Querido familia mía,
This week has been great! I have been learning so much in every aspect. Many prayers, many spiritual lessons, many tender mercies felt this week here in Carmen. I am doing well, seriously learning alot this week. Everyone treats us very kindly here. Seriously don't worry about me, I honestly have never thought or felt any ideas of being kidnapped, its not that sketchy at all here. Everyone is very relaxed, I can´t see anyone going so out of their way to kidnap somebody here, the people just aren´t like that. The food is great, we were just talking about that the other day. And if its not that great, well we still eat it haha. But I really do love the food. And I'm way more open to trying new stuff than I ever have been in my life.
Our apartment is really nice, I'll take pictures of it for you next week. We're getting a new fridge from a member today, well old and used. But its better than the one we have now. I think an Elder tried cleaning it and poked the freezer part, and then a member repaired it, but its always spilling water in our stuff and dripping on the floor. So we're SUPER excited.
Hermana Martha was baptized this week! And she was so kind to hem my pants for me too. She's a seamstress just like you mom, she always doing something. Their whole family is family to me, we are definitely coming back to see them after my mission.
We had Martha's baptism on Friday. It was one of the most spiritual services I have had in my Mission. We prepared everything with the help of the Hermana Domitila who is the Relief Society President. Also, I found out that the very first missionary to visit Martha's family, like 10 years ago, lives here in another ward. And we invited him to speak in the baptismal service too. He spoke about planting seeds and seeing how us as missionaries ten years later are reaping what he sewed. How no act goes unnoticed in the service of God. Don't ever be afraid to share your testimony with anyone, Heavenly Father will ALWAYS support us in our good actions.
Also, Agustin and Manuela were baptized this Saturday too!!!! We had to drive to Sabancuy and back twice on Wednesday to get immigration papers signed and finally ...marry them! It was awesome, but a pretty lame wedding. There was an old guy sitting at a typewriter in this shabby old building, just reading everything out loud in monotone, and then he asked them to sign the marriage certificate, and it was done. Pretty dull, but all of us were so excited for them. We then all squeezed into the car with 10 people and drove back to Carmen. It was a good day, I'll have to get some pictures from Elder Vasquez's camera because I didn't take mine with me that day.
I was teaching Gospel Principles in Sunday School yesterday, and I heard such a beautiful story from one of our investigators. Her name is Rosa, she is the fiancé of another investigator Carlos. They are both 19 years old, have one baby girl, and are just waiting until certain papers come so they can get married and get baptized. Anyways, Carlos is already pretty much a member non-baptized. He always helps us in church and has a solid testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Anyways, the topic of the lesson was our Heavenly Family, with a focus on our gifts and talents that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with.
I was teaching and felt impressed to ask an unplanned question. But I just asked if anyone had an experience this week in which they recognized how the blessed talent of another person had helped them to strengthen their testimony. Rosa immediately looked up and told me that she had one. Rosa had never fully supported Carlos in going to church. He usually came alone, and felt very frustrated because he knew he couldn't force her to go, but he wanted her to. And this week, Hermana Norma went and visited Rosa. Hermana Norma lives with her two sons who are both more or less active, her husband passed away a couple years ago. She lives on the other side of our area, and doesn't have a car, neither are there buses that pass by in the route to Carlos and Rosa's home. But Rosa told us that Norman had passed by unexpected one afternoon, and shared a brief discussion with her in which Norma expressed her testimony in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Rosa told us about how during the discussion, she felt a desire to support Carlos in going to the church. She realized the great plan that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with. And how Carlos has a big part in her plan, and how grateful she is for his example. And that she was now going to follow him full force in their path to Baptism.
I stood, surprised, amazed, at how every member can help in the missionary work. I knew that without a doubt, Hermana Norma, who does not know Rosa very well, was inspired by the Holy Ghost and led to the home of Rosa. I don't know how Rosa would have gained a testimony without the help of Norma. All because Norma followed the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost.
I know that if we all put our focus in the Lord's work, in what He desires, that He will bless us with the power to do so. I know that to put our will in line with our Heavenly Father's, our lives will make much more sense, and have so much more purpose. When we listen to the Holy Ghost, that still small voice, and we follow His counsel and guidance, we are walking in the path of the Lord. We are walking where He wants us to be. We are walking closer and closer to true eternal happiness.
I pray that we all can move our will in line with our Heavenly Father's this week. And that as we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we can help in bringing to pass this "great and marvelous work," in the salvation of many souls. There is no such work that will bring us more reward, more joy, more hapiness, more love. I know that this church that I am representing is the true church of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That He, through his prophets, is guiding this church. That Joseph Smith was called of God, spoke with Him, and received the power of the priesthood to restore the true church of Christ when the world was finally ready. There is no power on earth greater than this priesthood, the power and authority of God to act in His name.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah. And I will work with all my heart, might, mind and strength to serve Him, to bring His children back into His prescence. So that all can achieve this eternal happiness, and have an eternal family in the life to come.
I love you, family. And I am SO proud of you all, and your faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. Have faith, always.
Con mucho amor, Elder Knight
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