Sister Olivia Nicolosi: Our Efforts Are Never Wasted

Hey Guys :)

Ok really quick, to finish my story from last week, this man that watched the first session of conference with us came back to watch the second too. I was so thankful when Elder David A. Bednar began his talk because it was directed to those who are not members explaining why we as members want to share the gospel with them and how we urge them to test our message:

"Bring all that you know is true, good, and praiseworthy—and test our message. Just as Jesus beckoned two of His disciples to 'come and see' (John 1:39), so we urge you to come and see if the restored gospel of Jesus Christ enlarges and enriches that which you already believe to be true.¨ -David A. Bednar

The man was quite after this talk... unlike before. We all left that session feeling good, including the old man that watched conference with us. Like Elder Bednar said, I know that this gospel really does enlarge and enrich the truths that we already know and the truths that we continue to learn through living His gospel.

Hermana Martinez and I had the privilege of spending the day with one of the newest Sister missionaries who just came in yesterday (Hermana Alonzo), which is why our P-day is today :) It reminded me of my first day in the mission and what a neat experience it was. We all learned a lot from each other. Hermana Alonzo is so sweet and has such a strong testimony. We were actually in a lesson with one of our investigators named David, (a different David. He has a little boy named David too who is 7-yrs-old), and we've been working to help him believe in God... We all listened intently as he expressed himself, asking occasional questions as directed by the Spirit. At the end of the lesson Hermana Alonzo spoke boldly and firmly about prayer. The spirit was so strong; and just before we left David was talking about how he doesn't like lying which is why he's always honest with us. He said that we probably don't like lies either, to which Sister Alonzo replied. "your right, we don't like to lie either. And I am not here as a missionary for 18 months of my life to tell lies". It was a powerful moment—I can't explain it well enough to do it justice. Being with this new Sister helped me realize the things I could do even better as a missionary that I didn't recognize I was, or wasn't, doing before.

Hermana Martinez and I have another cambio (exchanges) together! We are pretty happy about it :) Yesterday was a good day with the new Sister, but it was also difficult for me and my companion because we found out that one of our investigators, Jesus Emanuel, who is a doctor and who we had been teaching in his office while he had no patients, isn't working there anymore. We don't know where he is. Another investigator that we just got the chance to have the First Lesson with yesterday, jovencita named Dulce, may be moving with her parents and siblings to another area this week. David (who I spoke of in the previous paragraph ), told us that he doesn't think he's ready right now to continue with the lessons but he said we could teach his son if it is something he wants. And Rosalinda, who is scheduled to be baptized this next week, is really struggling and may not follow through with her baptism despite our efforts to help her...

As I was thinking about all of this I had to remind myself that we can only do what we can do as missionaries, the rest is up to the investigator and what they decide. I know that the Lord will prepare these people and provide another way for them to be ready to accept and embrace this gospel later in life if things don't work out now. The time we spent teaching them wasn't wasted.

I love you all! Thank you so much for your love and support and letters!

Love,

Hermana Olivia Nicolosi