¡Hola mi familia y mis amigos!
Last week we were just barely in the right place at the right time. I think it was Friday night, or maybe Wednesday, but as we were talking with one of our investigators outside her door, a family ran past us on the sidewalk and then motioned excitedly for us to follow them. We jogged over to where they stood at the end of the street, looking across the valley to where the sun was setting on the horizon. We, too, looked directly at the sun while it was big and orange on the horizon due to the refraction in the atmosphere, and could see the bottom left corner of the sun missing!! Just kidding, it was only blocked by the moon, but it was really cool, because you couldn't see the moon at all and it just looked like the sun was a glowing orange in the sky that had a bite taken out of it by someone with a perfectly circular mouth. 70 seconds later, the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, but we had gotten there just in time to find out about and see the partial eclipse, so it was pretty cool.
One thing that missionaries have been really bad about down here is teaching the retention lessons to the recent converts. For whatever reason, we just don't get around to reteaching the 5 lessons from Preach My Gospel to the recent converts after their baptisms, and you can easily see the consequences of such negligence. Elder Oberg and I set goals when we first got together to teach all the lessons of retention to as many converts baptized within the last 2 years as possible, and it has proved to be very enjoyable and strengthening, so we're glad we're doing it. It's incredible how much of the lesson investigators don't really understand as we go through it the first time, but they are able to put all together when we go through another time after their baptism, and even go into more details and help them really grow in understanding and testimony. We've focused a great deal of our time visiting all the recent converts and reviewing each of the lessons with them. A lot of them who would go to church just every once in a while now come more often and have set personal goals to read the Book of Mormon and things like that, so it has been very rewarding. However, it has made finding new investigators a bit more difficult because we don't spend as much time searching. We keep hoping and praying that we'll be able to get some good referrals from them as they begin to share their testimonies with their friends and family members, but so far, nothing has really shown up. We have great faith that even though we haven't found as many new investigators as we normally do, we'll soon be able to find investigators of a much higher receptivity quality if we can keep working closely with the members.
Last night, we invited 5 of those recent converts to the Mossó family's house for a family home evening, and it quickly turned into a kind of testimony meeting where everyone shared how incredible they've felt since they've found Christ's true church with His restored gospel, and how it has filled voids they didn't even realize they had been feeling all their lives. A young couple in their 30's, Dennis and Carolina, who got baptized in June and July, respectively, are just spectacular. I love going by them each week to teach them the retention lessons, because they are so intent and learn so much every time, and just cannot wait to get sealed for time and all eternity in the temple. Last week, we taught them about patriarchal blessings, which they absolutely loved, and they are going to ask for theirs soon. Dennis just got called to be the secretary in the elders quorum presidency and will receive the Melchizedek Priesthood this Sunday! Anyways, last night, they and the Mossó family expressed how much they love each other and the Spirit was so strong, because they are now like family after only knowing each other for a few months. They are always worrying about each other and supporting each other and really are so close, and it was such a privilege to be with them last night and see how many blessings have come into everyone's lives since they've found the true church and made the gospel a foundational part of their lives. We haven't even experienced a fraction of what is in store if we continue on in hope and brightness. I too am grateful for my unwavering family and the numberless, priceless blessings that have come our way for the understanding and application of simple gospel truths, and hope to bring those same blessings to as many willing families as can hear my voice. I love you all!
Love, Elder Kimball
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