Asuncion X 2

April 13, 2022

This week was crazy, super busy and full of stuff to do but also full of miracles. Present Nelson said it first. We should expect miracles and well, they came.

We had to go to Asunción twice this week on Tuesday for a conference and then on Thursday for another conference. Traveling like crazy but all for the better. I got to see a lot of buddies that I haven't seen in a long time. Which is always fun a little reunion with everyone. Got to talk to President which is always good but low key better was we got to talk to Hermana Faundez and she's hilarious so that's always a win.

Between being in Asunción a lot, we had work in our area as well and miracles really do happen. God is preparing people for baptism and lucky for me I get to help these people on their path to baptism.

One of the craziest is this one. There are 2 twin sisters named Jessica and Fatima. They're 20 yrs old and graduated from high school and were enrolled in college. They were about to finish their 2 year program and then start working in whatever major it was. But like 5 months before the end of the school year their dad got in a massive motorcycle accident. Luckily his head is ok but he basically broke the rest of his body. These 2 girls live alone because their mom left them when they were 3 and they have never seen her since. So they dropped out of college in order to take care of their dad because they don't have help from anyone. Their extended family doesn't care about them so they are all alone. One day they were at the hospital waiting for their dad to come out of surgery so that they could have their one time a day visit with him, and they ran into this member of the church. She started talking to them and realized they needed some help. She invited them to her house and after about a month of knowing these girls she's basically their mom now. She cooks for them and let's them stay at her house and actually this next week they are going to fully move in with her. All the while she has been teaching them the gospel and decided that it was time for the missionaries to get involved. So we came over and taught them about the Book of Mormón and the plan of salvation. One of the most spirit filled lessons that I have been a part of. It's just crazy to see how God has molded their lives and put so many things together in order to prepare these two to receive the gospel.

That's honestly just one story out of a couple crazy ones that we have had this week. God really is out here shaping people to be ready for the gospel and when these people find us, the spirit is undeniable. Just while I was writing this I got a text from one of our friends saying that her and her family had a "unique experience in the chapel and that next week they will be there as well". This gospel really does change lives.

About a month ago I visited this guy named Mario, a week before I visited him his dad passed away and he was down really bad. He's a habitual drunk but told me that he wanted to stop. We were sharing about the plan of salvation trying to comfort him about the passing of his dad. But Mario is a very talkative guy and really we couldn't share too much. At the end we kinda gave up on talking about the plan of salvation and just talked about the Book of Mormón. He wanted to stop drinking so we showed him a way. We gifted him a Book of Mormón and wrote on the front page that if he reads this book every day he will not have the urge to drink or will be able to fight much more easily these temptations. After our first visit life got kinda crazy and we couldn't visit him again until yesterday. Which is probably a month after the first visit. We clapped his house and he came out so happy with his face shining and the first thing he said is "do you know when the last time I drank was?" and then he told us more than a month ago. He has not picked up a beer since the first time we visited him. He told us that he reads everyday the Book of Mormón and that the promise that we wrote In the title page works. There really is power in the Book of Mormón and it really does change lives.

Also this week I saw that Jessica Gomez got baptized, she is some one from San Ignacio my first area. I met her almost a year ago and we were there for the baptism of her sister but just recently Jessica was able to get baptized. One of the coolest things to see by far.

This week was amazing and filled with some really cool things. It was also my sister's 15 birthday yesterday which is crazy. Happy Birthday Ava!!

I love all of you

Easton