We had a pretty good week finding new people to teach! It really is amazing how the Lord puts the elect—those seeking a better life--in our path. Allow me to share a neat experience we had the other night. Renato, who was baptized last week, has a son who was pretty ill. He received a blessing from our branch President and recovered immediately. Renato´s family, who all went to his baptism were greatly moved and impressed by the Spirit they felt. His mom, Marlene, also has been very sick for the past few months. Renato told her about his son receiving a priesthood blessing and she wanted to know more. We went to her house with President Ricardo and Renato. Their house is literally in the middle of nowhere! If Renato hadn´t shown us I don’t know if I would have been able to find it! President Ricardo is amazing and explained perfectly about the priesthood authority to bless the sick in the Savior’s name. He taught Marlene about how Christ gave His authority to His Apostles to bless the sick, give sight to the blind, heal the lame and to cure the faithful and believing. That exact same priesthood has been restored to the earth, bestowed on His modern day Apostles, and is still used to heal and bless the sick—no matter the infirmity. He explained how the Priesthood power should not to be used frivolously, but should be used with discretion to bless those with the faith to be healed, in conjunction with the Lord’s will. It was a beautiful lesson! I have never seen someone give such a detailed description before giving a Priesthood blessing. Marlene was so moved by her grandson´s miraculous healing and Renato´s baptism that she stated assuredly that she had the faith necessary to be healed. It has been over a week and Marlene has not suffered one pain since the blessing. We are now teaching the entire family about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it can change lives. How grateful I am for the Priesthood and the authority to act in His name that exists on the earth today.
Today, the Sisters from another area spent the day with us. We made lots of food and a delicious cake and laughed a lot! It was a ton of fun. Then our recent convert called me and I could barely hear her because she was whispering, but I finally understood that she had invited some Jehovah´s Witnesses into her house and she needed help. lol. She didn’t know that we had Re-RE-enforcements from the other Sisters who were with us. So we spent several hours kindly discussing the gospel with some very nice women of another faith. It was sooo very interesting to hear their point of view and to see just how many truths they really do have. And to also see where their teachings deviate from the gospel of Jesus Christ that has been restored to the earth. When Christ came to earth, He brought the fullness of His gospel and set up the organization of his perfect church under His authority. But because of the unbelief of the people of His day, they rejected Him and His teachings. The Savior was crucified, the Apostles were eventually killed and the authority they held to act in the Savior’s name was gone from the earth. Doesn’t it make sense that a loving Heavenly Father wouldn’t leave us alone to wonder without direction? If the organization he set up when he was on the earth was perfect (as it most assuredly was), why would it be any different today? He restored His perfect gospel to the earth along with the priesthood authority to act in His name. He restored the same church with the same organization that existed in His day. We are part of that gospel—members of His church—participants in the same organization that existed in His primitive church! And we are blessed to have His priesthood authority. I saw that Priesthood authority heal Renato’s son and his mother, Marlene. I truly respect members of other faiths. These sweet Jehovah’s Witnesses spend a majority of their time knocking doors--just like us! The other day we saw two women who had to be 90 years old showing a Bible verse to a young man in the street! Pretty impressive! In the end I told them, really we are all on the same team even if we believe differently. And it´s always great to learn other´s beliefs! I am so grateful to be serving a mission and inviting others to accept Christ and his teachings. I know lives can change and be better. I hope everyone has a fabulous week! Tchau tchau!
-Sister Peck
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