Satan is patient.

So, I read once that we can tell when the Holy Ghost takes control of a lesson when we learn things from what we are saying. And we had so many experiences like this this week! It was so special! We didnt get to teach a whole lot of people, and we dropped a bunch of people who arent progessing, but we found some people who are interested, and we were able to do a bunch of helping in the ward this week!! So all in all, it was good!

We were teaching the niece of hermana Miriam (who asked us to pause our fast.. rememger her?) and we shared a lot on the value that we have as children of our Heavenly Father. We talked a lot about how satan tries to keep us from gaining this knowledge, and my companion said "Satan is very patient. He wont throw a blindfold on us all at once, but one thread at a time, and if we take off 9 out of those 10 threads he has on us, he is okay with that, he starts up again." HOLY POWERFUL. I have never thought of it like that, I have never thought that satan was patient... but really, I guess he is! if he can get us down, he will! but it´s no rush for him. if we allow him one thread every once in a while, THAT IS OKAY WITH HIM. cause it is one more thread than we had before! Beware of satan´s trap, cause he is patient. Dont let him get you even in the smallest thing. cause eventually, we will start to lose our vision, the blindfold will grow thicker. Be careful People!:)

One of the sweetest old ladies in our ward, lost her son this week to an act of violence. It was sooo cool to see the ward reach out immediately and help her, but what was even more special, was something she shared in church yesterday. the bishop asked for the testimonies of a few people, and she was one of them. Number one, SHE WAS AT CHURCH. Her son died this week, just a few days ago, and she walked the half an hour to go to church. In her testimony, she quietly said "I am greatful for the trial God has given me. It has helped me see his love more in my life." Oh my gosh i BAWLED. She is thanking God for this trial. She is so strong. Then we went to visit her with the Relief Society. We showed up, and there was a preacher from another church there, teaching her family. My first thought was "NOT THIS AGAIN, PLEASE NO!!!!!!" But her son and daughter in law invited them over, dont fret! She is strong! They were just finishing thier message when we showed up. It wasnt all crap and lies, which struck me. They really had a lot of truths. But then I started to feel very much like maybe we shouldn't share something. My excuse was that I didnt want the family to feel like we were bashing them or their other church.
"Maybe it is better if we just offer our condolenses, say a prayer, and leave."
No sooner had I thought this, then another thought popped into my head.
"If the church only taught the members, there would be no church. It wouldnt grow, it wouldnt spread."

How true this is! We shared a scripture, and in the middle of this, my mind took a step back. It was almost like I could see the spirit working on them, see them recognize the difference in the spirit present. It reminded me of the times my dad has brought us different places, both at home and on our mini church history tour, and asked us to try and recognize the difference in spirit. How many of times he has done this, and I hadnt realized how each one of them has helped me in my testimony in some way, and I´m just now recognizing it. How many times does Satan try to get us to close our mouth when we need most to open it? This short lesson taught with the spirit to this grieving family, gave us the knowledge that one of the sons is an inactive member, and he has missed the spirit that these messages bring. And... He wants to come back.

I love you all. I hope you all see the hand of God in your life this week and that you recognize it when it comes. Dont forget to say your prayers!! :)

Love, Hermana Alex Arave