This last week seemed like we had no time to do missionary
work because of all the different meetings we had and things to prepare for, but it was an awesome week! We met with a referral we received from the sisters
who are so awesome. We were only able to stop in for a few moments because they
were super busy, but we were able to use the priesthood and give a blessing on
her house and family. Her house was truly a refuge from what is going on
outside in the world and she is an awesome lady. She has the light of
Christ so much already, I hope she will be willing to learn more and be able to
add to that light because if she does then man, she will be awesome!
We had
interviews with President Packard and a training by the traveling Elders on
Zion. It was all very, very good, especially meeting with Pres. Packard. He is
truly an amazing man and the love he has for everyone and the knowledge of the
gospel and his ability to follow the Spirit is a great example to all of us.
A lot of the stuff that we had planned and set up this week seemed to fall
through and there was a lot of walking, but that is how it goes sometimes, but it's always worth it, especially when the Lord puts us where he needs us to meet
someone he has been preparing. It seems like we run into so many people and
have to pass them off to the English Elders, but it's awesome because it is all
the same work!
We spent all day Saturday prepping for Sunday, since now every
5th Sunday we have to pretty much take care of classes and
everything. We spent all day prepping for our talks in sacrament, selecting
the videos to watch from the missionary broadcast 2 weeks ago, planned for a branch Family Home Evening and then the baptism that night for
Milena Lopez. It was a long but awesome day. The sisters were at the chapel
also for a little bit because they had to practice a musical thing they were
performing on Sunday, so we got to listen and it was very moving and
beautiful. I am so grateful for people who develop their talents and skills and
share them with people. I wish I did more of that when I was younger, but there
is always time! (by the way, this is random, but on P-days and when there is free time that doesn't interfere with the work I am learning how to
play the guitar from Elder Lefthand).
So, back to Saturday prepping...after much praying I
felt I needed to speak about our baptismal covenants and also about building
Zion. All day I tried to put things together and I just wasn't satisfied.
I then woke up early Sunday to try and finish and get things on paper. I
remembered about my experiences prepping my farewell talks before my mission
and got on my knees and prayed with everything I had sharing my righteous
sincere desires. I felt the Spirit and very peaceful and that everything was going
to be ok. During sacrament meeting as I partook of the sacrament I felt the
Spirit wash over me completely again giving me the peace I needed. I got up
with my scriptures and a lot of note cards that I might use if the
Spirit directed and also had True to the Faith or en espanol Leales a
la fe. I expressed my gratitude and then paused and relied wholly on the
spirit. I was able to talk about the baptismal covenant and what it means to
build Zion and why it is important. It was truly amazing to see the Lord
helping me through my weakness in the language and truly as the scriptures say,
make weak things become strong. After me Elder Jones got up and talked and that
was awesome as well. It all tied in perfectly and he let everyone know the
things that we as missionaries are here to do and why we are here. After that
Hermano Borjas our Branch Missionary Leader got up and talked on the same
things and really backed us up. We were all unified and didn't even know what
the other was going to talk about. It was amazing.
For Priesthood and Relief Society we watched the
videos from the broadcast and that was
awesome to have the Prophet and the Apostles back up the words we said last
Sunday in branch counsel, when pretty much everyone thought we were joking. So,
it was an awesome Sunday. There were a lot of people excited afterwards. Now we
just have to figure out how we can get out there to visit with everyone! We then had
F.H.E and it was a nice turn out and there was a lot of food!
We got a ride by Hermano Borjas to the Trumbull building
where the baptism would be and we got ready for it. I practiced over and over
again in Spanish what I needed to say to baptize Milena. I was fine and had it
down. Then the time came and for some reason I got really nervous once I got in
the water. Then as my heart was pounding I almost forgot everything lol, but it
came and it was a successful first one. When I said those words I honestly
can't even come close to explain the way I felt, but there are no words to even
come close. There is so much power in those words. We had almost 40 people
there and pretty much all the single adults from New Haven came down to support
Milena since they met her once before at institute. It was a great day.
This morning after my study I studied the hymn books and the songs in them and
how beautiful they are and the scriptures they came from. I love the
introduction to the hymn book and I encourage all of you reading this to read
it and do as it directs, for there truly is so much power in music.
I would like to bear my testimony that I know with all my
heart and soul that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the
Church of Jesus Christ restored in its fullness on the earth today along
with the Holy Priesthood of God. The same Priesthood that Christ and his
disciples used to heal the sick, raise the dead and give comfort to those who
were in need of comfort, it has been restored along with the Authority to use it.
I know that we are all here on the earth for the same purpose and that all
who have received the wonderful blessing of coming to know of the truthfulness
of the gospel have the sacred responsibility to share it with all other people
so they to can come to know what we know.
I know that Jesus
Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer and knows each and everyone of us
perfectly. I know that he truly did take upon himself all of our sins,
sicknesses, infirmities and everything we go through in this life that is
unjust and just not right and suffered for all of these things which caused
himself " even God, the greatest of all, to tremble
because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and
spirit—and would that I might bnot drink the bitter cup, and shrink—"
D&C 19:18
I know this because I felt his love in my life and his
redeeming power. I know that He lives and because He lives we truly can
overcome anything that is put in our life that seems too big or too overwhelming if
we but turn to him. I know that all people can come to know this for themselves
and come to feel what I have felt IF they read The Book of Mormon, ponder the
things in it, and then with real intent and all sincerity ask God himself
in mighty prayer if it is true, that they WILL receive an answer testifying of
the truthfulness of it. We can apply this method to all things we do. Should we come to a
cross road and need to make a decision we can ask God and he will guide us. I
know these things are true with all my heart, soul and mind for I have done
them myself.
As a representative of Jesus Christ I invite ALL to come unto Him,
to learn of Him. I promise all who do this and the things I have bore
witness of, WILL come to know that Jesus Christ is the Only
Begotten Son of God, the Lord and Savior of all the World and will come to know
that this truly is his Church restored on the earth today; that the Book of
Mormon is true and that we have a Prophet on the earth today just as in times
of old whose name is Thomas S. Monson. I leave this promise and my love to all of
you in that sacred name, even the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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