Power of Prayer - Sister Hannah Avery

Written by Sister Hannah Avery, serving in the Chile Vina del Mar Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Spanish.

(Note to reader: Some names are omitted for privacy. Clicking on highlighted words will link to additional information.)

Hello family and friends!

We had an AMAZING week this week!!! We have three investigators with baptisms scheduled for the 16th of March, nine new investigators, and we taught 34 lessons this week! That’s almost 7 lessons a day! WOOHOO! We rocked it this week! It's testimony to me that when we are exactly obedient and really serve with all of our heart, might, mind and strength, the Lord will bless us and bring miracles about! :)

In addition to this super awesome week of teaching and finding, I learned a really great lesson that I wanted to share with you guys. We are teaching our neighbors across the street, A* and N*. They are both 21 years old, and are not married, but live together and have a one year old baby named F*, who is seriously the CUTEST baby I have ever seen in my life! I will take a picture for you guys to see one of these days, haha! Anyways, A* (the boyfriend) has been without work for about three months now, and they are really struggling to get by day to day. We have taught them a lot about marriage and the importance of keeping every commandment that the Lord has given us. Big and small! They still aren’t getting married, but little by little, we are seeing their faith growing, and their relationship building too. Hopefully one day they will be in the temple with their baby <3

Anyways, the story continues… A* and N* are now selling their car for only about $3000 USD, which will get them by for another three months or so. They are also listing other things to sell, but it's really a sad thing to see. We had a lesson with them this week, and had the prompting to teach them about praying with faith. A* told us that he had faith before, but with the financial situation they have found themselves in, they are losing the faith. He told us that his work was supposed to call three weeks ago with news, but heard nothing. Well, we taught them this lesson about the power of prayer, and when accompanied by real intent and faith, miracles happen. I felt one of the strongest promptings in my life from the Spirit to ask A* specifically to pray with us on our knees, not just sitting, and really pour out his thoughts and feelings to the Lord, telling the Lord that he would do the Lord's will, but to help him not to lose the faith. Well, I followed the prompting, and without hesitation, we were on our knees, and A* poured out his heart to our Savior in tears, hardly able to speak. N* was in tears, I was in tears, Hermana Puertas was in tears…. Everyone was in tears. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had on my mission. I felt the Spirit SO strongly in that prayer. The next day, he told us that he called his work, and that he has a job! My testimony of prayer has increased immensely from that experience, and I know that theirs have too!

So, the lesson that I learned this week is the power of prayer, and that we always need to do things according to the Lord's will. A quote that I love from Dieter F. Uchtdorf says, “Lift up your soul in prayer and explain to your Heavenly Father what you are feeling. Acknowledge your shortcomings. Pour out your heart and express your gratitude. Let him know of the trials that you are facing. Plead with Him in Christ's name for strength and support. Ask that your ears may be opened, that you may hear His voice. Ask that your eyes may be opened, that you may see His light.”

I know without a doubt that if we do this in our daily prayers, miracles will happen, and the Lord will help us through every trial, the good and the bad. Have a fabulous week guys! I love you all SOO much! Talk to you in a week! ¡Ciao!

Xoxoxo,

Hermana Avery

Puppies (February 24, 2014)

Short Update this Week (March 10, 2014)