To my dearest family and friends,
To most missionaries Doctrine and Covenants 33:8-10's message gives them encouragement for sharing the gospel. Well, here in Peru "open your mouths and they shall be filled" takes on a different meaning. In the past week we've eaten with members 4 of 7 days.
This week started out a little slow, but ended well.
Tuesday we were able to meet with a recent convert and her husband who is not a member. We invited him to sit in on her lesson and he agreed to meet again.
Wednesday we had a district meeting in Huntington, IN. My district is awesome (4 elders, 4 sisters). It was great to learn with them. Brother Stapleton agreed to be baptized! :) He'll be baptized on September 28th.
Thursday--service is fun! We helped with bingo at a nursing home and made applesauce with Sister Waite in our ward. We've adopted her as our unofficial "mission mom."
Saturday we met with a new family--a mom and 3 kids. :) and we had an awesome lesson with Brother Stapleton!
But Sunday was the best.
Yesterday we were surprised by a thunderstorm while out walking. We had just been to visit a less active member when we met a young man, Danny, on his front porch. We had been talking to him for about 60 seconds when the downpour started. We were more than a little wet when we left, but running through the rain to the car was refreshing. :)
And after our dinner appointment at Sister Smith-Carroll's home (Sister Smith-Carroll is sister Waite's mom) we went out to the car and checked our phone. We had a voicemail from a less active member, Brother Smith. Earlier this week we'd left a message on his front door (he wasn't home). We called him back and made an appointment. He expressed an interest in being sealed to his parents (his father passed away recently), and wants to come back to church, he's just not sure how to go about it. We assured him that he can come back (even after 40 years!) God loves all his children and doesn't give up on them. There is always a way for them to progress, to change, to turn to Him. I love that about the Gospel.
Miracles happen in Peru, Indiana. I know they do.
A week ago a sister in our ward noticed a new family moving in across the street. Even though she has trouble walking because of MS, she baked some banana bread and took it to the family to welcome them to the neighborhood. Yesterday we (Sister Crosby and I) went with this sweet sister to visit the family again. The mother of the family said that she had been having doubts about moving her family here. But when the sister brought her family banana bread, she knew she had made the right decision.
Our Heavenly Father knows us. He knows our fears and uncertainties, He is aware of us, and He knows our needs. He wants to bless us.
What a week. Tender mercies in the form of banana bread, shirtless men/underwear loungers peeking around the front door to talk to us, and the best pumpkin ice cream I've ever tasted, it's all part of this great adventure. But the best part is the people.
I hope this email isn't too long! :)
Love from Peru,
Sister Sarah Jane Lewis
1858 South Business 31 Apt. 2D
Peru, Indiana 46970
P.S. I've never seen so many metal stars in my life. Apparently it's a rite of passage in Peru. If you ain't got a star on your house, you ain't livin'. (I'll have to send pictures.)
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