Second Best Lesson

my good friends and I at the beach

Well. It has been a good week. We worked hard. I am wasted. 

Tomorrow is transfers and nothing really has changed in our zone that is worth telling you all. I get to stay with all of my friends and kill it here in Freehold for one more!

I love Freehold. I love the members, I love the ward, I love the area, I love my investigators. I love my companion. It is a high point in my mission. 

This last week we found 4 solid new investigators and 2 not so solid. Our week was super busy and I can't remember a lot but I would like to share one of the most powerful experiences I have had here.

We contacted this lady named Karina. She was interested, and I felt she was special. Sadly, I almost walked right by her without saying anything. We set an appointment up with her but forgot to get her number. We went over to her house and tried super hard to get in. Sadly the people living there told us she didn't live there. I was almost positive though that she lived there. We left, and I felt that we had lost her. Honestly I felt so strong about her. We decided to not go by ever again because we tried so hard to get into that house. I think we scared them.

I went on an exchange with E Nilssen (he is super cool. He speaks korean but is now english to be our zl) and we were walking down this street. I was on the phone and this lady walks up to him and starts balling saying "Elderes Elderes Elderes!" I quickly ended the call and tried to figure out what this lady was saying. I told her that he didn't speak spanish but that I did. She turns to me and tells me she came to the US 2 months back. She is a member. She said she had been searching for the church and that she felt to go try to get a job. She encountered us and knew it was an answer from God. I couldn't help but tell her "God is real." I felt the Spirit very strongly as we talked and we shared 1 Nep 21:16 with her. She was so sweet and kept telling us she found her family. she found her home. We set up an appointment and went over there on Thursday. We got to her home before she got home from the work that she had received that same day she contacted us. Her cousin pulled up and I went over to open the door for her. I helped her out and I looked into the back seat and saw Karina. She got out of the car and I almost screamed "Karina!" I guess I said it out loud and the member says, "you know her?" And we said yes. The member didn't know her either but the member (juana), karina, and the cousin all went into the home of Juana and her cousin. There we sat down with Karina and Juana and got to know them a bit. We almost started to share the book of mormon with her when I felt prompted to ask her if she feels alone. We talked for a bit and Juana shared her testimony of feeling the love of God through the church. I then felt prompted to share the same scripture that we had shared with Juana when we met her. We explained to Karina that jesus christ was nailed to the cross, and when he was resurrected he still had the scars. We told her that those scars remind him of her. That he engraved her upon the palms of his hands. I saw this understanding in her eyes and a smile came onto her face. I felt the spirit so strong. to my surprise the smile faded and she bowed her head. She started crying. 

Seeing Karina recognize what Christ did her for her is hard to explain. To think that through my words, the Spirit touched her and testified to her that Jesus loves her. That lesson I felt the Spirit very strongly. Second best lesson only to Aldo's last lesson with me.

Again, we had problems getting her correct number so when we tried to help her get a ride, we couldnt. I lost hope she was coming and that we lost her again. I then realized only God could change the situation and I lost faith he would. I was translating the sacrament meeting for the hispanic members when I saw Juana and Karina walk in. I stopped talking. I was so surprised and happy and grateful. 

I am grateful for this opportunity to be a missionary and feel the love I feel for these people. Its hard sometimes when I want to come home and comfort my family and friends when they are having a hard time, but I think God will do that for me.

I love you family. Keep praying for us and them! These people are worthy of your prayers. And its working.

Stay Strong. Jersey Strong.