Guys!
The mission has been going great. Elder Padilla and I have been killing it here in Robles. We have two baptismal dates for this week, and we have two more who want to get baptized but first we have to marry them, so this is interesting learning how to get people married because we have to do everything... so I hope we can get it done right. But it would be so awesome if from a year from now I could go to their sealing.
Today we had an awesome Christmas party at the mission home and sang some songs, ate some food, made some crafts, and just got to see some old friends from the CCM which was really special. Our President of the mission gave a really powerful testimony and made me motivated to work harder here in the work of the Lord.
Elder Padilla and I have been doing LOTS AND LOTS of walking. It just so happens in the places we walk, there are LOTS AND LOTS of vicious, scary looking dogs that love to chase us, so that has been terrifying lately. Some of these dogs are huge. Like literally they could be a horse. It is terrifying.
I am really loving the mission. It was a hard learning process at first, but now I have finished my capacitación and I am excited to keep working hard in the Lords work. Nothing is more important than what I am doing right now, so that is a little bit of pressure. But I have been really developing a lot of love for the people here, and actually worry about them so much and really want them to progress. It is sad when we can't find people who we think are good, but I know the Lord has everything planned out, we just have to do everything to figure out His plan for the people here.
This time of Christmas is really special. At first, I was sad that I am missing Christmas back home. But after this week and lots of prayer and scripture study, I realized that I am actually in the best place I could be for Christmas. Literally the Savior sacrificed so much, and maybe I am sacrificing a little bit being away from my family and friends, but I am gaining so many blessings from being here in Peru that I am really not sacrificing anything. I get to experience a love that I never really have felt before, and learning, in a better way, how to love as He loved. This time of Christmas is extremely special because it is the birth of literally the point in time that changed the fate of eternity. That is why this holiday is my favorite. Because we celebrate the most important time. The Birth of our Savior.
I love you guys so much!
Monday, December 17, 2018
Monday, December 10, 2018
Hola Familia!!!!!!! Comó están?
This week has FLOWN BY. It has been a little crazy. We had a bunch of changes, and me and another Elder were put as companions for a little over a week to manage both of our areas, so we had to do a ton of walking from our two areas. It was crazy, but it was one of the most rewarding weeks because it feels like we worked pretty hard. It is crazy to see how fast the week went by when we actually focused and worked as hard as we could. Also, I am proud of myself because I can actually contribute in lessons and teach. It feels so good to not just be a vegetable anymore and actually start teaching. It is beautiful to see so many people here listen to us and have their hearts touched. Nothing feels better than looking in the eyes of the people here and seeing them feel the spirit for the first time.
One miracle we saw was this one girl. She is from Venezuela, in the same situation as a lot of other people from there as well who are basically refugees, and the missionaries have talked with her a little bit, but not very much. One day when it was just me and my companion, she finds us and tells us that she has had a dream and she knows our church is true. That she received a priesthood blessing and could literally feel the power and that we have the power of the priesthood and just started saying how the church is true and that it was manifested to her in this dream. She was already talking to us that she wanted to get a calling and have a role in the church to help further the work. Me and my companion literally didn't know what to say and we just said alright lets get you baptized! It was crazy. What´s crazier is that it's actually pretty common for people here to have dreams like that. It makes sense because, as one Elder described to me, it is because they are descendants of the Lamanites who were descendants of Lehi. And what is Lehi known for? Having some crazy dreams. So it is pretty cool to see that it continues on!
I got my new companion today. His name is Elder Padilla, and he is from Las Vegas! My first companion from the States, so I am so excited to get to work with him and kill it here in Robles 2 with him. I am so excited to get to continue being in the work of the Lord here in this ward.
People here have all been putting up their Christmas decorations, which feels so weird because it is like 80 degrees outside and it is Christmas. It feels like summer. Probably because it actually is summer here.
I have been learning so much and growing so much, and it feels amazing to see myself get to learn and grow. It is such a blessing to be here in the mission. It is NOT easy, but it definitely is worth it and feels so rewarding at the end of the day when we have given all that we can to serve the people here after each day.
I love and miss you guys! I hope all is well!
This week has FLOWN BY. It has been a little crazy. We had a bunch of changes, and me and another Elder were put as companions for a little over a week to manage both of our areas, so we had to do a ton of walking from our two areas. It was crazy, but it was one of the most rewarding weeks because it feels like we worked pretty hard. It is crazy to see how fast the week went by when we actually focused and worked as hard as we could. Also, I am proud of myself because I can actually contribute in lessons and teach. It feels so good to not just be a vegetable anymore and actually start teaching. It is beautiful to see so many people here listen to us and have their hearts touched. Nothing feels better than looking in the eyes of the people here and seeing them feel the spirit for the first time.
One miracle we saw was this one girl. She is from Venezuela, in the same situation as a lot of other people from there as well who are basically refugees, and the missionaries have talked with her a little bit, but not very much. One day when it was just me and my companion, she finds us and tells us that she has had a dream and she knows our church is true. That she received a priesthood blessing and could literally feel the power and that we have the power of the priesthood and just started saying how the church is true and that it was manifested to her in this dream. She was already talking to us that she wanted to get a calling and have a role in the church to help further the work. Me and my companion literally didn't know what to say and we just said alright lets get you baptized! It was crazy. What´s crazier is that it's actually pretty common for people here to have dreams like that. It makes sense because, as one Elder described to me, it is because they are descendants of the Lamanites who were descendants of Lehi. And what is Lehi known for? Having some crazy dreams. So it is pretty cool to see that it continues on!
I got my new companion today. His name is Elder Padilla, and he is from Las Vegas! My first companion from the States, so I am so excited to get to work with him and kill it here in Robles 2 with him. I am so excited to get to continue being in the work of the Lord here in this ward.
People here have all been putting up their Christmas decorations, which feels so weird because it is like 80 degrees outside and it is Christmas. It feels like summer. Probably because it actually is summer here.
I have been learning so much and growing so much, and it feels amazing to see myself get to learn and grow. It is such a blessing to be here in the mission. It is NOT easy, but it definitely is worth it and feels so rewarding at the end of the day when we have given all that we can to serve the people here after each day.
I love and miss you guys! I hope all is well!
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Family and Friends!
I hope you guys are getting into the Christmas spirit. It is sunny and hot here and does not feel like Christmas at all, but I am trying to adjust. Currently, two missionaries reassigned in the Esperanza district, and now me and my companion are in charge of two areas and it is HUGE. We didn't have any money this past week, so we had to do a lot of walking. It is really insane. Last night we walked all the way to Virgen de Soccorro in the night, which is actually really dangerous, but I didn't know and my companion didn't tell me until AFTER we got back that he was guarding the cell phone because he didn't want them to rob me if we did get into trouble.... so that was kinda interesting! Hahaha! I hope we have that divine protection, but I don't want to test how much divinity can protect us!
I have been reading a lot in Alma, and Alma 5 is a pretty intense self reflection chapter. Alma asks all these questions to the people and I have been trying to think about them myself. If I were to die at this moment, can I say I have walked blameless before God? I have been thinking a lot about all these questions Alma asks, and it is something we all have to think about. Are we sufficiently humble, or do we hold on to our pride because we think we are right or that we know better? Do we listen to the priesthood authorities and actually apply their direction into our lives, or do we not take what they have to say as important?
As a missionary, I have been trying really hard to take all the direction the President has to give the missionaries, the Prophets and Apostles, and all. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, they have the keys to guide and direct us! They are literally given the authority to tell us the things we need to hear and do. The Bishop has the keys for the members of his ward, the Stake President for the stake, Area 70 for the area, and so forth all the way to the Prophet and Jesus Christ who is at the head of this church. Isn't it beautiful how the true church is a house of order? This doesn't mean the men are perfect, because no one is perfect, but it is beautiful to see the work of the Lord being hastened and organized in effective ways to maximize the aide for the people. I hope you guys can read this chapter and ask yourself the same questions Alma asks. Internalize it, ponder it, then act upon it!
I love you guys and miss you guys so much. You guys mean the world to me, and I love the support and strength I have from home to rely on. You guys are amazing, ustedes son la maximum.
I hope you guys are getting into the Christmas spirit. It is sunny and hot here and does not feel like Christmas at all, but I am trying to adjust. Currently, two missionaries reassigned in the Esperanza district, and now me and my companion are in charge of two areas and it is HUGE. We didn't have any money this past week, so we had to do a lot of walking. It is really insane. Last night we walked all the way to Virgen de Soccorro in the night, which is actually really dangerous, but I didn't know and my companion didn't tell me until AFTER we got back that he was guarding the cell phone because he didn't want them to rob me if we did get into trouble.... so that was kinda interesting! Hahaha! I hope we have that divine protection, but I don't want to test how much divinity can protect us!
I have been reading a lot in Alma, and Alma 5 is a pretty intense self reflection chapter. Alma asks all these questions to the people and I have been trying to think about them myself. If I were to die at this moment, can I say I have walked blameless before God? I have been thinking a lot about all these questions Alma asks, and it is something we all have to think about. Are we sufficiently humble, or do we hold on to our pride because we think we are right or that we know better? Do we listen to the priesthood authorities and actually apply their direction into our lives, or do we not take what they have to say as important?
As a missionary, I have been trying really hard to take all the direction the President has to give the missionaries, the Prophets and Apostles, and all. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, they have the keys to guide and direct us! They are literally given the authority to tell us the things we need to hear and do. The Bishop has the keys for the members of his ward, the Stake President for the stake, Area 70 for the area, and so forth all the way to the Prophet and Jesus Christ who is at the head of this church. Isn't it beautiful how the true church is a house of order? This doesn't mean the men are perfect, because no one is perfect, but it is beautiful to see the work of the Lord being hastened and organized in effective ways to maximize the aide for the people. I hope you guys can read this chapter and ask yourself the same questions Alma asks. Internalize it, ponder it, then act upon it!
I love you guys and miss you guys so much. You guys mean the world to me, and I love the support and strength I have from home to rely on. You guys are amazing, ustedes son la maximum.
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