Week 42: Tengo Gozo En Mi Alma Hoy

Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy.  There is joy in my soul today.  Yesterday we had the very special opportunity to see Isac be baptized-- a 17 year old who has been listening to the missionaries for 4 years.  Everything went so perfectly yesterday-- the room was absolutely packed.  About 100 people were there supporting him.  We bought him a tie and a mini hymn book and collected notes of encouragement from everyone there.  The best part was that his parents were able to come and support him, even shedding some tears as we sang Ï'm Trying to Be Like Jesus / When I Am Baptized with the elders.  I love these primary hymns, and it was so powerful singing with the them...here are the lyrics in spanish:

Yo trato de ser como Cristo

y hacer lo que hizo Él.

El mismo amor que Él mostró

yo quiero mostrar también.

Me tienta a veces el mal a obrar,

mas la voz del Espíritu me empieza a hablar. Dice:

“Ama a otros cual Cristo te ama. Sé bondadoso y tierno y fiel.

Pues esto es lo que Jesús nos enseña”. Yo quiero seguirlo a Él.

Yo sirvo a mis amigos

y al prójimo con amor.

Espero con gozo el regreso

de Cristo mi Salvador.

Si siempre recuerdo lo que Él enseñó,

la voz de su Espíritu le habla a mi corazón:

“Ama a otros cual Cristo te ama. Sé bondadoso y tierno y fiel.

Pues esto es lo que Jesús nos enseña”. Yo quiero seguirlo a Él.

Me encanta el arco iris

después de ver llover,

y pienso en lo limpia que la

tierra ya se ve.

Tal como tierra

limpia cuando acaba de llover,

yo quiero comportarme bien

y con mi Dios volver.

Cuando yo me bautice

se limpiará mi ser,

mi Padre me perdonará y el

bien querré escoger.

Tal como tierra

limpia cuando acaba de llover,

yo quiero comportarme bien

y con mi Dios volver.

At times it is easy to think: I'm tired.  My body is sore.  No one wants to listen to us.  But when you see the fruits of your labors it's all worth it.  There is no greater feeling than watching someone make a choice that will bless the rest of their life, knowing that because of my dedication to give 18 months of my time i can help someone else, another family, find eternal joy; the same happiness I have been blessed to have in my own family.  To have the guarantee to live eternally with the people they love.  It was really sweet-- at the end, isaac shared a few words, and tears streamed down his face as he expressed to everyone there, including his parents, the impact this church has had on his life, and how he knows from here on out it is an uphill journey to return to live with our Heavenly Father.  It's so special to see the bond between Marco, the bishop's son, and Isaac, and how he was able to be baptized by his best friend.

As missionaries we don't baptize to increase church numbers.  We don't aim to change people's religions or cultural beliefs.  We have the desire to help people commit to baptism because we know that with the correct form of being baptized it gives us a guaranteed "ticket" into Heavenly Father's kingdom-- and we want everyone to have these eternal blessings Heavenly Father has prepared for them.  I sincerely know that today exists the correct form for us to be baptized, and it's thanks to the priesthood, the power that worthy men have in our church to act in the name of God and seal things not only for this time on earth but for all eternity .  I know that this power is real and that one can only recieve it through the laying on of hands from someone else who holds the priesthood.

 

Well- 1 transfer (6 weeks) has been completed here in Miguel Aleman...I have a guaranteed 6 weeks left here with Hermana Flores to finish her training and then who knows what will happen!  The 2 elders in my ward are being transferred, so tomorrow we'll get new elders!  It's been a blast here with Elder Weiss and Elder Redford...you really grow to miss the missionaries that get ransferred!  Also..this week my previous 2 companions Hna Batalla and Hna Mendoza return home!  Time flies.

  Eatin some classic cornbread

I gave my talk on sunday on LA OBEDIENCIA....obedience...and it went well!  We teach/ study so much that I just went up there with 3 scripture verses and spoke for 10 minutes haha as a missionary you don't need as much preparation!  On saturday we watched women's conference...a conference broadcasted from Salt Lake for the whole world.  There were great speakers and a great talk by Elder Eyring.  The central theme of the conference was the importance of LAS FAMILIAS....how we need to defend our family values and really ahve strong homes during the difficult times when the "world's status" tries to tears families apart.

The hot weather and nightly karaoke seshes are beginning to return...also- HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUT TO EMILY CROWDER and shout out to NANCY SUTTER, KATIE BARRUS, AND MOM for your packages.  Nance...your package finally came 4 months later :)  and mom...the snacks you send me are loved by all the elders- literally when a package arrives for me in the office everyone wants me to open it right there because they know how awesome you are haha!

Us on our Pdays

C O N  A M O R

hermana riches