March 9, 2020 Puzzle

This transfer I have seen countless miracles that have helped me recognize even more how great the lords work is!! 

I got a call from President Guthrie the Saturday before transfers asking me if I would be willing to white wash Victoria; In turn, Texas City would be closing to sisters. 

I was staying in Houston at this time so my goodbyes to those I had grown to love so much down in my old area would be nonexistent. Of course this pained my heart! But I knew that God has a perfect plan for each one of us. 

I was told to not listen to what anyone said about Victoria, and to go in and do things "our way."

When Hermana Lopez and I got to Victoria we excitedly checked the list of those we would already be teaching.... 

There was one person. 

We tried to contact the person the previous  Victoria sisters were teaching, but despite our constant efforts to help them come closer to Christ, we ended up dropping them after only a week. 

We were then teaching no one. 

If I could pin point the hardest time on my mission, it would be then. We felt completely alone. We knew no one and no one knew us. 

As we sat in our apartment the first day trying to figure out where to go, we got a phone call. 

"HEY SISTERS!" 

It was the Deasons. They told us they had some cookies that needed a home. They wanted us to come over as soon as we had the chance! It was the first miracle we saw here in Victoria. 

We fell in love with the Deasons the second that their three little kids came running out of the house to greet us. 

As the days rolled by we began to be familiar with the area. We didn't get lost as easily every time we left the apartment.

The second p-day finally came and we anxiously called our families and emailed our friends. We stopped by Walmart to pick up a few groceries, and there a woman approached us. She asked us what religion we were and my companion briefly explained it to her before we parted ways.

 As we loaded our groceries in our car and bucked our seatbelts a car quickly pulled up in front of ours, blocking our way out. They parked right in front of us, and the woman from before got out of the driver's seat.  

She came up to our car, and we rolled the window down. She asked us if we could come and visit her! She said she had just moved to Victoria, and she is looking for a religion. She wants us to bring her a Bible and we exchanged information!! 

After that, miracles rolled in from everywhere!

 While visiting a member down in Edna we stopped by a house where a man told us to come back next week. As we pulled up a week later a woman was standing outside, and she quickly invited us in. We told her of the Book of Mormon and she opened up to us! She told us she has an aunt who needs to hear this message we were sharing. 

Her aunt pulled up a few minutes later and we were able to share a Book of Mormon with her as well as the poem I wrote a week previous to our encounter. She cried as I read her the simple words I had written. 

I offered her the poem, and she later messaged us this: 

"Ok sisters, you guys made a big impression and impact on me and my life. You don't know how much I thank you for stepping in when you did, and being a friend when I needed it the most! God sent you to give me comfort and true love in his name and in his sons name. He's right on time. He always gives you what you need, not what you want...I'm going to cherish this poem with all of my heart! I'm going to blow it up and get it laminated! I might have someone rewrite it and draw a picture with it, but this poem is everything to me." 

I know that though I may have thought the poem was for me, it was for this woman!

Right after leaving that home, we got a call from a man named Robert who said he had watched general conference and he wants to take the lessons!! 

Later I had the impression to message a scripture to Robert. His response again touched my heart.

He said "the scripture you sent was just perfect timing. I didn't know you knew." 

We were confused. "Knew what?" We asked. 

"To send this scripture." 

We told him we had been moved by the spirit to send him this scripture. He expressed his love for the lord. He knew that god is watching over him! 

Not a day has gone by where we haven't seen at least one simple, but beautiful miracle!! 

This is the lords work! I know I am meant to be here in Victoria at this time. 

I have learned how to rely on the lord and love the people no matter what!

I love the mission!! I wouldn't want anything different! Even the trials and hardships have only turned into little pieces of gold. 

I know that god sees the whole picture, were we only see a piece of the giant puzzle. It is so important to trust in the lord and consecrate  ourselves to him!! If we do, we are promised we will be able to run and not be weary, and walk and not faint!! (D&C 89:20) 

 Hard times will come, but the dark pieces of the puzzle only add to the beauty of the finished piece. I hope we can all continue to trust in the lord and rely on him as we progress and improve day by day. 

I love you all!!