#letter51

Hi everyone!!

This week was crazy! Lots happened and we learned a lot! Ready?? Here we go!

Trial of Faith

Before we came to earth we knew to attain lofty goals, we would have to be found true and faithful in all things and withstand the trials and tests which would be put upon us by Satan. In spite of all the warnings, I’m sure we were stillanxious to come to this earth.

D&C 29:39

“… it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet.”

It is the same for us today, we must also have the bitter in order to know the sweet. At times, some of us think we have the bitter and not enough of the sweet. We all have our trials of life to strengthen us. It may be that they are themost difficult only because they are the hardest or most difficult for you. The diamond is enhanced and made more valuable with polishing. Steel is made harder and more valuable through tempering. So also opposition builds thecharacter of man.

All progress is made by overcoming an opposing force.

This week we had a big trial of our faith. We had Jessica who was going to baptized on Saturday. We were able to teach her a powerful lesson on Monday. She was so excited for her baptism! We told her to be strong this week because opposition would come because Satan knows the influence that her decision would have on her life, her family, but also for generations.

At the beginning of the week she was ready, but as her date got closer, opposition got stronger. She started to ignore our calls and our texts. We had no idea what happened or what had changed. We did everything we could in our power. We fasted. We studied everyday specifically her. We poured our hearts in our prayers to help her and guide her to make the best decision. To be strong. We exercised faith. We continued to plan her baptism even though she was not responding. We knew through our faith, if it was the Lord's will, it would happen. We heard from her 2 hours before her baptism saying that she was not going to baptized and for now she didn't want to listen to us, but would come to us when she was ready. It felt like our hearts were ripped out. We love Jessica with all of our hearts! We have seen her change. We have seen her change and have seen the light that the gospel brings glow in her character. We know everything happens for a reason. Elder Holland gave us words of comfort when he said

"In His time, God will fulfill EVERY righteous desire that you have".

He also gave us a blessing. That he did not only bless everyone that was there, but also all those people that we are concerned about, who we love, and who we are praying about. We had the confirmation that everything will work out in the Lord's time. That the trials that we are going through our for our good. Would help strengthen us. We had an opportunity to experience a little of what our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ feels when we are disobedient or don't choose the right when they know the blessings that we can receive.

In the beginning, an angel of the Lord taught Adam and Eve. He instructed them in all things so they would know the will of the Lord. I know it is the same for us today. We must study the scriptures, learn what God’s plan is for us. We must learn the consequences of obedience and disobedience. He has provided prophets and teachers in each dispensation to teach us God’s will concerning us. He has provided us with scriptures—the Bible, the Book of Mormon, andmodern-day revelations. He has restored the gospel with the fulness of the priesthood. He has given us the Holy Ghost to reveal to us the will of the Father and the Son and to enlighten us in all truth. I know that we have all these things because of the love that God has for us. I know that God lives and wants more than anything to have us chose here on Earth those things that will lead us back to Him. That Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. That through faith in Him everything is possible. That we have a living prophet who leads us and guides us. I know that we have 12 living apostles that love us and are instruments in God's hands!!  I know that it is through our faith that we can see miracles!

Moroni 7: 26-27, 29, 35-37

26 And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.

27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?

29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.

35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day ofmiracles ceased?

36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereofto be saved?

37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because ofunbelief, and all is vain.

 An Apostle of Jesus Christ

Elder Jeffery R. Holland is in Ecuador!!! He got here on Friday! We had a special assignment from Salt Lake City to find him medications Friday before he got here. It felt like we were playing where's waldo and that we were on some game show. We were given an amount of time and the medications...then ready. set. go! We searched all over Quito to find the medications that he needed! It wasn't the easiest assignment since there are not a lot of medications here that they have in the States! BUT we found them and it was fun experience. The Lord was watching out for us and helped us so that we could find them when he put a couple that were members in our path.

We were waiting for a taxi when a couple stopped and asked if we needed a ride somewhere. We both looked at each other and said..."ahh no it's okay". Then, they said we are members! We both felt like they were put in our path to help us find the medications we needed in time. The wife worked for a large pharmacy in Quito. So, we were grateful for the miracle that they stopped to help us! We know it was inspired! We dropped them off in the hotel for him. We saw him for the first time on Sunday. He chose one stake to talk to while he was here and it was ours! Woohoo! We got to the church an hour and 1/2 early and it was packed. We thought we were going to have to unlock the doors. People got there at 6:30am to be able to get seats which is funny because the night before when we were planning, we joked and said we should get there at 5am or 6am. Hahaha. But it was true, we had to get there that early! It was a such a powerful conference! We heard testimonies from different member, we heard from Elder Espinosa (in the Seventy) and his wife then we heard from Elder Holland. He spoke in English with a translater, but bore his testimony in Spanish! We will be having a meeting with him and our mission on Wednesday!

Elder Holland started out talking about that he was here because we have a big problem, but it is the best problem that the church can have...that the church is growing faster than we can keep up with! He said every week they are making new stakes, there will be new missions annouced this summer, and several new temples dedicated! He said "what a nice problem to have, huh!" "This means more marriages in the temple, more young adults going on missions, more faith, more service, and more priesthood holders around the world! What a great blessing to the world!" He then talked about 3 miracles that I don't have time to tell, but I will tell you later. The moral of the miracles were this: That sometimes miracles are a long time coming. However, they have not ceased! Some come fast and others many years later. We don't know why and may never know, but it is through the faith that the faith will come. He testified that they will come to all those who are faithful. He testified that he knew that God's every motive is to bless His children.

"Keep your faith. Pray always. BELIEVE they will come. Never ever ever walk away from this faith. It is our only hope, our only salvation. Be trusting and confident. Be patient. If we have to wait and wait, we will. Because miracles have not ceased. For the faithful, every prayer is answered. In HIS time, God will fulfill every righteous desire that you have. Without the gospel we have nothing. No hope. No hope at all. But with the gospel, we have EVERYTHING." " -Elder Holland

Calling the Plastic Surgeon

We had a crazy weekend in the Emergency room! We had one Elder from the Quito mission that ran into a pole and had to get stitches Sunday night. Then, we had an Elder who cut his finger pretty bad this morning which we had to go to the emergency room again to get stitches! My companion thought I was joking when I told her we needed to go back to the ER this morning. Otherwise, it hasn't been too stressful for me with taking over both missions! I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my talents and I continue to learn everyday!

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Remember to always keep your faith even through the hardest times! The Lord answers your prayers! Keep smiling no matter what! I know that this gospel is true with all of my heart! I love you!!!

Love always,

Hello, 

 To start off this week I tried to play fetch with our investigator's dog before we went to his house because it was wandering in the street and in the end I just ended up making it really mad and it almost attacked me. Why don't Chilean dogs play fetch? A question that I will never know the answer to.  

I got my haircut by the Stake President's wife last Pday. She fixed the orangeness that was there so that it all looks SO much better. IT was one of the best services someone has done for me on my mission.   There is a family Verdugo in our ward and the Dad is an ex-seventy and we had lunch with them this week. They gave us root beer and they are very spiritual people. He gave us a challenge to study the scriptures that I basically talk about all the time. His question was "What is the Difference between faith unto repentence and repentence?"  

It rained this week which is very different for this time of year they say. We taught quite a few people this week, a lot of less actives. We are learning our sector really fast and it has been different without a map. I ponderized 3 Nephi 14 vs. 9-11 this week.  

We had a Family home evening and got to see some of the Less actives come to church. They say We are Mormon Fanatics, and it makes us laugh really hard every time. I am reading the Book of Mormon in English in 18 days and it has been about 30 pages a day. It is awesome! This book is from God. It blows my mind how much there is in it.  

The Chileans don't do much for the day of the dead but they go to the graveyards and decorate them. they also sell some interesting candies in the street. This weekend we have permission to go to Hermana Garner's old sector to see some of her investigators get baptized. I can't believe I've been here for 3 weeks! Time is flying.

Here are some quotes from my wise comp from this week, "People are never going to learn if you don't tell them on what they need to improve.""Christ was among men and not over them, so maybe we too should be among men and not over them." Here is something Hermano Verdugo said, "Salvation is personal but Exaltation is in Families."     Here is a quote from a Book of Mormon study book, "Somebody recently asked how one could know when he is converted. The answer is simple. He may be assured of it when by the power of the Holy Spirit, his soul is healed. When this ocurs, he will recognize it is by the way he feels, for he will feel as the people of Benjamin felt when they recieved the remission of sins. The record says, ´... the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience...." 

Mosiah 4 v 3     Marion G. Romney in Conference Report Oct. 1963, p. 25 I hope that we can all find our conversion. I love you all and I hope that next week I can have better stories for you! <sorry no pics.

Love,

Happy 2013! Let's have more memories to write, please. See you on Monday! I always see you in my sleep. Kinda weird. I miss you, btw. x