Wow-what a week!
Last Monday I got to say goodbye to the people we are teaching and some of the members in Santa Barbara. Tuesday, I met my new companion, Hermana Della-Piana and we headed to Lompoc.
We are on bikes but now we also have a car that we can use once it is dark outside.
It was a really fun week to get ourselves organized, ride bikes, get to know the people that are being taught, and get to know the Branch.
Thursday was the day of miracles! We had a lesson at the church with Sergio and Rocio. They recently moved here and Sergio, the dad, called the missionaries to ask where the church was and he and his daughter, Rocio, have been coming for weeks. During the lesson we talked about baptism and it just felt right to ask them if they would be baptized. They said yes and accepted the date of November 30! Right after that lesson we had a lesson with Florencio. He also has come to church before and where he is from, he and his friends used to go to church as well. During that lesson it also felt right to ask Florencio if he would like to be baptized and he also accepted for the date of November 23.
We got to meet with the Branch President and mission leader. They are both awesome! We knocked into this house and invited these 2 ladies to the ward Halloween party on Saturday and they both came and loved it!
Sunday Florencio came to church as well as Ana who is preparing to be baptized on the 23rd. We ended the week with a family home evening run by the missionaries. It went really well and our goal is that it will strengthen the Branch and help it grow.
There was a scripture this week that I came across that I really loved. It talks about the blessings that come from the promise we make at baptism. (Mosiah 5:7-9)
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ."
Following Christ like the scripture says, makes us free. It gives us strength and by promising God that we will always remember him, take His name upon us and follow His commandments at baptism the promise is that we will be found at the right hand of God. This week I really learned that I just need to put everything to God and rely on him. I was pretty nervous coming here to Lompoc, not really knowing anything,
but the Lord has guided me and given me strength this past week.
I am excited for the next week!
**A Note from her Mom - Please pray for her safety as she travels by bike!
She loves getting emails. This is her address:
She loves getting emails. This is her address:
Email: lily.pita@missionary.org (Don't reply to this blog - it is a public site)
Her mailing address is:
Hermana Lily Pita
California Ventura Mission
3301 W Gonzales Road
Oxnard, CA 93036