I expect this to be the best week of my whole mission. Claudia, who I think I told you a little about last week, will be baptized on saturday. And, miracalously, Carmen and Enrique will finally be able to get married this week and will also be baptized on saturday. I`m so grateful that I will be able to witness this long awaited saving ordinance before I return home. I never imagined that I would have the chance to see it with my own eyes. It truly is a miracle. The best part is knowing that in one year they`ll be able to be sealed as a family for all eternity. This is the first and only time during my whole mission in which the husband and wife of a family I`ve taught will be baptized at the same time. Immediately following the baptismal service we have an activity planned especially for the new and recently reactivated members. What a great way to finish.
Another investigator of ours, Isabel Molina, the sister of Lucia, our recent convert, accepted to prepare to be baptized the 1 of April. Too bad I won`t be here.
I was very happy yesterday to see the gospel principles class totally packed. An inactive member attended with us for the first time in years and several others that don`t live in our ward boundaries also attended chuch for the first time.
I really never believed this time would come. Now I understand why they always told me that my time as a missionary was going to be extremely short. Until now, these really have been the best two years of my life, although I hope to have even better years in the future. I`ve discovered that real joy comes from dedicated service to the Lord and HIs children, and from seeking His will and direction for my life. I`ve learned and grown so much over these last two years and, yet, I still feel like I`ve only reached the very first step of my full potential and everything the Lord expects me to be.
I normally end my emails with Brett, because I feel like that`s still who I am to you. However, I feel it appropriate now to use that sacred title of Elder seeing as it will be the last time I`ll be able to.
Elder Graham
Monday, March 12, 2012
March 5, 2012
Today we went to visit the pyramids in Cacaxtla as a zone. It was cool, but my companion suddenly starting bleeding from his nose like crazy after (he´s been a little sick and it was really hot and really dry today) and we got way behind in our other planned activities.
The zone leader council with the president was on friday and sister reeves made us sheperd´s pie and a giant chocolate chip cookie cake. It was delicious. Apart from that there was an announcement that really made me jealous of all the other missionaries that aren´t going home at the end of this transfer. On April 14 Elder Bednar is going to visit the mission. He visited the mission almost two years ago and a lot of my generation got to see him, but I was still waiting for my visa in Utah. So, I´ll never get the chance see an apostle come. That reminds me of another announcement I keep forgetting to tell you about. A few weeks ago, President Reeves notified us that the Mexico Puebla Mission will be divided the 1 of July into the Mexico Puebla North Mission and the Mexico Puebla South Mission. It´s pretty exciting news because it means that the work is really growing here.
Sunday was excellent as well. Four of our recent converts bore their testimony in sacrament meeting, and everyone could feel the spirit. We went way over time. Everyone wanted to go up. Besides that, one of the very special people we´ve been teaching, Claudia Marquez, went for the first time. The day before she accepted a baptismal date for the 17 of March. We were going over the law of chastity when suddenly she blurted out, so when am I going to be baptized? We couldn´t believe it, because she hadn´t even gone to church yet. Moises Paredes who just got baptized a couple weeks ago is a counselor in the sunday school presidency and Miguel Angel is the secretary.
The zone leader council with the president was on friday and sister reeves made us sheperd´s pie and a giant chocolate chip cookie cake. It was delicious. Apart from that there was an announcement that really made me jealous of all the other missionaries that aren´t going home at the end of this transfer. On April 14 Elder Bednar is going to visit the mission. He visited the mission almost two years ago and a lot of my generation got to see him, but I was still waiting for my visa in Utah. So, I´ll never get the chance see an apostle come. That reminds me of another announcement I keep forgetting to tell you about. A few weeks ago, President Reeves notified us that the Mexico Puebla Mission will be divided the 1 of July into the Mexico Puebla North Mission and the Mexico Puebla South Mission. It´s pretty exciting news because it means that the work is really growing here.
Sunday was excellent as well. Four of our recent converts bore their testimony in sacrament meeting, and everyone could feel the spirit. We went way over time. Everyone wanted to go up. Besides that, one of the very special people we´ve been teaching, Claudia Marquez, went for the first time. The day before she accepted a baptismal date for the 17 of March. We were going over the law of chastity when suddenly she blurted out, so when am I going to be baptized? We couldn´t believe it, because she hadn´t even gone to church yet. Moises Paredes who just got baptized a couple weeks ago is a counselor in the sunday school presidency and Miguel Angel is the secretary.
Monday, February 27, 2012
February 27, 2012
Sorry, I have almost no time to write right now. I was signing up for classes. Moises was baptized on friday and confirmed on sunday and, miracously, his wife finally went with him to church on sunday after more than half a year during which she`s never agreed to go with him. He`s an amazing person. He was describing to us what he felt after being baptized and, with tears in his eyes, said that he just couldn`t contain himself. He wants to tell everyone about the Gospel and the joy he`s found, especially his family. He loves his family so much even though they weren`t in agreement with his decision. I can see him as a bishop in a very short amount of time. Now, we`re just waiting on Enrique and Carmen. They`re so close. I pray everyday for them. Margarita and Leandro, two people I baptized when I was in this area the last time had gone inactive, but this friday they went to the baptism of Moises and to sacrament meeting on sunday. I was very happy to see them there.
It`s really starting to dawn on me now that I have very little time left as a full time missionary and it makes me sad. It almost moves me to tears every time I think about it. So, I try not to think about, but everyone always reminds me.
I love you,
Elder Graham
It`s really starting to dawn on me now that I have very little time left as a full time missionary and it makes me sad. It almost moves me to tears every time I think about it. So, I try not to think about, but everyone always reminds me.
I love you,
Elder Graham
February 20, 2012
This week was not as great for me as the last. A lot of investigators told us that they no longer desire that we teach them and many times during the week I felt like I wasn´t receiving any guidance from the Holy Ghost. We are having difficulties finding more people to teach, and the people we´re teaching aren´t attending church, even when they commit to do it. I´ve also been thinking about something my patriarchal blessing mentions about me being going on a mission to touch the lives of those I need to touch and that there are people here that only I can move to make correct decisions.
Ok, enough with my negative attitude. Sorry, there´s just a lot of things going through my mind now that I only have a month left. I continue seeking for that voice from Heaven telling me that what I´ve done is enough and that the Lord is pleased with my service. A scripture I read today helped me a little, 1 Nephi 21:3-6. The good thing is that Moises and his wife were married on saturday and he will be baptized on friday. The other good thing is that all of our recent converts have continued faithful despite challenges and opposition. Lucia was just called to be the adviser of one of the young women groups and Alfredo just received the Aaronic priesthood. Miguel Angel also received the Aaronic priesthood on sunday and is close to finishing Alma in the Book of Mormon. Ugghhh, but it really worrys me to know of the challenges and trials some of them are facing.
I wish there was something I could do for Marc. Give him a big hug for me and tell him to read these scriptures that tend to cheer me up: Alma 26:35, Moroni 7:41-42, Alma 29:9-10, 2 Nefi 9:3, D&C 14:7.
I got your dear elder package. thanks for the giant cookies.
Ok, enough with my negative attitude. Sorry, there´s just a lot of things going through my mind now that I only have a month left. I continue seeking for that voice from Heaven telling me that what I´ve done is enough and that the Lord is pleased with my service. A scripture I read today helped me a little, 1 Nephi 21:3-6. The good thing is that Moises and his wife were married on saturday and he will be baptized on friday. The other good thing is that all of our recent converts have continued faithful despite challenges and opposition. Lucia was just called to be the adviser of one of the young women groups and Alfredo just received the Aaronic priesthood. Miguel Angel also received the Aaronic priesthood on sunday and is close to finishing Alma in the Book of Mormon. Ugghhh, but it really worrys me to know of the challenges and trials some of them are facing.
I wish there was something I could do for Marc. Give him a big hug for me and tell him to read these scriptures that tend to cheer me up: Alma 26:35, Moroni 7:41-42, Alma 29:9-10, 2 Nefi 9:3, D&C 14:7.
I got your dear elder package. thanks for the giant cookies.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
February 13, 2012
This week was excellent. Miguel Angel Garcia, someone weve been teaching for a month or two was baptized and confirmed. And, the very same sacrament meeting in which he was confirmed he bore his testimony in front of everyone. (Fast and testimony meeting was pushed back because of the stake conference.) I think yesterday might have been the only time Ive ever seen one of my converts bear their testimony in sacrament meeting. He shared his experience of how the first two times we visited him he didnt really feel anything special until he came upon 1 Nephi 8 and read about Lehis vision. He remembered every detail of the story in the book of Mormon and compared it to his own life and said that since that time he knew the Book of Mormon was true. Now he reads like crazy. He already passed Alma 7. I think hes reading it faster than Ive ever read it. Hes made many changes in his life and is a very humble man. The sad part was that none of his family agrees with his decision and, therefore, none of them went to his baptism. But he also expressed in his testimony yesterday that he knows that one day theyll understand and be there with him as well.
Besides his confirmation, the four people that were baptized last saturday were confirmed as well, and a recently reactivated man shared his testimony as well. It was an excellent sacrament meeting.
We also recieved the good news that Moises will finally be able to get baptized the 24 of February because his wife finally agreed to civil marriage. She was against her husbands decision to be baptized and therefore hadnt wanted to get married for a long time even though theyve been living together for 29 years and have several children. Even under these circumstances Moises has been reguarly attending just about every activity in the church and reading the scriptures much more diligently than most members for many months. Hes such a wonderful, caring, humble, kindhearted man who loves his family despite the fact that they arent in agreement. Its so great that he will finally be able to achieve his desire and the blessings of the ordinances of the gospel.
Carmen and Enrique are so close to being able to get married. Weve been working with the connections we have in the local government (the community presidentss wife is a member) and they should be able to get married at the latest, next week.
Everyone weve been teaching have been getting baptized so now our struggle is finding more people to teach. Weve been so occupied with teaching appointments that now its been a little hard for us to open our mouths and talk to everyone, but weve got to get into the habit again.
Another experience that Im not sure if I already shared with you is when one of the people baptized last saturday and confirmed yesterday, Lucia, shared with my companion and I how we had helped her feel important to God. She told us of an accident she had a little while ago while she was traveling I dont remember to where but somewhere far away. There was an exhaust leak in the car and as a consequence during the course of her trip she got carbon monoxide poisoning and went unconscious. They took her to the hospital and after a while were able to get her to wake up, but the doctors said that she was very close to dying. She said that after recovering she wondered why God had allowed her to live as she would have preferred to leave this life. She explained how during this time in her life she felt like she wasnt important to anyone. Luckily, her sisters expressed their love and support to her, but she said, in tears, that until we came and taught her the gospel and showed her our love for her, she really didnt feel that God cared about her. She told us we were angels sent to help her and let her know the He does care about her. Its hard to describe what we felt in that moment with words.
I know God loves all His children. One of the greatest blessings of serving a mission is being able to feel a little part of what Our Heavenly Father feels towards His children.
Besides his confirmation, the four people that were baptized last saturday were confirmed as well, and a recently reactivated man shared his testimony as well. It was an excellent sacrament meeting.
We also recieved the good news that Moises will finally be able to get baptized the 24 of February because his wife finally agreed to civil marriage. She was against her husbands decision to be baptized and therefore hadnt wanted to get married for a long time even though theyve been living together for 29 years and have several children. Even under these circumstances Moises has been reguarly attending just about every activity in the church and reading the scriptures much more diligently than most members for many months. Hes such a wonderful, caring, humble, kindhearted man who loves his family despite the fact that they arent in agreement. Its so great that he will finally be able to achieve his desire and the blessings of the ordinances of the gospel.
Carmen and Enrique are so close to being able to get married. Weve been working with the connections we have in the local government (the community presidentss wife is a member) and they should be able to get married at the latest, next week.
Everyone weve been teaching have been getting baptized so now our struggle is finding more people to teach. Weve been so occupied with teaching appointments that now its been a little hard for us to open our mouths and talk to everyone, but weve got to get into the habit again.
Another experience that Im not sure if I already shared with you is when one of the people baptized last saturday and confirmed yesterday, Lucia, shared with my companion and I how we had helped her feel important to God. She told us of an accident she had a little while ago while she was traveling I dont remember to where but somewhere far away. There was an exhaust leak in the car and as a consequence during the course of her trip she got carbon monoxide poisoning and went unconscious. They took her to the hospital and after a while were able to get her to wake up, but the doctors said that she was very close to dying. She said that after recovering she wondered why God had allowed her to live as she would have preferred to leave this life. She explained how during this time in her life she felt like she wasnt important to anyone. Luckily, her sisters expressed their love and support to her, but she said, in tears, that until we came and taught her the gospel and showed her our love for her, she really didnt feel that God cared about her. She told us we were angels sent to help her and let her know the He does care about her. Its hard to describe what we felt in that moment with words.
I know God loves all His children. One of the greatest blessings of serving a mission is being able to feel a little part of what Our Heavenly Father feels towards His children.
February 6, 2012
This week was amazing. Four amazing people were baptized on saturday. They have such a strong testimony and desire to follow Christ. I usually don´t cry in baptismal services, but I could help it in this one. The mission president came as well. It was incredible. I enjoyed the stake conference this weekend with the area President, Elder Johnson of the Seventy. This is my last transfer, six weeks, and the good thing is I get to stay with my companion who I love and who has helped me become the best missionary of my entire mission. It´s been raining quite a bit and therefore the Malinche, a nearby mountain, and the Popocatapetl, the volcano, are covered in snow. We have to run to an appointment soon. So, I´ll tell you more later.
January 30, 2012
We have four baptisms planned for this saturday. We invited president Reeves. Hopefully he can make it. Elder Avendaño and I both feel like these are some of our best converts of our whole mission. They are all so determined to live commandments. On saturday, Three siblings, Anahi, Alfredo, and Miriam told us they wanted to be baptized right at the beginning of the lesson without even giving us time to invite them. They received answers to their prayers in so many ways. Alfredo, 17, plans on going on a mission before going to college. Anahi studies like crazy the whole week at a college in Mexico City and still finds time to read the scriptures and pray everyday. Six of our investigators went to church this sunday along with many reactivated families. Things are going good in the ward. We finally taught more the twenty lessons this week. But, I still feel like Im not doing enough. I hope we can maintain the same level of success.
Today we played soccer with the whole zone on a full size field. It was fun, but tiring.
This week should be great. We have the baptism, the stake conference which President/Elder Johnson, the seventy president of area Mexico, will attend, and the zone leader council with president Reeves. The stake presidency is going to be reorganized.
The weathers been cold and rainy here lately. Hopefully it warms up a little bit again.
Today we played soccer with the whole zone on a full size field. It was fun, but tiring.
This week should be great. We have the baptism, the stake conference which President/Elder Johnson, the seventy president of area Mexico, will attend, and the zone leader council with president Reeves. The stake presidency is going to be reorganized.
The weathers been cold and rainy here lately. Hopefully it warms up a little bit again.
Monday, January 23, 2012
January 23, 2012
What a great week. Yesterday many people we´re teaching went to church. The Gospel Principles class was so packed that there wasn´t room for anyone else. Two experiences from this week stand out most in my mind. They occurred while we were teaching Lucia Molina. Two of her sisters are very active members and her 19 year old daughter is also member but just recently started to go to church again. I didn´t remember her by her name very well but when I saw her I remembered that I had taught her and her husband about a year ago when I was here before and I remember that she wasn´t very interested. But, wow, she is totally changed. The first time we taught her she openly expressed to us everything that she felt she lacked spiritually and during the whole lesson it was obvious that she was searching for something that would fill her and bless her family. The prayer she offered at the end of the lesson was one of the most beautiful, sincere prayers I have ever heard and by the end she was crying. Afterwards she earnestly thanked us for bring the Spirit into her home. Then the next time we visited her, she had read the assignment we gave her from the Book of Mormon and she told us that after reading and praying she felt desires to change her life, be more loving and kind to others, ask forgiveness to all those she may have offended, and keep the commandments. She even made the decision to prepare the food and do all the chores of the house saturday so that she could keep the sabbath day holy, without us even telling her. She really is amazing, and her daughter is more than pleased because of the decisions she´s making.
This saturday it´s likely that we will have a baptism. Miguel Angel Garcia is a retired soldier who has been attending church and listening to us for a few weeks. He is very intelligent and understands everything he reads in the Book of Mormon, but he is also very humble and quiet. Hopefully everything works out. His wife doesn´t seem to like it very much that we´re teaching him.
I love this work and know that it´s true.
Brett
This saturday it´s likely that we will have a baptism. Miguel Angel Garcia is a retired soldier who has been attending church and listening to us for a few weeks. He is very intelligent and understands everything he reads in the Book of Mormon, but he is also very humble and quiet. Hopefully everything works out. His wife doesn´t seem to like it very much that we´re teaching him.
I love this work and know that it´s true.
Brett
January 16, 2012
The zone conference was on Wednesday. It went ok. My part in the training didn´t really turn out as well as I hoped, but hopefully they learned something. I bore my testimony along with the rest of my generation at the end because it was my last zone conference. It´s cool being a zone leader, mainly because both my companion and I have the same goals and desires and it´s a lot easier to be unified as a companionship. Elder Avendaño has like 6 months less time than I do in the mission, but he knows the scriptures and preach my gospel better than I do, I think.
Some investigators finally went to Church this sunday. We fasted especially for them and stressed the importance of attending church with them the whole week, and 4 of them went to church even though there´s been fiestas in every little town of our area every weekend. We think it´s likely this week that they accept a baptismal date. The ward mission leader and the ward missionaries are helping us out a lot and we are really trying to have a member present in every lesson, which is giving us results. This week we taught 19 lessons, including those taught to investigators, less actives, and recent converts. We want to reach at least 20 every week. Carmen and Enrique, a couple that I taught when I was here before that couldn´t be baptized because of legal problems (they´re not married and they can´t married until Carmen who´s from Colombia has the proper visa requirements), has continued atending church every week since I left and they´re so close to being able to be baptized. They plan on getting married civily by the 1 of February. It would be a dream come true if I was able to see them be baptized before I return home. Pray for them, please.
The temperature has risen a little bit lately, but the weather is still weird. It´s rained a couple times lately which is very unsual for this time of year. Our house is still like a refrigerator though. I can´t wait to go back to Florida where it´s warm.
I love you guys,
Brett
Some investigators finally went to Church this sunday. We fasted especially for them and stressed the importance of attending church with them the whole week, and 4 of them went to church even though there´s been fiestas in every little town of our area every weekend. We think it´s likely this week that they accept a baptismal date. The ward mission leader and the ward missionaries are helping us out a lot and we are really trying to have a member present in every lesson, which is giving us results. This week we taught 19 lessons, including those taught to investigators, less actives, and recent converts. We want to reach at least 20 every week. Carmen and Enrique, a couple that I taught when I was here before that couldn´t be baptized because of legal problems (they´re not married and they can´t married until Carmen who´s from Colombia has the proper visa requirements), has continued atending church every week since I left and they´re so close to being able to be baptized. They plan on getting married civily by the 1 of February. It would be a dream come true if I was able to see them be baptized before I return home. Pray for them, please.
The temperature has risen a little bit lately, but the weather is still weird. It´s rained a couple times lately which is very unsual for this time of year. Our house is still like a refrigerator though. I can´t wait to go back to Florida where it´s warm.
I love you guys,
Brett
January 9, 2012
Some experiences from this week:
On Monday night we went to visit an inactive returned missionary and his family. When I was here before he wouldn´t even say hi to us or one of his relatives would go upstairs and invite him to come down and listen to us and he never wanted to, but since then he´s totally changed. He recieved us and the ward missionaries that went with us warmly and apologized for not recieving the missionaries before (even though he didn´t even know that I had been in the ward before). We had no idea what to teach him. So, I started admiring his leather scripture covers he had made while he was serving a mission and asked him about them. While he was talking to me about them 1 Nephi 8 kept coming into my mind. When I turned the bible over I saw on the back a rendering of the tree of life as Lehi saw in his vision. I knew at that moment what we had to share with him and I had him open up to 1 Nephi 8. We read some verses together of the experience of Lehi when he first sees and partakes of the fruit. Then I asked him how this experience could apply to him. He then expressed his regret for having distanced himself from the church for several years and recognized his duty as a father and husband in helping his family reach the celestial kingdom and that fruit which is precious and desireable above all other things. He literally poured out his soul to God when he said the final prayer and comitted to go to church yesterday. It was an amazing lesson guided by the Spirit. However, to my great diasppointment they didn´t show up to church yesterday.
However, we had another incredible lesson with a recently reactivated family (of which the mother still hadn´t gone to church with her husband and daughters). We taught them about the importance of keeping the sabbath day holy and a member (baptized 2 years ago) that was with us shared a most powerful testimony of the importance of attending church regardless of what other ward members may do or say to us. The mom, Silvia, cried several times during the lesson. When she came to Church on sunday she along with her whole family were bawling and hugging each other after sacrament meeting ended. It was so beautiful to see. This family as well when I was in this ward before had no interest whatsoever in going back to Church. Know we´re going to work with one of the sons that still hasn´t gone with them to church yet.
We´ve been so busy teaching people and atending to other zone leader responsibilities that sometimes we feel like there´s not enough time in the day to do everything. Which is actually a good thing. I feel like this is the busiest time in my whole mission, just like I hoped it would be. Hopefully we can keep it up. We´ve been finding people to teach, but the hardthing is getting them to go to church on sunday. This week is our zone conference. I have to train the missionaries about the doctrine of Christ and inviting and helping people to make committments.
Ya, sometimes they put us in trios when there´s an odd number of missionaries in the mission or when one missionary is waiting for a foreign companion to arrive to Mexico.
On Monday night we went to visit an inactive returned missionary and his family. When I was here before he wouldn´t even say hi to us or one of his relatives would go upstairs and invite him to come down and listen to us and he never wanted to, but since then he´s totally changed. He recieved us and the ward missionaries that went with us warmly and apologized for not recieving the missionaries before (even though he didn´t even know that I had been in the ward before). We had no idea what to teach him. So, I started admiring his leather scripture covers he had made while he was serving a mission and asked him about them. While he was talking to me about them 1 Nephi 8 kept coming into my mind. When I turned the bible over I saw on the back a rendering of the tree of life as Lehi saw in his vision. I knew at that moment what we had to share with him and I had him open up to 1 Nephi 8. We read some verses together of the experience of Lehi when he first sees and partakes of the fruit. Then I asked him how this experience could apply to him. He then expressed his regret for having distanced himself from the church for several years and recognized his duty as a father and husband in helping his family reach the celestial kingdom and that fruit which is precious and desireable above all other things. He literally poured out his soul to God when he said the final prayer and comitted to go to church yesterday. It was an amazing lesson guided by the Spirit. However, to my great diasppointment they didn´t show up to church yesterday.
However, we had another incredible lesson with a recently reactivated family (of which the mother still hadn´t gone to church with her husband and daughters). We taught them about the importance of keeping the sabbath day holy and a member (baptized 2 years ago) that was with us shared a most powerful testimony of the importance of attending church regardless of what other ward members may do or say to us. The mom, Silvia, cried several times during the lesson. When she came to Church on sunday she along with her whole family were bawling and hugging each other after sacrament meeting ended. It was so beautiful to see. This family as well when I was in this ward before had no interest whatsoever in going back to Church. Know we´re going to work with one of the sons that still hasn´t gone with them to church yet.
We´ve been so busy teaching people and atending to other zone leader responsibilities that sometimes we feel like there´s not enough time in the day to do everything. Which is actually a good thing. I feel like this is the busiest time in my whole mission, just like I hoped it would be. Hopefully we can keep it up. We´ve been finding people to teach, but the hardthing is getting them to go to church on sunday. This week is our zone conference. I have to train the missionaries about the doctrine of Christ and inviting and helping people to make committments.
Ya, sometimes they put us in trios when there´s an odd number of missionaries in the mission or when one missionary is waiting for a foreign companion to arrive to Mexico.
Jan. 2, 2012
On saturday we helped a recent convert in the ward put up the ceiling/roof on a part of his house that he`s still building. It was really great to see the priesthood quorums work together. Then, the same day his mom, who just turned 81 years old, and his 10 year old daughter were baptized. They hadn`t wanted to for awhile but a couple of week ago they finally decided to be baptized. Now, the only one of their family left to be baptized is the 13 year old son. We honestly have no idea why he doesn`t want to be baptized still because he goes to church every sunday, participates and says that he knows the Book of Mormon and the Church are true. The grandma and the daughter almost weren`t able to get to church on time for their confirmation yesterday because their car ran out of gas, but somebody quickly drove to their house to pick them up. It was a little difficult to baptize the grandma because she has knee problems and usually moves around in a wheel chair or with a cane, but we sat her down on a chair in the font and were able to do it that way.
Today early in the morning we helped a recently reactivated member plant a little vegetable garden. It`s something we`re doing as a way to fellowship all the recents converts and recently reactivated members. Earlier in the week we saw a man in a wheelchair and rolled him up a hill and some stairs to his house. We`ve taught him a couple times since then this week, but he`s having a little problem believing in another book of scripture besides the Bible. Lots of service this week. It really is one of the best ways to share the Gospel.
This week will be the meeting with all the zone leaders of the mission that`s held every month. Our zone is the smallest one in the whole mission, but also one of the most successful recently.
Keep reading the Book of Mormon! With the challenge that our mission president gave us to read it by Christmas we had to read it in 3 months.
Today early in the morning we helped a recently reactivated member plant a little vegetable garden. It`s something we`re doing as a way to fellowship all the recents converts and recently reactivated members. Earlier in the week we saw a man in a wheelchair and rolled him up a hill and some stairs to his house. We`ve taught him a couple times since then this week, but he`s having a little problem believing in another book of scripture besides the Bible. Lots of service this week. It really is one of the best ways to share the Gospel.
This week will be the meeting with all the zone leaders of the mission that`s held every month. Our zone is the smallest one in the whole mission, but also one of the most successful recently.
Keep reading the Book of Mormon! With the challenge that our mission president gave us to read it by Christmas we had to read it in 3 months.
December 26, 2012
Dad I´m sorry I never got the chance to skype with you yesterday. The laptop I was using ran out of battery while I was talking to Mom and the kids. I couldn´t even say goodbye to them. And I brought the laptop from another house so I didn´t have the charger with me. I hope we can talk for hours about everything very soon. Only a few more months. Wow! I can´t believe it.
On saturday, Julia, the mom of three members that had been less active for awhile, was bapitzed. It was cool because I had taught once before when I was last here. Her husband is warming up quite a bit to the church as well. On saturday we ate dinner with Ruben, the one Elder Hurtado and I taught and baptized about a year ago, and his family. Last christmas eve we ate there as well. How funny is that. This saturday we have two more baptisms planned. The mother and the daughter of a recently baptized couple.
The other day we were walking down the street and we saw a lady and what looked like her daughter or granddaughter carrying a big water jug and we stopped to help them carry it back to their house. The lady turned out to be someone my companion had gone to look for several times that had at one time talked with missionaries before. She told us about the tragic and sudden death of her husband about three months ago and asked us if we could help her understand what happens after death. Another testimony that the Lord puts the people that need the gospel in our path, but only if we are looking to serve and help them. Later we helped another man in a wheelchair get up a bunch of steps that lead up to his house and he also accepted a return appointment.
My main goals before I finish my mission are to develop true charity and christ-like love for others and to be able to better recognize the promptings of the Spirit. I feel like I have already blessed with a lot of help in these two areas during my mission, but I also still feel like they are the two areas in which I still need the most work.
My companion is cool. He´s from Durango and he´s really smart. It´s good the finally have a companion that gets up right a 6:30 with me and that motivates me to be better.
I just finished reading the Book of Mormon again on Saturday. Wow. Just like Elder Tad R. Callister said, "The devil could not have written a book like this; so, it must be from God." Every time I read the Book of Mormon I learn so much and my faith and my determination to keep the commandments and follow my Savior are strengthened. If you´re not already doing it, please read it, study it, prayerfully meditate the priceless truths that it contains and your life will change.
I love you guys. I don´t know why my mind goes blank when we finally have the opportunity to talk for real.
Brett
On saturday, Julia, the mom of three members that had been less active for awhile, was bapitzed. It was cool because I had taught once before when I was last here. Her husband is warming up quite a bit to the church as well. On saturday we ate dinner with Ruben, the one Elder Hurtado and I taught and baptized about a year ago, and his family. Last christmas eve we ate there as well. How funny is that. This saturday we have two more baptisms planned. The mother and the daughter of a recently baptized couple.
The other day we were walking down the street and we saw a lady and what looked like her daughter or granddaughter carrying a big water jug and we stopped to help them carry it back to their house. The lady turned out to be someone my companion had gone to look for several times that had at one time talked with missionaries before. She told us about the tragic and sudden death of her husband about three months ago and asked us if we could help her understand what happens after death. Another testimony that the Lord puts the people that need the gospel in our path, but only if we are looking to serve and help them. Later we helped another man in a wheelchair get up a bunch of steps that lead up to his house and he also accepted a return appointment.
My main goals before I finish my mission are to develop true charity and christ-like love for others and to be able to better recognize the promptings of the Spirit. I feel like I have already blessed with a lot of help in these two areas during my mission, but I also still feel like they are the two areas in which I still need the most work.
My companion is cool. He´s from Durango and he´s really smart. It´s good the finally have a companion that gets up right a 6:30 with me and that motivates me to be better.
I just finished reading the Book of Mormon again on Saturday. Wow. Just like Elder Tad R. Callister said, "The devil could not have written a book like this; so, it must be from God." Every time I read the Book of Mormon I learn so much and my faith and my determination to keep the commandments and follow my Savior are strengthened. If you´re not already doing it, please read it, study it, prayerfully meditate the priceless truths that it contains and your life will change.
I love you guys. I don´t know why my mind goes blank when we finally have the opportunity to talk for real.
Brett
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