April 6, 2009

The power of the first vision

i hope that everyone is doing well and enjoyed conference! it was so amazing and beautiful to listen to the prophet and apostles. what a blessing it is to have a living prophet that loves us so much. We got to listen to conference in spanish. We had a little room in the church set up for the spanish speakers to listen to conference, so we were in there listening to it with them. It was great, i couldnt really understand everything but that is what is so amazing is that no matter what language it is in, the language of the spirit is universal. And i could still feel the spirit so powerfully. I loved Elder Hollands talk and president monsons on sunday, they were amazing.

This week was really great we had been working hard at keeping the people we have progressing, we have kinda been taking some steps backwards with some people, but i know that as we pray and continue to work hard with them and teach with the spirit we will help them progress. We had one lesson this week where we contacted this couple and we had a great lesson with them, and the spirit was so strong, we testified of the first vision and we asked them how they felt and if they thought it was true, and they said oh yes yes i know that is true, it happened! but then we asked them if we could return and maybe make a baptismal date with them. Because in this mission they challenge for baptism in the first lesson, but then after that they didnt seem that interested anymore. It just goes to show that we can do all we can and invite the spirit, but the people still have there agency to choose. But it was still great and maybe that experience and the spirit they felt will stick with them.

We also had interviews with president McConkie this week. That was a great experience its cool we got to spend a whole day with him and the assistants and do training with them. It was great to get to talk to president i just wanted to sit in the interview and talk with him cause he has so much knowledge! but we had to get through the whole zone. haha So i made it quick, but he is a great guy and i know im gunna learn so much from him, and grow to love him so much.

Oh i also this last week got my reassignment letter from the church! it was short but it was signed by president Monson so it was way sweet! It was awesome to think my call was inspired and i know this is where im supposed to be, and the prophet signed my letter. Im learning to love something different each day, and grow closer with my companion and roomates each day. Its so great to be back out in the lords service! i hav been blessed so much with an outpouring of the spirit and i have really come to learn to teach by the spirit to touch peoples hearts and how to follow the spirit to know how to reach people. I love getting to go out and find the people that the lord has prepared each day, and see the goodness in there hearts. We have had some great experiences with spanish members here, ill try and send some pics soon. Like we have some recent converts named Alex, and Idalberto who are just great they are so good and kind. Its great to have such a wonderful thing to offer people at this time in the world when there is so much sadness. I find joy in christ and his healing and sustaining power, he can heal anything. He has healed me, and lifted me up in my times of pain. I know he can help us all. That is why i loved Elder Hollands talk so much, cause it talked all about christ. Good scripture for this week. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Its great!

Oh and last week we set a baptismal date with gabriel the guy we found contacting whose cousin is a recent convert and gave him a book of Mormon, Remember him? well we are working to get him baptized soon, and also the family that came to church last week, but they have been having some marriage problems this last week, and we have been having to do some marriage counseling. haha Good practice for when i get married i guess. Ill know what NOT to do. haha but we are doing great. My companion iand i work great together. the best part is we teach with the power of the spirit, and so we are helping people to move to change, that is the best thing as a missionary, that is why we are having some pretty good success. The spirit bears powerful witness, bearing testimony is the opening to the spirit, and helping reach peoples hearts. I know this church is true, and i know we have a true prophet who receives direct revelation to lead christs church. We can also recieve revelation to help better our lives and those around us. I love this gospel and the chance i have to get back out into the work at full swing. The language is coming i struggle at times, but i know with obedience and diligence it will come.

oh the reason while i titled this letter power of the first vision, is cause there is so much power in that experience and it is so important in our church to know that God and his son appeared to joseph smith, and that we do have a living prophet again on the earth. What a great blessing and comfort to know this. I just really felt strong about this this week, i had a great experience with bearing testimony of it this week. Im so grateful for my knowledge of it.

My health is doing well. I hurt sometimes, but i know ill be fine cause like dad said, president greer gave me a great blessing and i know that the lord is beside me helping me always. I love him.