Elder Richardson in Guatemala: August 10, 2015 email "the decrees of God are unalterable"

Tortillas:40 (Slowly but surly getting back in the groove now that I am in rural)

Week one in Cantel, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Cantel is a beautiful mountain city made up of many villages. It is one of the most beautiful places I have every lived. The temperature is not too hot, but not to cold! Our area of proselyting is huge, so huge that we don't exactly know where it ends! The furthest we have gone is one hour in bus.

It is a very tradicional place, where many of the people have lived here for many generations and still live with their deep Guatemalan cultural roots.

I feel like the greatest blessing is that we are in a rural area and we can live the rural missionary life, but in 20 minuetes we arrive to the city!

We are in a branch of about 90 members, and we are working so that it can become a ward! With all of the villages and citys in our area, I would not be suprised if in the future it becomes a stake!

Mejor Milagro:

Right now we are teaching a family that lives about 30 from where we are based, but the story of how they were introduced to the gospel is amazing. The father was in the united states for about 5 years as an illegal immigrant. In his time there, most of what he did was work and sleep, but when the missionaries found them and those he lived with they made the time to be able to listen for 30 minuetes a couple of times a week. In this time because of time constraints and other circumstances, he was not able to come to church. He loved learning about the gospel, but it just was not possible to partake of the blessings of the gospel and be baptized. With time, he returned back to Guatemala. Their family lives in a small village that missionaries have never visited, and he was never able to hear about the gospel again. About 2 months ago, they were in the doctors office at the same time that two elders were their. They began to talk and he explained that he had heard about the church, and would love if missionaries arrives. These elders than passed the information to the elders here in Cantel. Because the family lives so far away, it was not until about 2 weeks before I got here that they contacted this family. Even though they live far away, one daughter and one son have come to church for both of the sundays. The family is preparing to be baptised at the end of this month, but we are still working to overcome the problem of work with the father and deep mayan traditions that they have, but they know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that God finds ways for his chosen children to be found, no matter what.

Testimony Time:

I found this scripture this week reading in Alma 41;

8 Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk there in and be saved.

How blessed we are to be lead by a supreme creator whose wisdom is far greater and far beyond our own! He has given us the laws and commandments for our own benefit. One day each of us will have to stand before his judgement bar to receive the recompense of what we chose to do with this life. No matter what we think, the laws of God cannot be changed. We can chose to follow them or not, but the outcome is always that is we follow, we will be received in exhaltation and glory. But, if we dont, we will receive an eternal punishment for our acts. I feel so grateful to be lead by modern day prophets that show us what we must do to be accepted in this glory. I know that as we follow their voice, we are really following the voice of God. I know that he has given us more of his revealed word through the Book of Mormon, and if we read and treasure these words each day we will be able to be lead to the tree of life. I testify that there is no greater happiness and joy than following Jesus Christ, his commandments, and his example. He loves each of us more than we can imagine. I know he lives, and he leads his church in these latter days. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Adventures in Cantel!