg you and the ward to pray for her because her life right now is very, very hard and I think the only way to help is to get rid of that father figure. He is doing so much harm to this family! It's hard to sit and hear people talk bad about a daughter of God. As matter of fact, before my mission, I would have thrown down with this guy. I fear to act and I fear not acting.
2. Following that, I have to thank my family for showing me so much love and support in everything I have decided to do in my life and being kind to me all my days. I remember feeling picked on but that was nothing compared to this! Oh, and thanks for the packages.
3. The importance of a family is to grow together closer to God and to become better children of our Heavenly Father! Those families that counteract this by putting down their children with whatever it may be, through abuse, words and actions destroy the Plan of Salvation and hinder the progression towards God! This is an issue I have not known and don't know how to face! All I know is with prayer and God anything is possible. In my blessing, I promised she would feel loved. I believe it is up to us to make that happen. I don't know how to help her but if anyone has an idea please share it with me.
4. Navora and her family (I hate to say this, but her father too) needs help.
Lupita - Navora's mother, said that we could not baptize her family.
Garcia - A family who wants to be better but never seems to have the time to try.
Charis - A mother who wants to go to church but is helping her sister out every Sunday and is still trying to come.
I love everyone! I know this was a little bit of a downer e-mail but she really does need help and needs to know that she is loved by us and by our Heavenly Father and by Jesus, our Savior! If we can get her to church one more time then to baptism I know the gift of the Holy Ghost will help her feel loved!
I love and miss everyone! - Elder Cazier
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