A miracle story this week was when a lady with her two sons walked
into church on their own. They didn´t know anyone and it was their first time at
church. Little did I know that this would be the most prepared woman that I have
met since being a missionary. Her name is
Sonia and her two little boys are Adrian who is 4 and Alejandro who is 7. They are
adorable. Sonia is separated from her husband. She was born in Angola Africa, grew
up in Cabo Verde, moved to Portugal, and then moved here to Zaragoza. Her younger
sister and brother in law just got baptized a few years ago in Portugal. Their story
is incredible. The husband wasn´t happy with the way he was living his life and
the way his relationship was with his wife. He got on his knees and prayed to know
what to do and how to change. A few minutes later, Missionaries knocked on their
door! They both got baptized and everything improved for the better. Sonia saw the
change in them and was amazed. Her sister than gave her a Book of Mormon in Portuguese
and wrote a letter inside. Sonia read it to us. Her sister invited her to read the
book, ponder the message, and pray to know it´s true. She then taught her how to
pray and promised her blessings. Every time they talk on the phone her sister asks
her if she has visited the church in Zaragoza. In the 8 years that Sonia has been
living here she hadn't. Her and her boys live alone and she works part time cleaning
houses. She is cute and very optimistic. She was struggling teaching her boys and
she mentioned it to her sister on the phone one time. Her sister encouraged her
to take the boys to church because there they will learn about God and Jesus Christ.
She testified that everything would be better if they visited the church. So last
week Sonia was praying and felt like she needed to visit the church. She looked
it up online and discovered where the building was and what time it started. Then
we found her! She is incredible. The members thought that she was already a member
and just visiting. She participated in classes and felt very welcome. Her boys loved
church. We visited them in their home. She hadn´t started reading the Book of Mormon
yet. We gave her one in Spanish because she said her Spanish now is better than
her Portuguese. Her little boys asked her when they were all going to get baptized.
She told them not yet. We invited her to be baptized. She said yes but would not
get a baptismal date because she wants her sister to be there... She is so prepared.
In every lesson she shares with us experiences that she has had in her past that
have led her to this point that she is at now. When she was 20 yrs. old her 40 yr.
old mother died in her arms. Sonia was telling her mother before she died that she
shouldn´t join a different church other than the Catholic Church. Her mother said
that she was finally happy with herself at this other church and that she could
feel closer to God and that she knew the state of her salvation. Sonia didn´t understand
at the time. Her mother died with her Bible on her bed next to her. After telling
this story Sonia said that now she is in the same position as her mother. Her heart
has been opened and she is on the path to know God better and become closer to Him.
She said she could feel the Spirit when she reads in the Book of Mormon. She already
read the introductory pages and up to 1 Nephi 5.
I know that I am supposed to stay here in Zaragoza this transfer because
of Sonia. I have to be here to help teach her and to help her prepare to be baptized.
The other day she was praying and asking God if everything was really true and if
the Hermanas should keep coming to her house. She said she looked out her window
and the clouds parted slightly and out came a small ray of sunshine. She knew then
that God existed and that He´s watching over her. It is incredible to hear her experiences
and see her testimony grow. She is what makes being a missionary so exciting and
fulfilling.
I love you all.
Love, Laura
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