Hola a todos!

This week flew by so fast. It’s Monsoon season y’all! Finally, I see rain after being out for 9 months! The mountain breeze feels nice and different. Something I have learned out here on the mission is that when we pray with faith for miracles, we must expect them to happen. It’s amazing to know that God is a God of miracles.

I had a miracle experience recently while shopping at Walmart. I was shopping for groceries and as I arrived at the self-checkout, I heard a nearby voice: “Hey Wait! Let me get that for you.” The voice belonged to a mother of two children. She shared with me that one of her kids is currently serving a mission and she wanted to show appreciation by buying my food for me. I felt strongly that the choice she made was a fulfillment of my faith to see a miracle. I have recently learned that if we want to see miracles, then we must expect them to happen.

On a different subject, we’ve had many great lessons mostly with members because almost everyone here in Snowflake is a member – either active or less active. We are working with the less active members to help them remember their covenants with the Lord and return to the covenant path. The challenge is many of these less-active members do not want to come back to Church activity and fellowship, which is sad for me. When an investigator says: “Please don’t come back,” it makes me feel disappointed. This Gospel is the greatest thing that has ever happened in my life. I want those feelings for other people too. What can you do? The best thing to do is to share with them as much of the Gospel as possible and hopefully one day they will decide to come back. Many blessings can come to those who choose to come back into the church. The Church provides protection and a good foundation for what is good.

I finally hit 9 months on my mission. My mom says that—metaphorically speaking—I was just reborn as a missionary. I was born as a missionary when I was called, and now I am reborn. It’s amazing to feel that I am getting older in the mission minute-by-minute. I feel every new month as a missionary is a rebirth in a sense. I feel I can start over each new month to become a better missionary than I am right now. It takes time to grow spiritually and mentally. That is why we have our Savior Jesus Christ to help us out. In John chapter 3, the Savior discusses this idea of rebirth with Nicodemus:

“[Nicodemus] came to Jesus and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

We have been working with a family—a mom and dad with four children—who decided to buy Sunday clothing so they can attend Church. I think that’s amazing! The father loves the Church and wants his kids to take the missionary lessons. I feel this family will be progressing quickly to the point where they will be a new member family and will begin their journey on the covenant path. The children love missionaries and are always excited when we come to visit them. The excitement of the children made me realize that this is how we should feel when Jesus Christ comes again to reign and rule over the Earth again. 

Thanks to all of you for being great family members and friends who follow me and walk with me as I have been out on my mission. I love you all and am looking forward to the next few months.

Good luck this week and Buena Suerte!!