Elder Richardson in Guatemala: November 30, 2015 "And He did smile upon them"

Tortillas:25

Una Buena semana, con mucho caminando! A great week with a lot of walking!

We have began to teach an interested family that lives an hour and a half walking from where we live! We are also seeing a lot more progress in Zunil, and it would not surprise me if we were soon blessed with a branch there, and the growth would come much faster because more could come to church! We are working a lot with the local church leaders to help the progress grow. The low of the week was my companion getting a 24 hour throw up flu bug, and we spent the day Saturday in the house, but I had some time to do paper work and reading, but I was going crazy not able to go outside. But, I feel very grateful to know that the Lord is with us and helping us, because the next day he was perfectly fine!

Mejor Milagro:

One day we were getting off the bus when someone came up to us. He began to introduce himself in broken English and explain that he was learning. He asked if we could help him with some practice. We explained that our main purpose was to share the message of the restoration, but if he would be willing to learn then we could teach in English, and he could benefit in all ways. He agreed, and we put an appointment for the next morning and gave him a pamphlet to study and understand a bit before. So, we began to teach him. My companion would speak Spanish, I would translate English, then we would switch. It started with him mostly on focusing on learning English, and turns out he is actually very interested in the message of the restoration, and he was asking many questions. He soon told us that he is actually friends with the 1st councilor in the Branch presidency. So we began to teach him with this amazing member. Also, we learned that in the past, we actually have taught his family, but we have not found them. God always finds a way to lead his children to the light. I am grateful that in small ways the Lord works and leads us to his chosen children.

Testimony time:

This title come from the 19th chapter of 3 Nephi 19:30, and it says:

And when Jesus had spoken these words he came again unto his disciples; and behold they did pray steadfastly, without ceasing, unto him; and he did smile upon them again; and behold they were white, even as Jesus.

In this part of the scriptures, our Savior is ministering to his disciples on the American Continent. He has ministered to them and given them the power to give the gift of the spirit and to baptize. After many people take that decision, their faith was so great in him and they had seen great things after following him. I think about how wonderful it would be to be in Christ's sacred presence, and have him smile upon me and be happy because of what I have done. I feel so grateful for the Book of Mormon, which gives us the chance to know Jesus more! He smiles and he is happy! What greater joy can there be than to know that our accions give God happiness! I can also imagine the sadness that he feels as we don't choose to follow his son. I wish to exhort all to do the things that makes God and Jesus smile upon us! There is nothing greater, and brings us better satisfaction. If in this moment we are not doing everything he wants, oh how wonderful the principle of repentance! I know that it works, because it makes me better everyday of my life. Of his power, I testify in the sacred name of our loving and joyful Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

The baptism of familia Xivir, oh what a wonderful day for this family!