Happy Mother's Day

     This last week I had the opportunity to speak with my mother for the second time here in the mission and it is such a blessing to be able to have such a wonderful and loving mother. The scriptures are filled with great examples of faithful women who beyond all odds raised amazing children. In the book of mormon we read of the stripling warriors who beyond doubt had great mothers and it was for the strict obedience of their mothers and their confidence in the Lord that their sons become valiant men and successful in their efforts to defend their country and their freedom.
     "For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."
     I echo the words of these two thousand young men in saying that I do not doubt my mother knows it. I know that I was entrusted in her care and that God knew that he could trust in her. I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father because I know I have loving parents and through the grace of God I am here on this earth as one of Gods messengers because of my parents and their faithfulness to God and His commandments. I know God can do all things and If he can preserve 2 thousand young men from inevitable death I know that he can help me become a better man and a better holder of His priesthood. I want to wish my mother a happy mothers day and I pray that God blesses her with a long and happy life.

Rejected of Men

     This last weekend we had one of Heavenly Father's precious daughters enter the waters of baptism. Her name is Ruth. Ruth had been visiting the church earlier and the missionaries had been teaching her about a year ago but she didn't want to stop drinking coffee and working on Sundays so they dropped her. Now, one year later one of the same missionaries who had been teaching her one year ago came back to the area and found her again and this time she seemed to be ready to receive the gospel with full heart. This woman has come directly from the great and spacious building known as the world, taken hold of the rod of iron and has held fast until these moments. 

     Even though many of her family members taunt her and curse her for being what she was, I know that through baptism the Lord has cleansed her and wiped away all sin. She is a true example of a disciple of Jesus Christ and I know that Christ descended from heaven to suffer and die for people like her. I know the power of the atonement is real, that it heals and sanctifies. The other day we came to her house and in tears told us of all the cruel things her family would tell her and call her. As I prayed to know what to tell her and how to comfort her, this one scripture came to mind-

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Mosiah 14:3-5

My hope and prayer is that all people I teach come to know and understand the reason for the atonement and the blessings it brings upon us as we act according to the great plan of redemption. I know that Christ did not come to the earth for the righteous, but came for the afflicted, the bruised, the rejected, the sinner. We are all sinners, thus we all have need of an atonement, a reconciliation before God. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Eternal Head, the Author of our redemption. 

True Progression

     This week I wanted to share an experience that changed the way I view things in the mission. This last Sunday as we ran about looking for our investigators to come to church we had limited success. Many times in the mission I have had the experience of all my investigators just not wanting to progress and flaking out at the last moment. This last week as I sat in the Chapel thinking to myself and feeling a little frustrating for not having brought more people to church; I looked around and to my surprise and complete joy I saw every one of my converts I had in that area. All with their hymn books in hand and singing and listening to the speakers. It filled my eyes with tears to see that these people had been truly converted and that every one of them to that day was persevering and following what God had taught them to do. 

     Gratitude beyond words filled my soul to know that my Heavenly Father made me an instrument in His hands to bring the true gospel to the hearts of these people. I know He is merciful and knows every one of our needs. I know that this gospel heals and liberates us from our all our worries, doubts, and fears. I felt Gods love not only for me but for the people that were around me and I knew that even though we are common and many in this world that he knows us personally and intimately. That if we seek the good in our lives then we will always have good in our lives. The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ once promised his disciples:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

     I know this promise to be true and that as long as we are in the Lords service he will lift our burdens and give rest unto our souls. Just as he let me know of His love for me and gave me rest, He will surely give it unto all His beloved children.

Miracles in San Judas

The work continues here in San Judas. We had transfers this week and I am still here in the office for one more transfer. I am excited to be here in San Judas still but being in the office another transfer looks a little daunting. I have a new companion named Elder Hernandez from Guatemala. I don't know him very well yet but from what i have seen he is a cool guy. I think we will have lots of success. 
     This last week we had 2 baptisms. The first is Luis. He was a 13 year old kid we met contacting one day and he was kind of shy but accepted our message. His parents were slightly opposed at first but they let him decide for himself and he decided to keep receiving us and preparing for baptism. We almost thought he wouldn't get baptized because he got sick a couple days before but when we asked how he was for this Saturday he was excited and ready to go! 
    The second baptism was a young woman named Daniela. Her story was a little different. She has met the missionaries about 2 years ago and had been off and on receiving them until I first met her a few months ago. She had never wanted to progress and so she was never baptized. A few months ago we were teaching her but it was still the same, she just couldn't find it within herself to go to church. Then all of a sudden she disappeared and we didn't think she would ever be baptized. Until a few weeks ago we randomly ran into her on the streets and she wanted us to visit her again. Well this time I think the Lord had prepared her because she accepted right away the invitation to be baptized and she felt like it was something important in her life. So this last weekend she was baptized! 
     Only miracles here in San Judas! I know that God had prepared these people for this time and I am grateful to have been an instrument in helping them receive the spirit and to take these steps in their paths toward salvation and eternal life.

Conference Weekend

     This last week was more or less regular. I wish I could have seen the conference all the way through, but, since we have to bring 4 different investigators to every session in order to attend them (excluding priesthood and Sunday morning) I wasn't able to attend as I did not have sufficient investigators come to church.
     As we committed our investigators to church and as they accepted and later decided not to attend. I reflected on how I felt. Yes, I felt deceived and depressed for the unrighteous decisions of the people i cared about so much but unlike before when my investigators didn't come and I felt angry and hurt at God, I knew that God was just as upset as I was for their decision to not obey him, and I knew that maybe now I would be put as a leader or be rewarded, but the work would go on.
     Sometimes I feel like President is the one running the mission and the work, but I know that someone far greater and merciful is at the head and he knows in all his divine wisdom where I need to be. I know that the work doesn't change if I don't have any investigators in church or if I don't baptize one month, as long as I am trying my best and doing what the Lord expects of me that I can be sure I am doing what I need to be doing.
"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." Mosiah 4:9
     Trust in God and believe that He has all wisdom. When we trust in God and His wisdom we can find comfort in the knowledge that if we are doing what we should be doing and obeying his commandments that all challenge will be for our benefit.

Influenced by the Spirit this Easter

     I don't know why, but I feel the influence and guidance of the spirit more and more in my life. I feel more patience and love towards others and I do not come to anger very easily. I cannot tell you how much of a blessing it is to be able to look at people who hate you and don't understand you and just love them as they are and know that someday they might come to the knowledge of Gods plan for His children. It is interesting how the apostasy of the gospel has come to make people change the nature of God. I talk to many people who are confused and because of their confusion say that God doesn't have a church or the church doesn't save us only faith can, or we all worship the same God so it's all the same path that leads towards the same destination. It saddens my heart to see that Satan has confused the children of men in such great extreme. 
     I love sharing the message of the restoration. It not only shows us that God lives and guides us today, but it gives us comfort and solace in a world of mixed ideas and confused morals. I have seen hearts soften, lives change, and minds open as people have accepted the message of the restoration of the gospel and the Book of Mormon. I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God unto the convincing of men that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I pray that all men will have the opportunity to read it and live by its precepts, that they may too learn of the Will and Power of God in their own lives. I know He lives and was resurrected from the dead and broke the bands of death so that all might come unto Him and not perish but have everlasting life. I know I am a man and that I am imperfect and am a sinner, nevertheless, His grace is sufficient to cleanse me of my sins and to break the chains of sin which bind me to the flesh. He has the power to perfect us so that we too may see God and become like Him. I pray that all might repent and come unto him with full purpose of heart. I know in Him there is happiness and peace. This is my testimony in this Easter season. Amen.

Led By the Spirit

     The Lord continues to bless us with miracles and we have been able to find more people who have really been prepared to receive the gospel. We recently had a cool experience. Sunday night leaving a lesson I looked to my companion and asked him where he thought we should go to find people to teach. He looked to me and said he had no idea. so, we started walking in some random direction. after a few minutes of walking, we hear a distant voice shout "Elderes!" We immediately turn around and there is a recent convert walking down the street toward us some fifty yards away carrying a heavy load.
     So we go over and see why she called us, she asked if we could help carry some of her stuff to her house. so we happily agree and on the way I do what any great missionary would do and I ask her if she has any friends or family who need God in these moments. She told us that in fact she did. She said she had a neighbor that was interested in visiting the church and knowing more about the church and she asks if we would like to meet her. we comply and she takes us to her. That night the woman happily accepted the baptismal date. In fact, her husband is a member as well but very inactive. Yesterday we asked her about the restoration and how she feels about Joseph Smith and the church and she said that she feels that it is true and that this is where the Lord wants her to be. She is excited about church on Sunday and to be able to read the Book of Mormon. She also said ever since we started coming over she has felt a great peace and happiness in her life that she has never had before.
    The Lord is preparing people to receive the Gospel. I have seen it with my own eyes. I feel like I never understood this principle until recently. I know that the Lord will guide me to those people who have been chosen at this time to receive the gospel through the power of the Holy Ghost.
     Other exciting news! Karla, Jon Julian, and Alondra were baptized this last weekend! It was one of the greatest experiences of my life to be able to see these people's conversion to the Gospel. I love these people so much! Their lives have been changed so much and the Lord has poured out His Holy Spirit upon them in great abundance. I pray that you will continue to pray to God to guide you to those people you know who have been prepared to receive the Gospel. I know He will reveal unto you as you ask in faith.