I had been in the mission field a little over a year, serving in the Venezuela Barcelona Mission. I was in my second area, a little town on the northern coast of Venezuela, when I began to feel inadequate and to question my ability to serve the Lord. About that time, my companion was transferred. My new companion, Elder Utreras, was a native of Chile.

We set to work immediately. I explained to Elder Utreras the work I had done and the problems I had had. He suggested that we fast. I agreed. We started our fast the next day. In our prayers, we asked our Father to guide us to a family that was prepared to listen to and accept the gospel of Christ. During our fast, we ran into our branch president. He greeted us warmly and asked how the work was going. I answered honestly, "Slowly." He then told us that a friend at his work was interested in the gospel. He gave us his name and a map to his house.

That afternoon, we decided to visit this referral. We knocked on the door of the Gonzalez household. We immediately knew that Avilio and Alinni and their four children were a special family. That very night we taught them the first discussion. They loved it. We returned a few days later and found they had read in the Book of Mormon as a family and prayed about it.

They attended Church the next Sunday. The members greeted them with smiles and warm handshakes. The following discussions went like clock-work. They accepted not only with words but also with their hearts all the teachings of the Savior. As we were about to teach them the fourth discussion, which talks about eternal marriage and temples, they told us that they wanted to be married by the Church. Never before had I seen a family more prepared to accept the gospel of Christ. Three weeks after we met, Avilio was baptized by the branch president. A week later, Avilio baptized his wife and oldest son, Eduard.

A few days later, I was transferred out of that little town. I cried when I left. My testimony had grown, my love had grown and the Church had grown. This is the Lord's work; He guides it, and we are but instruments in His hands. — Elder Eric J. Harlow, Venezuela Barcelona Mission

Illustration by Alex Nabaum.