The Beauty of God

As people, we will never be up on the Lord. He will always show us His hand in our lives when we least expect it.

These last few days in Chile have been wonderful. On Saturday we went out to Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, Con Còn and some other places. It was beautiful. The beaches, the fresh air, the beauty of the edge of the world. Something inside of me pulls me to stay here. I have fallen in love with Chile. At the same time, there are many things I am not sure of. Perhaps in the future I will return to stay.

Sunday, I went to church in Curacavì. I thought I was going as a surprise, but the Lord had something better in store. When I got there, there were hardly any people and none that I knew. So, I helped to set up the chairs and studied my scriptures some.

An hno. came up to me and asked if I had served in the ward. I told him yes and he told me he remembered me because of the time we played soccer. That was when I was in the barrio San Pablo and never thought I would be called to Curacavì (just over the mtns and in the same zone). We had a good laugh...

Hno. Farrias asked if I would lead the music since Claudia had to work. I said sure, why not? It was interesting because I had to dig out my singing voice to give the tone... eak! The surprise came as I was leading the last hymn. The hymn was Called to Serve and during the fourth verse I looked at all the people I had grown to love while I was a missionary and then m eyes focused on an hna. I knew her.

It was Gloria, an hna we had taught and who I taught English classes to. She would never commit to baptism, but she would listen and do her thing. I left her some books and magazines in English (from the Church of course ;) ). She said she always reads through them and remembers our time together. I started to cry when I realized it was her.

The realization that the work of the Lord continues even after we are gone is a beautiful thing. She was getting baptized that day and I had been directed to be in Curacavì at the precise time. The Lord truely works wonders in our lives. I was able to see her baptism and share in the wonderful moment with her. It was awesome!

I then had the opportunity to go out with the elders and visit a family I knew. Miriam was an inactive, new convert we were working with. Her two beautiful daughters and husband had not yet chosen to follow her. The elders told me that a few weeks ago Francie was baptized and Victor is closer and closer to the faunt. I think he still faults some basic principals, but he will get there. Deborah is not yet old enough, but I have a lot of confidence in her.

I had the amazing opportunity to bear my testimony to them, especially Victor. The spirit touched me so strong and I know there is a reason the missionaries keep knocking the door and sharing with Victor. He is truely special.

Luna has not been to church in about 1 yr. She passed by some difficult times and I only pray that what the Lord directs me to say this evening will help her. Maricela is strong and even takes Antonia sometimes. They are three special, strong women who have a mission to complete in the Church. Wow!

My time is growing short here and I want to close my eyes and hope that the minutes stop. There is so much work to be done here and so many lives to be touched. Chile is truely a blessed land full of promises. Someday it will be a light to the world just as Elder Holland said.