Katie's Mission Blog: August 20, 2024-August 26, 2024-Week 68-Loma Nueve

This week was EXCELLENT! We were able to find and teach and also BAPTIZE this week. At the start of the week, I was a little like "shoot what are we even gonna do" because the area was taking a reset, but by the end of the week I was like "shoot what are we even gonna do, there's no time to de it all!!!". The Lord ALWAYS provides.

Something we have really been focusing on is references from everyone. Literally. That taxi driver doesn't want to listen? We still ask if he knows anyone else who is. Everyone in their family are members? We ask about extended family. There is always someone that they know. We got probably like 12 references (a lot for other areas), but this was an invitation from a talk we have been studying as a missionary to ALWAYS ask for references. So heres my little plug -- you ALL know someone. Pray to God and He will help you be guided to who needs the gospel right now. Just imagine them in temple white, and open your mouth and SHARE! I love this ward, it is basically a states ward. There's like 150 who attend, and so many are ex missionaries. It makes such a difference!

Also! My comp is awesome!! We get along so well and we just work hard and play hard. We always are running everywhere and on the same page to do EVERYTHING we can to meet our goal of 8 baptisms this transfer. We were able to have a baptism this weekend, so we are 3/8, and we have lots of good friends who are up next in these upcoming weekends. "Doubt not, but be believing!". The baptism was of our friend Luis. It is kind of a crazy story. All of Hermana Shirley's plans had fallen through with her previous companion, Hermana Zapana, one night, so they decided to go knock doors in this neighborhood close to the church. It is a nice neighborhood, and people are hardly home in the daytime because they all work. Arraijan is just the suburbs of the city, so basically people have money here. And stable jobs. And like normal lives. Kinda the opposite of what I've ever seen here in Panama since I've just been in the ghetto and the interior. So they knock a door, and the guy is super nice, and turns out, his sister and his daughter are members in other parts of Panama. Luis was so chosen! He dropped coffee and is just so good. The easiest baptism I've had my whole mission. So YAY! Another child of God has covenants.

Something that I have been noticing in my zone is just desanimo, idk the English translation, sorry. Just lack of faith. Just going through the motions. Counting down the days until they can go home. I am trying to think of how to get the zone BELIEVING. Faith is the first principle of the gospel for a heck of a good reason. I love Moroni 7:20-40, 2 Nephi 26:13, 27:23. MIRACLES HAVE NOT CEASED. And sometimes I just want to shake some missionaries and tell them to think celestial and see that God has something perfectly prepared, and we must "doubt not". So we have been trying to think of how we can get everyone to have joy, faith, believe. Because if we ourselves don't feel joy or happiness or faith, then what is this all about? We are missing the whole point. Jesus Christ is OUR Savior. That statement alone changes everything! If we don't feel these emotions when we think about the gospel, we need to ask Him what we need to change to feel this way. It's a gospel of JOY!

This coming week will be STELLAR! We have leadership conference and zone conference. But not any normal zone conference but with the whole entire mission!!! That's unheard of. And it's all because Elder Godoy is coming this week. This is my second time a general authority has come, so it should be pretty exciting!! I am trying to brainstorm good questions so I can receive new revelation for my life and for my area.

Basically I love being a missionary! Dreams do come true! It's the best work in the whole wide universe, and such a privilege!!!

PS the biggest tragedy or the week was my hair in the baptismal photos AND I went running for the first time in 15 months and it was so good. Gave me hope that I really am not that out or shape!

We went running today and I realized I am not that out of shape, so I will easily get back in the game after the mission

Visits with Kilmer and Nic

FatiMOM. Literally she is famous in the mission as taking the best care of missionaries, and she lives up to the HYPE. She makes the best food, shares the best testimonies, and always has some new gossip haha