Hola a todos! This week went by quickly. We have continued pushing forward in the Lord’s work here in Payson. Sadly we have stopped teaching our friend B and we do not know why. Recently I went on an exchange with one of my good brothas Elder Angeles. We spent all of Thursday in Pine Arizona and served a few members in the Pine Ward. My favorite service project that day was helping a brother add a piece of wood to his house he is building. We held the piece of wood while he shot nails through the wood to hold it together using his nail gun. It was an amazing experience. Now I know what it takes to build a home.

Building a testimony is similar to building a home. How are they similar? Well in order to build your first home, you must have the supplies such as construction equipment. This is the same for building your testimony in Jesus Christ. To do so, you much read your scriptures daily, say your prayers daily, attend Sacrament meeting weekly and the temple often. Like building a home, these 4 principles are like the construction equipment you need. This is something I have been trying to apply on my mission.

As I near the end of my 2-year mission, I plan to continue building my testimony so that can eventually turn into a large spacious mansion. In Matthew 7:24-27, the Savior teaches:

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 

And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 

In this parable, we learn of a man who built his house/testimony upon the sand. And when the winds blew and waves crashed, his home was destroyed. But there was another man who built his house upon a rock. His home was protected because it was built on a firm foundation. IF we continue to seek out God and search for the answers to our prayers by reading the Scriptures daily, then we can be like this man who built his home upon a rock.

Two years seems like a long time, but when you are at the edge of finishing a mission, looking back feels like it all began days ago. I love you all and am excited to see some of you real soon. 

I want to leave an invitation with you all this week to ponder on:

How will you build your foundation of Jesus Christ this week? 

Email answers at joshua.baldwin@missionary.org 

May God be with you all and guide all of you this week with His Spirit 🙏 ❤️ ✨️ 

ELDER BALDWIN 💪