My Argentine Grandpa

Dear Family,

WOW this week was so fantastic. :) First I had my second toenail surgery. HAHAHA Oh did I neglect to tell you about the first?  Oopsie!  Well this one was much better, less painful,  but the doc drugged my toe super good so I didnt feel anything:) He did cut a fourth of my toenail out so that was fun. :) I was praying a ton this week so that my toe would get better and that I would be able to walk! Its crazy what faith can do. I was able to heal fast and this week we had the most beautiful baptism of Norberto. :):) NORBERTO IS A HUGE AMAZING MIRACLE!

Okay so we call him abuelo cause im truly convinced he was my third Argentine grandpa in the premortal life. :) This week he sent like 100 messages saying he was so excited to follow Jesus and be baptized. Ahhh es un amor. I love this little man. The day of his baptism we were out working and we saw NORBERTO on his crutches walking to the chapel. I felt the biggest burning in my chest telling me that this man is sooo prepared and so dedicated to be baptized. His house to the chapel is super far away and to see him traveling with his crutches.. made my heart melt. He came an hour early to his baptism. :) It was alot of physical work for him and he did it gladly.

OKay so his baptism was so special. Hes a little man in crutches so we were a little worried how he could be dunked in the water but the hermano who baptized him held him so gently and gracefully dunked his whole body in the water. It was as if he was craddling a little baby. Tears just remembering the scene.  Norberto held perfectly still. When he came out of the water he was so calm and so happy. What I love about Norberto is that hes not afraid to cry.. just like my Dad:) He said hes never felt better in his whole life. :)

And then his confirmacion:) wow it was sooo sweet. After his blessing he sat down right next to me.. put his hand over his face and just started TO SOB. It was so cute! He couldnt stop the tears! It made me cry! How could you not cry witnessing such a vulnerable real cry?  His spirit was soooo strong. Ahh God is so good.

I asked Norberto why did he change his mind and decide to be baptized.  When we would pass by his house we always said hi to him and asked him how he was doing. He said that he began to feel so much love every time we passed by. And when matamoros came to tigre and we said hi to him.it just hit him. And thats why he stopped us. It was the love that he felt from us that helped him decide to be baptized. People its the little things. Never give up on people. Never tire in doing good works. Poco a poco they will feel your love and they will change in Gods time. :) Ya know sometimes I stress on the mission and wonder if IM doing everything I can to help Gods children.. but Norberto is an example that yes. Yes its possible. WHERE THERE IS LOVE THERE ARE MIRACLES. Sometimes we love people selfishly where we just want them to make us feel good and do what we want them to do.  That is not really love.  Love is about unconditionally valuing their worth and who they are the respecting Gods plan and time for them.  Love treats people with tender care that are struggling. THis morning I opened up my bible and God told me something very important:

 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

I know that success is when we feel the pure love of christ. :) 

OKay I just have to tell ya'll another story. We have a family in the branch se llama la familia LUNA. They are my best friends cause they give great lunches and they just love the hermanas. :) ITs the mom and all of her 8 kids but its only her and her youngest Valentina who is 16 that live together. One day we came to their house and Valentina was alone and looked super sad. She didnt say anything until her mom came home and told us that she got married the other day! WOW. I always used to tease her and her boyfriend about getting married but I didnt think they would actually do it. Something wasnt right about this story. The mom with tears in her eyes told us that Valentina was 4 months pregnant. I had no idea.She is so skinny you cant see anything. But What really got me was to see the unconditional love in the eyes of the mom. It was hard for her and her daughter.. But ya know what? Valentina is my hero. She took a big pill of courage, decided to make it right the best she knew how and to start and family with her new husband. They are both members so when I saw them sitting in sacrament I felt so happy that they were brave and ready to take on what would come. . Presidente Avila is my hero. He announced their wedding and was so kind about it. After church they had cake and empanadas. Everyone knew she was pregnant.. but you know what all the members did? They loved her, and hugged her, and were so kind to her and Fernando. I was so impressed. I felt the love and the mercy that God has for his children in Tigre. These members are huge examples to me. Our ward is our family and when hard things happen to us I hope we dont judge, but just love no matter what happens. :)

So ya that was my week :)

loveyall:)

love, hermana terryble!!!  CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!