The Church Is Advancing Like A Train!

¡Hola!

This week was a little disappointing because we had to postpone Francisco's baptism, but I know that with some time he'll be ready.

Also, we had the opportunity to attend the temple! It was a great experience to be able to meditate about the covenants I've made and how I can improve and be more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I testify that the temple is the House of the Lord and that if we attend frequently we will receive strength and protection from on high, answers to our questions, and solutions to our problems. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know and love each one of us perfectly and individually and always desire to help us if we come unto and obey Them with a willing heart and mind.

Yesterday we had a meeting in the stake center and one of the Area Seventies Elder Duarte came and spoke alongside President Vasquez. It was about missionary work and the responsibility of the members. I really hope it helps to change things and that the members will participate more actively in this great work! It also helped me and Elder White to think about how we can improve. We've been focusing on talking with as many people as we can and declaring our power and authority to teach and baptize as President Vasquez taught us. Elder Duarte shared a story of a missionary that impressed him who had a goal of receiving 1000 references in his last week in the mission. He got 1020! It really impressed me too and made me think about how I can improve to have more that love and urgency for this work.

I know the end is drawing near and we need to work harder now than we ever have before, members and missionaries in all the world, to save the lost sheep and bring them into the fold of the Good Shepard, Jesus Christ. He has called ME and YOU to participate in The Work of Salvation in this critical time to help all who are willing, to come unto Christ and be saved through the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah. We are playing a literal role in The Gathering of Israel in preparation for The Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If we do not participate in The Work of Salvation (Missionary Work AND Temple Work) our exaltation may be at stake. Each of us made solemn covenant when we were baptized to do so (Mosiah 18:8-11). Each of you who has been to the temple also knows what covenants you've made. If we work together, the Lord will pour out blessings and His Spirit abundantly upon us and work miracles through us! Like Elder Duarte said:"The Church is advancing like a train, we can stand and watch it go by, or we can run and jump on!"

"Do You Love Me? Then Feed Sheep!"

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng

"Are You Sleeping Through The Restoration?"

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/are-you-sleeping-through-the-restoration?lang=eng

¡Levántate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

 Elder San Diego and Elder White

 Elder San Diego and Elder Llamacponcca

¡Bienvenidos a Chinameca!

¡Hola!

So, I got changed again! Now I'm in a town called Chinameca with a branch and my companion is Elder White from St. George, Utah. President Vasquez made a new zone called Jucuapa so that we don't have to travel as much and I'm in that zone. Santiago de María is also in the zone and pretty close so maybe one p-day I can go and visit the members and investigators over there!

Elder White's a really great companion. There were a lot of things that he and I want to change and we're working to get more investigators by talking with everyone and getting the members involved.

Elder White took me to visit an investigator who's had the missionaries for 8 years and he knows a ton! He's just a tiny bit crazy and hasn't ever wanted to accept a baptismal date. We resolved some doubts that he had and pretty much taught everything. At the end we invited him to read, pray about when should be his baptismal date, and come to church. We also invited him to be baptized the 25 of October, and he said that that's too far away, but that we'll keep talking and he'll keep praying. 

One of our investigators Francisco Córdova is hopefully going to be baptized this Friday! We just need to have the baptismal interview and keep daily contact to make sure he's stopped drinking coffee. We also got a new investigator yesterday who came to church with her sister who's a member. She really has the desire to learn and be baptized. Sure she's got her doubts, but all of that can be resolved. The Lord is blessing us and will continue to bless us as we do His will in all things!

¡Levántate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

 Elder San Diego and Elder White

 Elder San Diego and Elder Rodas

La Sirena de Alegría (The Mermaid of Alegría)

Leaving Behind A Legacy Of Hope

Hola!

This week has been great! We've been able to find, teach, and prepare more investigators to repent and be baptized. The Ramirez family is almost ready to be baptized on the 27! We just have to teach a few more lessons. Investigators always feel like they need more preparation, but I really feel like they're ready and they understand everything. We were able to share the talk from President Eyring about leaving behind a legacy of hope and the impact of their decision to be baptized; that it will bless them and future generations forever.

If you're wondering why I didn't write yesterday it's because it was independence day and we worked a regular day. It was a little tough finding people at home, but we were able to visit a few.

This week is changes! We'll see if I stay or get changed! I really want to stay one change more, but wherever He needs me I'll go!

¡Levántate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

 a Jesus shrine that was in my house in Rio Grande

nos vemos Elder Ramirez ¡Adios Río Grande!

Hastening The Work Of The Lord!

¡Hola!

This week has been awesome! We had some huge storms come in a couple of days and we got completely soaked with our shoes filled with water! 

We've been helping our investigators understand that we're literally representatives sent from God to help them repent and be baptized in order to receive forgiveness of their sins and continue onward receiving all the ordinances of the Gospel. 

We got ten new investigators this week and five investigators came to church! On Saturday we were able to celebrate the birthday of Florentino one of our investigators who turned 15. He and his family are progressing a lot. Since we started visiting them they haven't missed a week at church! We're working to help them be ready to be baptized September 27. The members have been getting more involved giving us references and visiting less-actives and investigators with us. The work is starting to pick up more and as we continue forward we'll be able to hasten the work together!

¡Levántate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

Familia Ramirez 

 Familia Quinteros

the first pupusa I made myself! 

 Familia Rodriguez

The True Measure of Success

¡Hola!

This week was great. On Tuesday we were able to give service and cut wood for Wilfredo one of our investigators who fell from his motorcycle last Saturday, and on his birthday too! We gave him a blessing and he's doing a lot better, but still recovering. This week we had our stake conference and four of our investigators came, Wilfredo and Familia Ramirez. It was great to hear all the inspired messages from Presidente y Hermana Vasquez, the stake president, and other speakers. Our investigators enjoyed it and when we visited Familia Ramirez, Hermana Ramirez started praying the correct way just from listening to how we pray in the church. We're still working to get new investigators and help the ones we have progress by helping them repent and with the goal of getting to the temple.

My mom told me in an email to remember how true success is measured. I know that success isn't measured by only baptisms. It's important, but sometimes we're the seeders and not the harvesters. What also matters is your personal progress. All we have to do is give 100% with faith and whatever happens is the will of the Lord. I'm grateful for the blessings that I've received and been promised. As I read my Patriarchal Blessing and meditate about the blessings it contains and what I need to do to change and be better in order to receive those blessings my desire to repent and become more like the Savior and my love for Him increase. I'm grateful to be here in the mission field. I know that I'm here at the right time and right place to fulfill the will of my Father and that as I have unshaken faith in Him and consecrate my life to His service He will bless me greatly.

¡Levántate! ¡Podemos hacerlo ahora!

Love,

Elder San Diego

 cutting wood with a machete 

Wilfredo and I playing chess with his step-son David