November 4, 2013

Ay...I can't believe I only have 9 months left.  I still feel like there's so much for me to learn.  However, I look back at the first half of my mission and see how much I've already learned and grown and I guess I still have a lot I can accomplish.  I really appreciate this email.  It almost brought me to tears!  That second to last line was something I needed to hear: "I thank God that he sent a very special spirit{you} to bless our family and I am happy to share you con la gente de las vegas."  Even though I thank Heavenly Father every day for sending 4 very special spirits to bless and strengthen MY life, I appreciate those words.  Every once in a while I struggle with feeling inadequate and wonder if I'm ever doing enough - or if I'm just stuck.  However, knowing that even the little details like writing a letter that gets posted up on a blog site every week can brighten someone's day, brings me a lot of joy. Your letters every week boost me up and encourage and inspire me to keep going.  I'm immensely proud of you!  Remember, you have been ENTRUSTED with these fiery trials.  You're experiencing the refiner's fire!  Heavenly Father can not make us perfect without first sending us to earth and allowing us to fight against Satan hands on!  With that in mind, I'm mind boggled at how loving Heavenly Father is, that he would send Jesus Christ as a lifeline for us.  Christ didn't have to complete the atonement, but He knew what was at stake.  He was willing to go through what He did so that all of us - His brothers and sisters - could all return and live with Him and the Father as a big happy family again.  Whatever you've done wrong in your life, He's been there.  Not only has He been where you're at and where you've been, but He's sunken below even that!  I love the gospel. :)  

This week went by pretty fast.  We had the trunk or treat, Halloween activity where we watched the movie, "Ephraim's rescue" and tomorrow we're going to see Gladys Knight!  

Yesterday we encountered a pretty big miracle.  We street contacted a guy in an apartment complex who was smoking outside his house, named Jose.  Jose's from Mexico, but lived most of his life here in the United States.  He let us in right away (we had a member with us) and as it turns out, he is good friends with another investigator we have named Marcos.  Marcos came to the Trunk or treat, but hasn't come to church yet because he lives with his son, doesn't have his own phone, car and his work is completely on call.  He's extremely interested though and he opened up a lot and cried during our first visit when we asked him, "If Jesus Christ were sitting here with you right now what would you ask Him?"  It was one of the highlights of my mission.  Anyway, so Jose just happens to be super close with Marcos and is also interested.  He even told us he'd love to come to church and give Marcos a ride so they can go together.  He said Marcos had told him about us.  It was so awesome.  To me, that was Heavenly Father not only placing us in the path of a prepared person, but providing help for Marcos as well.  Heavenly Father loves His children a lot.  

Tomorrow we will be going to see Gladys Knight with a couple investigators at 8:30.  We got permission from President Neider to stay out late.  Haha.  The investigators are Jaime and Loui.  They have been taught by missionaries for years, so many people would refer to them as "eternigators" Anywhoo, Jaime doesn't really seem interested, but his wife, Loui, still has a desire to know, but is a little confused now because...well, in all seriousness, she's been taught so many times, kept commitments, received answers, but hasn't made the next step.  I remember on my first visit with her I basically explained that to her. That the reason she feels confused is because she has received an answer before from the Holy Ghost, but because she didn't act on that answer, the spirit has left her and she has allowed Satan to enter the stage and replace that light of revelation with confusion.  It was kind of fuerte, but what she needed to hear.  It's true.  That's why we act in faith, are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...so we don't have to feel that confusion anymore.  We are promised the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  Unfortunately, people don't understand the difference until they've already acted on faith and received the gift.  Anyway, we are giving her another chance to start over and we've prayed and feel like the Gladys Knight thing might have an intense impact on them.  These performances are famous for doing that.  We have some other people going on different days, but we can only go to one performance.  

I forgot to ask you, but could you send me some more stamps?  And yes, you can send me money to buy Christmas presents. :)  

I love you all so very much!  Keep fighting the good fight of faith!