Wed 8/28/2013 9:44 AM

Where to begin... This last week has been a fantastic week!  A very bitter, but very sweet week as well.  I have been called to go serve over in Revere, Massachusetts now and will be leaving tomorrow morning (Sept. 29, 2013) bright and early.  Elder Treseder from my MTC district is coming down here to replace me and so I am excited for that.  I love him so much, and hope he will love this wonderful area here in Bridgeport.  My new companion will be Elder Sompi, who was Elder Jones' companion before me.  I have already met him before when we went to Boston for P-Day for Elder Hawks' last P-Day.  He is a great Elder and I am looking forward to serving with him.

This last week was jammed with so much work.  For this month our Zone Leaders gave a challenge to the zone that whoever had the most members present at investigator lessons would get a nice dinner from them.  So after a lot of wonderfully hard days we WON!  It has been such a great blessing to see the power and extra Spirit that comes from having a member present at every lesson. The work picked up even more, the members get more excited to share, and we as missionaries were blessed to see others, both members and non-members alike come closer to Christ.  We ended up telling them that we didn't want a huge dinner but rather 50 cent ice cream cones from McDonalds. =D.

The past few days in particular have been weird since it is my first time during a transfer where I am leaving.  I was able to meet with all the people we were working with.  Sunday was all the investigators (most of them) and so many doors opened as a result. We stopped by Kaylas with Gabe (her bf) (she, by the way, was losing interest since we answered all of her questions), but I was able to just share with her my love and the real reason behind why we and Gabe are there.  The Spirit that came was so sweet and a great blessing.  We were able to meet with her dad and mom and found little opportunities where the door with them could open more and more.

 

Just visit after visit was such a tender blessing from the Lord.  I have come to love all these people so much and it is really hard to leave them, but I know that the Lord wants me to go to Revere now.

 

One of the sweetest things to me has been how the Lord can expand our hearts.  I loved being able to meet with these wonderful people one last time to express my gratitude and love for them and one of the most sweetest and most tender parts was when I was able to bare my testimony to them and express that love and then after leave them with a blessing.  Whether it was through prayer or offering a blessing with my hands on their heads, they were truly tender moments for me.

Every day of my mission my eyes open more and more for all that the Lord has done for me.  I am awakened more and more each and every day that truly I am nothing without him.  Everything that I have been, I am and will become is solely through his great love and mercy towards me.  He loves me so much that he has blessed me with the ability to choose for myself, but even more than that he grants me life each and every day and his Spirit to be able to go out and help his other sons and daughters come to a knowledge that He truly is there and does love them.  There is no greater blessing to me than this.  To see peoples lives change and to be able to be a part of that, to be able to be an instrument in the Lord's hands.

I can now understand greater the joy and gratitude that Ammon expressed in the book of Alma 26:11-12

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not ^aboast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my ^bjoy is full, yea, my heart is brim with ^cjoy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am ^anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will ^bnot boast of myself, but I will ^cboast of my God, for in his ^dstrength I can do all ^ethings; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

I know with all my heart and soul that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church fully restored on the earth today.

I know that we have a prophet on the earth today as we did in the days of Moses and Abraham and that his name is Thomas S. Monson.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World and that He loves each and every one of us more than we can ever come close to comprehend.  I know that He lives and oh what joy, what peace and what strength that knowledge brings. These things are ever more solidified in my heart, soul and mind more and more every day for I have felt his presence so many times in my life, felt his love, felt his guidance and have seen so many beautiful miracles in my life and in the lives of others.

I know that God truly is a God of grace, love, peace, power and miracles.  I have seen his hand more and more abundantly in my life and know that truly "I am nothing" and so I shall not boast of myself but rather "I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things."  And So I will praise his name forever!

All you reading this I bare my solemn testimony that I know that these things are true and I invite you all to come to know your Savior and Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, better than you do now and not to just know of him.   He truly is there waiting for you to turn to him and I promise you that He will prove all his words to you as he has done for me.

I leave this things with you, in the sacred and wonderful name, of Jesus Christ, amen.

3 And my brother, Jacob, also has ^aseen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of ^bthree, God hath said, I will establish my word.  Nevertheless, God sendeth more ^cwitnesses, and he proveth all his words.

Mon 8/19/2013 2:53 PM

This past week has been amazing.  There has been a lot of new work coming our way and ideas on how to do it better and huge events going on as well.

 

For instance, on Sat. we had the Temple ground breaking for the Hartford, CT Temple and Pres. Monson came down for it.  We had a new investigator go with us to the broadcast for the event.  Her name is Victoria and it is a long story how we came in contact with her again, but it most certainly was not a coincidence.  All of the different circumstances that happened in order for us to literally be in the right place at the right time, and then for her to tell us that she was just thinking about us and praying that we would show up. When she said this I felt the Spirit hit me and confirm the words she just said.  She has a lot of faith and knows the scriptures like the back of her hand.  She is a missionary for all sorts of different churches, and we can tell that it will be a little difficult to teach her, but it will be well worth it.

 

Last night we had a missionary musical fireside where missionaries performed musical numbers, bore testimonies and read scriptures.  I was asked to recite scriptures to introduce the topics, so I shared D&C 19:16-19 on the Atonement and James 1:5 on Revelation.

All the performances were beautiful, especially the ones with our Mission President and his family.  He sang one song with his 16 yr. old daughter and one with his 13 yr. old son.  Each was so beautiful and I felt the love that they had for each other and the Spirit just overwhelmed me and that is how it was during the whole event.  His family is very musically inclined.  Elder Lefthand was able to record it, so hopefully I can get it from him.

 

We met with Silvia on Thurs. and taught the restoration lesson with a young man whose papers just went in for his mission.  It was an awesome lesson.  She is what we as missionaries call a "Golden Investigator" and truly is one of the children of God He has been preparing to receive the gospel, so it is sad she moved to New Jersey on Sat., but we went ahead and set her up with the missionaries in her area.

 

We have a new Elder in our district name Elder Nordin, who is with Elder Nielson currently (the Elders that live with us).  He is a great Elder and has been out a little over a year now.  We all bonded really easy and have the same goals, so it is awesome to see the change in the apartment and really in just everything.  We are a lot more unified.

 

Everyone has been telling me how my Spanish has improved so much and I am really grateful for that because I am a lot more comfortable at speaking it because I can understand more now.

 

We had a wedding the other day for a lady who has wanted to be baptized for 5 years and couldn't because she wasn't married and didn't have her paper work.  She has a baptismal date on the 31st of this month.  Now her husband will be able to receive the priesthood as a result, after waiting the allotted time.

 

I have been doing a study, since our District meeting, on focusing on Missionary work and the blessings and promises that we will receive if we just do it.  This is not only for full-time missionaries, but for EVERYONE (members and non members alike) and for those who have been baptized and are members of the church it is just to keep their baptismal covenant(promise) to God to stand as a witness of him in all places and at all times.  The blessings that we receive can help with ANYTHING in our lives.  Whether it be financially, family wise - like helping our families become more unified and strengthened from everything going on out in the world.  We are promised to be forgiven of sins to become more clean, more in tune with the Spirit and so many more things than I can even come close to list at this time.  So, in short, for all of you reading this and especially those who are struggling with something in your lives, whatever it may be, just be a missionary!  Find opportunities to serve others, (opening a door, sayiing hi and asking someone how they are doing, etc.) invite others to come to church with you, to activities or to dinner and invite the missionaries over. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people and invite them to learn more about it.  If you are worried that it will ruin your friendship, it wont.  Just let them know how much you love them and why you would like to invite them, and that if they don't want to accept, that is fine, and will not ruin the friendship.  I wish I had more time to share with you all the importance of doing these things and the great promises awaiting.  I share this with you because no matter what it is you are going through at this time in your life, no matter where you are spiritually, whether you are very strong in the gospel or just starting out, these things will bless your lives in more ways than you think possible.

 

I leave you with this invitation to put these things to the test and to prove God himself for he will deliver. "prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10

These things have been a great blessing in my life and have helped not only my life but my family's as a result.  I know that these things are true and are out there awaiting those who will just put them to the test.

 

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World, and that He loves us more than we can ever come close to comprehend.  I know that He wants us to turn to him that he may heal us and help us to become like him.  I know that he took upon himself the sins, sicknesses, infirmities, and injustices of this life upon himself so that he could do this.  I know that He lives and because He lives there is always hope and He will help us.  I say these things in his sacred name, even the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

Mon 8/12/2013 9:03 AM

We have had a lot of work going on.  We have six investigators right now and around 12-14 really good referrals/potentials and all of which are growing.  The work has been picking up a lot and hardly any time to do anything between all the less actives, and member work.

 

We went to the temple on Sat. to help out our Branch since we need priesthood holders.   It was a wonderful experience.  Milena was going to go, but couldn't last second.  

 

Yesterday at church we had 95 people in the Branch, so our numbers are finally back and we had a member bring a non member family member who wanted to learn more.  Her name is Silbia and was a news anchor in Puerto Rico.  She is very friendly and not afraid to speak up or do things we ask her to do, so that is awesome.  It was actually a cool experience how it worked out.  I was praying hard that the Lord would put someone in our path that He has been preparing, for truly the field is white all ready to harvest.  And next thing you know she is there.  I feel that it was indeed an answer to my prayer, so I am excited to teach her more.

 

The temple ground breaking is this Saturday for the Hartford, CT Temple, so I am exited for that.  I can not wait!

 

Also on Sunday there was a farewell for a Raquel who is leaving on her mission and reports to the MTC on Wed.  There was a lot of good food and people there.  A member brought her husband who is not a member who we just started working with.  So it was a great experience.

 

We had Zone Conference last week as well which was amazing. We had the whole Mission Presidency speak.  Pres. Clayton Christensen and Pres. Hate.  It was amazing!  We got to see what our digital missionaries are working on and it is awesome.  It will be a great tool in getting the whole digital way of doing missionary work going.  It is a great blessing to be here when there is so much going on. 

 

I am out of time, but I just want to bear my testimony that I know this church is true and that this is the Lord's work.  I know that because I can feel His Spirit daily in blessing the lives of others as we teach them about the gospel.  I know that the Lord has a plan for all of His children and it truly is a plan of happiness where we can be sealed to our families for all time and eternity in holy temples through Priesthood authority from God.  Meaning, we can live with our families (the people we love most) forever!  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Mon 8/5/2013 11:07 AM

There is so much to write about and not enough time, since we are all leaving soon to go bowling today and I was the last to get on a computer.  I will try to hurry and get everything in.

This past week has been really focusing on having members presents at our lessons with investigators.  This has been turning out really, really well.  Especially because a lot of the people we are teaching are referrals from members.  We have done a lot of praying for each individual and have received a lot of answers on things we need to do, so I am excited to be able to do those things. 

 

I have learned a few more songs on the guitar, and just working hard.

 

On Sunday we had a wonderful fast Sunday and there was a descent turn out at church since it has been slow lately, but it is finally starting to pick up.  It was at 88, and when people get back from vacations it should be back to around 100ish.  During sacrament as I was looking around a lot of people came to mind that I needed to talk to and start working with.  A lot being part member families.  So, we set up our planner with a ton of stuff to do this next week.  We are now going to be booked.

 

After sacrament we went with Gabe Maldonado (a youth whose girlfriend we are teaching) and a return missionary and helped a member move.  It was a great experience.  We didn't have time to change so we did it in our church clothes and stopped and talked to a guy who was curious about us.  He was interested in going to church and everything!  It was cool.  We got done around 4:30 and had to hurry and head up to the chapel in Trumbull to practice for the interfaith musical that night.  I was so nervous, but it turned out really good!  There were so many very talented people there!  It was amazing to see all of these people come together from different faiths but united in Christ.  It was amazing!  The Spirit and love that was felt in the chapel was overwhelming.  One of my favorite parts was hearing the primary kids sing.  It was beautiful.  They are getting CDs, so I will get one and send it out.  There may be video as well, but I am not sure.  It was awesome and the people who were putting it all together had a lot of opposition as they were trying to get it all done.  After much fasting they succeeded and it was truly beautiful.  We had Kayla's parents there sitting in front of us and the Spirit was just pressing on my mind to talk to them a lot that night.  After the performances there was a lot of dessert and goodies, and I talked to them quite a bit, they are very nice people. I hope we will be able to get that family to become interested and put these things to the test so they can come to have a greater peace and joy in their lives.

 

I have to go right now, but I want you all to know that I know that the Church is true, I know Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world and as we all seek him he will come to us.

 

I know that the song of the righteous is truly a prayer unto the Lord and that we receive blessings as a result!  I love this gospel and being a missionary.  There truly is nothing better than serving other people.  I leave these things with you all in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Mon 7/29/2013 9:01 AM

This past week my heart has been filled with such gratitude for everything in my life.  I am so grateful that the Lord in his great mercy has been bringing back to my remembrance the things he has done for me and those whom I hold dear in my life.  There is so much beauty in the family and it is no wonder to me why the family unit is central to the Lord's plan for his children.  It is a place where we can learn, grow and develop in a loving atmosphere and where we are surrounded by those who only want us to succeed.  So I am very grateful for my wonderful family and everything that each individual brings to the table to add their own insight on things.

This last week there was a lot of great things that happened.  We met with Kayla and actually are practicing for an inter-faith musical event coming up.  We are doing "I Need Thee Every Hour," and she is playing the guitar and her boyfriend is singing with Elder Jones and I.  I am a little bit nervous because there will be a lot of really good performers there, but it is ok because we will bring the Spirit with us!  When we have the Spirit with us it doesn't matter if we sing horrible or not... Haha, but honestly we are not too bad.

We were able to visit with a referral we received from a member, with the member there, and it was an amazing 1st lesson.  The spirit was very strong and we were able to teach in unity and love.  Her name is Flor and we are excited to be teaching her.

We also met with a less active family that we have been working with for a time, whom I really have come to love so much and found out another one of their needs for sure, something we have thought, and so we have been basing our lessons around, and they finally just opened up and said, we believe this church is true and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, but we don't believe in the Book of Mormon. So, we brought back to their remembrance some of the wonderful experiences we have had with them from reading from the Book of Mormon and how they felt the Spirit testifying to them and explained more about the Spirit and how it cannot testify of something false.  It was a wonderful visit and we shared many things through the Spirit and committed them to read the Book of Mormon and keep praying until they receive an answer.  Before they only prayed once or twice and expected it right then.  We have them on a reading schedule to finish it in 100 days to fit with their schedule.

A lady in our branch gave birth to a baby boy the other day and he has heart issues.  They were separated for a day or two because they sent her home and he stayed in the hospital, but now they are re-united.  We visited them last night and he is so precious.  She wanted us to give him a blessing and asked me to give it.  It was a very touching experience for me to give that blessing and afterward my companion and I felt such great peace, love and gratitude for everything, especially the Priesthood and to be able to hold it worthily.

On Friday we had a baptism for an 8 year old girl named Rachel Marquez.  It went very well, but let's just say that the day was insane, so many things went wrong, but there was a lot of laughter a long with it so let's just leave it at that..... Haha.

Yesterday I gave a talk in sacrament pretty much on the fly.  I was told to have something prepared just in case some one didn't show up.  I had about 30 min., but the Spirit guided me in what I needed to talk about and what scriptures to use and everything.  I wasn't even nervous.  I remember in Exodus 4 that when Moses was told to go forth and preach he was very nervous and doubtful because of he was slow of speech and didn't think he was fit to do the Lord's errand.  The Lord showed him signs that really all is possible through him, but he still doubted.  This is the conversation between him and the Lord-
10 ¶And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of ^aspeech, and of a ^bslow tongue.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who ^amaketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind?  Have not I the Lord?

So verse 11 has been in my mind a lot with the language and has been a great source of help to me.  I remembered this and went forward with faith.  During sacrament I felt the Spirit completely envelope me and then the speaker before me I could understand pretty much perfectly.  After she was done I then got up and spoke about the Atonement and how that applies to missionary work.  I did it with no notes or anything, just completely relying on the Spirit, the scriptures I planned on sharing I felt I shouldn't and so shared others that came to mind.  It truly is amazing how the Lord works by the faith of the children of men.  The spanish that rolled off my tongue came naturally and the rest of the day I could understand most of everything that was going on.

So, for those who may be wondering how the guitar learning is going.  I have learned, "I Need the Every Hour;" "How Firm a Foundation," and I am currently working on, "The Spirit of God," which I have down, just not too quick at it yet.  It is amazing how much we can truly fit into our schedules when we just plan properly and space things out smartly.
 
For lack of time I have, I strongly encourage you all to read and feast on the word's of Enos in the Book of Mormon because there is so much wonderful information in that chapter on how we can truly keep our baptismal covenant we made with the Lord; to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ at all times and in all places.  I have come to love this chapter more and more and I have pondered it.

I would like to bear my testimony on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and I pray that the Holy Ghost will be with me as I do so and carry this testimony to your hearts for truly it is the most important event that ever has happened or ever will happen in all time and eternity.

For I know that it is the source of all joy and a well of living water for us.  It is the fruit that Lehi saw in the vision about the tree of life.  It is the very bases of all Christian beliefs and doctrine.

All those reading this, I want you yo know that I know with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World.  He is the Messiah, which means the anointed one.  He was chosen to be the Savior of the children of men and he is the only one who could have done what He did, which was to take upon himself, not only the sins of the whole world, but also the sicknesses, infirmities, and everything that we go through in this life that just is not right.  Whether that be sadness, depression, anger, pain and whatever else affects our happiness.  This burden was so intense that it "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 not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-."  I know that this event happened because I have used the Atonement in my life and have felt the love of God, which love causeth my soul to rejoice and share this wonderful message with others.  For it is not only for our sins, but to receive the grace or the enabling power in order to continue on in our journey in this life until we can once again return to live with our Heavenly Father and become like Him.

I know that Jesus Christ lives and because He lives we can do all things through Him for truly "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."

It is my prayer that those of you who have felt the redeeming power of the Savior to always remember how that feels.  Remember that overwhelming sense of joy and peace of knowing you are clean and I promise you that as you remember these experiences and the greatness of God and your own nothingness (recognizing you dependence on God) you will feel an overwhelming desire to keep your baptismal covenant to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all places.  This my friends is the greatest source of Joy we can receive.  To use the Atonement to become clean, to use the Atonement in all things that we endeavor to do, praying with all our hearts and souls for the grace or enabling power of our Savior.

For all of you who feel your testimony in Jesus Christ is not as strong as it once was or that it is not as strong you would like, I invite you to remember your prier experiences and move forward with faith, remembering daily these things and clinging to the power of the Atonement; relying wholly on the Lord in all that you do.

For those of you that feel lost and that you cannot feel this joy of which I speak, I testify as a representative of Jesus Christ Himself that you can come to feel this great peace and joy once again in your lives as you humble yourself and turn to the Lord and apply the Atoning blood of Jesus Christ to your life.  We are truly never to deep or too far gone to where the Lord's arm cannot reach us.

Of these things I solemnly and gratefully testify, in the sacred name of our Lord, and Savior, even Jesus Christ, amen.

7/22/2013 9:38 AM

This past week there has been a lot of good going on.  On Saturday we had a Stake family day and they wanted all the missionaries in the Stake to come to help out, so we did.  It was a blast!  I was assigned to pass out Otter Pops to everyone and there was a flood of little kids from 3-5 yrs. who would come back every few minutes for another since it was so hot, but I loved it so much.  It is so hard to observe the ways little children talk and act and not be filled with a greater love and respect for all of our many blessings from our loving Heavenly Father.

During this week we were lucky to be able to meet with Camilo (Alma's son).   He had a lot of really good questions.  I am glad that we were able to answer them and shed some light on some of the things he just didn't understand why we do what we do in the church.   Concerning his doubts that arose we shared a few scriptures where the Lord tells us to prove him and his words.  We then bore our testimonies that the Lord will make these things known to us if we but ask in faith with real intent.  It is truly remarkable that we do not have to rely on what others say, but that we can find out for ourselves directly from the source. 

 

I love the Book of Mormon and love sharing scriptures from it and inviting others to come closer to Jesus Christ and to put the Book of Mormon to the test.  The best part is that I can do this with a perfect confidence because I know with all my heart that they will receive the same answer that I and many others have received.

 

I do not have much time today because there are a lot of people waiting for computers here at the library, but I do know that this church is true and I know that those who truly want to come closer to Christ and follow him can do more so by reading the Book of Mormon and the Bible together.  For the one adds more clarity to the other and a more complete witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World and our Redeemer and that through Him we can have peace and joy.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Wed 7/17/2013 11:31 AM

This last week has been pretty crazy busy and hopefully I can make at least some sense since I am a little out of it today.

This week we have been on the bikes every day and they have real issues!  It is nice though to be able to get around more and be able to fit in a lot more visits.

There has been a sickness that has been going around our district.   It started with the district leader then my companion Elder Jones got sick and then I got sick because I accidently drank out of his water bottle.  So, needless to say it has been fun.  There seems to be a lot of sicknesses out here!  Anyway, we have been sweating it out on the bikes and yesterday we ended up riding 21 miles, so we are pretty exhausted, especially since there are a lot of good sized hills here.  

I am still in Bridgeport and have not been transferred.  Alma is still not baptized.  It will happen, I am pretty sure, but things just keep coming up.  Her husband is in the hospital still and probably won't be able to go to her baptism, but she still knows the experience she had and we are keeping in touch with her.  Because of this whole ordeal though we started to teach her son Camillo again and we got his interest.  We stopped by trying to meet with Alma and she wasn't there, but Camillo was.  We met with him and got to know his beliefs more and then asked him some questions that got him thinking.   He expressed how since there are so many different religions it is hard to know what is real and what isn't.  We then asked him a question and taught him and bore testimony that he could find out for himself by praying and asking God.  We showed him how to pray, and some ways that the Holy Ghost could manifest the truth to him.  We then shared part of the restoration about Joseph Smith and how the Book of Mormon came to be.  We invited him to accept the Book of Mormon and pray about it.  We got down on our knees right then and there and he asked God if he should read it.  The thought, "give it a shot" kept coming to his mind and we then explained to him that is one of the ways that the Holy Ghost can tell us what we need to do.  He is reading it and we are going to meet with him tomorrow.

We got another investigator who is a girlfriend of one of the youth in out branch, her name is Kayla.   Our district does a prayer list for a week until our meetings and so each companionship chooses one person they feel that we all should pray about and come up with some specific things to pray about for that specific person.  It is amazing to see the results.  All the people we have prayed about have progressed as everyone does their part.

The Lord truly does hear and answer our faithful prayers especially when we are all united in purpose.  I decided to read the Book of Mormon in 50 days in Spanish and so a lot of my free time goes to that, which honestly isn't much free time.  So my guitar learning will have to wait a little longer.

Everything is going really good.  I am getting to know my companion more and we are starting to be able to work a little better together.  On Saturday we went to a baptism for the Sullivan family.  A family I have really only had the chance to meet with and teach twice, but have become really close to them.  They are such a wonderful family and it was an amazing experience to see all of them get baptized together!  The spirit that was in the room was incredible and then that same day they were all confirmed members in the church.  All the missionaries were invited to confirm the mother and her daughter as members and that was a pretty unique experience.  Every time I hear the words "Receive the Holy Ghost" I feel the Spirit so strongly and my love increases along with greater gratitude for the Priesthood. 

I would like to bear my testimony today to all of you on prayer and how beautiful it truly is.  I know that prayer truly is direct communication with our loving Heavenly Father, and that through it all we can come to know for ourselves that we are the sons and daughter of God and that we can turn to him always for our support.  I know that it is through our sincere, faithful prayers that miracles happen and that we come closer to our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ.  Some of the most precious experiences in my life have been though truly praying to my Father in Heaven and how grateful I am for this.  When we truly "Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you.." miracles happen.

 

I know that this church is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that we have a prophet on the earth today who is Thomas S. Monson.  I know that all those who desire to know these things for themselves can ask God in prayer and receive that witness for themselves.  I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Mon 7/8/2013 10:44 AM

For July 4th we did service in the extremely humid heat, then we came home completely exhausted and dead, planned a bit, then went up with all the missionaries in our district and ate at a member's house.   Played volleyball, basketball, then went with the Sullivan family to play ultimate frisbee and watch the fireworks.  It was really, really nice. 

This past week there has been a lot that happened, too much to write about!  I think I want to focus on yesterday.

 

We confirmed Milena, which was an awesome experience.  After sacrament we taught the youth. a last second thing since their teacher wasn't there.  That was awesome.  They just got back from a Pioneer Trek and had a good experience.  In short, we related that experience to them being pioneers today and helped them see their potential.  As we spoke I felt the Spirit speaking through us so powerfully! After that we had a lunch with a LA and we are teaching her and her daughter to get them ready for baptism on the 26th of this month (it is very hard to have a full fast in the Spanish program!).  

 

We got to ride our new bikes that we got last week (they are old, and in very bad shape due to previous accidents) and we rode everywhere.  We stopped and talked to a man named Kenny who waved us down, and he was interested.  All the things he was saying to us lined up with what we believe, but he didn't want a Book of Mormon, but accepted a Pamphlet. It was a nice little discussion we had.  Then we continued to visit with some of the Potential investigators we have.  I don't think I have ever sweated as much in my entire life as we did that day.  We finally got an appointment for this week, so we are so excited.

 

We met with a bunch of people on the way home and are currently working with a couple to help them get married so the lady can get baptised and the man get the Priesthood.

 

We are starting a Bible study class as well and are working to get it advertised so we can get all people, members and non-members to come to it and hopefully spark some more interest.

 

There is a lot of good stuff happening here and transfers are coming up =/.  I hope I will be able to stay a little longer, but if I get transferred, then oh well, it will be where I need to be. 

 

I am so grateful for all of my many blessings, and I can see that the Lord is helping me learn the language so quickly, more quickly than I ever could on my own.  As time goes by, and when I don't worry about it, I am just speaking more and more spanish and understanding more and more.  It truly is remarkable.

I want to bear my testimony that I know that this church is true, I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that he lives.  I know that this is His church and His work and that all who come unto Him can come to know a peace and joy they couldn't come to know otherwise.

 

I know that those who believe in the Bible and are willing to read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true will find out for themselves of its truthfulness.  I ask you to please put to test my words and find out for yourselves these things.  I leave this with you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Mon 7/1/2013 10:48 AM

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.

Mon 6/24/2013 12:53 PM

I'm glad to hear that girls camp went really well and you had a good time there.

 

Sounds like you had a really good time with Grandpa.  I miss them. I got a letter from Grandma about the card I sent her.  She is so loving, I miss her so much!

 

You will need to send me pics of the pics Uncle Paul and Aunt Janice took while on their trip to Italy.  I would love to see them.

 

Yeah, it is so cool about Alma and Milena getting baptised.  Plus, Milena's family is warming up to us which is good and will help open the door to getting their whole family into the church. Hopefully.

So, for as this last week......we were very busy!  A lot of things fell through, but there is always something to do.

 

We started teaching a 9 year old boy who wants to be baptized (we got permission from his mom).  His name is Bebo.  His grandparents are members so he comes to church with them sometimes.

 

We still have a lot of people we need to visit with from the lists we got from the branch, so we went ahead and started contacting them (or trying).  There was an inactive lady who lives right around the corner from us.  There was about 10 people out in front of her house hanging out on the stairs.  They said she lived there and that we had to yell to her to get a hold of her.  So we did, she replied, but didn't come down.  While we were there we started talking to the people outside her house and they were curious about who we were, so we told them.  I started talking to an old man who was in the Vietnam war and who believed in Jesus Christ, but man was his heart hardened, lol.  I thanked him for his service to our country and he started to give me the story of his family.  After talking to him we talked to a single mom with 2 kids and ended up giving her a pamphlet on the Plan of Salvation.  It was a good little discussion we had.

 

On the walk home we ran into two other people.  One guy drove by and pulled over asking us for the cards of Jesus and told us why he stopped us.  He was invited awhile ago to our church, but lost the address and so we gave it to him; got his number and will follow up with him.  It was pretty cool, and it just goes to show you that as long as you are doing your best and planning your days the best you can the Lord will put people in your path because he knows where you are going to be and when you will be there.

 

We then ended up talking to a homeless person who came up to us and started talking about things I wasn't even sure he knew he was talking about.  He didn't like the people who lived in Bridgeport, he made that very clear.

 

After this we ran into a bunch of people drinking and a lady called us over and wanted to get our number, a Book of Mormon and a card because she was curious about our church.  She also loved my name for some reason and the fact that she guessed it was Italian....

 

So, there have been a lot of pretty fun and awesome street contacting moments and even more yesterday of which I wish I had time to write about.  I love the people here so much and they all love us, they call us, "The Jesus People" lol.

On Sat. we had language training by Pres. Packard's cousin who serves as mission Pres. in Chile and it was mostly about how we can work with the culture.  We also learned a lot of really cool things that I am excited to apply when we meet with people.

 

Yesterday the Melendez family came to church and when I saw them there my heart filled with joy!  I love them and was so grateful to finally see them there.  After church there was a broadcast from the Marriot Center in Provo, UT about missionary work and it was awesome!  Oh, also on Sunday Elder Jones and I got to teach primary about baptism and repentance.  Oh how much I love those little kids.  They are so awesome!  There is truly nothing greater than to hear them answer, when asked why they want to be baptized, and hear them say, "because I want to follow Jesus..." oh what precious words. 

My heart is filled with such gratitude at this time for all that the Lord has done for me and is doing for me.  I can feel my heart expanding more and more each day and hopefully one day like Enoch, my heart will have expanded as wide as eternity!

 

To all of you reading this I would like to bear my testimony that I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer and that he loves us and has a plan for each and everyone of us and that He lives.  We can come to see a glimpse of that plan and of our true potential if we but turn to him and do as he would have us do.  I know that as we read the Book of Mormon and ponder the teachings in it and pray and ask God with all sincerity of heart if it is true, we will receive an answer that it is true.

 

I ask, can you receive any greater witness than from God?  When you come to know of the truthfulness of it would you then decide to follow God who is your Father in Heaven who created you and who is perfect, who knows all things, who has all power in both heaven and in earth and who loves us beyond our ability to fully comprehend, or would you decide to turn your back on him?

 

I testify and bare record that there is nothing else in the world or in this life that can even come close to knowing of the love that our Father in Heaven has for each of us.  By deciding to choose him and follow him we can receive everlasting life and spend time and all eternity with our families and those whom we love.  I testify that if we follow him by repenting of our sins, being baptized by someone who holds the Priesthood and has the Authority from God, by receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to then end, we will continually progress and become more and more like him.

 

I plead to all that are not members of the church to put these words to the test.  Come and partake of the joy, happiness, love and knowledge which I have come to know and cherish in my heart and soul.

 

For those of you who are members of the church I encourage you to do all you can to remember the covenants you made when you were baptized to show God you would follow him by joining his church; taking the name of Jesus Christ upon you; to... "bear one another's burdens, that they may be light, mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those in need of comfort," to "Stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places," and to serve God and to keep his commandments. 

Live worthily to have the Holy Ghost with you at all times and in all places for that is such a great blessing in our lives, for it is through the Holy Ghost we can come to know the things of God, those things he wants us to know, have the ability to help others and truly endure to the end.  Look for ways to have it more abundantly and I promise you by the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which I hold and as a representative of Jesus Christ that this will be one of the greatest blessings in your life for you will come to know true peace, and joy.

 

"O that thou had'st hearkened to my commandments-then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."

I leave these things with you in the sacred name, of Jesus Christ, amen.

Fri 6/21/2013 1:25 PM

I don't have too much time this week to write about how everything is going, but it is going really well!

We have two baptismal dates for Alma - 7/713 (the one who was investigating for 9 years!) and for Milena - 6/30/13 (the daughter of Mariah who was baptized 2 months ago.   There have been a lot of awesome experiences this past week, but I want to focus on one for sure and maybe two.

For those of you who do not know, as missionaries we have a day once a week where we plan for the up coming week.  It takes a lot of time and is very tiring, but very worth it!  There is a lot of discussing; praying and a wonderful revelatory process.  After much time we were able to receive guidance on what exactly we needed to share with Alma for our visit.  It was on Moses 7, the part where Enoch asks God why he weeps.  We felt we needed to link it to the love that she has for her family for her to try and comprehend, in the smallest degree, the love God has for her. 

When it came time to go and meet with her we arranged for a sister who will be leaving on her mission soon to meet us there and help us teach.  As we taught through the Spirit, doing the things that Heavenly Father inspired us to share and teach, the Spirit was very present and took over!  It was awesome!  Alma finally opened up to us and expressed her fears and concerns and we were then able to address those concerns and fears.

Next thing I know, the Spirit took over and with the Spirit speaking through me I stated, "Alma, we are representatives of Jesus Christ and holding his Holy Priesthood, the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, we promise you..." and then gave promises which I cannot remember.  Never at any time in a lesson or in my life did the Power of my calling hit home and the Power of the Priesthood hit home more than at this moment and especially after this visit.

After the promises that were stated, we then continued and invited her to pray right then, on her knees, with us to know if Heavenly Father wanted her to get baptized, and then promised her right then and there that if she would do it right then she would receive that answer.  She accepted and we got down on our knees and we explained to her that after the prayer we wanted her to take a few moments to ponder how she felt.  We prayed and remained kneeling waiting for that confirmation.  We then proceeded and asked her how she felt and she replied that she felt a great calm and peace.

The Spirit was so strong right then and my soul was filled with such joy I cannot come close to explain.  I then, with such a great love and eyes starting to tear up said, "Alma, that is the Holy Ghost confirming our words to you and answering your question."  We then extended a date and she accepted joyfully.  I cannot even come close to explain this experience or try to share the love and spirit that was in that room at that time.

I want you all to know that I know that Heavenly Father knows each and everyone of us perfectly and knows exactly what we need.  This experience is a witness of that, and after 9 years Alma finally has a date and an experience that she knows she can never forget.

I would like to bear my testimony that I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and knows each and every one of us perfectly and knows exactly what we need.

 

I know that we ALL can come to know his great plan for us through striving to have his Holy Spirit with us at all times, in all places and doing our very best to always follow the promptings we receive from it.

 

Oh how great a cause we all have to rejoice, for He who overcame death even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has restored his Church fully on the earth which includes His Holy Priesthood!

 

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that it is only through his Atonement we can overcome all things and once again return to live with our Heavenly Father.

 

Last of all, I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves each and everyone of us so much more than we can ever come close to comprehending.

 

I leave this testimony with you all in his sacred name, the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Mon 6/10/2013 10:02 AM

Elder Jones mi nuevo companero. El es awesombroso. He is awesome!  It is still weird having a new companion especially since Elder Hawks and I got really close, but I know the Lord put us both together for a reason and that reason, I don't know yet, but I will. He is really cool, but a bit different.

I have been working him to death!  We have so much stuff to do it is crazy.  The other day I listed everything out that we needed to do, it really hit me hard!   So much to get done!  I have been praying hard lately about it and the Lord has been helping me know what to do.  I love that I can always rely on Him for added strength to keep me going when I physically can't.  His grace truly is sufficient.  I am learning more and more what it means to lift with feeble knees.  I am so grateful for that though.  It takes me beyond what I think is physically possible and shows me even more the greatness of God and how we as humans can truly not even come close to comprehend all the things God does no matter how hard we try or how much we think we know.

This last week was pretty dang busy!  We had a lot of visits since Elder Hawks was going home and a lot of food we had to eat back to back.  Boston was amazing as well!  I loved it so much I could honestly see myself living there one day, maybe.  On friday it rained non stop all day and it was really coming down hard!  Luckily it was our planning day, so we got a lot done, but we kept having to take a lot of breaks because water was seeping up through the floor (we live on the bottom floor which is below ground level a little bit).  The carpet is still wet and it smells like wet dog even though we have been doing all we can to dry it up.

We had 102 people at sacrament on Sunday! The English ward only had 3 more members than us - it was cool! 

As for the awesome experiences this last week there are a lot, but really only one I wanna talk about, but I may share a few other encounters.

Sunday we left our branch after sacrament to go to the new English ward for Ana and Tyres confirmation (after a lot of prayer and counseling, it was found to be better for them to go to this ward).  It came time to get up and confirm them members and I found out up there that I was confirming Tyre because he wanted me to....I was like, "What?!"  I wish I had time to prepare before hand because I was so nervous.  Afterward the bishop commented on my facial expression when I found out I was doing it.  Anyway, I did it and it was beautiful and I am so very grateful for that opportunity.  I remember the Spirit that I felt when I said the words, "Tyre Barnette by the authority of the Melchezideck Priesthood which we hold we confirm you a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and say unto receive the Holy Ghost."  The feeling that was there was amazing!  To know that I hold the Holy Priesthood of God which is the authority, ability and power given to man to act in the name of God for the salvation of his children touches my heart in such a way I cannot ever come close to expressing my gratitude to the Lord.  To know that our Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only Church on the whole planet that holds this authority to perform baptisms, confirmations, heal the sick, give a blessing of comfort and peace, bless houses, etc. is just mind blowing and I am so grateful for that and to know how great of a blessing this is for myself, and also for my family now and down the road when I have a family of my own.  After this experience I remember sitting during sacrament and I looked over where Ana and Tyre were sitting and when I saw them partake of the sacrament my heart filled with such a love and joy I cannot express.  To know and see that they chose to follow our Savior Jesus Christ, to see them partake of this sacred ordinance to covenant to always remember him, to keep his commandments so that they can always have His spirit to be with them really hit home to me.  I remembered the first time I was able to partake of the sacrament and how much it means to me.  I love it so much and am so grateful for it in my life.

Another experience with the Priesthood ( I guess today that will be what I am focusing on :-D) - we now have two sisters in our area, the first 2 sisters in this area.  They have a new apartment and so we were asked to go and bless it.  We blessed the house that it would be a place of refuge, peace and a place where the Spirit can reside at all times.  The love, peace that filled that house afterward was so apparent.  To know we can make our homes places like this and a place where all can come in and feel that peace, that joy, is so amazing to me.

There were a lot of great run ins we had this past week, but I don't have time to write about them.  Just know I love all of you and I am aware there are those of you whom I don't even know but I love you anyway more than you can ever imagine.

I would like to bear my testimony.  I know that this Church is true and is the Church Jesus Christ established when he was on the earth.  I know that since it was removed from the earth, after all the 12 disciples were killed due to the wickedness of the world, that it was restored in its fulness in our days by a Prophet called of God who's name is Joseph Smith.  I know that the priesthood of God is once again on the earth today and that it truly is the means men are given to act in the name of God to bless his children.  I know that families can be together for all time and all eternity and through the power of the priesthood and how great a blessing this is.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that he lives and truly how great that sentence is.  I say these things in his sacred name, even the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

For all of you who hold the Priesthood of God I invite you and urge you to strive to come to a new understanding of what exactly it is and how you can use it to bless other people's lives as Christ wants us to.  For the Priesthood is not for us but truly for blessing others and I know that as we use it worthily and with real intent and faithfully, miracles truly do and will happen.  It is my wish that we all will strive to be worthy of the Priesthood and to be able to use it the way God intends us to use it.

I hope that all the women who read this, regardless of age, will strive to have a worthy priesthood holder in their home because of the blessings that come because of it.  There is no greater blessing I know as being a son having a father who holds the priesthood and being able to use it worthily to help give me strength through blessings of comfort and peace, and to be able to do that for the whole family.  Do not settle for anything less!  There truly is much power and great blessings in store for those who have this great blessing.

I am aware that this may not be possible for some of you due to certain circumstances.  I want you to know you can still have this blessing through the members of the Church.  Call them when you need help, ask for blessings for your children and yourself.  I leave these things with all of you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Wed 6/5/2013 9:15 AM

I am glad to hear that Grandma's birthday went well.  Tell her I love her.  I didn't get a chance to send her out a letter though. We have been super busy and sleep deprived, but I will send out one today for sure.

 

Today I don't have much time either because my companion is going home on Friday since his mission is over.  We are going to Boston today since we got permission to before transfers.  My new companion's name is Elder Jones.  He's been out for a year. 

So about this last week......

We have been crazy busy!  We are sleep deprived, a little bit sick, but oh how I love it!

 

We had the most amazing baptisms on Sunday for Ana Acevedo and her grandson Tyre who is 11.  This experience opened my eyes even more on what exactly Zion is.  Since Ana speaks Spanish and Tyre speaks English, and can only understand a very little bit of Spanish, we had both at the same time with both the Spanish branch and English ward there.  It was in Spanish with an English interpreter.  We all sang in our native languages, bore testimonies in our native languages and worshipped and celebrated in our own native languages as one!  There was no better example of what being united in purpose or in other words "Zion" should be like. The love that was in that room was amazing and words cannot even come close to describe this experience.  It was truly remarkable. Everyone who attended was uplifted and edified.  It was truly an experience everyone that was there will never forget.  Afterwards we conversed with bishops about what would be best for this family since there is that language barrier.  After much guidance by the Spirit they both will attend the English ward because it is best for both and especially for Tyre.  Ana will have shadow name Sister Alan who will interpret and help her learn English since she needs to anyway.  This is her calling now in the ward.  The effort all of the members are giving, to help support and do all they can to help, is astonishing.  Because of all this, the Spanish branch and English wards are going to get together more often for picnics and activities!  This is a huge step!  I don't know if everyone sees the big picture, but this right here is building Zion!   Can you imagine if every time someone got baptized if all members of the church got together to support them whether they speak different languages or not.  I am sorry I don't have much time to go into detail today but I hope that what I am trying to portray is getting across.  This is HUGE!

 

Moving on.  For fast and testimony meeting we got a lot of people to attend since it was my companion's last Sunday.  Mariah Lopez (the lady we first baptized when I arrived) her husband and son came who aren't members and were in the beginning very distant. So this was a big deal because we have been trying to get them interested.  Elder Hawks and I bore our testimonies and the whole time before and after I was praying with everything that I had that they would feel the Spirit so strong that perhaps it would awaken a desire in their hearts.  The spirit was very strong in that room and afterwards they stayed for class, had a lot of good questions and then we met with them last night to answer more and taught the restoration.  They have warmed up to us so much they are just like our families now; great friends that respect what we are doing and want to hear more.  So we will see what goes on with that.

 

There is so much going on now and it seems that after all the hard work things are starting to speed up and blow up, which is good, but man oh man there is so much work we need to do!

 

Anyway, I wish I had more time to write about the awesome experiences this last week, but we have to get going. 

 

It is so weird that Elder Hawks is leaving.   I will miss him very much because we have become really close.  I will especially miss his musical fusion on the piano (he is the best pianist ever).

 

I would like to leave you all with my testimony.

Yo se que este Iglesia es la Iglesia de Jesucristo y fue restarado en la tierra hoy. Yo se que puedemos confiar en Jesucristo puedemos hacer todas las cosas por medio de Su Epxiacion y Su gracia. Yo se que este obra es la obra de Dios. Yo se que puedemos saber estas cosas cuando leemos El Libro de Mormon, pensar sobre las cosas y orar and pedir Dios si estas cosas son verdadero. Yo se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y redentor y El vive. 

For all of you reading this who are members, I beg of you to please look for opportunities to uplift another person.  Strive to strengthen your relationships with those in your ward and with all people.  All of us here on the earth are here for the same purpose and it is our sacred responsibility as members to share the gospel and help others come to know what we have come to know, so we can all  receive the joy, peace and happiness that is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the plan God made for us in order for us to know what we need to do in order to live with him again and become as He is. 

For those of you who are not members yet.  I urge you to put to test my words and the words of Prophets of God. That is simply to put to test the Book of Mormon by reading it, pondering the words in it and then asking God and finding out for yourself.  We can teach and testify all we want, but that doesn't matter because in the end you will only find out it is true after you have put it to the test.

How can you know how delicious something truly is if you never taste it-try it?

I leave these things with you in the sacred name of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, amen.