March 23, 2015 email "So much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls"

Tortillas: 20

The work of the Lord presses forth! This was a wonderful week. On Saturday and sunday we had Stake conference and had the opportunity to hear from both President Smith and the temple president of the temple here in Xela, President Galvez! On Friday we will having the baptism of Stephanie! And the best part is, the plan is that Alejandro will baptise her! She has had a lot of difficulties with her family because they are not really willing to accept any other religions, but they push along! Also, we are still working with Ruben but he is having a lot of challenges. He does not really have the desire to quit drinking, he has a small desire to come to church, but what he really likes is how he feels when we are with him. I hope that the spirit will touch his heart and change him for the good. We also have another investigator named Nancy that we have been teaching since we arrived in an ice cream shop where she works. She has a baptismal date for the 11th of April, but the biggest challenge is getting her to church. That is a huge challenge for many people here. This sunday an investigator of the Hermanas that we replaced just happened to show up to church with some family that lives in the ward. His name is Gustavo and we have an appointment with him this week.

Mejor Milagro:

One of the first days that we were in the area, walking down the street I noticed a house that had put out a container of water so that the dogs in the street could drink with a note asking people not to move the container. It said that they just wanted to do something nice for their fellow creature and show their love. There are so many homeless dogs that live in the street, and it is very sad to see. When I saw this, I thought for sure that here lived someone that could benefit from the gospel. We knocked the door, but they were not there. Everytime we passed we knocked the door, but they were never their. This week as we passed going to visit a less active, and they were out front giving food to the dogs in the street! I had the very distinct impression that we needed to talk to them, and so we started the conversation with, " Are these your dogs?" and it just went from there. We soon came to find out that they are inactive member, a family of 5 that had moved here to study but had fallen into temptation and did not know how they could return to the church. Everyone was baptised at age 8, and the mom has 50 years as a member! They are really interested in coming back, and I am really grateful that Heavenly Father lead us to them to bring them back into the fold.

Testimony Time:

The title is found in 3 Nephi 5:20 where Mormon testifies of the Book of Mormon and its true purpose for us, more knowledge for the salvation of our souls. I love reading in 3 Nephi and reading the words of Christ as he visited the people in the Americas. One of my favorite scriptures that I found this week is in 3 Nephi 9:14 and it says,

"Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those that come unto me."

I am so grateful for the wealth of knowledge that I am able to receive in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. I love reading about the life of Jesus Christ in the New Testimant, and my testimony would not be complete without the Bible, but I know that we truly cannot know everything we need without the knowledge that we find in the Book of Mormon. We learn how to be better desciples of Jesus Christ and how to return to his presence and the presence of our Heavenly Father. I know it is true and as we read it together with the Bible, we can see clearly the image of our Saviour and follow him. It has blessed and changed my life, and I am here to share it with everyone so that they can have my same joy. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Have a wonderful week!

"This week we have some more pictures of the area, 

mini Elder Richardson, 

Baul, 

We finished the day with,

March 16, 2015 email "Firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ"

Tortillas: 12 (How sad)

Another wonderful week here in Xela! We continue, pushing on, talking to who will accept the restored gospel of Jesucristo! Sadly, we had to move the baptismal date for Stephanie for the 27th of March. It is really hard for her to tell her parents, and two days before her baptism and she became scared... Satan is working very hard with her, but she has so much faith. I know she will be an amazing member. This week she was not able to come to church because her parents just decided to take a trip at 5 in the morning... Ruben also is progressing very well. This sunday he had to work and was also not able to come to church. We have invited him to baptism a couple of times for the 28th of March, but he basically wants more to time learn. We can work with that and help his testimony grow. We have a lot of other investigators that have a lot of potential that we found this week, but down here it is like a religious battleground. It is difficult just to get people to listen to the beautiful message of the restoration, but we push along talking to everyone we can! We also were able to have a Multizone conference this week with Presidente and Hermana Smith. We watched part of the new film "Meet the Mormons". Wow. So beautiful. I would suggest anyone that does not know alot about the church, and anyone who even is a member to watch it. It is a fun and amazing way to express our beleifs and feelings about life and our savior Jesus Christ. 

Mejor Milagro:

So, we were walking down the street when I passed a teenager. Here in Guatemala everyone that you pass in the street you greet, saying "Buenos Tardes/Dias/Noches". As I passed him, I greeted and waved and the spirit told me that I needed to talk to him. We were late for a lesson with Ruben, and I am sad to say that at first I did not do it. As we approached the house, the prompting continued and I decided that I would talk to him if Ruben was not home. We knock on Rubens door and soon find out he is not there, but luckily the young man was still in sight. So, I practically ran to catch up to him and I start talking to him. We end up walking with him to his house and talking for about 15 minutes. I found out that 1. He has had many problems and is trying to find a church to change his life, 2. He is very nice and accepting of the gospel, and 3. He has a family of 9, and they all live together in the same house. Wow! I love the feeling of being an errand boy for the Lord. Sadly, he and his family do not live in our area, but they are a great contact for two Elders in the area over that are having some real problems with the work. I am sad that at first I did not follow the spiritual impression, and for this I have need to repent, but I am glad that Heavenly Father gave me a second chance and I was able to see this amazing miracle. 

Testimony Time:

This week I have been reading in the book of Helaman! It is easily one of my favorite books in the Book of Mormon because of the amazing coucil that we receive. One thing also that I love, being a person for mathematic, is when I read the scriptures looking for equations that I can use in my own life. These week I found the equation for how can we purify and sanctify our hearts? Our greatest goal in this life is perfection like unto our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. 

In Helaman 3:35 we find the equation to become perfect. 

1. We must fast and pray often. 

2. We must wax stronger and stronger in humility. 

3. We must grow firmer and firmer in faith in Christ. 

4. We must yeild our hearts unto God

I would encourage everyone to read this scripture and discover the way that we can do these things through studying the refered scriptures. On big thing that I found is that we must give God the one thing that is truly ours, our will. We must give unto him even our very desires, only desiring to do that which he wants. It is something very difficult, but I know that as we do these things throughout all of our lives we will see amazing changes. I know that God has the power to mold us, to change us, to turn us into the person he wants. If we dont beleive that we are denying the central doctrine of the Plan of Salvation. If we say, "Oh, I am just a lazy/angry/sad/whateverbadattribute person" we are neglecting the atonement and essential are making ourselves useless and destroying our divine potential. I know that all of us have the capacity to change, and I have been focussing a lot on change to become who they want me to be. I know that Christ not only suffered on the cross but he also suffered in a little garden called Getsemani where he saw each one of us and felt each one of our pains. As we rely on this power, he will strengthen us. I know that because he has strengthened me. He has changed me. As I have fell to my knees in prayer and begging for his help and forgiveness, he has given me the strength to get back up, just as he did when he fell carrying the cross to Calvary. I know he loves us and I know that he loves me specifically. The things I reverently say in the name of my Lord, my Savior, my Example and leader, even Jesus Christ, Amen. 




To explain the photos... First, selfies with a goat that we found. This place is the best!! 

These people are awesome!!! We met these nice people who make and sell tamales (Here they call them Paches when they are made of Potato and Rice and tamales when they are made of Mais, but the really dont make them of Mais.) They make the most delicious tamales, and are very accepting to the message of the gospel! We will see how it goes. 

Also, Hermano Caterino Sop Chavez came to Xela on Saturday and I got to go say hi! "

Celebrating Pi Day March 14th with my companion and Alejandro!  What fun we had!

Pizza in Los Altos!!!

I love Guatemala and the people here!  I am so thankful to be serving the Lord!

March 9, 1015 email "True at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted"

Tortillas: 20

Hello beloved family and friends! Life here in the city is very different from life in Santa Ana Huista. The work is harder and easier in different aspects. Harder because most people don't have time and are not nearly as nice as the people form Santa Ana. Easier because we have an amazing support system from the ward who is more than willing to help, but still a lot of the members don't have a ton of time. Much of our time is talking with whoever we can find, but usually that does not lead to people who are really interested in the gospel. We rely a lot on the help of members to find investigators who are serious about the gospel, but usually they can only meet once a week. This week we had a surprise baptism of Alejando, I will explain because it is this weeks miracle.

 Also, our investigator Ruben, the man who we found because his drunk friend called us when we were walking down the street, has a baptismal date goal for the 28th of March! He has a true desire to change his life, and everything that we have taught has really interested. We showed him a video this week about how the hearts of men in todays world need the gospel and it really touched him.

Mejor Milagro:

So, Saturday was really crazy. Friday we were doing divisions with our District Leader, and on Saturday Elder Trufiño (Our district leader) and I were starting our study, when we receive a call from our Zone Leader Elder Jackson. He said that President Smith had the feeling and wanted to attend a baptismal service today, and the only person in all of Xela that was ready was Alejandro! So, we called him up and it turned out that he was in Guatemala City, but he could be back here by 5! So, we arranged everything with the ward mission leader and the bishop, and the plan was that we would have his baptismal interview at 5 and his baptism at 7. It was pretty obvious that Satan did not want for this baptism to happen today, and because of that we had many obstacles. First, Alejandro ended up being late from leaving Guatemala City, and at 2 we received a text from him saying that he would not have his baptism today because he could not leave until 6 because his brother was in school, it being a 3 hour drive from Guatemala City to Xela. After about an hour of talking to him about options to get him back to Xela in time, we decided that he needed to ask his brother if they could leave early. It was a real trial of my faith. We were very close to canceling the baptism, but we had already invited many of the members and most of them had cancelled many important plans to be able to come. So, we trusted in God and let him handle the rest. At 4, we receive a call from Alejandro that his brother would be able to leave early and they would soon be on their way back, so we were still on! We got to the church at 6 and waited. By 7 members started to arrive, and the person who was going to be baptized still was not there. at 7:30 President Smith arrived with his family, and still no Alejandro. So, we put on a 30 minute video to occupy many impatient members. The video soon ended, and at 8:20 Alejandro still had not arrived but was close. And so, in a moment of pure inspiration, I gave a 15 minute talk on faith, baptism, and Miracles. Nothing prepared, just listening to the spirit. I can say that it was one of my most amazing speeches I have ever given. Before I finished, Alejandro arrived! Our Zone leader had left, and so he had the opportunity to have his baptismal interview with none other than President Smith. He chose for me to baptize him, and so I went to change into my baptismal clothing, when the ward mission leader informed me that something had happened to the water heater, and we would be baptizing in freezing cold water. Satan tried, but our faith conquered. As we stepped in the freezing cold water, I was nervous but the spirit was so strong. As I said the prayer and baptized Alejandro, Heavenly Father blessed us with a miracle and neither of us were effected by the water. Gods hand was in every bit of the process, from protecting Alejandro on his drive to blessing the members with patience. It was one of the most beautiful experiences, and an amazing experience to grow my own faith.

Testimony Time:

This week I have been studying in the Book of Mormon in the war chapters of Alma. For me, sometimes it is hard to find things that I am able to apply in my own life from these chapters, but I have been trying. I learned a lot this week from the story of the 2000 stripling warriors. In Alma 53: 20 and 21 we learn about the attributes of these amazing men. 

1. Exceedingly Valiant for courage, strength, and activity. 

2. True at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.  

3. Men of truth and soberness. 

4. Kept the commandments of God and walked uprightly before him. 

These are the kind of attributes that I want to adopt more in my life. We see that as they had these attributes, they were blessed with amazing faith, strength, and blessings from God. I work so hard to improve myself every day, and what a blessing it is to have so many amazing examples from the scriptures to work off of. I know that God wants for me to have the most success here, and as long as I trust in him and work to live up to his expectations he will lift and carry me higher than I could ever go. I know that God loves us and wants the best for us. As we work to become what he wants, he will mold and shape us. These things I share in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Love you all! Have an amazing week! 

Crazy Volcano!  But a beautiful sight!

My house!

On top of our house.

Meal time!

March 2, 2015 Santidad al Señor, La casa del Señor

Tortillas: 16 (Slowly losing momentum)

Another wonderful week here in Xela! The definite highlight of the week was our trip to the temple! Having lived so close to the temple before coming out, I took advantage of what an amazing blessing it is. I am so grateful to have a temple close by that I can at least go every 6 months. It was an amazing experience to feel so close to God and have the opportunity to enter his holy house. 

Provo Temple I grew up living across the street from

                                                                   Quetzaltenango Xela Temple                                                                                                                    

This week we had the opportunity to knock a lot of doors! Most people are very nice, even if they don't want to hear, but someone still told me they would call the cops on me after I offered to provide service. We had to change the baptismal date for Alejandro to the 14th because our bishop would like him to have a couple weeks in our ward (He was assisting another ward). The members her are all very loving and want for the work to go forth, and I am so grateful that they are willing to help us with so much. I have felt so much love and so much unity being back in a large ward!

Mejor Milagro: 

Walking down the street we had a drunk call out to us. My companion and I did not have time, but we soon both felt like we needed to stop and talk to him. So, we turn around and begin talking to him, and notice that he is not alone but with his friend, Ruben. We start talking to them, and the conversation quickly turns to the gospel. It was a hot day and so Ruben offered us a soda and asked if we would share a message with him (A little bit of a suprised). As we enter, I notice on his car he has a sticker that says Florida on it, and I ask him if he had spent time in the states, and of course he had. I soon come to find out that he had recently returned from the states, and it was because his mother had died. This lead perfectly into teaching him and his drunk friend the plan of salvation. He was very interested throughout the whole lesson. I know that Heavenly Father puts people into our paths for a reason, and most of the time that reason is so that we can do what we can to help. I am grateful for his help that he offers us, and I know he wants for his work to move forward.

Testimony time:

"Santidad al Señor, La casa del Señor" in English translates to "Holiness to the Lord, the house of the Lord." How wonderfully blessed we are to have the opportunity to enter in to the Lords house and become as close to him as possible when we are here on this earth. I am so grateful for his love that I have felt and his help, and this was just the week I needed to go to the temple. I would encourage all, if you can, to go to the temple as often as possible, and spend some special time talking to go. If you cant, I would exhort you to do what is possible so that you can. I know that Jesus Christ lives and he is the son of God. I know that we can receive personal revelation because I am everyday! The things I say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.