Christ-like charity

6/27  This week we had a very spiritual experience with Sandra. We had a visit planned with Manuel and his family, but as soon as we got to the pueblo, they told us they weren't at home. We decided to pass by Sandra because she lives in the same pueblo. We went and sat on a bench outside, and she opened up to us. She told us about all of the trials she is going through with sickness, economical stress and feeling alone. She told us that she doesn't have work, and there is no income for food or for rent. As she started to cry she said "but I know that we aren't alone, and that the Savior is helping us. I know that everything will be alright". When I heard the faith of this recent convert of only 1 month, I could hardly hold back tears. Even when she is going through a near impossible situation, she still holds firmly to her faith in the Savior.

Later this week, when we had commented about her situation to our ward mission leader, he called us and told us he had a large bag of food for Sandra and her family, and asked us when we could take it to her. It amazed me how quickly and selflessly he prepared that bag. That may have been one of the most Christ like demonstrations of charity I have seen my whole mission. Our ward mission leader isn't in the best economic situation either, yet he was so willing to buy all of that food for a family who was in need. My testimony of charity was increased by that experience.

Manuel and his family are doing good. They were busy this week and didn't have time to visit, but we will be visiting them tomorrow. Also, a little update on Jorge, he and his family ended up moving to Logroño, which is really far away. I'm sure the missionaries up there will do a great job teaching them. We visited with Dario and his family in the doorway, and have another visit with them this week. They seem promising. Alexia is as good as ever. She is really excited for her baptism on the 16th of July, and the whole ward is excited too.

This week, my testimony about the importance of having the spirit with us as we teach was reinforced. Every time we try to teach a lesson in an environment without the spirit, it reminds me of how insignificant we are as teachers. In the worldwide mission conference a few months back I remember Elder Bednar commenting that our role as missionaries is to give way for the spirit to enter into the hearts of the people we teach, and that is how they will learn. In D&C 42:14 it says; "And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach." That really emphasizes the importance of having the spirit in our lessons. If we don't have it, we shouldn't teach. The spirit is the true teacher. Even if we can teach with all logic and clarity, without the spirit, our investigators will never gain a testimony.