October 12, 2015 " Call Upon His Holy Name"

Tortillas: 17

Que glorioso es nuestro Dios!  HOW GLORIOUS IS GOD!!!  This was a wonderful and very busy week!  We had many wonderful experiences with investigators and I feel my trust and faith in the Lord growing everyday.  I am so grateful that he loves me enough to give me the opportunity to follow the example of his son Jesus Christ and to help others to do the same.  There is no greater joy than that.  I have also learned alot about goals and how important it is that we set our goals with trust in the Lord, and asking him to help us.  If we set our goals high, then go before the Lord to plead his help, because alone we can not do it, he will help us.  I have seen it many times, and I know that because of him this work goes on.  I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior so much, and I feel unexplainably grateful for all they do for me.

Major Milagro:

This week two of Gods children took the step of making a covenant with God through baptism.

 The story of how they got to that point is very miraculous!  It all started when family Chuc  were in the hospital, two Elders began to talk to them.  They showed a lot of interest in the message, so they gave the two Elders their information to allow the missionaries to come by.  The referal was passed to the missionaries in Cantel, the area where familia Chuc lives.  For a while the missionaries never came because they live in a far away village.  When I arrived to Cantel, the elders had already had one lesson with this family, and when they were invited to church two of the children, Anacleta she is 15 and Juan Francisco , 9 years old came the first week, by bus of about 30 minutes.  We soon came to find out that their father, Baltazar, had been receiving the missionaries when he lived in the United States but was not able to enjoy or have the opportunity to be a member.  So, the process of teaching began and they were very faithful in investigating and coming to know the truth of our message.  Because of complications of work and other situations, the father and mother were not able to come to church, but they accepted that their children came.  This past week Anacleta and Juan Francisco were baptized.

The joy they expressed was unmeasurable.

 To add to the miracle, this also opens up many doors for their village and other surroundings, of which have never had the opportunity to hear the gospel.  Also, with more time more and more members of their family will have the opportunity to enjoy of the complete blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that God loves all of his children and he will find a way to bless them, no matter where they live.  I am grateful for his blessings.

Testimony time:

This life is a time for us to learn and be prepared for Christ to come.  It is not always easy, but God has given us guides and helps, like the scriptures and modern day prophets to help us.  In these helps, is the wonderful power of prayer.  A scripture in the Book of Mormon teaches this principle clearly :

Helaman 3:27

 27 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.

I know that without a doubt, if we sincerely go before the Lord and plea for his mercy, he will give it to us!  We cannot go throughout this life without his heavenly help.  We are just making it harder than it has to be.  I testify that he hears and answers every one of our prayers, even though it is always in his time.  Sometimes, he is just waiting for us to ask and humble ourselves.  If we will kneel down, go before him, plead with him with all of our hearts, he will provide.  If we ask for a fish, he will not give us a serpent, but he will give what we need.  He truly does love us, and I testify of his love, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love to get on the buses and share the gospel!

Ultimate frisby zone activity!  I love my zone!  They are all such hard workers and kind people!

Zunil, Las Cumbres

Fun P-day with my zone at Las Cumbres in Zunil, I will bring you all here to eat when we come back to visit!  The food is amazing and it is so beautiful!!!

October 5, 2015 email " Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servant, it is the same"

Tortillas:17

My favorite part of this week was the opportunity to be able to listen to the modern day prophet and apostles!  What an amazing blessing to be able to hear the voice of God today jus as we did in ancient times, through his servants the prophets.  I feel so blessed to be a part of the marvelous restoration.  I know that what they teach us is true, and the will of God.  We were in Xela all Saturday and most of Sunday because they did not show the broadcast in our building.  Other than that, it was still a wonderful week!  We saw many instances of the Lord leading people to us and allowing us to bless lives.  He knowing each of us personally, and what our needs are, our weaknesses, and our strengths.  If we trust in him and in the future, we will be guided by his light safely home and in peace.  He loves us more than we can even imagine and I am grateful to read the scriptures and pray everyday to be able to feel his love.

Mejor Milagro:

So, one day we found ourselves walking down a dirt side street.  As we passed the house, we heard someone yell out, "Hey guys, how are you?"  When we heard it, we immediately stopped to see where it was.  It was not the normal English that the kids yell, but it was a perfect accent.  As we began to search for the person a man walked out of the house and began to talk to us in perfect English, probably the best that I have heard here.  We talked for a moment, and then he invited us in.  We also met his wife, and the two of them had lived in the states for 20 years, but decided to come back to their home country to live a calmer life.  We talked a bit about the gospel and offered if they would like to learn about the gospel and the message we bring, and they accepted!  So, a couple of days later we met and had an amazing lesson about the restoration.  The spirit was so strong, and we came to find out they had felt an emptiness in their life and were working to become more Christian.  We could testify of the restoration and the peace it can have in their lives, and we could see a new light in their eyes.  I feel so grateful that the Lord lead us to them, and has been preparing them to hear this glorious message!  I know that it is true, and that it is the peace to fill the emptiness that they feel.

Testimony time:

This past weekend we had the amazing opportunity to hear the voice of God through his modern Apostles and Prophet, and I feel my testimony grow from these men.  Their sacred calling, and Jesus Christ.  I testify that our Lord directs his own church in our days.  So that one day we can return to his presence and enjoy eternal happiness as families.  I testify of his Prophet, Thomas S. Monson.  His instruction to keep the commandments and develop attributes of the Savior and of fullness of all times is true.  Following him will lead us through the darkness.  The only true way to happiness now and in the eternity is by abiding by the laws of God.  he has not given us them in order to restrict us, but he has given us the commandments because he knows what will make us happy.  I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ with all my heart, and Wish to be like them and serve them worthily.  The Lord is preparing his people to return to his presence, and there is no time to waist as we live in these last days.  I testify of his power and glory, and of his eternal truth which brings me more joy than I can express.  In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Today is P Day, We had a fun day! There is so much to explore, we went to see some Mayan carved faces!  

 This is the good life!

Elder Bentley is a stud! He works so hard and is helping me grow!

Email September 28,2015 "We Trust God Will Deliver Us"

Tortillas: 20 (Two days in the capitol does not help)

This was a wonderful week even though we found ourselves with 3 1/2 days with not much work. P day (which is normal) , multi zone conference, and a visa trip for my companion to Guatemala City.

 Fun in Guatemala City!

 It was an interesting opportunity and we got to meet some missionaries from other missions.  Also, we had a once in a lifetime chance to preaching outside our mission!  On the way back, we had about an hour and a half to wait for a bus to bring us back to Xela, so we hit the streets of the Zona 7 and shared the message of the restoration.

 Other than that our area had been pretty normal with lots of rain and fog!  We also had an amazing multi zone conference with President Smith.  I am so grateful to be on the Lords work and to learn how I can become better and help more people to come unto Christ.  I am also grateful to have a mission president who is in touch with the spirit to be able to give us inspired council .

Mejor Millagro:

So this miracle has been a bit of time in the making.  On the first day that I received Elder Bentley, his first contact was helping a man carry wood inside his house.  After doing so, we talked for a moment and he accepted to hear a small message.  We explained a bit about the restoration and gave him a pamphlet, which he agreed to read and accept another visit.  So, we came back a couple of days later for our visit, but he was not there.  So, that is pretty normal here.  But, a couple days later we were in the same area and an appointment had fallen, and my companion suggested that we go by to visit this man.  As we arrived, we could see that people were home, (it is a very humble home).  We heard one of his children yell out, "come back another day"  but as we were about to leave, the man
walked out and invited us in!  As we entered, we began to talk about it, we had read, and he began to explain to us basically the whole lesson we had planned and he had many questions.  As we began to answer his questions, it was clear that he was marveled by the message of the restoration.  We soon came to find out that in the past,  he had actually come to church before!  He remembered memories of when he went with his parents, who were actually members!  He never had the chance to fully enjoy the blessings of the gospel, but that is what we are working to prepare him and his family for, and he has a huge hunger to learn more.  Already he feels that the Book of Mormon is true, and we just need to work so that he and his family can come to church.

Testimony time:

This week as I have come to finish reading about the ancient wars here in American, I have been impacted by the trust that these Nephite soldiers, those who were fighting for their religious freedom and that of their families  here in God and the faith that they have in him.  I was impacted by a bold statement made by one of their leaders;

Alma 58:37

 37 But, behold, it mattereth not—we trust God will deliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea, and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies.

What I am marveled by what he says is that he knows that with a surity, as to their own strength they were weak.  Many were just boys that left their families, just like many of those in Gods army today.  Many times we may feel weak, but if we understand that we don't have to do it alone then we can call upon the armys help!  Just like the declaration of Pablo.  When we are weak, we are strong.  I have seen the hand of the Lord in his work, and the love that he has really is not my own, but his.  I love him with all that I have, and I just want to do what is pleasing to him, and to complete with what he wishes.  I know that if we have faith we can see experiences in our own lives and that he can do anything, depending on our faith.  The faith of a mustard seed can move mountains, but it is not always mountains that we have to move.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.