Another Great Week

 This last week has been super crazy/amazing. We have a new standard of excellence here and Elder Meza and I are just tearing up Grand Island. We're working hard and have been teaching quite a few lessons. Teaching has been top notch and really cool! Lately we have been focusing on teaching when we find people and finding others while we teach. It's a neat principle. For example, when we go about finding and we meet someone we begin to teach. Usually what would happen is we would set up a return appointment. We're teaching a lot! lol. Also the mission is doing fantastic! New Goals have been set and the mission is working really hard. We're really looking forward to seeing the Zone rise up and smash the goals from the last few years. So Kearney Zone rocks :)

It amazes me time and time again how I am so often reminded of the basics. If we never understand or master the basics, how can we ever progress? I'm still trying to understand the basic principles of the Gospel. But it's neat to see when we understand the basic principles, all of the other things fall right into place. Applying those principles can be easy but constantly applying them is another thing. I'm still working on the constant part. :)

Recently I've been reflecting on the Book of Mormon. How we have it. Why we have it. and why do we need it today? After pondering and studying, my gratitude for the Book of Mormon has been increased. The days will live in are crazy, the future looks even more crazier, I am so grateful to God for bringing the Book of Mormon to light. I love the Book of Mormon. I love how it brightens my hope and strengthens my faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ. I just pray I become who He wants me to be every time I read it. I feel His love and Spirit when I do. That just drives me to read it more. :) Father is so mindful of us and wants us to be happy. One lesson I have learned is there is much power, strength, and comfort, in not only reading the scriptures, but in Feasting Upon them, and Memorizing them. Memorizing the scriptures has brought me friends and extra back up buddies in times of need. Pick a scripture that applies to you personally and memorize it. Whenever you feel lonely or frustrated just recite it, it will bring patience.

Feb means 7 more fast Sundays

Bro. M is doing awesome! He'll be getting baptized soon! He's gone 6 days without smoking! Woot!! :) It's funny he told us when we began teaching him that he is the member in his family that was the rebel and didn't go to church or anything like the rest of his family. His mom would call him and he would always say this to get off the phone, "Mom, I'm learning about the Bible right now I'll call you back." Now that he really is learning about the Gospel with us and reading the Book of Mormon, his mom will call and he'll say, "Mom, I'm with the Hermanos right now I'll call you back." Then she just says,"Nonsense!" haha it's pretty silly. 

We had a Crazy Good Sabbath Yesterday! :) Elder Meza and I have been a little concerned about J our recent convert and of his testimony. Our jaws dropped yesterday when he got up and bore his testimony. He said he knew the church was true and that he was grateful for the restoration of the gospel. I couldn't help but smile! :) I love the Gospel! :D

 Elder M and I are really focusing on letting the Lord know our desires and telling him all that we will do to achieve our inspired goals. We'll be finding a lot this week. Our branch baptismal goal for the year is 10. We're at 7 and it's March. We want to change the goal, but the branch president who has been the president for 11 years has never seen the baptismal goal met. He wants us to meet the goal first. We're planning on shattering that goal real soon! :)

This week I learned that the Lord's desire for me is to do good. To be Me.. I love this scripture now in Doctrine and Covenants now, 58:27

"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;"

 

I love that thought. I'm more anxious to share the gospel now, and now when I meet people I begin to teach and testify. The Atonement is incredible. His sacrifice touched every living thing. Imagine the majesty of the Savior, that His suffering touched the whole world, and every intelligence.

Mission Life continues

This week was a crazy week for us. We didn't get all of our goals that we wanted. Mainly because we left our area for 3 days for exchanges and interviews. But we did have a baptism! :) J asked me to baptize him. I was honored to do it. It was a great experience. Lately I had been wondering a lot of how I have felt the Spirit in the past and even now in my mission. I remember going to EFY that one year and feeling the Spirit so very powerfully. It's interesting how when I give blessings or perform an ordinance such a baptism, I don't feel a huge overwhelming powerful experience like I had at EFY. But, recently at the baptismal service for J as we were in the water, I closed my eyes and offered a quick prayer similar to what Alma did when he said as he went to baptize the people in the waters of Mormon. ,"O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart." I performed the ordinance. After J came up out of the water he had a smile on his face, we gave each other a hug. I walked him to the changing room and I asked him how he felt. He said he felt great! I went and changed and returned to the service as my companion was bearing his testimony. As I sat and listened a thought came to my mind. I paid attention to my feelings and realized how peaceful I was. I felt still. I felt peace. Sometimes we have amazing powerful experiences with the Spirit and other times we feel the great peace that comes from the spirit. I know we have those experiences in different degrees and at different times in our lives. 

Mission work continues

Those were some awesome scriptures! It was funny that you shared what you learned about prayer with me, because last week we had Zone Conference and we learned about prayer! We talked a lot of how we can secure those blessings for ourselves and what we can do when we go to pray. For example I have always struggled with prayers at night and mornings because I fall asleep or I'm super tired. Sis Kunz gave us some instruction on how we should approach prayer. With a humble attitude, pondering before hand what you want to speak with Heavenly Father about, and then physically praying in a position that enables you to be alert. If you lean against something, you're going to fall asleep.

 It's amazing to think how many of our prayers remained unanswered because we asked in contrary to his will. It amazes me. When I pray now I strive to listen very closely to the Spirit to know what to ask.

I liked this quote that you shared. Miracles do not produce faith, but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, in other words faith comes by righteousness , although miracles often confirm ones faith. "
 I want to add an insight I received from a general authority that came and visited us a few months ago. He said Faith is nothing more or less than personal righteousness. :)

Our Faith increases as we are more obedient and being more obedient is being righteous (keeping the commandments).  I can't begin to imagine the memories of us being with our Heavenly Father before. I wonder how we felt when He told us that we would not be able to see Him always and hear His voice as we did personally then. But He must have told us of prayer and how we would be able to speak with Him all the time if we wished.

 Truly great quote mom"as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God ( namely God is our Father and we are his children ) then at once prayer becomes  natural and instinctive on our part."
 What an  incredible blessing we have, one on one time we have with our Heavenly Father in prayer. I value it and I wish I had more time to plead with my Heavenly Father. I love how I feel when I pray. I know He is there and listening.

 This week was awesome! Elder Meza and I worked super hard!! We have one baptism this week! Bro. X finally decided to be baptized this week! It's awesome! I taught him when I first came to Grand Island and he said,"I know it's true and I'm ready to be baptized." YEAH!!! :D He is sooooo ready! :D

 Also we set another young man. I'm going to call him Swah-vay. Because he is so cool! :) We had an extremely powerful lesson with him about Jesus Christ and his life and ministry. We testified of His reality and we invited him to be baptized. His immediate response was I like the Christian Church better, it's more fun. Elder Meza and I felt the Spirit tell us not to say a word.

We paused for what felt like ten minutes which was really 30 seconds lol when he said, what do I need to do to be baptized? We explained that very well. He smokes a lot and I said to him, "You will be free of your addiction of smoking by your baptismal date." We promised him as representatives of Jesus Christ that he would be free from his addiction and that he would be prepared to be baptized. After the lesson he walked us out to our truck and said, I'm really excited for the end of march. What you both said to me. It filled me inside. I'm going to do it! I told him the marvelous promise that comes from baptism by the proper priesthood authority. A remission of sins. He was comforted and became even more excited. He came to church yesterday and told me, "I'm cutting back on my smoking by this time I would have smoken 5 cigarettes and I have only smoken one today!" I smiled and said "Good Job and Keep it up!" The best smell in church is tobacco! :) That's because there are people there striving to change and be better! :) I'm super excited! A baptism this week! and more to come!! :)

 I love this work!!! :) I love the Gospel! I love being a missionary! I know I represent Jesus Christ. I know He is my Savior. It's a powerful and humbling statement. I know God lives and loves us. I love the lessons I learn everyday from just a sentence of a verse. They impact me. I love them, they fill me. I know that Scriptures will give us the strength we need to stand taller. We access that strength as we apply what we read from those words.

Birthday week

Haha a 21 year old! :) :P HA!! :) I feel so old! You'll love to hear what I did on my birthday.

Well it was probably 15 degrees outside.

No Truck. 

Just feet. 

Freezing Wind. 

Knocking Doors.

Feeling the Spirit, Laughing with my Companion in dark streets.  

Yeah being a missionary on your 21st birthday in the middle of the U.S.

Priceless :) I couldn't have had a better birthday. :) 

I had the opportunity to find out that the Lord truly guides us to knock the doors He needs us to. It's neat. I don't know how to describe it. We were walking and I look at this one house and completely felt it within me, that sensitive impression to knock that door. So we did. He let us in and He listened.

We had an incredible lesson with a guy this week who is literally the guy in the parable of the Talents who hid his talent. This guy is so scared to exercise faith and to learn. We taught about the Book of Mormon and he got really scared. I listened and listened closely to what he was saying. I shared with him my personally testimony and told him that he did not need to be afraid and he read Moroni 10:3-5. He read the verses aloud, and after reading said, that's powerful. He's reading 3 Nephi 11-27 right now.

Being a missionary rocks :)

The new mission address is:

11027 Martha St.

Omaha Nebraska 68144

New Area

Things have gone great in G I since I left. Remember M? He is a member now! I saw him the night after I came and wow...I cannot begin to describe the joy I felt and the difference in his appearance. :) He ran up to me and gave me a huge hug! :) He said, "I didn't forget you. I will never forget you!" :) I almost cried. I know that I have been called to do a great work as a missionary. I saw another family ,they're members now! The mother is completely different now! The Gospel has truly refined her. I am so humbled and amazed. I remember thinking one night in S City if I had done any work in G I. Returning to G I, my testimony has been strengthened to know that as I give my best the Lord will do the rest. Mom, I love being a missionary. I love it! I love seeing the Gospel change people, and help those people come closer to their Father in Heaven, our Heavenly Father.

My Book of Mormon reading continues! :) I love love love love the Book of Mormon! :) I love Nephi. Recently I was thinking I didn't qualify or fit the criteria for being a Zone Leader. I read 2 Nephi 4 today and that all changed. I love these verses.

 

15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children
16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
 18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

I know the Lord has called me to where I am now. I trust in Him and I know that as I put my trust in Him, He will guide me and help me do His work. Even Nephi felt unqualified, but He used the Atonement and exercised trust in Heavenly Father and Look at what He did! :) I know God lives. I know the Book of Mormon is true. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord's Church on the Earth today. I know Jesus Christ lives. His Atonement is very real and very true.

more updates and transfer

 Wow. I must begin my email with this sentence.

"Being a Missionary: The Best Calling Ever"

This week has been great!! I must say, there is so much power in the Book of Mormon! :) We have 5 investigators that are reading it intently! :) They're all flying through 1 Nephi! :) We had 8 investigators at church this week :) we kind of broke the law too. ;) We meet in the Relief Society Room and there is a sign that says, "Maximum Occupancy 32" We had 52 people in the room :) Haha Sioux City is practically on a huge snowball of success, that is rolling down a mountain and it gets bigger and bigger lol ;)

 We have these new Ti-Wi boxes in our cars. They drive me nuts!!! They're a GPS/Saftey Box installed into our cars. They measure how we drive and if we are driving safely. It yells at you if you are driving too fast or even brake too fast! The other day I was on a bridge going the Speed Limit! lol, and suddenly I hear, "SPEEDING VIOLATION!" I was like what the heck!!! We have cards to swipe on the box when we start the day and it replies, "Driver Logged In." :) I feel like a Secret Agent when I do that :) Haha

 Our investigators are soo cool! They're real people! :) [Better than imaginary people right? lol]

 My mission experience is incredible. It's truly helped me and shaped me. I've come to love my Heavenly Father and the Gospel more because of it. My love towards others has grown. lol. I have more courage to do things and even to talk with people. I've learned how to drive better lol.

 But more importantly my testimony has grown and has been molded into a strong foundation for me. 

I just got a call from President...

I'm a Zone Leader and I'll be with Elder Meza in Grand Island.