March 19,2016 "retaining a remission of your sins from day to day"

The mission office

             Dinner at the Mission Presidents home, It's always nice to get a home cooked meal.

Tortillas: 8

Las bendiciones del Señor son grandes sobre la ciudad de Quetzaltenango! I feel so happy to have another great week with the chance to serve the Lord with all I can. We continue to see much progress in our area and in our investigators. I have seen and can testify that the change in peoples life comes in a great manner as they read the book of Mormon and willingly give their will to the Lord. A great experience this week was hearing the testimony of an investigator of how much the Church of Jesus Christ has changed his life, and also teaching about the Sabbath day and literally having them REJOICE in the knowledge of the commandments of the Lord. For me, of the greatest blessings of missionary work, one of the greatest is seeing how much people are changed by God, and being able to witness his works and power. I love my Heavenly Father so much.

Mejor Milagro: 

A few week ago I shared the story of a family that we met from a reference of a less active family. When we met this family, at the tail end of the message we were sharing a drunk man can into the house. He entered and sat down and began to listen, and once we finished and were leaving he began to talk and mistreat us a bit. They just told us to ignore his insults, and we set an appointment to come back another day. When we returned, but family was not there, but the man that was drunk was, but this time not drunk. We asked if we could share with him, and he accepted. He liked what we talked about, and commited to let us come back and teach him and his family more. We were able to return, and his new attitude after reading the pamphlet we left was amazing. We pulled his family in and told them that they had to pay a lot of attention. He was excited to learn more, and was completely attent to what we taught. We had the chance to teach the complete message of the restoration, and it amazed him. When we invited him to search for himself and be baptised when he came to know it was true, he responded with an of course, and that if he came to know it was true he would for sure be baptised in the Church of Jesus Christ. We are now going to start teaching them with regularity, and thanks to the blessing of the Lord we were able to find a back up to the simple teaching, truly seeing that we are but instruments in his hands, and that he will to the most important part.

Family home evening with Franklins family and an investigator family, we love them all so much, they welcome us into their home as if we are part of their family.

                                                        We can't forget PI DAY!!!

Testimony Time:

This week, I was studying about ordinances, convenants, and the atonement, when I came across the topic of "the remission of sins". I found this scritpure that impacted me in Mosiah 4:26, 

"And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief,both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants."

The remission of sins is the forgives of bad actions, after we have repented. It is being forgiven by God and receiving peace. What impacted me most in this scripture is the concept that we learning about retaining this forgiveness from day to day. Thanks to the gospel of Jesus Christ, we know what we need to do in order to receive the remission of sins. Because God restored the truth through Joseph Smith, we have this knowledge of how to receive this forgiveness. Many people are searching in many different things, but we can rejoice in the knowledge of everlasting peace and happiness. The concept of retaining the remission of sins day to day truly is the concept of enduring to the end. As we work to do this, we find the true concept of happiness in this life. I love my Saviour so much, and I am so grateful that because of him we have this great opportunity. As we celebrate this next holy week, we can take some special time to ponder on what he has done and what it really means to us. I testify of this peace that is available, and that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can find another life, the life that God wants us to life. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

--

Elder Richardson
Misión Guatemala Quetzaltenango
josephr@myldsmail.net

Xela at dusk is so beautiful!  

  Los Estrellas de Golfito!  For P- Day we had fun playing golf and hanging out at a country club. 

 I  was unleashing my inner Tiger Woods. Kyle would be proud!

 

 

Fun day! 

March 12, 2016 "For this is the love of God"

Tortillas: 10


Una semana loca pero tan bendecido! To make it short, there was a ton to do this week, and it went by really fast! I am so grateful to see that the Lord loves us so much to give us something to do every second, and that every second has something to learn and some way to grow and become better!


Mejor Milagro:


One night, as we were planning my companion had felt the impression to go and contact a specific street by one of our investigators as a plan B. When we were at that hour the next day, the appointment had fallen and we moved to that street. As we were preparing some pamphlets, I saw a man and without thinking I said to Elder Silva "We need to talk to him. That is the man that is ready." Surprised myself by the comment, we quickly went and met this man that was cleaning his porch. We began to talk to him, and came to find out that he was friends with a very faithful member family that lives in another part of Xela. We testified to him that we were disciples sent by Jesus Christ to his house and his family to share a message, and asked if we could pass. He said that he did not have a lot of time, so we testified again and asked for but 5 minuets with him and his family, which he accepted. He allowed us in with his wife and son, those that were present. In the 5 minuets that we were there, we had the opportunity of an amazing lesson, leading to them being willing to accept us two days later, and leaving an interest in their hearts to know about the glorious restored gospel of Jesus Christ.


Testimony Time:


Right now my companion and I are teaching a family that has had many struggles, and has not made the best choices to deal with these struggles. We have been working on helping them understand why it is so important to keep the commandments. I found this scripture as I studied for their needs in 1 John 5:3, it says:


"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."



What we must understand is how blessed we are to have been given the commandments from God, through his chosen servants the Prophets. God, in his infinite wisdom, has shown us the light to true happiness and peace. The things that he restricts are things that eventually lead us to sadness and pain, which he knows. When we truly love him, we will trust and have faith sufficiently in him to follow his guidelines. In this scripture, John teaches us boldly that the commandments truly are not hard to keep, once we have a true love for our Heavenly Father and the sacrifice that Christ made. In reference to this scripture, Christ teaches in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The only way to have true happiness is complete obedience to God and love for him and his instruction. He is waiting to bless us, but as it teaches us in Doctrine and Covenants that the blessings he gives us depends on the obedience to the laws that we have received. I testify that it is amazing and wonderful to keep the commandments, and be in peace before the sight of God. We are all imperfect, but what God wants is to see us working towards perfeccion. Though we will commit errors each day, we can keep his commandment to be worthy of the many blessings that he has promised. That is what a good life is all about, being worthy when the opportunity to bless or to receive blessings comes. I can also testify of the power of the repentance. Because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we know exactly what we need to do in order to be clean and ready to return to his presence, with the great blessing of returning as families! Of these things I testify, in the Sacred name of our REDEEMER, Jesus the Christ, Amen.

--

Elder Richardson
Misión Guatemala Quetzaltenango
josephr@myldsmail.net

Council of Missionaries

Every month some missionaries come together to talk about what is happening in the mission and what we can do better.

 The first picture is of what the city looks like.

  My companion, Elder Silva and Jaime, a taxista that works for the mission and helps us out a TON!

 Nahuala is on the edge of the mission, and is completely filled with people that barely speak spanish and use a ton of typical clothing. Even the men use dress type things.  They speak K´iché.

March 5, 2016 "Come unto Christ"

                                   

                          It is always great to see this guy!  My CCM companion Elder Thorne.

Tortillas: 3

Well, the rainy season has started again! This was another marvelous week, always amazing in the service of the Lord! He loves us so much, and he is so merciful with the blessings that he showers down upon our heads. Each and every day my testimony grows of his marvelous power and love for us, and I cannot thank him enough. All I can do his give him my life, be even after that I have not given enough. 

Mejor Milagro:

So, we had a night that was not the most exciting. We had a lesson with an investigator that was very interested and had a lot of potential, who just is not ready to receive the gospel. Everything was very wet, and we found ourselves that our visits for the rest of the night had fallen, it being 7:00 pm. But, when this happens, it just means that our plans were not the plans of the Lord, so we began to search for what the Lord needed done. As we searched, the people that we talked to were not interested, and some even began to insult us. It was not easy, but we knew that the Lord had prepared a chosen family, because of the prayer of faith that we offered as we left our house. As we were walking to our next plan, I felt a confirmation that as we held faith, we would be able to find those that were waiting. We went to visit a less active, and to our luck his mother was there who is not a member. We taught a short lesson, but she was not willing to do the things required of the Lord to know the truthfulness of the gospel. As we left, we asked who they knew that we could get to know, and they said that maybe their neighbor would accept up, giving us his name. We knocked the door, but no answer. So, we knocked the next door, and a woman answered. We began to speak with her and found out that the man we were looking for lived their. An instant relationship was formed, and she was willing to listen to us, but there was no one else home. But, at the moment we were about to leave, her sister and husband arrived. This allowed us to enter, to have a powerful lesson lead by the spirit, and to find this family that had been prepared and was ready to learn more about the gospel. Not just that, but in that same house lives 4 different families, all of which will be present when we return next week. The prepared family was not found until 8:30, but I know that as we work to keep our faith in the promises of the Lord, he will always come through, even when it feel like it is the last minuete.  

Testimony Time:

This week I was able to finish the Book of Mormon again! I learned many things through Christ, but one of my favorites is found in Moroni 10:32;

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."

Only as we come unto Christ, can we be perfected and one day become like our Heavenly Father. As I meditate this scripture, I realize that thanks to the Restoration of the Gospel, we have the knowledge of how to come unto Christ. We know what is needed to follow his steps, repent, and become clean. We know exactly what the Lord requires of us become he communicates through his chosen servants. We know how to partake of his amazing grace, and sing the song of redeeming joy that comes as we serve him with all of our might, mind, and stength. This sacred book, The Book of Mormon, helps us learn and have the desire to become perfect. It shows us what is needed. It is a divine book, through which we learn more not by what is written on the page, but by what the spirit teaches to us. Each day we can receive council from the Lord and his spirit as we feast upon these sacred words. This book has helped me to come to know my Saviour and my Heavenly Father in a way undescribable, and it is what gives me the want to give lose my life to him. I testify to all ends of the earth that the Book of Mormon is true, and like Moroni exhort all to feast up its words and receive a testimony by the spirit of its truthfullness. I invite all to ask of God, and know for your self the truth of this book as you read, meditade, and pray about its truths. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

-- Another fun picture with Elder McVey who was also in the CCM with me!  One of the great things about where I am serving right now I get to see so many different missionaries all the time!

Elder Richardson
Misión Guatemala Quetzaltenango
josephr@myldsmail.net

5757-5599

February 27, 2016 "minister according to the word of his command"

Tortillas: 5

This week was a giant amazing blessing from the Lord. 

Mejor Milagro:

Months ago, Elder Maynes and I were leaving our home after a quick bathroom brake, when he suggested that we went and contacted the tortilla shop across the street. I was hesitant, but we went. As he was talking to the woman making tortillas, I began to talk to a man an woman behind us waiting. I soon came to find out that they were actually members, but that they had been inactive from the church for a couple of years. We asked for their number, and set another day that we could go and visit their family. We began to rekindle their testimony and teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. The first two weeks that we invited them to church, they did not come, but once they came the third week as a family, the have continued to come every week. They are now preparing seriously to be sealed in the temple, attending reading the Book of Mormon like crazy, and even in the ward choir haha! Now, in this family there is a boy named Franklin of 12 years. His 3 older siblings had already been baptized, but he was left behind. We began to work with him, but he was not interested, not seeing a need. Thanks to the power of the Book of Mormon, which his parents began to read often with him, and the help of the members of the ward, Franklins heart was softened. He went from hiding from us when we came to visit us, to changing every time we returned. I am so grateful that the Lord lead us to this family that was prepared to come back to faithfulness, and allow us to participate in helping them become an eternal family. 

Testimony Time:

The Lord has called all of us to come unto him, to follow his commandments, and to become disciples of Jesus Christ. He has given us the great blessing to be able to serve our brothers and sister, shoulder to shoulder with him. He calls each of us to this discipleship, and as we choose to follow him and model our lives after the manner that Jesus Christ lived, we will find that we can find our life as we lose it. We will feel weak and helpless, taking upon us this mantel of discipleship, but the glorious thing is that he promises us to instruct us and lead us. He will guide us and mold us as we give all of ourselves to him, and as this scripture in Moroni 7:31,"minister according to the word of his command". As we search for this word of his command, and then choose to act in faith with what he instructs, we will see all his glorious power. We can as him specifically what we lack. We can ask what more we need to do. In fact, it is necessary that we ask these questions. I can testify greatly that the path of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest and most fulfilling path that we can take. Really, losing our life for him may be hard at first, but once we do it we will know that we have not lost it, but found it. I love my God so much, and my Saviour Jesus Christ. I work each day to be the best for them, and work to model my life after the way they want. I invite all to do the same, an in no moment will you regret it. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

--

Elder Richardson
Misión Guatemala Quetzaltenango
josephr@myldsmail.net