Hola mis Queridos Amigos y Familiares!!
Well, this has been a good week, with a sort of bad news twist to the end... But I'll start with all of the good news parts to it first. First off we had a great Zone Meeting this past week. We talked a lot about purifying ourselves, and even talked about the talk/letter thing I mentioned last week. In fact, this Sunday with my fast I made a list and started the 40 day "fast" from things that keep me from feeling the Spirit, and I also made a list of things I need to start doing, or do better, because as you know, this Gospel isn't a Gospel of just leaving behind bad things, but actively doing good things as well. We also talked a lot about the Atonement in Zone Meeting and how we need to continually be studying and applying the Atonement in our lives. We also watched a video of a sermon thing that I'm guessing is pretty well-known that really helps us see the Atonement in a more "closer-to-home" way. Unfortunately I don't know how to find it out in the worldly internet realms... maybe you can youtube "For God So Loved The World" and something about a train and it might come up. Or you can wait til next week, when I'll try and get more info on how to find it.
Also I had a great Sunday at Church, one of the members of the Branch taught about Obedience in Priesthood. I really like it because he talked a lot about the challenges we sometimes have in being obedient. He talked a lot about how we always think we are the exception to the laws and commandments of Heaven. We think "God will understand that I had a long day at work" or whatever the excuse may be. We think Mercy can rob Justice. But that's not how it works. As we are as obedient as we possibly can be, then Mercy can lift us up the amount that we aren't able to do ourselves. As one of my past companions would say sometimes, "Any excuse, no matter how valid, degrades a man's (or woman's) character". I've really had this subject in mind, especially as I've been thinking about purifying myself.
This week we've also been able to teach Francisco and Elisabeth almost everyday this week trying to help them be prepared for baptism. They came to all hours of Church and seemed to be doing just great this past week. This is where the kinda bad news twist comes in... Last night, while I was in a meeting with the leaders of the zone, Elder Grisham and Elder Nicholas had a lesson with Francisco. In some ways it was good, but they just found out that Elisabeth has been having some pretty big doubts (I don't know what) about baptism and the Church. Also they said that they talked with Francisco about what he thinks about the Church and he said that he likes everthing, but that he also thinks all churches are good/true. So we have some obstacles to overcome in the next week if they are to keep the date they have set for the 13th. But I know with faith and hard work these doubts can be overcome, it just depends a lot more on their choices, than on mine and it'll be hard for me if they don't choose to put forth all the effort they need to to meet that date. But I keep praying very hard for them and for the rest of our investigators.
Other weird/bad news is that our whole mission is "taking a break" from Facebook. So for an undetermined amount of time I won't be teaching/talking to anybody online. Basically we're going back to the rules regarding the internet that we had when I first came to the mission. Minus a few exceptions because we still have the iPads and need the internet for a few things on there. But that doesn't really bother me, I've not had terribly much success on Facebook anyways, and I know that if President Alba feels we need this "break", then we need it.
I love y'all and hope y'all have a great week filled with miracles!
-Elder Whitaker
Well, this has been a good week, with a sort of bad news twist to the end... But I'll start with all of the good news parts to it first. First off we had a great Zone Meeting this past week. We talked a lot about purifying ourselves, and even talked about the talk/letter thing I mentioned last week. In fact, this Sunday with my fast I made a list and started the 40 day "fast" from things that keep me from feeling the Spirit, and I also made a list of things I need to start doing, or do better, because as you know, this Gospel isn't a Gospel of just leaving behind bad things, but actively doing good things as well. We also talked a lot about the Atonement in Zone Meeting and how we need to continually be studying and applying the Atonement in our lives. We also watched a video of a sermon thing that I'm guessing is pretty well-known that really helps us see the Atonement in a more "closer-to-home" way. Unfortunately I don't know how to find it out in the worldly internet realms... maybe you can youtube "For God So Loved The World" and something about a train and it might come up. Or you can wait til next week, when I'll try and get more info on how to find it.
Also I had a great Sunday at Church, one of the members of the Branch taught about Obedience in Priesthood. I really like it because he talked a lot about the challenges we sometimes have in being obedient. He talked a lot about how we always think we are the exception to the laws and commandments of Heaven. We think "God will understand that I had a long day at work" or whatever the excuse may be. We think Mercy can rob Justice. But that's not how it works. As we are as obedient as we possibly can be, then Mercy can lift us up the amount that we aren't able to do ourselves. As one of my past companions would say sometimes, "Any excuse, no matter how valid, degrades a man's (or woman's) character". I've really had this subject in mind, especially as I've been thinking about purifying myself.
This week we've also been able to teach Francisco and Elisabeth almost everyday this week trying to help them be prepared for baptism. They came to all hours of Church and seemed to be doing just great this past week. This is where the kinda bad news twist comes in... Last night, while I was in a meeting with the leaders of the zone, Elder Grisham and Elder Nicholas had a lesson with Francisco. In some ways it was good, but they just found out that Elisabeth has been having some pretty big doubts (I don't know what) about baptism and the Church. Also they said that they talked with Francisco about what he thinks about the Church and he said that he likes everthing, but that he also thinks all churches are good/true. So we have some obstacles to overcome in the next week if they are to keep the date they have set for the 13th. But I know with faith and hard work these doubts can be overcome, it just depends a lot more on their choices, than on mine and it'll be hard for me if they don't choose to put forth all the effort they need to to meet that date. But I keep praying very hard for them and for the rest of our investigators.
Other weird/bad news is that our whole mission is "taking a break" from Facebook. So for an undetermined amount of time I won't be teaching/talking to anybody online. Basically we're going back to the rules regarding the internet that we had when I first came to the mission. Minus a few exceptions because we still have the iPads and need the internet for a few things on there. But that doesn't really bother me, I've not had terribly much success on Facebook anyways, and I know that if President Alba feels we need this "break", then we need it.
I love y'all and hope y'all have a great week filled with miracles!
-Elder Whitaker