Faith - Our Primary Objective!!

¡Hola!

This week we had a visit from Elder Cook and it was awesome! I could feel the Spirit strongly as we heard the inspired words of a prophet of the Lord and members of the Area Presidency. Elder Duarte, one of the Area Counselors, said that we need dream big and be obedient and that if we do, miracles will be made manifest. Elder Cook emphasized that increasing faith is our primary objective; ours, investigators, members, and less-actives. It also gave me comfort to hear about his experience when he was called to the twelve. He talked about how he didn't feel qualified to do it, but that he felt peace and knew that he would be able to testify of the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ because of experiences he had had in his life. He also said, "You are dear to the Lord, your service is acceptable to Him, and you are good enough!" I'm glad to know that I'm good enough to the Lord, that I have been qualified for this work, and that as I continue to strive to improve and become more like Him that He will bless and help me in all things and I will have success.

We also had a meeting for Ward Councils. We were told that we focus on personal conversion, strengthening families and Melchizedek Priesthood Quorums, and that members and missionaries need to work together to move this work forward. We also made a plan in our Correlation Meeting yesterday and talked about how we need to actually follow through with it and work together, members and missionaries, because most of the time plans get made and nothing happens. I'm grateful to be here and be a part of this glorious work and I know that we can accomplish it together!

¡Levantate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,
Elder San Diego

 San Salvador Temple

Becoming A Consecrated/"Preach My Gospel" Missionary!!

That's so awesome that President Monson and President Eyring are coming to Gilbert! I know that having a temple closer to home will bless you guys immensely and I encourage all of you to make an effort to attend as often as possible!

Haha, yeah it's pretty hot here in San Miguel, but it's bearable. The funny thing is that when the volcano erupted, all of the soot went the other way and none got on San Miguel.

When my brother got home from his mission, he gave me a talk about becoming a consecrated missionary by Tad R. Callister. I recently read it along with a talk from David A. Bednar about becoming a PMG missionary. Both have helped me a lot with understanding what I need to do to become who the Lord needs me to be. In Tad R. Callister's talk, it talked about sacrificing our all in our service as missionaries. He said we need to sacrifice our pride, disobedience, romantic passions and fear, and go the extra mile. He also quoted what Peter said to Jesus: "Lord, behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee." I know that as I continue to improve and become more like Christ that I will become His disciple and He will bless me with success throughout my mission.

This week we've gotten more references and new investigators. I know that as we strive to be bold and talk with everyone and ask references from every member that the Lord will guide us to those who need and are ready to receive the Gospel.

In one of our lessons with an investigator this week, the Spirit was really strong. We were teaching our investigator Cornelia, who can't read or write, the Plan of Salvation and we told her about how we can only make it back to Heavenly Father through the Atonement and being clean and pure. Then we asked her what we can do to become clean and pure. There was a pause and then she said, "Baptism." I've never had an investigator who really understood that simple concept as she did. I know that the Spirit was there and that He touched her heart and brought baptism to her remembrance.

I love this work and I hope that I can bring many people to the truth. I can't wait for the visit from Quentin L. Cook this Thursday!

¡Levantate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

 San Salvador Temple

Santiago de Maria / Berlin District Elders

Becoming A Mission Of Working, Baptizing Flechónes!!

¡Hola!

A lot of things happened this week. First of all, I'm completely fine and I was 100% better when I woke up on Monday last week. Elder Espinoza had changes to La Union and I stayed here with Elder Muñoz. Elder Muñoz got sick on Wednesday and he's been sick off and on since then. Last night was the first time he didn't have to get up in the middle of the night because of being sick. Today he feels fine and his stomach was able to hold food he ate yesterday, so I think he'll be fine. Wednesday was Elder Muñoz's birthday and he got sick that night! I talked to Hermana Glazier for a bit on Thursday. Because of the busyness of changes on Wednesday, she and President Glazier called to wish Elder Muñoz a happy birthday and I told her about how he got sick. She told me that it's something that's going around the mission. Anyway, everything's fine now.

I'm grateful that I'm able to serve here in San Miguel. Yesterday, we had the opportunity to give service to a brother who is bed-ridden right now. We cut wood and helped make a door for their house. President Ezra Taft Benson's quote:"Work, work, work" along with the reto (challenge) for this month is true. If we work and serve others, we will be on our way to becoming Preach My Gospel missionaries.

This week in our Zone Conference, we talked about the vision of the mission and established a vision for our zone. The vision is to be a mission of working, baptizing flechónes (a flechón is missionary who is exactly obedient). As part of striving to become flechónes, work harder, and baptize more, we set a vision as a zone to work towards each area baptizing 3 people each month. That means that we need about 48 progressing investigators. I know that as we strive to contact and teach families that we will be able to achieve this vision.

This past week has been a little difficult with Elder Muñoz being sick, but I know that this week is a fresh start and if we work hard and strive to meet the vision that we've established that it will increase our faith, obedience, urgency, and baptisms.

¡Levantáte! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,
Elder San Diego

Elder Muñoz's Birthday con La Familia Ortega-Rivera

Must Have Been The Pupusas!?!?

¡Hola!

So, this week was full of surprises. When we went to San Salvador, we stayed at the Office Elders' house and worked with them on Monday night. On Tuesday morning, we went to an area in San Salvador called San Patricio, and stayed and worked with the Elders there until Friday morning. On Thursday, we found out that President Glazier was closing Santiago De María and Berlin and we had to go back and get the rest of our stuff. It didn't seem too bad, but you could tell there was stuff in the air, so we had to wear masks. After that, we went back to San Patricio for the night. Then Friday morning we found out that we had emergency changes and our entire district got split up! Elder Edwards stayed somewhere in San Salvador, Elder Bourgois got sent to Apopa, Elder Aldridge got sent to Cojutepeque, and I got sent to San Miguel! Right now, I'm in a trio with Elder Espinoza and Elder Muñoz. We have changes on Wednesday and we find out who, if anyone, has changes, tonight.

This weekend was pretty terrible for me. I got sick Friday night and I think it was because I ate pupusas in the morning in San Patricio. I heard that sometimes people use the same ingredients from the day before in the mornings. Anyway, Friday night and all of Saturday consisted of trying to rest while in pain, having diarrhea, having a fever, and throwing up three times. We called the sister missionary nurse on Saturday morning and she told us to go to the hospital to do a test to see if I had a parasite. Luckily I didn't and it was just a virus, but that was the worst weekend I've ever had! Sunday afternoon until I went to sleep, I had gas and it hurt a ton! I didn't/couldn't eat anything this whole weekend! All I did was drink Gatorade and water. Anyway, I hope things are going great at home and you guys have a great week!

¡Levantate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

 San Patricio Elders 

Goodbye Elder Aldridge