Well it has been one of the best weeks of my mission by far. First of all, Martín and Carolina Ventura were baptized on Thursday, exactly one month after the missionaries first talked to them! It was way awesome and they were running around like crazy to finish everything and they did it all on their own power and they were so happy. The Rojas family were the witnesses of the wedding and gave them a gift and brought rice to throw and are planning to do all sorts of things with them so they have friends and everything! Everyone was so happy!
Then on Saturday they were baptized! I baptized Carolina and Elder Meniz baptized Martín. They were kind of nervous and the water was a bit cold, but they were way happy! Also, Elder Olsen, who found them, was able to come and be at the baptism and he gave a small talk, which was really cool for him and for them. There was a cake and we had like 40 people there which is more than we have a church sometimes. It was really so amazing and I just realized how much the Lord has blessed us to find this amazing family and have the opportunity to teach them and get to know them. It is my dream to get to be there when they are sealed in the temple, but we will see if I am able to get permission. It has really been like we are living a dream with this family and I am so blessed to have gotten to be a part of their conversion.
Also, we have an investigator named Virginia who is 18 years old and she has been studying all of the pamphlets and everything and she told us the other day that she wants to serve a mission! We were so pumped and she is really changing her life for the better and should be baptized in April. I can´t remember if I told you about her yet, but we found her one day while clapping houses and she came out and before we even said anything she invited us to sit down. Her grandpa and her dad were both preachers, her dad died when she was very little. Her mom died only 5 months ago, so she has been very lonely, but now the ward is like adopting her and she is starting personal progress and is way happier. It has been amazing to see her life change as well.
Also, we had a really cool experience with a part member family who we didn´t even know existed until recently. We passed by a few times but they were always busy but this week we came by and they were very eager to have us come by. They told us that he lost his job and had been super sick for a whole week. they asked us to pray for them and so we did and shared a thought about putting trust in the Lord. It made me realize how much the people here trust in prayer. Even if they don´t like us, they are always grateful and willing to accept a prayer for their family. And when we ask if they need us to pray for anything specific it is always, always about the family. But a few days later we passed by this same family and he told us that the morning after we had passed by he woke up and was totally healthy and nothing was bothering him anymore. I almost forgot about the visit before, but it had a huge impact on him (he isn´t a member) and he was so grateful and was just telling us how much he needs more of God in his life. It was a huge miracle because of the faith that this family had.
Another miracle was that Lorenza, a less active member, came to church! She had been impeded from coming to church because her son has some serious mental and drug issues and always destroys the house so she can´t leave him. But this morning she said she woke up at 5 and just was praying and praying and then her uncle showed up and was able to watch the house and her son and so she was able to come. Another amazing example of the power in a prayer of faith.
This area is having so many miracle and we are so blessed to be a part of all of this! Things are looking very bright here in Puerto Rico and all the members are very excited. I however, just received the news that I will be leaving Puerto Rico tomorrow in the morning. I am going to Ciudad del Este, Paraguay to be a zone leader/district leader with Elder Silva (who was my first zone leader). While I am kind of sad to leave behind our investigators and converts and the members, I am very happy that I was able to help this area begin to progress and help so many incredible people. I am also very excited for this new challenge and to learn and grow even more. If the mission has taught me anything, it is that the Lord always puts us in the best situation. I know I have completed my purpose her in Puerto Rico and I am excited and humbled to continue with the work that the Lord has for me.
I am so grateful for the miracles that we have every day! I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a mission and serve the Lord and my brothers and sisters here in Argentina. I love you all so much and thank you for who you are.
Con amor, Elder Hawk
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