1/26/2015 Very Important Lessons Week

We were incredibly blessed this week to get visited by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, Elder Robbins and Elder Wright of the 70 and area authorities. We all shook their hands then President and Sister Maluenda spoke and the authorities. It truly was incredible. Elder Oaks talked about not assuming that our investigators know when we are teaching them.  Then we had a discussion about personal revelation.  I learned to improve my morning prayers and that personal revelation comes so often! and we need to ask for it and pay attention to it. 

     I have great news!  We are teaching the Padilla family again! I don't remember if I told you that or not, but thinks are going so good right now.  I think most everything happens for a reason.  Yesterday I was feeling really bad over stupid things, like spilling a smoothie, when we went over to their home to make Sopipeas (sope eye pee uhs) For the first time Litzie smiled when she saw us and opened up and talked to us.  While we were making sopipeas I noticed that Brenda had a hard time rolling the dough, and was frustrated because her sister was clearly better.  She left and I knew just how she felt. I told her how I wasn't a very good cook either and about how that very day I had spilt a smoothie all over the counter, and then she agreed to join us and try again. We are building a lot of trust, and for the first time Litzie agreed to say the closing prayer!  Every time we go over and the girls aren't home and Elias the dad is working outside, he always asks us to stay and sing and pray with him.  He cries every time. I love that family! Keep them in your prayers! 

Love,

Sister Campbel

1/21/2015 Blessings in Disguise

We were doing an exchange with the sisters in Port Isabel and Sister Sarmiento who is in port Isabel, which is 40 miles away calls me and says that the car coordinator called and said they can't use their car for a few days because the registration is expired and they have a meeting in Brownsville in a few hours.  What to do? So we decided to drive down and have a Blitz in Port Isabel! It was a blast! We had about 4 hours and each sister had a goal of being a "Challenging and Testifying missionary" so we were super bold and testified and invited many people to be baptized.  I have no idea what we did, but the Lord put so many people in our path that day. There was literally only one person that didn't accept to learn more, and combining the companionships we found 8 new investigators that day.  It was a huge blessing and boost to their area. So it ended up being a huge blessing in disguise that they couldn't drive their car.

    This week we had interviews with President and also stake conference. They changed the stake presidency so that was exciting. I feel really good about the new stake president, he was serving in the mission presidency, so we know him a little bit. He gave a really inspiring talk.  It was a miracle that we didn't plan an exchange on Saturday like we usually do because Friday night at 10:20ish we found out that we had interviews the next day.  President Maluenda talked to me about the principle of maintaining a good attitude even when circumstances aren't going well.  I know that this is so important.  Even when everything seems like it is going wrong, we have to maintain a good attitude and it will change the circumstances.  We will see more success and be happier.

  I'm super happy and grateful for this time I still have here!

love,

sister Campbell

1/12/15 Transfers came!

We handed Rosalinda her towel and then waited until she was ready to come back out for the closing song of the baptismal program. Before coming out she gave us a big kiss on the cheek and a big warm hug and said, "Thank you so much for everything you have done! I hope I never lose you." I knew that we had made a lasting connection and I told her that we would always be there for her. I sat back down for the closing song and thought, "I have done nothing. The Lord and Rosalinda made this experience possible." It is so true! I feel like we go on a mission, and focusedly wander around inviting everyone to make the decision to come closer to Christ and then they decide to come and they make all of the changes necessary.  And then God blesses us with the opportunity to participate and watch it all happen.  It is beautiful.  Zack's baptism was equally beautiful.  It was a big day for Zack's family because they have a tried a few times before to help him be baptized, and this time it finally happened and the family is returning to church.

     Ashley Prather and Gabriela got confirmed as well.  Slowly, but surely Ashley's family are all coming to Heavenly Father's fold. Keep praying for their family.  It was a great week, and I'm happy to announce that I'm staying here in Rio Hondo with Sister Sarmiento.  Sister Barton is getting transferred to my greenie area! So sad but happy. 

Love,

Sister Campbell

The Lord Knows His Children

We had a rough trial this week, but as with all trials, many blessings come. Robert is really struggling with his testimony right now. He received anti-Mormon information and started fighting against the church.  We visited with him and shared our testimonies, but he has changed and chosen to look for another church-as we found out Sunday morning. This was heartbreaking. 

   Also Sunday morning we decided to make sure Zack (10yrs) and the familia de la Garza were coming. We woke them up, and they decided to come. Yay! They have been sick for the past couple of days.  Rosalinda also came and is preparing to be baptized next Sunday.  She is doing great! Pray that she will be able to quit coffee.

    As we left to go work Sunday, Roberts decision to leave the church weighed on me. I felt like I had failed and a flood of other negative thoughts came, of everything that was going wrong, thoughts that I wasn't doing any good. I knew those thoughts were coming from the devil, but they still hurt. My companion helped me to see the miracles that were happening, and I prayed that if God would just give us the opportunity to bless someone's life, then it would help me to feel like my efforts were worth something and I could find joy in helping someone else. Then the miracles came rushing in.  The next contact the woman said that the gospel will be able to help her in a big way and we will see her this week.  The next appointment we left to Zack and the De la Garza's home to have a lesson.  The Elders came also to give the family blessings of health. To start the lesson, Zack's older sister said that this morning she had been on the fence about whether to come to church or not that day.  She asked God for a sign to help her know if she could go or not, then we showed up at her door inviting her.  Just as that was a sign for her, it was a sign for me too to know that we had blessed her life and acted as an instrument in his hands. Then the Elders offered to give me a blessing too.  In the blessing Heavenly Father told me that he was pleased with the work I was doing, that it was blessing my family, and that I would continue to make a difference and be a blessing in many people's lives. What wonderful miracles! Surely the Lord knows his children and answered my prayer.

Love,

Sister Campbell