Saturday we met up with one of our investigators to go to this really amazing Mexican Ice Cream shop!!!! SO much fun! And the ice cream was delicious. We also brought a member with us. She is 20 and is planning on going on a mission so we have been taking her out with us to get some experience! It is wonderful! Well after ice cream, Sister Earl and I had planned on taking Andrea, our investigator, to do a church tour to get her more comfortable with the idea of coming to church. We have been inviting her for a while now but she just hasnt come. So we drove over to the Church building and started our tour. We walked by a few pictures and talked a little about each one of them. We then went into the room where we have our Sacrament Meeting and had a very wonderful time talking about the gospel. Andrea has been praying to Heavenly Father to help her find the right path and what she should do for church and just how she can change her life. Well last week she had actually attended different church activity with a friend of hers and she said she knew Heavenly Father was telling her that that wasnt where she needed to be and the she wished that He would just give her flashing lights and a yes or a no... Well we continued on with our tour, thankful that she was praying and searching for the right path. Our last stop on the tour was the Chapel. Wow!!!! What an amazing experience. When we walked in, only the dim lights at the very front of the chapel were on and so we had to go and turn on the lights on which came on pretty slowly. We sat down and just enjoyed the silence for about 2 minutes and then Sister Earl asked Andrea what she was feeling and Andrea said, " I felt something as soon as we walked in her. I even got my flashing lights that this is where I need to be.(Because of having to turn the lights on in the chapel.) It was amazing. The Spirit was so strong! Andrea received her answer that this is the true church, that this is where she needs to be in order to change her life and the lives of her children for the better. Now we just have to help her act on her impressions! I am so excited to see where she goes! and how the Lord works in her life!
This next story needs a little background story. which is kinda funny if you ask me. The other week Sis Earl and I had an extra half hour to do some finding and we were in an area of a family that hasnt been to church in a while. So we go into this trailer park and they had a little map that showed us where the houses were. We needed house #62 (Or so we thought). Well we went to the house and the people had told us that they werent the people that we were looking for and that they were not interested in meeting with missionaries. Well we were super bummed and had just assumed that the family we were looking for had moved... As we were walking out of the neighborhood, a man was driving home in a little truck and we saw him park but we had an appt to get to so we just kept on walking. I actually smiled and waved at him as we walked by. I had a super strong impression that we needed to go back and talk to this man but I just ignored the prompting thinking that it was just a feeling and nothing more... Well later that day Sis Earl and I had been talking and it turns out that she had the exact same feeling and we both felt terrible and knew that it was the Holy Ghost guiding us to their house. So on this past Friday night we had some extra time and we were in that same area and Sister Earl said, "I feel like we need to go visit that guy we both felt we should have talked to by that family who we couldnt find." I immediately knew who she was talking about and felt that this is what we needed to do. SO we went to the houses and pulled out our branch list to verify that the family that we were looking for was in #62... Welp it turns out that both Sister Earl and I had read it wrong and went to the wrong house. The family lives in #162 in the complete opposite side of the neighborhood. We have no idea how that happened other than Heavenly Father was guiding us to see that man driving home. We went to his house and as we were getting out of our car and grabbing our bag, Santos and his wife, Juanita, walked out of their house to meet us. Which never happens. We talked to them for a bit outside. Santos told us he was Catholic and goes to church every Sunday but Juanita doesnt go because she doesnt really like going to church. But she has amazing faith. They ended up inviting us in and we were able to share a message with them. They were very receptive and really enjoyed the spirit that we brought into their home. We invited them to church on Sunday and they said that they would really love to come and that they would also love to bring their 11 yr old daughter who loves reading the Bible. Sunday morning came and Sister Earl decided that she would call them and remind them about Church. It was about 815 and we actually woke Santos up but he said that since we invited them that they were coming to church and that he would shower and get ready.(Which also Never happens) And they came! They came to church after only meeting with us a few days earlier! I loved it! Church was amazing. Our little room was filled to the brim with people!!!! (Which also never happens) A lot of the less actives that we work with have been coming back to church which really makes me feel happy. Anyways, Santos, Juanita, and Shantell stayed for the first 2 hours of church. Santos wanted to stay longer cuz he loved it but Shantell didnt have time to eat before they left so they needed to get her some food. Sunday night we had a lesson with them and Santos absolutely loved church. He even told one of his friends that he is interested in changing his religion. Juanita also loved it. She said everyone was so nice and welcoming (our branch members ROCK!) and that the hymns and everything we did were beautiful I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for them! Santos doesnt know how to read in Spanish or in English so we invited him to our Tuesday night English class and he is really interested in coming to that too!!!! And then we have another lesson with them on Wednesday. What an amazing adventure they have begun!
Yesterday we had an appt with one of our investigators, Evaline. She has come to church 11 times now and really loves it. We talked to her about baptism and were able to set her with a date for the 20th of April. I know she is ready! And she says she finally feels ready too. What a blessing! I am so excited to see what happens with her. She is such a sweetheart.
We were also able to find 6 new investigators this week. Which is pretty crazy for us. And all of them have some really great potential. We had 25 lessons which we didnt even have to struggle to get. Everything just fell into place for us and we did 4+ hours of service. What a busy and fun week! Haha I also got a sunburn from when we taught on a doorstep for a half hour. That was fun but now it is nice and tan and we learned how to make homemade orchata which is a cinnamon rice drink! It was magical! I cant wait to make it for everyone when I get home! Oh and we had homemade tamales! YUMMMMMMMM!!! I am in Heaven!
We also had an amazing Easter dinner with the members that Sis Earl and I live with! It was so much fun! And there was this amazing dessert that a lady brought. It is a Peruvian dessert and it is similar to flan. Mom you would absoultley love! it. So delicious.
And GENERAL CONFERENCE IS THIS WEEKEND!!!!! What a blessing! I am so excited to hear from our prophet! To be uplifted and to feel of the love that God has for me. I love this work! I am learning that obedience truly does bring blessings! And that as we keep the commandments and follow God's plan that we will truly be blessed!
Les amo tanto, (I love you lots)
Hna Jarvis
Sister Jarvis on her birthday
At the border of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska
Sister Donovan and Sister Earl (Meagan's companion)
Sister Zvirzden, Me, Sister Earl and Sister Donovan
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