Put Your Trust In The Lord!

!Hola!

Well, this might be my last couple of days in Santiago De María. We have a change meeting on Wednesday and we don't find out if we have changes until Tuesday night. Just like in the hymn though, I'll go where He wants me to go!

This week was a little bit of a disappointment. We had to "drop" quite a bit of investigators. Ernesto told us that he just can't stop smoking and he wanted to make sure that we weren't wasting our time. He has all the lessons and attendances and just needs to stop smoking in order to be baptized. We aren't going to visit them as often, but we're still going to visit all of our "dropped" investigators at least once a week.

President and Hermana Glazier sent an email out that throughout the world, the church is seeing a trend in missionaries relying too much on the members and not realizing their own finding efforts. They said that our mission is guilty of doing this, but that together as a mission we can change it! In our mission there has been a decline in investigators progressing, so we need to increase our finding efforts. Elder Aldrige, Elder Sarceño, and I going to improve and make it a goal to street contact as many people as the Lord places in our path as we go to our appointments. I know that as we strive to improve as a mission that the Lord will help and bless us in our efforts.

¡Levantate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

 Alegría Laguna

An extinct volcano near Santiago de Maria....

....with a lake in the center.

¡Mis Primeros Bautismos! - My First Baptisms!

¡Hola todos!

This week we were able to witness one of our investigators Emanuel Lopez, and his younger brother Jonathon be baptized by their dad and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by one of the branch counselors. It was such a great experience. When Emanuel was first extended the invitation to be baptized, he said no. However, when he was shown a picture of the temple, his eyes lit up! He's really excited about the temple, and he can't wait to go there! Emanuel and his dad both quit drinking coffee together in order to prepare for baptism. It's amazing to see the change in people's lives as they become converted to the Gospel! Emanuel shared his testimony after being baptized and it was inspiring. He shared his favorite scripture and testified that after receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost that he will be able to "speak with a new tongue, yea, even the tongue of angels." I'm excited for them and the opportunity they will have one day to enter the temple and be sealed together as a family for time and all eternity!

At a meeting we went to, President Glazier used an object lesson with a $10 bill demonstrate vision and goals. He had an Elder try to grab it while he held it above the stage in the stake center while standing on a chair. The Elder just stood on the chair too and grabbed it. The point of it was that not matter how difficult a goal seems, we can achieve it. I know that as we expand our vision that we will work harder and be able to accomplish our goals with the divine help of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He lives. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of our sins through sincere repentance and receive His grace to help us endure to the end.

This past week my testimony of the Atonement has grown. One day, I had a headache, a fever, and I felt weak, but I knew that I needed to go out and work. As we left our house, I still felt the same, but then I remembered that Christ not only suffered for our sins, but for ALL of our infirmities. I also remembered the video of John Tanner and how his leg was healed. I knew then will all faith and no doubt that if his leg was able to be healed, then I would definitely be healed if I had faith. I prayed sincerely to be healed, and as the day went on, my strength returned, my fever went away, and eventually my headache too. I know without a doubt that the Atonement is real. I know that through the Atonement and our faith, that we can be healed both physically and spiritually.

I'm so grateful for my testimony, and I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to be a representative of Jesus Christ and to share His Gospel with others so that they too may be able to partake of the blessings that I have received in my life. Well, gotta go!

¡Levantate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

Emanuel and Jonathon's Baptism!

The Power Of The Atonement

¡Hola Todos!

This week has been great! On Saturday we went to visit one of our investigators named Miguel who has a problem with smoking. We wanted him to realize that smoking is a sin because we weren't sure if he completely understood. I could feel the Spirit strongly as I testified of the power of the Atonement, how it has helped me in my life, and how if he has faith and a sincere desire to quit smoking that he will receive divine help and forgiveness of his sins through daily repentance and prayer. 

Yesterday, I had the privilege to stand in the circle as one of the branch counselors conferred the Aaronic Priesthood upon one of the recent converts, Mauricio. I've never had that opportunity before, so I'm grateful that I was able to be a part of it.

I'm excited for this Saturday because one of our investigators Emanuel and his younger brother Jonathon are going to be baptized by their dad. All three of them used to drink coffee, but together they were able to leave it. It's so great to see a family all with the same desire to live the Gospel! Another thing that I'm grateful for is that Emanuel has a strong desire to go to the temple! It gives me so much joy to know that one day they will have the opportunity to be sealed as a family for time and all eternity!

One of our investigators, Ernesto, recently had a tragedy happen in his family. This week his brother got hit by a car, and is currently in the hospital in San Miguel. Yesterday, we visited him and testified to him of the power of the Atonement. We testified that Jesus Christ suffered for not only our sins, but for ALL of our afflictions, sorrows, trials, sicknesses and temptations. We promised him that through the Atonement, he can receive peace and comfort and that he'll be able to feel our Savior's love. We also promised him that he will be able to receive strength to quit smoking as he continues to prepare for baptism.

That's so awesome that Brother Fife served where I am! We'll definitely have to talk during Christmas! 

I love that story about President Hinckley! Sometimes it's hard to not think about things from home, but I know that as I focus, I'll be able to have the Spirit with me always and be able to serve to my full capacity! Thanks for you words of love and advice!

¡Levantate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,
Elder San Diego

"The Power of Prayer"

¡Hola!

This past week has been pretty awesome! We set some more baptismal dates, and we're continuing to help our investigators prepare to meet their goals of baptism. 

I testify of the power of prayer! I have been praying for our investigators, and I've seen a change in them. As we've taught our investigators, I've been able to see the Spirit working in them as they hear the truths of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I testify of those things that I know to be true for myself, I can feel the Spirit also testifying to them that it is true. 

One of our investigators, Ernesto, had a problem with smoking, but he hasn't done it since last Friday. We gave him gum to help him, but I know that the most important part is what we have taught him about the importance of prayer, fasting, and reading the scriptures. I know that the Lord is helping our investigators prepare for baptism, and I can feel the love that He has for them.

¡Levantate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

My first district: Elder Sarceño, Elder Matamoros, 
Elder Edwards, Me, Elder Aldridge, and Elder Perez