Hello everyone!
I really don't have much to report on this week. But to start off with, we had the opportunity to listen to the 70 of this area, Elder Gonsalez. The conference was in Santaní, about 3 hours away from here. So we went early Thursday morning and finally got there at about 2 in the afternoon (everything takes longer by bus). We arrived just a little late. But we were there for most of it thank goodness. President and his wife talked a bit and then Elder Gonsalez and his wife a bit more. I learned so much! And I loved it! I am now trying to apply what I learned in the conference to the missionary work. One thing that we talked about is how we have the chance here in Paraguay to teach the descendants of the Lamanites. Here live the guaranis (the natives of Paraguay). And so how we need to as a mission put an emphasis on the Book of Mormon and how it is a record of their ancestors and they will be able to feel something as they hear it. And so I've been trying to use the Book of Mormon more as that has been in my mind. That this word, the gospel, will resonate in the people's ears and they will be able to recognize it, learning in once before (before this life). I love the Book of Mormon and all that is in it. I know that there is nothing in this book that isn’t sacred and important. I know that God loves us so much that he has sent us the beautiful scriptures! The day after the conference we were teaching someone and we were going to read a verse from the Book of Mormon and then she asked us what the book was. She recognized that it wasn’t the Bible. And so we started talking about it and why it's important and then she starting telling us that if we want to preach the word of God here, that we should use the Bible because people are more familiar with the Bible. And then so we read a scripture and she asked if that same scripture was in the Bible and we said, this exact same one, no. And then she said that the book of Mormon should just have the same scriptures as the Bible. In my head I was kind of laughing because we already have a bible! I am not just hear to preach the word of God from the Bible, but to bring new news (good news) to the people here! I am so proud to be able to teach and testify of the Book of Mormon as another word of God and that we have more to help us!
Anyways, there was a lot to be learned in that conference. But afterwards we had to wait like 3 hours to go back home. And we finally made it home at like 2 in the morning on Friday. It was a short but very good trip. I love the leaders that we have and I know that they are inspired men of God!
On to this week here in Concepcion! A few of our investigators have been in Asuncion this past week so that gave us a bit more time to look for new people to teach and to visit the people that we have been meaning to go back to. I never realize how much these people count on us. Even though many people aren’t prepared yet to accept everything, a lot of people count on us to visit them and teach them. We went to 2 people or families that we haven’t seen in a while and they both told us that they thought we would never come back and how they always want us to come to teach them. I never realize how much of an impact our visits make on these people's lives.
This past Friday we were able to meet with a young man that was a reference from a member here. His name is Alexis and he is 24. When we first got there he seemed really bored and we didn’t even know if he was listening or now. But as we taught and asked him questions, he kept acting like his mind was blown. He told us that he never heard anything like this but yet he understands why it is the way it is. Why we needed a restoration. And why there are so many churches. It was very interesting talking to him and teaching him but I could see how what we were teaching him was so amazing to him. Sometimes I forget how amazing this is. The gospel, the work, everything. And every once in a while when somebody hasn’t heard it, it reminds me how new this message is and how amazing it is. I love it so much! God loves us so much!
Well, that’s all I'll share with you guys this week but I want to let you all know that I’m thankful for all that you are doing for me and for all the missionaries around the world. What would the world be like without this work? Its glorious!
Talk to you all soon! Love, Hermana Liesel Wiscombe
(This is Liesel's one year picture she took on Friday)
I really don't have much to report on this week. But to start off with, we had the opportunity to listen to the 70 of this area, Elder Gonsalez. The conference was in Santaní, about 3 hours away from here. So we went early Thursday morning and finally got there at about 2 in the afternoon (everything takes longer by bus). We arrived just a little late. But we were there for most of it thank goodness. President and his wife talked a bit and then Elder Gonsalez and his wife a bit more. I learned so much! And I loved it! I am now trying to apply what I learned in the conference to the missionary work. One thing that we talked about is how we have the chance here in Paraguay to teach the descendants of the Lamanites. Here live the guaranis (the natives of Paraguay). And so how we need to as a mission put an emphasis on the Book of Mormon and how it is a record of their ancestors and they will be able to feel something as they hear it. And so I've been trying to use the Book of Mormon more as that has been in my mind. That this word, the gospel, will resonate in the people's ears and they will be able to recognize it, learning in once before (before this life). I love the Book of Mormon and all that is in it. I know that there is nothing in this book that isn’t sacred and important. I know that God loves us so much that he has sent us the beautiful scriptures! The day after the conference we were teaching someone and we were going to read a verse from the Book of Mormon and then she asked us what the book was. She recognized that it wasn’t the Bible. And so we started talking about it and why it's important and then she starting telling us that if we want to preach the word of God here, that we should use the Bible because people are more familiar with the Bible. And then so we read a scripture and she asked if that same scripture was in the Bible and we said, this exact same one, no. And then she said that the book of Mormon should just have the same scriptures as the Bible. In my head I was kind of laughing because we already have a bible! I am not just hear to preach the word of God from the Bible, but to bring new news (good news) to the people here! I am so proud to be able to teach and testify of the Book of Mormon as another word of God and that we have more to help us!
Anyways, there was a lot to be learned in that conference. But afterwards we had to wait like 3 hours to go back home. And we finally made it home at like 2 in the morning on Friday. It was a short but very good trip. I love the leaders that we have and I know that they are inspired men of God!
On to this week here in Concepcion! A few of our investigators have been in Asuncion this past week so that gave us a bit more time to look for new people to teach and to visit the people that we have been meaning to go back to. I never realize how much these people count on us. Even though many people aren’t prepared yet to accept everything, a lot of people count on us to visit them and teach them. We went to 2 people or families that we haven’t seen in a while and they both told us that they thought we would never come back and how they always want us to come to teach them. I never realize how much of an impact our visits make on these people's lives.
This past Friday we were able to meet with a young man that was a reference from a member here. His name is Alexis and he is 24. When we first got there he seemed really bored and we didn’t even know if he was listening or now. But as we taught and asked him questions, he kept acting like his mind was blown. He told us that he never heard anything like this but yet he understands why it is the way it is. Why we needed a restoration. And why there are so many churches. It was very interesting talking to him and teaching him but I could see how what we were teaching him was so amazing to him. Sometimes I forget how amazing this is. The gospel, the work, everything. And every once in a while when somebody hasn’t heard it, it reminds me how new this message is and how amazing it is. I love it so much! God loves us so much!
Well, that’s all I'll share with you guys this week but I want to let you all know that I’m thankful for all that you are doing for me and for all the missionaries around the world. What would the world be like without this work? Its glorious!
Talk to you all soon! Love, Hermana Liesel Wiscombe
(This is Liesel's one year picture she took on Friday)