April 16, 2016 "el que con diligencia busca, hallará"

Tortillas: 5

Una semana más en el país de la eterna primavera! We had a great week as always! I did not get the chance to mention last week, but Saturday night we had a wedding of two people we have been teaching, which followed with their baptism! They are a small family named Familia Garcia. Their names are Humberto and Rocio with their little baby girl Lucero. 

We have been working a lot to help them, and I have grown to greatly love them. I have seen that with their is a love unexplicable for the people that we teach and all Guatemaltecos, but it is such a joyful experience to see them make the desicion to follow Christ through baptism, and to start the process. This week was building up for Ward conference tomorrow, which means a lot of activities! On thursday everyone went to the temple, which we did not get to go to, but yesterday there was an international food and culture activity! It was a great chance to invite investigators to meet members and get to know the Church. Also, today we went with the Childs, Elder Chavez and McLain, and Jaimes family to President and Sister Smiths house for a picnic/BBQ. It was a great time. 

Mejor Milagro:

One day we had planned a lesson, but the people were not there. So, we felt strongly to go with the people that we had planned as backup, some old investigators we have not found. As we arrived at the house, the man opened the door and told us to come right in. We sat down, and he immediately began to talk about the problems and challenges that they had been having. As he went, it turned from telling about his problems to thanking us for finally coming back. He apologized for not being there, but explained that they really needed us now to help them come unto Christ and change their lives. Hearing their hardnesses for me was a very humbling experience, and it really touched my heart as he explained in humility of the need for divine help. He is out of work, and they are completely out of money.  Their daughter is starving and having stomach problems because she does not have enough to eat. This family does not even have Q15 to buy basic need, but they recognize that they need to trust more in God, and they recognize the miracles and thank God for what they have! I imagine that God has such a great love for them, and I feel so blessed to be an instrument in his hands to be able to bless those of his children that really need him. Even though we are not able to give to their physical needs, I know that as we attend to their spiritual needs they will find a way to come out of this hard situation. 

Testimony time:

I have been greatly impacted by the example of Nefi, and his willingness to follow the spirit and sacrifice to come closer to God. As we read, we see the drast contrast of him from his brothers, Laman and Lemuel. As I have examined his example about receiving the word of God and instructions from his father, I was impacts by these verses In 1 Nefi 10:

17 I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto gall those who diligently seek him

 19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

Nephi tells about how he was desirous to see, hear, and know. He testifys to us that as we seek diligently, by the power of the Holy Ghost the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto us. That is a promise from the Lord. What I have come to learn is that the Lord really wants to teach us. He wants us to grow, but it all depends on if we are wiling and desirous to learn and become better. All he asks of us is that we search, and we shall find. Any question that we have, he has answers. We can remember the young man Joseph Smith. It took much on his part to come to the point to ask God in faith, but once he did he was blessed with one of the greatest moments in history and a moment that has impacted the destiny of the eternity, and my life forever. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows each one of us personally, by name and even more than what we know about ourselves. As we come to him, we will discover more about the wonders of Life than we ever could alone. Of this I testify, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Elder Richardson
Misión Guatemala Quetzaltenango
josephr@myldsmail.net