This week has been a testing week of faith, and my faith has grown. When we returned to Santiago de María, we found that there were only 20 in Sacrament Meeting and that after Elder Aldridge and I left a lot of people started to go less-active without our visits. At the beginning of the week I felt alone and that everything was on my shoulders; my new responsibilities, the work in my area and Berlin, and rescuing the branch. I've definitely never been more stressed in my life! However, as the week went on and we began visiting less/inactive members and investigators, as I studied the reto (the training plan for the mission each month) on faith, and as I prayed, the burden began to be lifted.
I'm grateful that I was able to study and teach about faith in our District Meeting this past Friday. I experienced faith unto repentance, and I learned what it means to have unbreakable faith. As I started out the week, I found myself being internally impatient with members and investigators and complaining about things. One day as Elder Orr and I were discussing things, I told him how I felt that the Lord wanted me to learn patience and faith. As we talked, he reminded me of Nephi and his family's afflictions in the wilderness and how everyone including Lehi, the prophet, complained except for Nephi. As I pondered on that, I realized and felt pained for sin I had committed in complaining. I knew that I needed to repent. As I prayed and asked for forgiveness and strength to bear with my trials, I really experienced faith unto repentance and my burden was lightened. As I studied and pondered on what it means to have unbreakable faith, I read the quote in the reto about having the faith sufficient to work miracles, even raising the dead if necessary, and remembered what Nephi said: "If the Lord commanded me to do all things, I could do them!" In all, this week has been a trying and learning experience for me and I know that as I continue to exercise faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I will be able to work miracles according to His will for my district and my area!
¡Levantate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!
Love,
Elder San Diego
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