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Blessings Abound in Nicuragua

This last week was one of the greatest of these last two years. Despite much adversity and much trial of faith. The Zambrana Family was baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

As I ponder on their path towards baptism, I realize the many miracles we beheld and the extraordinary faith of this family. Juana who is the head of the household and single mother, was a great example to her family despite having to work hard every day under the hot sun and not being able to see or read very well she showed extraordinary faith towards baptism. One of the great miracles was when we taught her the Word of Wisdom. Despite having started to drink coffee the same time she started nursing as a baby, she was able to quit coffee the same day we taught her this great commandment. Even though the first few days were very difficult for her, suffering severe headaches, she never drank coffee again.

Ana is the granddaughter of Juana. Ever since the day she received the Book of Mormon she read it insatiably, sometimes going to bed late at night. She has grown a profound testimony of the Book of Mormon and I believe completed reading the book right before her baptism, which means she read it in just one month. She was at first very shy and was embarrassed to say the prayers in our lessons but soon gained confidence enough to read and pray out loud in our Gospel Principles class.

Maycol and Alicia were married the same day they were baptized. Despite working a very difficult job and not being able to read very well, Maycol put in a lot of effort to read the scriptures every day and the lesson pamphlets. He was one of those who accepted our message from the very beginning. His wife, Alicia, at first didn't seem too interested but after a couple weeks of visiting with her husband she soon joined in and committed to baptism along with her husband.

Juan became a great and powerful addition to the church. Even though he cant read very well. He always strove to learn and complete with Gods commandments. He had some difficulties with coffee but with much faith and great commitment to God, he was able to stop drinking. 

With such faith I am filled with complete joy and humility. I know that these miracles were not of our doing but of the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful of these gifts and blessings which Our Father in Heaven sees fit in His everlasting mercy to pour out upon us. I know that this is Gods church and that this is His work. I have seen and felt of these truths and I know they are real.

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matthew 16:24

The Gift of Grace

        As my time as a full-time missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints comes to a close, I have seen even greater the tender mercies of God. I have also seen the many imperfections and faults within myself and many things which I could have done better. As I reflect on these last two years I come to know more of the principle of grace. In my mind I often think on the perfect outcome of things, how things should be. Many nights as I kneel down to offer up my work of the day unto my God, I have often felt grief and shame as I look upon all my faults and errors. My heart becomes weighed down by the many weaknesses I have and I wish to be able to turn back the clock and restart the day. As the weight of justice presses down upon my conscience, I cry to the Lord for strength and forgiveness. As I supplicate for mercy, I am blessed with the Gift of Grace.

        When our Lord Jesus Christ suffered pains and afflictions of all kinds in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross of Calvary, He understood that we could not would never come to be perfect or always be perfect. He knew we would be rebellious and commit all kinds of mistakes, nevertheless, He suffered it. Through this great and powerful sacrifice He paved the way for mercy and grace to find way into our hearts and to ultimately win Eternal Salvation. Through repentance and the keeping of our covenants we are made worthy of these exalting powers. How much are we in debt to Him! Now peace and calm can fill shame and guilt as we strive to obey and become better.

"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." 2 Nephi 25:23

He Knows Your Heart

   This last Saturday my good friend, Idalia, entered the waters of baptism. When we first met Idalia she had been to church many times before and was almost baptized but for other reasons and doubts was not baptized at the time. when we had our first visit she was full of doubts and was resigned to never coming to church again. When we talked to her her doubts frustrated me and I felt myself about to give up and leave her for good. But as I prayed in my heart and asked God for understanding I was inspired with the words I needed to say and her heart was softened toward us. In our later visits we found her very open and willing to listen to us. She started coming back to church and found that spirit she had felt before. After about a month of visiting her my companion felt inspired that we should challenge her to baptism again and when we did she accepted.
     The Lord works in mysterious ways and knows our minds and hearts better than we do. I know that the Lord wanted us to keep visiting her because He knew that she was prepared even if I didn't see it. I am grateful for the Lord and His merciful hand towards all His children. I am grateful for the opportunity to have helped this sister come unto the truth and realize the joy and happiness that living the gospel brings. I know that this will only be a great beginning for here and her children, who will one day also be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

"Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel." 
Ether 4:15

Continue in Faith

This week I had the wonderful opportunity to watch my little brother Antonio receive his mission call to the Japan Fukuoka Mission. Congratulations Elder Antonio Lim! Serve with honor and give all your heart, might, mind, and strength to God, as you do so the Lord will pour out His eternal blessings upon your head and that of your posterity.

"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Matthew 19:29

This week we have been facing challenges with some investigators of ours. We have been teaching this family for about 3 weeks now and they are progressing well. Recently we taught them of the Law of Chastity and their need to be married legally. Two of the men both need to be married. Due to their poor and humble circumstances they cannot provide the money sufficient to pay their marriage. We have been instructed in these situations to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and remember His merciful hand unto all His children-

"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 John 3:22

I expressed unto them my deep conviction of Gods love for them and how he wants to bless us in every way. The Lord is willing to give us everything we want but we must show faith in Him, doing that which is pleasing in his sight. I know that we may not see those things that we need or know if we will be blessed with the miracle but I believe in the promise of Moroni that we do not receive a testimony until after the trial of our faith. So, if you find yourself in this situation, continue in faith doubting nothing and it shall be given thee.

The Voice of the Lord's Servants

     Another conference weekend has come and gone. This last conference I had the privilege of watching the whole thing. Due to local circumstances, I was not permitted to see the other conferences throughout my mission. Not being able to see the conference for 2 years has been a great trial for me and has made me appreciate the opportunity to listen to living prophets and apostles. I am so grateful for their divine counsel and for the spirit which they maintain to guide us and lead us to salvation and life eternal. I pray that you will learn to treasure and appreciate these divine messages throughout your lives and not take them for granted. I am also grateful to be a member of the restored Church of Jesus Christ which holds the priesthood power of God unto the salvation of man in the last days. I hope you will not take this for granted either and always show gratitude to the God who has had so much mercy and love toward you.

"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." D&C 1:38

"And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?
     Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they

are the heirs of the kingdom of God." Mosiah 15:10-11