Oops! Sorry I haven't posted in a veeeeerrry long time. I rarely have internet at our house. And when I am able to get online it's at the in-law's house and I don't feel like taking a long time to blog. But here I am at home all alone while Jonathan is at a branch missionary correlation meeting, since he's the branch mission leader. I love how he magnifies his calling :)
Not a lot is new. Being married is fun, but definitely something to learn every day, most which includes being patient - patient about not having a car, or jobs for the both of us and money, and sometimes... being patient with each other. Somebody told us a few weeks ago about a friend of theirs who said.."Are you really being patient?..Or tolerant? Because there's a different between the two." So that got me thinking. And I truly think that being patient goes hand in hand with possessing a lot of love. So I'm working on it.
It's been really great though. A few weeks ago a man we didn't know walked into the leasing office where Jon's mom works and after he left Jonathan asked his mom for that man's apt number to refer him to the missionaries. Soon after we found out that he had been taking the discussions and requested the Elders to return almost every day to teach him. His name is Julio and he's in his 70s and his family still lives in Columbia, which he's waiting for to come over.. but he is simply amazing. Me and Jonathan went over to bring him cookies one day and ended up talking to him for hours. He is so grateful to have received the gospel in his life and from the things he's told us, the Lord seems like He has led him right there. He has a big testimony and speaks with more conviction about the gospel than I've heard members do, being members their whole lives. It's amazing. He even wanted to bump his baptism date (to the present date) but we had to at least make it be a week or two away to plan and prepare and make sure he's worthy. But he's just awesome. He originally felt so alone moving here, but now with the church he feels like he has a family and he feel that by what Jonathan did, his "soul was saved" - in his words :). So he asked that this Sunday Jonathan would baptize him..and he asked Jon's mom to give a talk since her warm heartedness and nice attitude was what attracted him to the apartment complex, and me to give the opening prayer.... in spanish.
SO! I've been studying away as best as I can to be able to have something to say this Sunday. I feel kind of weird having to memorize a prayer in spanish..and at times I get really frustrated with the language, but there's no way I can say no to that. I have a love for Julio because he's a golden investigator with a truly converted heart and I love him too much to decline offering up a prayer to God at his baptism. So it should be an exciting experience. :)
I've actually been feeling really good lately. I read the scriptures every day and I have been trying to take note of what Brother Richardson taught us to do last year during Book of Mormon class - to find in the scriptures Manifestations of God's power, that is available to me right now today. So I took a new BOM and have been going through it and underlining the Power of God manifested. And it's all taking on a whole new meaning. I see a lot of mercy and promises from the Lord and He truly is a God of miracles. I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...and I'm glad I'm a part of the gospel.
I do really miss Alaska a lot. The other day Jonathan was playing Christmas music and it reminded me heavily of Christmas's in Alaska, especially the North Pole. And how much I'm going to miss having Christmas up there with lots of snow and the lights on the trees and candy cane poles and everything. I'm jealous of the coldness and having to wear a jacket and the leaves turning different colors. And I most definitely miss everybody I ever knew up there A LOT. Being somewhere warm, packed full of people with tons of malls isn't as great as it seems..without all the people you love. And I definitely love and miss you all.
Well, until next time. Adios!
Anna Hernanez <3
