Miracles

Just wait until you finish this email! You better be sitting down while you read it cause I am still in awe over all the things that happened to us. Okay are you ready? Here we go.

First last week we went to this investigators house. Thanks to Heavenly Father blessing me with the gift of tounges! I was able to be in a room with fluent Spanish speakers and understand what was being said. We taught this lady last week but this week we went over and found her daughters as well. So it was me, my gringo self, my companion the El Salvadorian, and 3 others! I got home and thanked Heavenly Father for that true miracle! 

 

Next miracle I had to speak at a baptism for a investigator I taught in Reseda. I had written out my talk and planned on reading it from the paper. My district leader from Reseda even corrected it for me. Half way though my talk I decided to bag the whole thing. Mainly because the 10 year was not really involved with me talking to her and the other part was my Zone Leaders walked in. For some reason seeing them walk in to a talk that I knew wasn't going the best triggered me to want to be doing better. So I just spoke! I don't know what I said but I just started using things I had studied. I can testify that as a missionary if you do your studies and just open your mouth the words will come. I sat down and wondered how I had even did that. Another tender mercies from Heavenly Father giving me words when I need them.

 

We have a couple that work in our mission office answering our phones and helping us missionaries with whatever! They are really so great! It is such a joy to call the office and hear their voices. We had Zone Conference last week and I found out that they are finishing up their mission in September. It made sense because I called the office a few weeks ago and didn't hear Sister Workman's voice on the phone but instead talked to someone I didn't know. I was a little confused and wondered why someone was answering the phone that wasn't Sister Workman. I had forgotten that experience until this weekend when I went to Zone Conferenece and met the new office workers. They were nice and friendly but I will be sad to see the Workmans go! The miracle happened at lunch time. I had just got my lunch and sat down. I started talking to one of my native spanish speaking Elder friend's in Spanish, you know to practice. The new office couple sat down in front of me to eat there lunch. I really wanted to continue talking to Elder Gabriel in Spanish but I knew I should introduce myself to the new office couple. I mean they did sit down directly in front of me. I immediately asked them where they were from the Sister replied or at least I thought she replied "We are from Manti". I knew exactly where that was and have been to the pagent a few times so I said "Oh yeah I know where that is. I am from Spanish Fork. I have been to the pageant a few times down there." She replied "Oh no that is Manti. We are from Mantua."  For any of you who don't know where Mantua Utah is, it is this little one street town that contains at most 700 people. My grandparents lived there and for me it reminds me of my childhood days. My grandpa also passed away in the town so I feel this little town connects me to him and my grandma during my younger days. When she told me that this is where she was from I immediately thought of my grandparents. So I just froze then after I regained my thoughts I said "oh really?!" with a lot more excitement this time, "my grandparents lived there!". I hoped so much, so so so so much that this couple sitting across from me knew my grandparents so when she asked "Who are your grandparents?"  I immediately told her the names and it turns out they do! Not only do they know my grandparents but the Brother said he may have been Bishop at the time my grandpa passed. For the next little bit we talked about my dear grandparents. It was such a sweet experience. Tears filled my eyes when he started talking about grandpa. He shared a few stories but our conversation changed when he told me that one of the Elder's I am really good friends with has a grandparent living there as well. It all was so crazy! Before lunch was over Elder Davis and I had bonded over being in the small town of Mantua when we were younger!

 

After lunch this gentlemen got up to introduce himself and his wife. He told the missionaries at the conference that he had made some connections with me and Elder Davis. He paused and with tears streaming down his face he began talking about how wonderful our grandpa's had been. (Elder Davis's grandpa passed away in Mantua as well but I am not sure when). He said that our "grandpa never missed a day of home teaching" and that "you could always count on them to fulfill their callings faithfully". It was really awesome. For me the spirit was so strong. It was a miracle moment to meet someone who knew my grandpa, my grandparents. They told me they would think of stories to share with me every time I see them and I can't wait to see them again! I don't know how to explain the love I have for my grandparents. The love I have for this little town. I was truly blessed to be living with my grandma before my mission. I can't thank her enough for all she as done for the family and me over the years. I often wonder what it would be like if grandpa was still alive. I have memories but I was young when he passed so I don't remember a whole lot. I know that my grandpa was an amazing person. I am truly lucky to have him as my grandpa.

 

Oh the people are Brother and Sister Jeppson. I think that is how you spell it. I wrote down the names but I left my paper at home. And Elder Davis's grandma is Sister Sara. Let me know if you know any of them. Or if you could get the word to grandma. I was really excited.

 

But the miracles are not over. After lunch the Assistants to the Presdient started giving their training. They told us they would be doing role plays. I am not one for role plays. I don't like being in front of people and I get nervous to speak spanish in front of people who know it better then I do. I will do it but if I can avoid it I will. The first two role plays I made it out free. I would write something on my paper in order to avoid eye contact but unlucky for me, my companion was not avoiding the Assistants to the President. So Elder Villegas says "let's pick an Hermana, Hermana Zepeda, will you and Hermana Fish come up?" So we went up and we did the role play. We were given the assignment to talk to someone at the gas station. So filling up our cars we started talking to this gentlemen played by Elder Villegas. I started out by saying "Me gusta su carro." which means "I like your car." I don't think he expected me to say that cause he kind of chuckled but Elder Villegas would make a great actor cause he can keep the role. We continued the role play and at one point my native speaking campion stopped and couldn't think of anything to say so I said something. I know it was not her lack of ablitiy to speak spanish or anything but really what do you say to someone about the gospel at the gas station. The words seem to follow into my mind. When conference was done I had 6! 6!!!!! missionaries come up to me and give me compliments about how good my spanish is getting. I am not being boastful cause I still have a lot A LOT to learn but it was nice to hear these unexpected compliments from all my fellow missionaries!

 

But the miracles continue! I wish I could finish this email cause I have a story for you that will blow your mind but I will have to wait until next week. It is a super cool miracle though so stay tuned until next week!