Week 77 - Buena Vista

Hey everyone! This week was really good. We had a Family Home Evening with Freddy and the Urbina Family. We watched the Restoration Movie, and Freddy cried. The next day we had a church tour with him. We brought up a baptismal date, and he said he was already considering it, and that he wanted to do some service with us. We went back to Suzie, a woman we hadn't seen in a while, and she was doing pretty well.

   One day we were walking near the stake center, and there was this minivan, and a man was yelling at a woman in Spanish, and the man took off just as we came up. We started talking with the woman, named Jackie, and she explained to us basically the most terrible back story ever. To make it short, her kids were all almost baptized and her husband is atheist and is planning a lot of bad things against her. We had found her at just the right time. After talking with her for a little, we invited her to the baptisms we were going to have on Saturday. The baptisms for our ward happened, and she said she had just a half-hour, and after the baptisms in Spanish, the English elders were having one, and she said "There's one more baptism, right?" And when we said yes, she said "I'll stay". It was pretty fantastic! 

   In district meeting the APs came too. 

   I learned in my studies the following, from Mosiah 25:24, Mosiah 2:22 & 36, that the Promise that we will prosper in the land if we keep the commandments of God is that the Spirit will be able to prosper us if we keep the commandments so we can be guided in wisdom's paths. 

   Love Elder Sant

Week 76 - Buena Vista

 

This week was both a crazy week, a terrible week, and a great week. I am not even sure how to feel about it. So on Monday, long story short we helped someone in a kidnapping to recover after she had literally just escaped, and that just broke my heart (for those of you who don't know, that is like the worst to my heart), and then a member drove by and asked if we could help them move out, so we did service at 8 pm on Monday. He then took us to a legit Hispanic taco truck (the best thing in the world)! On Tuesday we went by this girl named Susie, and when we came in her cousin, who moved in with them, said he needed help. That night we taught him the Word of Wisdom and somehow that led to half of the Plan of Salvation, and had him make a game plan for his addictions. He said to come by the next day, and we did and he had finished the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and had made a game plan for any time he felt tempted to give in to his temptations. We finished the Plan of Salvation, and had him read Enos on his own.

   We came by the next day and he had done so, and we finished it up. We gave him a blessing and asked him to read Alma 36, and when we asked when we could come by, he said "as soon as possible". We said we couldn't until Sunday and he said "Then I'll see you at church!" as though it were nothing. Sadly, he was sick on Sunday, but he told the hermano who came to pick him up to have us come to him, so we did, and we brought two members, Vivian and Daniel Urbina. We taught the full restoration and he had read Alma 36 and he loved it. He said this was probably the right path for him. We're going to have a Family Home Evening with him tonight, and we'll watch the movie about Joseph Smith. 

   There is an investigator who was going to get baptized this week, and we had told the less active parents and they said "okay" like 4 times, but on Saturday we planned the baptism, and they walked in and said they had never heard anything of it, and that they wanted their father, who is totally anti, to baptize him. In the end, we decided that it would be Brandon's choice, and he would pray and decide. That was an extremely low blow.

   In my studies, I had learned the following: Since we're not perfect, we're going to have to rely on the Spirit in this life to do what's right. Even Jesus Christ hearkened to the promptings of the Spirit. He was growing from grace to grace. All that He knew was given by the Spirit. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted. 

He was always in the right place at the right time. When we are resurrected and perfected and glorified, we shall know all things: where to be, what to do, etc. The Spirit shows us perfection, shows us our potential, and when we follow that Spirit, we achieve or reach that potential. He truly sanctifies, especially when we follow Him.

   It was definitely a difficult week, full of walking and biking. I love you all, and thank you for keeping us in your prayers.

Week 75 - Buena Vista

 

Hey everybody! This week was a pretty good one. We thought last week that Brandon hadn't come to church, but then it turned out that he did, and he just went to sacrament meeting and had to go after that! So he is on date  and we're working super hard with getting him to read, especially talks from modern prophets. So things are going well with him. We also went by Dino and Evelyn, and they are an awesome family. Evelyn loves reading, and likes reading with us. Dino is skeptical, but a cool person because he seems very open to the idea of finding the truth for himself. They are a family that will take small steps, but they are willing to take them. For a district activity we went to a store called El Mercado, which is basically like a hispanic mall, and thus the hat I tried on, and Elder Hanchett. Speaking of that, we had exchanges in the other elders' area, and they have it pretty rough. They once were finding a ton every week, but recently they haven't been. We went on exchanges and the people we talked to did not want to hear our message. It was pretty rough.My studies have also gone pretty well. We have been learning a lot, especially in comp study. I wanted to find all the doctrine of the Savior from the restoration, because too often the message of the Restoration is just a message about Joseph Smith, and not exactly centered on Jesus Christ, so that is my goal: making the messages about Him, because He is the one they need. I love you all and please keep us in our prayers.

Week 74 Buena Vista

 

This week was a pretty good week. This week was Brandon's birthday, which was awesome. He is now 15 years old. He got some nunchucks and he's learning to use them. Last Sunday we got a referral from a member, and she said he and his family were looking for a church to go to. We went by on Tuesday and taught about Families and temples with the restoration of the priesthood and the gospel tied in, and he, Luis, loved it. He said he wanted the rest of his family to also hear the message. We taught Gabby and her mom a little about the restoration. The first time we met Gabby's mom, she wasn't interested, but this time she was, and it was cool to see that. For finding this week, we didn't do too well until Sunday when we doubled what we had found through the whole week. It was cool to see the Spirit working in us. We went by a family who told us they wouldn't be able to visit us until after the holidays and they are pretty awesome. We read the introduction with Guillermo, and he loved it. We visited Amado and Laura, a family whom the English elders referred to us. We had taught Laura the restoration, and when we came by again we went over it with Amado. It was a good lesson, and they are a very cool family. 

   We were going through our area book, and we found a record for a deaf woman, where they had taught the family, but couldn't do anything with her. We will try by and see if I can't brush up on my sign language. 

   Again with church we tried everyone we could, but one person came, and that was good. 

   I love you all, and thanks for all of your prayers in my behalf. 

   In my studies, I have learned from 3 Nephi 19:13, 21-24, 27, 33 that when we have the Spirit with us, our desires are His desires. In prayer we speak from our heart, and if the Spirit can guide us in our prayers and we can feel the Spirit in your prayers, our desires become His desires. "Filled with desire", and then our hearts are open and we can learn the hidden things He wants us to know. That's just part of the process of becoming more like Him. 

I love you all, and thank you for your support and love. 

Love,

  Elder Sant 

Week 73 Buena Vista

This week was pretty good. On Monday I skyped my mother and father and much more of the family. It was a very powerful experience. This week we invited EVERYONE we talked to to church, and saw some blessings from that. It was a long week and required a lot of walking. We went biking and someone slashed our tires, so we got the tires fixed, and someone slashed our tires, stole our air pump and all of our lights and tried to take the bikes out of the locks. Luckily they were not successful. I finished the Book of Mormon again, and I have learned a lot about how the Spirit works. We are figuring out how to use our lessons to bring true conversion. We as missionaries invite others to come unto Christ. How do they do that? By having faith unto repentance, which causes a change in their lives. How do they gain that faith? By learning the restored Gospel and by accepting and acting on invitations and commitments we give them. And this prepares them for the Covenant of Baptism, which is a physical cleansing that prepares us for the spiritual purification of the Holy Ghost. And the Holy Ghost will guide us and allow us to become more like our Savior. And by continually following this path we become ready for judgement.

   We went by one of our investigators, Brandon and we see that his less-active family can be holding him back from becoming a member. We will do all we can to still get him there though. 

   I love you all, and thanks for everything!

Week 72 Buena Vista

Hey everyone!!!! This week was great for Christmas. We were able to teach Brandon the 10 commandments and the Sabbath day. We got someone to take him to church far in advance, but he said he'd be fine, that he didn't need any ride. We came by the morning of Sacrament meeting, and he wasn't home, and didn't answer the phone. But we came by that night, and the whole family wanted us to stay. They set up a time to feed us dinner. I think the hermano didn't want us to come, because he left like two seconds after entering, but the family liked us. On Christmas eve we made a few brownies and gave them to our investigators. There was one person who we saw on the street, and gave a pamphlet to them, and the next day we came by. We had to walk, and it rained, and she said "you're here in the rain?" and we explained that that was how big the message we had was. We taught the restoration, and when we got to the scene in the sacred grove, her eyes got really big and she was amazed. Even after that, she said "I'm fine". We asked if she wanted to learn more about Jesus and grow faith in Him, she said she was fine where she was at. We left into the rain and later, the English elders came by to the same house. The woman's brother answered and in broken english said he wanted us to come by. We came by and the sister answered, and said that was indeed her brother and we could come by. Christmas eve we found awesome people.

   Christmas is great, and in my studies, I learned the following throughout the week.

    It was all about the Spirit, learned from 3rd Nephi. Like the people often speak with one voice, glorifying God, and they become one, as Christ is one in the Father and the Father in Him. And that happened after they received the Spirit. We "walk with God." so that's why the promise of the sacrament prayers is "that they may have His spirit to be with them. Even when they prayed, it said that they were filled with desire and that the Spirit told them all things they should say, so their mind became God's mind. When we act on the Spirit, our mind become His, we become one with Him an His purpose of Glory.

I hope that made sense. 

I love you all!!!!!!!!

Week 71 Buena Vista

Hey everybody!!!

   This week was a pretty awesome week! We went by a recent convert and asked her if any of her family wanted to join in. I hadn't really known the family, so I wasn't sure if there was more of the family that weren't members. One man came down and we taught the restoration, set him on date. He seems very awesome, very promising. We tried to teach Brandon the word of wisdom, but his less-active father came in and would interrupt us and tell us how Joseph Smith wasn't receiving revelation from God and such things, but we basically ignored him and kept teaching Brandon, because it looked like he wasn't having it either. He said he'd commit to live the word of wisdom. We went by the Guerra family, whose date dropped, but when we came by again, Hilda and Antony said that they have been reading the Book of Mormon as a family, and are in 1 Nephi 11. It is pretty awesome. We also had a handoff lesson with the hermanas that was very good. I learned a few things about teaching. 

   In the hand-off lesson the wife, Rocio, said she had read all of 2 Ne. 2 and explained it to us. They are an amazing family!!!!!!!!! 

   I also held a baptismal interview that was very good. 

   The Lord is blessing and preparing us in so many ways.

   We also got transfer calls, and I am staying! But Elder Rasmussen is leaving. I'm going to miss him, we was one of my very favorite companions.

   One night we asked the Wilson Elders for a ride from an appointment, and while in the car, Elder Webb explained to us how inadequate he felt as a missionary. He just talked about his weaknesses, how he can't talk well to strangers, forcing his companion to take over so often, and how little worth he believed he had. We all chipped in how he had so many glorious talents only he could handle in this life, and I explained to him that if the Lord wanted him to be a perfect leader and a great conversationalist, He would have done it. I could have been disabled and held back in so many ways, but the Lord saw in His infinite wisdom a few skills I needed, a few things He wanted me to accomplish. If He wanted me to be glorious and great in words, I would be, but He has a plan for each of us. He has something else held in reserve for me, and the plan for Elder Webb is also glorious. 

Note- you may choose to include that paragraph in the open email for everyone or not.

   We also went to the Temple, and I learned so many amazing things that just blew my mind. The temple is a great gift. I learned the importance of order, and how covenants allow you to become Holy and set apart for a sacred and eternal purpose. That they are the gateway to accessing the power of the Atonement. 

   I love you all, and I want you all to also have a fantastic Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Love 

Elder Sant

Week 70 - Buena Vista

 

Hey everyone!!!

   This week was a crazy week, but a very good one. We went to Brandon, and we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was very powerful. We set him on Date for 30 Diciembre! The other elders in our district were having a baptism, and so we invited Brandon to see it. He got teary eyed during it, and it was actually a very powerful baptism. I gathered a lot of thoughts from it, such as how Elder Pena walked down with him into the font, and of course the submersion and rising as the death and resurrection, but that Elder Pena submerged him in the water, and then getting back out of the water together. Brandon was teary-eyed and said things like "when I get baptized will this...". It was pretty good. He was not at church the next day though. We came to his house in the morning and his mom answered, was on her way to work, and we offered to give him a ride, She said she could drop him off on the way to church, but she did not. We had interviews with President Layton, and they were pretty good. We did role-plays with Sister Layton as well. The Light the World initiative is a great way to get people to learn about Jesus Christ. It is really cool. 

   There was a cool experience I had with the Sacrament. I was reading my Spanish scriptures during the ordinance, reading about Sanctification. The word means to make holy. Holy means to set apart for a sacred purpose or office. Moses 6:60 says that the Blood of Christ sanctifies us, and Hebrews 9:22 says that without blood there is no remission. Why? In the Bible dictionary it says that Blood is the seat of life or vital energy of all flesh. The atoning power of the sacrifice was in the blood, which was sprinkled over their sacrifices. Jesus Christ gave His entire life when He bled from every pore. His life and energy was perfect and clean. We take that life upon ourselves. We eat of His flesh and drink of His blood in the sacrament and put that life inside us. We can be cleansed, His strengths become ours, and we become one with Him. We become perfected in Him as we follow the Spirit, and we become Holy and sanctified. It was just an uplifting thought I had. 

   It was a great week, a little upsetting because la familia Guerra dropped their dates and said they would always be in their own religion. We had an amazing lesson full of the Spirit and with a member family with us, and they still didn't want it. On the bright side, we had exchanges on Friday and found a part-member family. We were walking after an appointment fell through, and we talked to a few people, and just kept walking until we came by one house. I heard "Knock the door", and just as I thought that, Elder Pena suggested it, so I was like "Yes, let's do it!" We went by and a woman answered and said that her husband wasn't home, and that we should go back when he's there, and then gave us his number. As we left the husband drove up and let us in. We found out that he and his family are all extremely less-active, remember almost nothing, and that his wife is not a member! They were really cool, but said they wouldn't be able to come this week, but next week. The Lord really has prepared me for this work in unexpected ways. Thanks for all the prayers you give for us and the support. I love you all!!!

Week 69 - Buena Vista

 

Hey everyone, this week we went by Brandon, and we had the plan of setting him on date, but the Spirit dictated otherwise. We planned on showing him the Temples and Families pamphlet, but we instead read Alma 50. In the chapter we read where it says that the promise is that when we follow God, we are prospered in the land, but when we disobey Him, we are cut off from His presence. He told us that he saw that there were so many churches and he wasn't sure how to find what was true. We explained the Joseph Smith's experience with that when he was his age, and we said that to find the truth he would have to act by reading, praying, coming to church, and then ask God continually if the conclusion he's reached is true. He came to church, was an hour late, but he came still.    Probably one of the most stressful parts of missionary work is getting everyone rides. We have to get investigators and less-actives and members all rides to church and find the way to do that.

   We went by the Guerra family and taught the 10 commandments. We brought an hermano from church. He was our first thought, and before we asked him to come out with us, we considered the fact that he doesn't have almost any money, and the last time we went with him he had to get gas and just put like 5 dollars worth of gas in it, all that he had. We thought, "It's probably best not to." but then we thought of all the possible blessings he'd receive from coming out with us, so we asked him, and he came on his low gas in the truck, and we had a great lesson. Hilda Guerra, who almost never talks or participates, was excited as ever because they were both Peruvian, and lived in the same area of the city! They became good friends right off. 

  My companion is a lot happier now. He just changed. We have learned a lot, especially in language study. 

  I learned in my studies that from Alma 58 the Lord keeps us continually in His presence when we are keeping His commandments. It says that if we don't keep the commandments we will be cut off from His presence, but that when we do He keeps us in it. We are as close to God that we can be in daily life when we keep His commandments, we are in essence in His presence. 

   In district meeting we practiced using the Families and Temples pamphlet to teach the plan of Salvation. It really teaches it in a way that only shows the clear, pure doctrines and blessings of the Plan. 

   I love you all, and thanks for everything you do!!!!

Week 68 Buena Vista

Hey everyone! This week was really good. Despite being in the hospital for most of the week, the Lord provided as He always does. Do ya'll remember the Guerra family who was scared out of church because of the screaming lady from a few weeks ago? Well, we visited them on Friday and set them on date for the 23rd of Diciembre and they came to church on Sunday. Hermana Hilda Guerra wanted to leave an hour early, and as she left, the relief society literally took her by the arm and brought her back in there. It was either great or bad, but she stayed all 3 hours! Elder Rasmussen, since coming back from the hospital, has become a little bitter. I can't tell what it is or what I've done, but he's just always mad.    But aside from that, I love the Lord, He always provides and cares, and despite all that goes on, He is there, and His love is there. He wants to help still. My srudies have been based a lot on the Ensign and general conference talks. Something I learned was how much the Lord trusts us, how in His hands we all are, despite all that goes on in life. He already knows our situations. I love you all, and thanks for your prayers in my behalf.