Week 22

Tarantula, broken foot, and tender mercies everywhere 

Hey yall! Happy holy week 

I love hearing from all of you and all the adventures going on in your lives! It's been quite the adventure here too! We've got two weeks left in the transfer and time has been Flying. And there is quite literally nothing as sweet as the joy I have found here in the mission, which is only possible through Jesus Christ! Before we get started, I want to share a scripture with you to turn our minds to the Savior 

 Scripture of the Week 

"And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else." Alma 11:40

Let's get into it!! 

Lunes ~ VILCHESSS BABYYYY 

~ Holyyyy cow, BEST PDAY OF MY LIFE!!! 

It was so healing. This time we went to a different part that's in a national park. It's usually closed on Mondays but one of the elders came in CLUTCH and paid extra for us to be able to get in. The hike was mostly uphill haha through a jungle-like forest, which led to a few waterfalls and some crazy views! It was the best hike I've ever done!!! 

~ Halfway through I slipped as we were walking and when I got back up, all the elders started yelling at me to not move…next thing I know, Elder Taylor whacks me on the back, and I look down to see A LITERAL TARANTULA that he hit off my sweatshirt.  

Martes ~ His strength, not mine 

~ Super chill day - We did consejo, entrevistas, referencias, and a bunch of street contacting! I love contactos en público sooooo much more than door knocking haha

~ My interview with President was super good! This next transfer is gonna be so fun!! 

Miércoles ~ Joy, joy, joy!!!!! 

~ We did sooooo many contacts today. And it was so good! Dannae accompanied us for a lot of it. She's literally the best!!! 

~ I felt so much love for the people here today. For my companion, the other missionaries, the members, random people in the street. Wow, I love being a missionary. Even and especially when it gets hard 

~ My legs have lowkey been killing me from the hike on pday  mi culpa 

Jueves ~ Opposition in all things… 

~ Today was CRAZY. This morning we got a text message from Matilda, saying that she hurt her foot and isn't sure if she can get baptized anymore.

This was devastating for all of us, since her baptism is literally tomorrow. We went to visit her this evening, and she came to the door in a boot, barely able to walk. When we asked her what happened, she said that she's had a pre-existing condition for years that's been perfectly normal, but then all the sudden, the DAY BEFORE her baptism, something in her foot randomly snapped while she was getting ready. LIKE WHAT?!?! Satan be trying too hard. But during our conversation, Matilda told us that the boot is removable, and that she was honestly really excited about her baptism. After some good tears, good laughter, and a really good conversation, she told us that she would ponder on still getting baptized tomorrow. Later, around 10pm, we got a message from her saying that she's already made her decision and is going to go through with it - SHE'S GETTING BAPTIZED TOMORROW!!!! MIRACLES!!!! 

^^Elder Taylor in a gorilla blowup costume. Don't ask me why, because I don't know. 

^^in my element 

Viernes ~ This is my why 

~ MATILDA GOT BAPTIZED!!!! 

It was really really sweet. We had a TON of friends show up too - it was awesome! I also got to give the baptism talk. Even with her foot injury and everything, she still pu

shed through and made that covenant! She's such a trooper. Afterwards, she pulled us aside with tears in her eyes, hugged me, and thanked me for serving a mission. It was really tender and honestly one of those moments that I was like, “Yeah. This is why God called me here.” 

Sábado ~ The miracle that rescues me 

~ Lots of miracles today. The biggest miracle for me was watching God use a hard moment I had this afternoon and turning it for good! I had the opportunity to talk to a woman in the street who was having a hard day. She said that she was walking and wishing for a little extra hope in her life, and then all the sudden we showed up and asked to share a scripture with her. I got to bear sincere, heartfelt testimony that Jesus Christ is there during our hard days. And I can testify of that truth because I feel that truth, and I saw it in action in my own life as I pressed forward by the strength & grace of Jesus Christ. 

~ We were truly led by the Spirit today - talking to the exact people that God needed us to talk to, even if it happened by coincidence or accident. He always has a plan! 

Domingo ~ I feel my Savior’s love

~ I felt my Savior’s love so tenderly today. He is right by our side, I promise you. <3

~ One of the members gave a really really good talk in church today. He just bore simple testimony of Jesus Christ and His atonement, and the room went silent. The Spirit was so present. He took a moment of silence as he tried to talk through the lump in his throat, and suddenly I found a lump in my throat too - tears streaming down my face at the immense reality and depth of our Savior’s love for us. What a Friend He is. 

Happy Palm Sunday! 

 Spiritual Thought 

"The Savior’s gift of grace to us is not necessarily limited in time to ‘after’ all we can do. We may receive his grace before, during and after the time when we expend our own efforts. Grace is not a booster engine that kicks in once our fuel supply is exhausted. Rather, it is our constant energy source." - Brad Wilcox, "His Grace is Sufficient" 

This week, I have been thinking a lot about the grace of Jesus Christ. Yes - the forgiving, redeeming grace - but also the enabling, empowering grace. The kind of grace that allows us to do so much more than we're capable of on our own. 

I have done a LOT of crazy things in the past year and a half that I never thought I would've been able to do. I moved into college, did 2 semesters at JMU, found a career that I'm passionate about, got baptized, taught with the missionaries, received a mission call, learned Spanish, did 6 weeks of MTC in Peru, moved to Chile for 18 months to teach people about the gospel, and a lot more. But with all my heart, I testify that this was only possible because the redeeming, enabling power of the grace of Jesus Christ was my constant energy source. With all my heart, I testify that I am nothing. And that He is everything. Every single day, I feel as if I find a new weakness of mine. But I have learned that weaknesses are an immense gift from Heavenly Father. I have never been closer to Jesus Christ than when I am aware of my weakness and am actively using the gift of His atonement. The purpose of His grace is not to get to a point where one day you might not need His strength anymore, just as how the purpose of going to the gym isn't so that you can get to the point where you won't ever have to go again. It's a consistent process. A process where day by day, we become more like Him, and discover new ways to know more about Him. 

As we approach Easter this week, I invite you all to think about the grace of Jesus Christ in your life. And how you, like those people with their palm leaves shouting Hosanna, can invite Him into your life and make Him your consistent source of energy and joy. And I promise that you will find Him as you seek Him. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen!

I love you all so much! Have the BEST week ever, and don't forget to remember Jesus Christ 

All my love, 

Hermana Geary