Monday, February 24, 2014

Never Let Anything Stand in the Way of Your Obedience. That is What I Have Learned.

Oh man I don't know where to start. This week was so full of miracles. I have been learning so much here. Definitely a life changing experience. So ok I guess I can start with elder Ochoa. He taught us so many things. I`m not sure exactly why but this conference struck me really as one of the most powerful I have had in the mission. That back to back with the conference with Elder Cook so my testimony has been fed well these past few days.
Elder Ochoa talked about a lot of things. The thing that struck me the most was when he talked about the faith. We all know that the faith are things hoped for that aren't seen but his conference helped me look at it a bit differently. He said we don't have real faith until we act. "Faith is a principle of action". That`s so true. Sometimes we believe something but we don't do it. If I want to find more people to teach I have to get out there and start looking. 
But something interesting was when he talked about the seed. He said we are really not asked to do much. As members of the church the only thing we can do is plant the seed. Maybe put a little water on it and everything but we can't do anything else. The only person who has the power to actually make the seed grow is God. Sometimes do do everything possible to force the seed to grow but we can`t For example sometimes as missionaries we try explaining everything in detail so the people understand and then we use scriptures to almost in a way convince them that these things are true. It`s not like that. We have to just go to their house and help them feel the Spirit so that seed may grow. We missionaries don`t have that power. Only as they feel the Spirit when we are with them will their faith grow. So yeah that`s something I liked. Hope it all makes sense I`m trying to write fast to get everything in.
My companion and I have been focusing this week a lot in finding a new family to teach because now we don't have anybody almost! Man we just had to baptize everyone....Haha no but seriously we had the coolest baptism!! The Flores Family was baptized and confirmed this Saturday and Sunday. They progressed literally as fast as possible. They have such strong testimonies too which is awesome. 
Before being baptized I was waiting for the Dad, Juan Manuel, to leave the bathroom. I went in to see if he was ready and he was in his white clothes kneeled on the floor praying. I`m not sure if I have ever seen a happier man. I baptized him and he came out crying and gave me a big hug. I will never forget that moment. 
Last night we had a very good lesson with them and they started to tell us about all the changes they have made. They were talking about how angry he used to always be. We were confused because we had never seen him like that. They told us from the first time he talked to us he completely changed and has been making changes ever since. I am so grateful for having been a part of his conversion and of the entire family. It has been something amazing. I should mention that they almost have nothing. They live in a tiny little room and don't even have a bed, just a little mattress for all 6 of them. So anyways I couldn't tear the smile off my face when he came to church yesterday with his new white shirt, black pants, and to top it all off we got him a tie. Future Bishop. I`m totally predicting it. Moments like this make me happy to be here. It makes it all worth it.
So really that is what I have time to tell you guys. Really it`s the most important. I can't really explain it but in such a short time my testimony has grown like crazy. I feel so happy to be here preaching the Gospel as a representative of Jesus Christ. I will never forget the importance of this time in my life. It is definitely forming me to be the man that my Heavenly Father needs me to be one day. I`m far from perfect but hey at this rate give me a couple weeks. Haha ok kidding.

Love you guys and hope you have a good week. Remember that this Gospel is true. I have no doubt. Live it fully in your lives. Never let anything stand in the way of your obedience. That is what I have learned.

ADIOS   

Monday, February 3, 2014

Stress, Nine Investigators and Air Conditioning

Ok so we had a very interesting week. Definitely fun being ZL. I won't lie there is a bit more stress than I'm used to but I've gotten ok at managing that so I'm ok still...still breathing.

On Tuesday we had the divisions so I went all the way back basically to my last area. The assistant Elder Earl is a great guy. He was my Zone Leader for a long time and he`s the one I told you guys about cause he got his patriarchal blessing from Grandpa!! Small world right? He taught me a whole bunch and there are definitely some things I have to improve on. We taught some pretty good lessons too.

Here the work is trying to be 100% focused on working with members with is good and I learned some things I can do still in our area. The only hard thing about our area is it is a small Branch so there aren't many members. We are working to have more haha.

But hey yesterday was the coolest Sunday of my mission. About 50-60 people go every Sunday and this area has never been able to get more than 2 investigators in church. A lot of members had done their visits this week and a whole bunch of people came on Sunday. We had 82 people their with 9 investigators!! A new family that we found this week came (The Flores Family) (5 people) and absolutely loved it. So yeah we're going to be working with them extra. The Branch President was so happy yesterday. I really see so much potential in this Branch. I`m excited to be here. 

Well this week we traveled a lot too. We spend a heck of a lot of time in bus. As ZL we just kind of travel around. It`s cool though cause we get to know a lot of the country here. It`s a really pretty place...but yeah it is starting to be a lot hotter. Sometimes the buses have air conditioning though. And other times they have windows. 

Ok so I know I haven't really had the best e-mail this week but really we were in bus. But hey this week we're going to the temple! So more bus rides......Also I figured out how to send pictures so here ya go. BYE


Elder Layton