Hola!!!

November 16, 2020

Whats ups padres amados!! Again, here's kind of the running list from throughout the week of my thoughts, focuses, and some stories/updates w the amigos this week. Can NOT wait to talk with all of us and hear from Matt!!! I love you all so much. Words really can't describe it. Although, Mom was pretty close though with her letter this week. I am so incredibly grateful for you both. You guys are my biggest blessings ever aside from this gospel, the Savior, and Heavenly Father. I have been so blessed to be your son. I'll say it in spanish but it still doesn't express it enough, Los amo con todo mi corazón, ahora y para siempre ❤❤❤

Wednesday am. Woke up thinking about Matt and the fam. Kinda missed you guys. But I just said an earnest prayer and had such a feeling of love, and also excitement for the work again. The fire that flickered for half a second, or half a morning, refueled!! Every day is such a gift and I want to make the most of it. 

D&C 100:1

D&C 84:88

Oracion!!! Escrituras de la oracion. I have thought a ton about what the Ruña lady said about prayer that mom shared with me. I especially like how she said when we call our parents and pour out our hearts we don't just hang up, we sit and listen. I've been trying to do this!! And I think I've gotten some really good revelation, certain things come to my mind for people we are teaching and other ways to be better. I love prayer so much. My testimony of it has grown immensely already on my mission and especially in the past couple weeks. At first when we would just call someone and only talk about prayer I was like what are we doing this js too basic, we need to teach something else more profound so we can get them interested. But really prayer is so powerful and so is teaching about it, especially when we emphasize the love of Heavenly Father and how it's direct two way communication with Him. Also throughout my mission my prayers just keep getting longer. I see more things I'm grateful for, lots of things I need help to be better with, and lots of people I pray can have and recognize miracles. I like to think I'll have calluses on my knees by the end of my mission!! Haha 

John Groberg. Alma 36:3. Pray sincerely, listen intently, act promptly. It was a really good devotional. I love hearing from people who loved their missions!!!!!!

So much LOVE for my family.

You guys dont have to worry about us anymore!! We are in the Lords hands. Theres not a better place for Matt and I. And Trey has had 20 years of learning and 18 months of a mission of growing and being tutored by the Lord. Not saying he is completely set in this life but he is somewhat on his own and making his own decisions. He's been given the counsel to be successful and happy for eternity. He knows it too. Now you guys just get to focus on the girls, who are awesome, and Zach, who is awesome as well but sometimes a work in progress as we all are. 

Perspective and attitude. Need to enjoy everyday and make the most of it! I want my mission to mean everything to me. Elder Holland talks about how much it meant to him in several talks I've read as well as I recall his very firm very direct address about missions when he came to Highland. I want to change, and help other's change to become more like my Savior. Only possible through Him. 

I've been thinking about a lot about Charity, as I'm preparing for the talk for Zone Conference. I feel like they are going to have me talk haha but we will see. I have actually enjoyed preparing for it. I've listened to a number of talks and found some really good scriptures I feel like. I'll just send that stuff in a different email tho bc its a lot haha

3 Nefi 12:15-16 Let you light so shine 

2 Nefi 32:3 FEAST upon the words of Christ 

The Divine Gift of Gratitude

Mosiah 16:9 He is the Light and the Life of the World, yea a light that is infinite, and can never be hid. LIGHT THE WORLD 

MISSIONARY DEVOS WOW

Other pre work for ZC was watch two recent missionary devotionals. They were incredible. I took a bunch of notes. And i felt ready to go out and talk to the world, ready to convert all of El Paso

Bishop Waddel

15 words. "Here am I, send me" "Not my will, but thine be done" "It is finished" So powerful. Ill just have to explain more, i wrote too much in my notes haha

President Ballard and Elder Holland

Missionary work has always been hard. Technology is a huge blessing. When you get ut in your heart, you really know that Jesus is the Christ, and that this is His restored church, you will not want to waste a moment. You will keep every commandment because you love Him. You will want to share His message with everyone!!! You will teach with love and boldness. Sooooo so good. Got me so fired up. Also they said work with members, invite them to share in normal natural ways, like technology. Im so excited for Light the World! I think it'll be perfect thing to invite people to do and share. 

Buzzer beater Saturday night!!! 

Araceli, a media referral from like two weeks ago, answered the phone at 8:59 on Saturday!!! 4th floor last door baby!!! She said she wants to learn about God and how to get to closer to Him!!! Update tho, our scheduled lesson on Sunday didn't happen, kind of huge bummer. But hopefully we can still get in contact this next week

Linda

Super nice lady!! Read some of the Book of Mormon which is huge!! Found out her 5 kids are a little older, like 23 21 18 13 and 11 i think. Also we taught her the plan of salvation and it was cool but she already believed in like all of it anyways. But at the end i asked her how she felt about it and stuff, like that she can live with her family and God forever. And she said she was a little sad bc her kids aren't religious at all. Just her and her husband have been religious for like 7 years or something. We talked about how they will be able to see the light she has and said we would pray they might be able to turn to God. In hind sight the temple would've been a cool thing maybe but I wasn't sure in the moment. We are going to teach the restoration tomorrow. Honestky this is such a powerful lesson. At first I was a little scared, or maybe nervous teaching this because its new and bold and different. And I didn't want it to scare people away. But really it would only be weird if it weren't true. But I knkw without a doubt it is and the spirit is crazy strong whenever we do teach it so im really hoping she can feel its power tomorrow. We watched a missionary Devo by President Ballard and Elder Holland and they talked about the power of the restoration like 3 times haha but its so true, its the life changing message people need to hear. 

Margarita 

Awesome again!! She made us dinner twice i think haha. Just more Mexican food, one was really good and the other was really gross but both were so nice. Shes so fnny we will just call to see how she is that day and she will just say come over right now i have food. Haha. And also we found out more about her family, her husband died a few years ago, she had a son who passed away, as well as a nephew. So we taught the plan of salvation again and she liked it but really similar to Linda, shes like that seems so hard to be able to get to live with God. We explained it more and she was happy. But we also talked about the Book of Mormon with her and dropped one of on Saturday! So again, so so excites to tesch the restoration with her. Also I really feel like we need to teach her family history work and temple work. I feel like her husband and son are waiting on the other side of the veil so thats really cool . 

Alfredo

Wow haha he answers and talks almost every night which is nice just to have someone to talk to consistently. Also we even had fellowship come for a lesson and we talked about faith and repentance. We had a super poweful restoration lesson with him last week and he loved it. Or mayne it was like Tuesday, not really sure. But he reañly liked tje presithold and i was super bold and straight up about us being the only true church snd joseph smith and all that but he a tually liked it. We talked about faith and repentance a ton. The fellowship was aweslme too when he got on the call. Hes a convert and reañly gave Añfredo a different perspective. And alfredo really has a good hesrt and wangs to change and styff but theres this one dude who always bugs him on tje street and hes letting it xontrol his ñife, he gets so angry and just xant think straught. But the fellowship was dope and was like dude its your choice to get mad. And he actually agreed so tjat was nice. And he hss a BoM already!! I guess he used to talk to some sisters a while back. But he actually is really willing to read!! And hes been praying. We just have to give him only a couple verses or he doesnt understand it all. Hes got a long road honestly but its nice to talk to someone who wants to change