SERVE AND LOVE

Aguas de Mormon

Yo pretty good week this week. We are still super excited about Esteban’s baptism. He’s doing great right now and we are now working on some other people. We had an activity about a week ago for the Young Women in the stake. It was about missionary work so we very briefly trained them on how to make a contact and how to teach. Then we went out with groups and contacted a bunch of people in their houses, stores, or on the street. We saw a kid watering some plants outside his house so we told this group of Young Women to contact him. They did great.  This week we have been contacting all of the people that the Young Women talked to and we went back to the kids house. His name is Ian Soto and we met his older sister Katheryn and told them who we are and what we do. Got contact information from them and then went back a couple days later and got to know the younger siblings and the mom named Sandra. They are awesome and so loving.  There are so many people today who love so much. This family does not attend a church but do believe in Christ. And that means they believe in his commandments. They offered to let us in and I saw that the mom was mopping so I asked if I could mop. She obviously said no but I grabbed the mop from her and started cleaning the kitchen. She died laughing. She thought it was the funniest thing ever and by the time I finished she started asking questions. Where we were from, why we’re here, where do we live, what church we are apart of, who washes our clothes, who feeds us, etc. When we told her what we do and what our living conditions were she was surprised and told us that whenever we are hungry and whenever we need clothes washed, we could call her and she would feed us for free and wash our clothes for free. 

We will make progress with her, I know it. But the first lesson that we had with her was not us teaching her, it was her teaching us. She showed us that she believes in Christ, and through action is how we show that. The 2 greatest commandments are to Love thy God with all thy heart, might, mind, and strength. And second, Love thy neighbor as thyself. When you are in the service of your neighbor, you are in the service of your God.

The last lunch that I shared with my Grandpa England he said this, “When you see the opportunity to assist someone- jump on it. Make them love ya, it will open opportunities”. This lady really understands what it means to serve and love others and it was such a great lesson for us to learn. She wasn't trying to be nice or trying to impress us or anything, it’s just the way she is. So Christlike. If you feel like you aren't being served or it's hard, serve others, chances are they are feeling like that too. We will get there some day haha. 

Anyways love you all so much, stay safe and always remember to love and serve others. Often times it helps us more than them!

Scripture of the Week:

Mosiah 2:17 “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

Mosíah 2:17 “Y he aquí, os digo estas cosas para que aprendáis sabiduría; para que sepáis que cuando os halláis al servicio de vuestros semejantes, solo estáis al servicio de vuestro Dios."

Kelvin, Alondra, and Dayana

Lake Atitlan and the volcano

 

    SERVICIO

Servicio de Distrito

Yo super great week. We did so much service this week, which was so fun. On Monday last week I looked to my companion and said that I really wanted to be better at loving others and that serving is when I feel the happiest. I told him that I hoped to serve a lot of people this last week. We definitely got my wish. We got calls to move 600 cinderblocks as a district, move an ice machine that weighed for sure at least 1000 pounds, translate for medical students, and at 7 am go and kill a rat in a members house lol. I loved it.

The cinderblock service was super fun. To be there as a district covered in dirt and all sweaty was super fun. It was also in a super far away village so that was lit. The ice machine didn’t take too much time but it was so freaking heavy. Also he let us have some fun and get sledge hammers and destroy a big block of cement. I took a turn and on my swing down the top of the sledgehammer flew off so fast right towards my companion (and behind him was a pretty nice pickup truck). No one can convince me that an Angel didn’t guide the hammer because it went flying and went right through my comps legs and right under the car. Not sure who it was but that Angel saved a life and a window lol. The rat was pretty fun, good birthday present. The translating was also super fun. Pretty interesting and it was fun learning about some medical stuff. Also very interesting hearing about Guatemalan 50 year old women’s medical problems. Pretty gross. 

We finally got a baptism after a very long time. Esteban Gamboa is now a member of the true church of God. A true miracle happened. We started a fast and it was super good. We got a call from a member 20 minutes after we started our fast to eat dinner with them. That doesn’t happen here so it was pretty clear that it was a temptation to eat haha. So we said no sadly and went the 24 hours without food or drink. Also pretty tough because the medical students had so many good American snacks and offered it to us and it was tough to say no haha. But we stuck with it and I couldn’t be happier that we did. We later had an appointment with Esteban and he had said he wanted to get baptized but later. He said he needed more preparation. So a member came with us to talk to him and bro cooked. Esteban said that it was just fear that was holding him back and the member hyped him up and we set the fecha for Sunday. So yesterday the baptism happened and Esteban said he couldn’t feel happier about the decision he made. 

Fasting helps so much and serving helps us find so much joy. This week was such an awesome blessing and I am loving the mish. Please reach out, I miss and love you all

Scripture of the Week:

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaías 40:31 “pero los que esperan en Jehová tendrán nuevas fuerzas; levantarán las alas como águilas; correrán y no se cansarán; caminarán y no se fatigarán.”

Esteban Gamboa's Baptism

Lake Atitlan

    MILAGRO

Solola

What up, good week last week. Super fast one. This week I did some divisions with Elder Muñoz and Elder Aranda and it was good. We went to a super far away village to teach this investigator and it was pretty fun. We also did a service the next morning which was actually pretty lit. We put about 5,000 pounds of rocks in bags for about 3 hours. Elder Aranda said he was feeling sick about 20 minutes in. It was definitely cap. Bro took 4 bathroom breaks, each for at least 15 minutes. We chill tho, bro grinded. Elder Muñoz is a grinder tho, bro is Guatemalan and was lovin the work. 

With the work it has been good. We got people progressing and it has been fun lately. This email will be super short. So sorry ma but I want to share a quick thought. We have been praying for miracles to happen but I didn't really know how they would come. President Nelson said this in his talk in April 2022 - 

“Moroni assured us that “God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.” Every book of scripture demonstrates how willing the Lord is to intervene in the lives of those who believe in Him. He parted the Red Sea for Moses, helped Nephi retrieve the brass plates, and restored His Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Each of these miracles took time and may not have been exactly what those individuals originally requested from the Lord. In the same way, the Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, “doubting nothing.” Do the spiritual work to seek miracles. Prayerfully ask God to help you exercise that kind of faith. I promise that you can experience for yourself that Jesus Christ “giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Few things will accelerate your spiritual momentum more than realizing the Lord is helping you to move a mountain in your life.”

Miracles always come, big or small. But we have got to do everything in our power to HELP them happen and trust in God that he will MAKE it happen. Joseph Smith receiving an answer was a miracle, we know that. But it came in a very different way than I'm sure he wanted. I don't think it was very fun to be scolded, feathered, tortured and finally murdered. I don't think that is what the 14 year old boy wanted when he went to pray in the Sacred Grove. But he had the faith and did everything he could. Our Heavenly Father did the rest. It was a tough battled miracle, but still a miracle. 

They still exist, God is the same, and how miracles come is the same too. I love you all so much, stay safe

Scripture of the Week:

Mormon 9:15 “And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.”

Mormón 9:15 “Y ahora bien, a todos vosotros que os habéis imaginado a un dios que no puede hacer milagros, quisiera preguntaros: ¿Han pasado ya todas estas cosas de que he hablado? ¿Ha llegado ya el fin? He aquí, os digo que no; y Dios no ha cesado de ser un Dios de milagros”

Solola

Exchanges with Elder Munoz and Elder Aranda

Quetzalenango Temple 

P - Day in Pana

Elder Couser

I miss my family in

San Martin

Hermana Judd

Investigators

    ANGELS

Mi Cuate

Yo super lit week this week. Definitely one of the most tired weeks that I’ve had in a long time. This week we have been focusing a lot on working with the members and trying to get as many lessons with them as we can. A lot of citas that we had fall through though but it’s super chill. 

We have a family that we have a lot of faith in. They are the familia Morales and they are super lit. Sonia is a member (28) her sister Patricia (25), Ingrid(18), Maynor(15) and Jaime(13). Super cool. We had a super powerful lesson on Saturday and the spirit was so strong. They are all super invested in their work. All they want to do is work work work. So getting them to church on Sunday is high-key super tough. I shared a story about my grandpa England and talked about the success that he had. I have a 30 minute video of my grandpa talking about how C.R.England grew and about some advice he would give to young people. The thing that didn’t surprise me at all to hear was that the best thing a business man can do is to love his workers and clients. Not something very many successful business men would say, but it is something grandpa England would say!

I have always been taught to not cheat or lie my way to success. But to be smart, responsible, humble, and to always have integrity. NOT something I have been very good at in my teenage years. I have gotten a little better on the mission but still struggle a lot. It was funny how I was giving this advice to these young kids about managing money and doing it in a spiritual way because of how horrible I am at it. But, I really had to hold back tears because I felt the presence of an angel with me. The spirit and an angel were the ones teaching this lesson, not me. I knew my Grandpa England was present and I knew he was helping me during this .

Angels exist. There is 0 doubt in my heart about that. I feel that I have experienced loss in my life and I know so many friends and family who have experienced loss on a whole other level. I feel humbled and sorry for my friends and family who have suffered so much loss. It is one of the hardest things that anyone of us can go through but one thing I can promise is that we are at the beginning of a perfect plan. We will experience loss but our friends and family who have passed on to the other side of the veil are with us. I know it. They live in the spirit. They love us just as much, if not more so. They look after us just as much if not more so. We will all see each other again. We can be families forever. By the grace and atonement of the biggest loss that this world has ever seen, we will hug those that we have lost.

I love you all so much, never forget it. As always, please STAY SAFE

Scripture of the Week:

Moroni 7:29 "And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."

Moroni 7:29 " Y porque ha hecho esto, ¿han cesado los milagros, mis queridos hermanos? He aquí, os digo que no; ni han cesado los ángeles de ministrar a los hijos de los hombres."

Elder Mcomber

Tio Elder Florence en Solola

(My Uncle who served in Guatemala!)