April 20, 2009

Hey hey hey!Well this week was another great week in Ixtapaluca! The other companionship in my district have really been struggling with working together and because of that, they have not been teaching very much, but after a very good district class on Tuesday, I think they left a little more motivated and I guess it payed off because they baptized two people on Saturday. Needless to say my companion and I were quite happy. We had to sacrifice because they don´t have a baptismal font in their “house of prayer” so we had to stay and be the witnesses for the baptism and we missed all of our morning appointments. It all worked out because we too baptized on Sunday. I believe it was Wednesday that we put the goal of teaching 10 lessons that day. We wanted to rock it. We taught 9, but it was still probably the best day of the mission simply because of how tired we were and how good we felt. That night we ate these awesome pizzas that they make here and some tortas (huge sandwich with lots of meat)…we had canceled the food because we were trying to reach our goal. It was definitely a very satisfying day. The next day I had divisions with the Zone Leaders and I went with the American Elder which I thought was weird because I too am “American.” We had a pretty good time talking all in English and we found 4 new people and two families. We also taught 5 or 6 other lessons, so we were also pretty tired when we got home.It´s quite incredible how when you truly focus on something as incredible as missionary work, you are the happiest you could possibly be.I have been thinking a lot on the fact that these are the last days and that truly the “great and terrible day of the Lord” is closer and closer and closer. It´s surprising how many people are so scared and I try to tell them with all my might that if they do what´s right in the eyes of the Lord, they have nothing to fear. We have been studying the Book of Mormon as a mission and (I don´t remember if I´ve already mentioned this, but I´ll say it again because I think it´s that important) I have been absolutely blown away by how many times I´ve underlined the phrase “keep my commandments” and then the blessing that comes from doing so. As hard as it might be to be perfectly obedient, do it because the “reward” is the greatest gift God can give us.If I´ve learned something on the mission it´s the fact that Heavenly Father has truly given us all the tools we need to make it through this “small moment” of our lives. This earthly life is a blessing and we must keep strong so that we can receive exaltation.Go to church, partake of the sacraments because we are edifying on the rock of Christ (3 Nephi 18: 11-12, Hel 5:12) when we do so. Never forget that you go to church because you´re showing God, and no one else, that you want to follow Him.Read the scriptures because they truly testify of Christ and if we read and ponder we shall never lose our way!I know that Christ lives. I know it. I know that this is His work and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His church because He guides it through President Thomas S. Monson. I know that if we will do the small and simple things that are asked of us, we can overcome every trial of our lives. Hold on to each other because the times are coming when the world we will be even more against us and we will need each others support. Start now. If you don´t pray every morning and night, do it. If you don´t read the scriptures every day, do it. As a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ I testify that if you do these things, you shall be greatly blessed.I am grateful for all of you that have been my examples and that because of your friendship my testimony has grown and you have helped me stay on the right path. Know that I love you and appreciate you and think of you always. I hope you have an incredible week, good luck with finals (I think they start this week!) and anything else that may be happening in your lives. Until next week….