Well the time has finally come and I can not explain the mix of emotions that I am having. I am so excited to see as many of you as I can this upcoming sunday, but, at the sametime wish I could stay and serve. Sadly I know I can and leaving is just as much as part of the plan as starting. There is no possible way to explain how grateful I am to have had the oppertunity to serve the Lord, and to see the love he has for everyone of his children.
I can not think of any better way to end the mission by sharing my testimony. Not just because I am a misisonary, but more because If you are reading this you are important to me. I have spent 2 years tesfiying of our savior to now many very good friends, but the majority strangers who I do not know, but how much more important is it to share our testimonies with those we really love.
Through out being here in Uruguay I have learned the gospel is black and white. It is true or it is not. There is no gray area, we as humans try to justify and make excuses, our own way, yet at the same time we want to say we follow christ and his way. As it says in the scriptures it is impossible to follow two master for ye will love the one and despiese the other.
It has been sad teach the restoration and see how some people are so confused, or so stubborn to change and repent that they do not accept the message. At the sametime it is amazing to see the power of the restuared gospel not he reformed or recently founded gospel of jesus christ but his church restored in our days. The invitation has and will always be the same, study, meditate, and pray and ask if it is true with the determination to act on our answer. Something so simple to do, but sometimes we make it harder than it has to be by not being willing to follow the steps 100 percent, or with real intention, or even sometimes we recieve the answer but are not willing to act accordingly because it may be hard, we are scared, or it may be a little uncomfortable to admit that we might have been wrong or to act diffrently in a world that is completly oppsite from our beliefs.
I know that jesus christ not only was a great man, with great teachings and a way of living but he is our savior and only through his sacrifice we can be saved by obeying his commandmands to the best we can and accepting the atonement through the sacred ordenanzas.
I know because he is our loving brother he has always provided the way to accept his atonement through his authoirty which he has given to his prophets in all times of the creation of the earth. If you think just having the writings of just a few prophets in our hands it is a miracle in itself. The events in the resturation and book of mormon are things recorded in history that fulfill the prophcies of the prophets from the bible. As if the scriptures are not enough of a testimony he has given the ablitiy of the holy ghost to not only testifiy to each of us individual but to testify of the truth when missionaries, members, and even children share how they know that Jesus is the Christ.
I know that he will come again, and through us today he is preparing the way to bless everyone in the world with this great message of peace. I know that if we not only are baptized but if we are firm in the faith until he comes we will live again with him and our families forever.
In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
martes, 11 de agosto de 2015
martes, 14 de julio de 2015
Prepare, Interact, and Commit
This week in Rosario has been really a lot of work. We are not working with any innactive members because all of them have been visited and do not really want anything, with us or any of the other missionaries that have passed by. In otherwords we we are contact basically all of the time. We have actually had a lot of success for this area we taught the restoration a 7 different people this week Which is really good for this area. We are hoping they will progress. Right now we have one family that shows a lot of promise.
We also had a really great confrence with President Smith yesterday. We talked alot about what the Apostles shared with all of the mission Presidents in the last training. It was kinda of cool I was looking on lds.org and had seen the report so I had a little head start but he held the confrence with this format and it was amazing
The first part is prepare. He asked us all to read the book of Jhon before the confrence and think about what we learned and how we are going to apply it to our misisons.
Then in the conference it was basically an hour of passing the microphone around and sharing what we learned. The idea is we need to be come prepared so we can interact.
Towards the end. President smith changed the questions because everyone was just sharing what they learned, but asked us to share not just what we learned but how we were going to change to because of this new information.
The conference went from amazing to really amazing because it was a lot more applicable. he also told to not just listen to the words but try and listen to what the spirit was telling us not to write only what the misisonareis said but thoughts we had.
For example I wrote something like this I need to make sure I do everything the lord expects of me today so I can feel the gratitude of being obedient tomorrow.
It was really great. he explained that all of our studies should be like this and if they are not we need to repent, because if we are only studying to study and not looking for ways to apply it or if we are not really preparing for our lessons we will only have a good lesson and not a lesson with the spirit. He also talked about the importance of how we need to leave things every lesson and make sure they are doing the reading assignments so they come prepared if not the investigator will not feel the spirit as well.
I am short on time but I want to invite all of you to Read the book of Jhon. It was amazing to read all of the testimonies about our Savior. I then invite you to share it with someone member or non member because as member misionarie we need to invite all to Christ and that means inviting people that are already living the gospel. Todays active members who do not feel loved or do not understand are tomorrows less actives.
We also had a really great confrence with President Smith yesterday. We talked alot about what the Apostles shared with all of the mission Presidents in the last training. It was kinda of cool I was looking on lds.org and had seen the report so I had a little head start but he held the confrence with this format and it was amazing
The first part is prepare. He asked us all to read the book of Jhon before the confrence and think about what we learned and how we are going to apply it to our misisons.
Then in the conference it was basically an hour of passing the microphone around and sharing what we learned. The idea is we need to be come prepared so we can interact.
Towards the end. President smith changed the questions because everyone was just sharing what they learned, but asked us to share not just what we learned but how we were going to change to because of this new information.
The conference went from amazing to really amazing because it was a lot more applicable. he also told to not just listen to the words but try and listen to what the spirit was telling us not to write only what the misisonareis said but thoughts we had.
For example I wrote something like this I need to make sure I do everything the lord expects of me today so I can feel the gratitude of being obedient tomorrow.
It was really great. he explained that all of our studies should be like this and if they are not we need to repent, because if we are only studying to study and not looking for ways to apply it or if we are not really preparing for our lessons we will only have a good lesson and not a lesson with the spirit. He also talked about the importance of how we need to leave things every lesson and make sure they are doing the reading assignments so they come prepared if not the investigator will not feel the spirit as well.
I am short on time but I want to invite all of you to Read the book of Jhon. It was amazing to read all of the testimonies about our Savior. I then invite you to share it with someone member or non member because as member misionarie we need to invite all to Christ and that means inviting people that are already living the gospel. Todays active members who do not feel loved or do not understand are tomorrows less actives.
lunes, 1 de junio de 2015
What would you give for what you want?
This week has been really good. Young is a really small town. It is a lot of older people and a lot of the members are related in someway. For example one member has a picture with 5 generations she is 77 and had 16 kids, and I forgot all of the other numbers of grand kids, great grand kids, and great great grand kids.
I think I have written a lot about desires but this week has been intresting to reflect. I usually like it when people sincerly tell us they do not have intrest in our message because then we just do not go back, we do not waste there time, and we do not waste our time. This situation has happened a lot on my mission. Sadly here this has been the time where I have probably been rejected the most, and not just from people on the street but members who just really do not have desires to comeback. I am can really visulize the profets when they said they were in anguish to see the hardening of the hearts of the people.
This last week we have had a lots of lessons on desires and it is intresting we go to famlilies and have great lessons and they say they want to have eternal life, and we share the story of King Lamoni and how he was willing to give up everything, they agree and then....nothing happens....at least for now. It has been intresting to see how we can give all we can and sometimes things just do not work out, or the things we take for granted is something that someone here is fighting to accomplish their life long dream.
In the end I have decided our desires can be so strong, but if we do not have the faith to change we will not get results. I like to think of the slogan or motto about the stupidity of expecting diffrent results by doing the same thing. .
If you have time to goot he the index of the book of mormon and read the about conversion. It being converted really means that we need to have desires but most of all giving all we can to achieve our desires or for me the eternal life.
It is amazing to see at the end of the mision I am more converted then I probably ever have been in my life, yet I know conversion only will grow each day. I think back a few years before the mission and just remembering if I could even really just say I knew god exists like some people had told me. I would have been happy, or thinking of some of my goals. I never obtained it then....because I never really wanted it, not bad enough to fight for it. I really believe a lot of times we are content but we to stive to obtain our testimony, and anything else we want. I want to invite all of you to evauluate your conversion then ask do you really have the conversion that you have always wanted, or are you just content?
I would like to conclude there is a diffrence between wanting everything our father in heaven has given us, and just being selfish. For example I can want and want to have 100 baptisms or some crazy mission stories out of my mission that and ask why did I not have an experince like so and so, but in Alma 29 I have learned even though we should always be looking for the best we have to be balanced and be grateful for the blessings that we have.
My Desires is to finish this next 2 months the best I can and give it all I can be the convert I want my converts to be.
What is your desires, and what would you be willing to do to achieve them?
I promise when we like King Lamoni and really act on our desires we will recieve our reward. I love the irony of how he is willing to give up his whole kindgdom, when all he has to do is pray to know. To me shows that some times are answers are much more simplier than we think, but after how immediatly after Ammon finishes talking, he goes, acts, and prays.
I think I have written a lot about desires but this week has been intresting to reflect. I usually like it when people sincerly tell us they do not have intrest in our message because then we just do not go back, we do not waste there time, and we do not waste our time. This situation has happened a lot on my mission. Sadly here this has been the time where I have probably been rejected the most, and not just from people on the street but members who just really do not have desires to comeback. I am can really visulize the profets when they said they were in anguish to see the hardening of the hearts of the people.
This last week we have had a lots of lessons on desires and it is intresting we go to famlilies and have great lessons and they say they want to have eternal life, and we share the story of King Lamoni and how he was willing to give up everything, they agree and then....nothing happens....at least for now. It has been intresting to see how we can give all we can and sometimes things just do not work out, or the things we take for granted is something that someone here is fighting to accomplish their life long dream.
In the end I have decided our desires can be so strong, but if we do not have the faith to change we will not get results. I like to think of the slogan or motto about the stupidity of expecting diffrent results by doing the same thing. .
If you have time to goot he the index of the book of mormon and read the about conversion. It being converted really means that we need to have desires but most of all giving all we can to achieve our desires or for me the eternal life.
It is amazing to see at the end of the mision I am more converted then I probably ever have been in my life, yet I know conversion only will grow each day. I think back a few years before the mission and just remembering if I could even really just say I knew god exists like some people had told me. I would have been happy, or thinking of some of my goals. I never obtained it then....because I never really wanted it, not bad enough to fight for it. I really believe a lot of times we are content but we to stive to obtain our testimony, and anything else we want. I want to invite all of you to evauluate your conversion then ask do you really have the conversion that you have always wanted, or are you just content?
I would like to conclude there is a diffrence between wanting everything our father in heaven has given us, and just being selfish. For example I can want and want to have 100 baptisms or some crazy mission stories out of my mission that and ask why did I not have an experince like so and so, but in Alma 29 I have learned even though we should always be looking for the best we have to be balanced and be grateful for the blessings that we have.
My Desires is to finish this next 2 months the best I can and give it all I can be the convert I want my converts to be.
What is your desires, and what would you be willing to do to achieve them?
I promise when we like King Lamoni and really act on our desires we will recieve our reward. I love the irony of how he is willing to give up his whole kindgdom, when all he has to do is pray to know. To me shows that some times are answers are much more simplier than we think, but after how immediatly after Ammon finishes talking, he goes, acts, and prays.
martes, 19 de mayo de 2015
Its Black and White
This week has been really calm. We found a new investigator and have just continuted teaching the same people who are progressing. This week was the best week we had in the church and there were several peple missing that usually come every week due to random things.
One of the big things I have been applying this week is basing truths and confirming them by comparing to them by their oppsites. This has been an idea Elder Robins of the 70 talked about on during the most recent brodcast to the youth. He saws that if we are looking for fireflies we could possibly find them in the middle of the day but they would be really hard to see, at night when they are in a dark background they are a lot easier to spot. He compared this to faith. for example we can belive god is god of order and if we do not believe this when we believe he his a god of disorder. We can believe the family can be happy and last for the eterneties or we can believe in death do us part and families are just problems. He used this principle to explain that a lt of people who say they do not have much faith have a lot more faith then they might realize. This has been crucial in helping people comeback.
I have also compared it to many other thigns for example I am a lot more grateful for things. When things are going bad we can usually imagine a worse situation and everything seems to be great. after. Obedience. We can be selective or obey with exactness. Once we compare the blessings or put aside our justifications it is a lot easier to see the way.
We can also apply this to goals if we do not plan we can not evaluate but once we put our goals with what we accomplished we can clearly see where we need to go. In the words of President Smith
See it
Own it
Solve it
Do it.
In the end choosing to follow Christ is black or white you do or do not. Todays world thrives no living in the gray zone or justifiying there actions. So many people today are just conforming to what is going on. I am not saying that living in the world is easy or saying to go and be an extremist, but we need to choose where we want to be, be there and make sure we are acting in accordance with what we believe.
I am really sad to be leaving Rivera this week. But it amazing to see the changes and the changes that will be coming this next change for the ward I wish I could be there but I will be going to another area and will be traveling a lot each week. I will be part of the stake Paysandu but I will be living in another department Rio Negro in a city called Young.
One of the big things I have been applying this week is basing truths and confirming them by comparing to them by their oppsites. This has been an idea Elder Robins of the 70 talked about on during the most recent brodcast to the youth. He saws that if we are looking for fireflies we could possibly find them in the middle of the day but they would be really hard to see, at night when they are in a dark background they are a lot easier to spot. He compared this to faith. for example we can belive god is god of order and if we do not believe this when we believe he his a god of disorder. We can believe the family can be happy and last for the eterneties or we can believe in death do us part and families are just problems. He used this principle to explain that a lt of people who say they do not have much faith have a lot more faith then they might realize. This has been crucial in helping people comeback.
I have also compared it to many other thigns for example I am a lot more grateful for things. When things are going bad we can usually imagine a worse situation and everything seems to be great. after. Obedience. We can be selective or obey with exactness. Once we compare the blessings or put aside our justifications it is a lot easier to see the way.
We can also apply this to goals if we do not plan we can not evaluate but once we put our goals with what we accomplished we can clearly see where we need to go. In the words of President Smith
See it
Own it
Solve it
Do it.
In the end choosing to follow Christ is black or white you do or do not. Todays world thrives no living in the gray zone or justifiying there actions. So many people today are just conforming to what is going on. I am not saying that living in the world is easy or saying to go and be an extremist, but we need to choose where we want to be, be there and make sure we are acting in accordance with what we believe.
I am really sad to be leaving Rivera this week. But it amazing to see the changes and the changes that will be coming this next change for the ward I wish I could be there but I will be going to another area and will be traveling a lot each week. I will be part of the stake Paysandu but I will be living in another department Rio Negro in a city called Young.
jueves, 16 de abril de 2015
Great Video about Change
Change is really intresting. I do not have much more time but I wanted to share this videol Throughout my mission it has been really amazing to see not only how others I have seen change from recieving the gospel and really understanding, and applying it but seeing the change in my life.
Just want to Share this video with everyone about a gangbanger that changed his life to be a good man.
http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/his-grace/from-gang-member-to-good-man
Just want to Share this video with everyone about a gangbanger that changed his life to be a good man.
http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/his-grace/from-gang-member-to-good-man
lunes, 13 de abril de 2015
True Christianity
. I was just thinking what would the world be like if everyone lived what they believe. For a while i thought basically everyone lives the 10 commandments but after watching this video it really made me think what would the world be like if everyone really lived just these 10 commandments.
10 Commandments Video
I have decided we can not chagne society, but we can change what we do and we as latter saints really can live our beliefs and we may have friends that really do not want to be part of our church but we should encourage them to live there beliefs. For example we talk to many evangelicals and some are really great and others just using it as a label. I will be honest I feel we can find these people in our church as well but it should not be it. I have seen things where ward members here go out and do things openly that is not in accordance to the gospel, but then want us to teach there future spouse or friend. These people have a wrong idea waht is a mormon because their mormon friends are using their fatih as a title.
I loved in confrence when the general authority talked about Nelson Mandela and used the story where it defined a saint as a sinner that is trying to live as perfectly as he can. I do now want to say I am perfect or ever will be, but if we all try and be true chistians, and true members of the church of Jesues Christ of latter day Saints we will see changes even amongst the polar oppsite beliefs of the world.
This video was on during confrence in the world report, but I have been thinking a lot about true christianity. It is really intresting I have talked a lot about multifaith events, and the faithcounts from the church and respecting everyone
True Christianity
10 Commandments Video
I have decided we can not chagne society, but we can change what we do and we as latter saints really can live our beliefs and we may have friends that really do not want to be part of our church but we should encourage them to live there beliefs. For example we talk to many evangelicals and some are really great and others just using it as a label. I will be honest I feel we can find these people in our church as well but it should not be it. I have seen things where ward members here go out and do things openly that is not in accordance to the gospel, but then want us to teach there future spouse or friend. These people have a wrong idea waht is a mormon because their mormon friends are using their fatih as a title.
I loved in confrence when the general authority talked about Nelson Mandela and used the story where it defined a saint as a sinner that is trying to live as perfectly as he can. I do now want to say I am perfect or ever will be, but if we all try and be true chistians, and true members of the church of Jesues Christ of latter day Saints we will see changes even amongst the polar oppsite beliefs of the world.
This video was on during confrence in the world report, but I have been thinking a lot about true christianity. It is really intresting I have talked a lot about multifaith events, and the faithcounts from the church and respecting everyone
True Christianity
martes, 7 de abril de 2015
Our Eternal Potential and Missionary Work
This week has been a week of many challanges on the mission but we have had many success as well including my first baptism, and find another person that has accepted to be baptized at the end of this month. However one of the things that really recharged my spirtual batteries was general confrence this week. I have never had a confrence session go by so fast and through out the week. Will be posting more of what is going on in my mission as well as more thoughts about this sessions general confrence.
Lately I have been thinking a lot about our potential. It is amazing how some days I can wake up and feel like I can do almost anything and other days being a victim of realism. Elder Uchtdorf had a great talk about Grace and how not only the atonement is to make us innocent before Christ but to progress and become like him.
Before going on if you have not listend to the talk by Elder Rafeal Pino and Gods Plan and Our Potential I would watch it. One of the struggles I have is when reading the scriptures is that we are like the dust of the earth, yet we are children of God and his most beloved creations, or sometimes reading that with faith in him we can move mountains. I have come to the conclusion that we are as members of the Church of Jesues Christ of Latter day Saints are lucky to have the restored gospel. As we have been studying the gathering of Israel we really are a people of covenants, and i like how he says first got taught us the plan then gave us covenants to keep, and how really that is where are potential comes from. He has a plan and we may not know understand all of it but by following his plan we really can accomplish anything. I liked the part where he said the ¨¨lord knows what he wants and we do not have the right to council him. Why should we, we should be asking him what he wants and how to achieve it. Many do not realize but the church between the sessions gives the world report and shows great things such as church news, or faith counts and mormon messages. One of the mormon messages I have never seen is below and I really liked how it shows us just sometimes the simplest things that are holding us back from reaching our potential.
What really stood out to me in the talk of Elder Pino is the story he uses about the block of stone. Only the stonecutter knew the man was in there. Sometimes we do not really see our true potentail but God does and if we go to him in prayer, scripture study, but most importantly in faith he will help us see what we really can become. Another thing i have learned besides how truely blessed we are to have the restored gospel, but that we do not have the right to determine who should and should not see no their potential. We do this in many ways by tearing people down instead of building them up, gossip, but one thing I have learned is we do not know who is ready for the gospel. I can not say how many times when that the most unlikely people have accepted to hear our message and some to the point of accepting to be baptized. There are countless times when I may have not felt to talk to a person and my past companions have started a conversation with someone when we are on the way to an appointment and are going to be late, somtimes they are great contacts and others may not have been ready at this time but we never would have known if we did not talk to them. We can not let our first impressions determine if they are ready to hear the gospel. I want to invite all of you to think first learn your potential and I know as you reall understand the love god has for you, that you will be ready for the most unlikely moments to share the gospel and help someone understand their potential. The gospel of Jesues Christ is the plan to unlock our potential and happiness, it is also part of this plan to share the gospel.
Lately I have been thinking a lot about our potential. It is amazing how some days I can wake up and feel like I can do almost anything and other days being a victim of realism. Elder Uchtdorf had a great talk about Grace and how not only the atonement is to make us innocent before Christ but to progress and become like him.
Before going on if you have not listend to the talk by Elder Rafeal Pino and Gods Plan and Our Potential I would watch it. One of the struggles I have is when reading the scriptures is that we are like the dust of the earth, yet we are children of God and his most beloved creations, or sometimes reading that with faith in him we can move mountains. I have come to the conclusion that we are as members of the Church of Jesues Christ of Latter day Saints are lucky to have the restored gospel. As we have been studying the gathering of Israel we really are a people of covenants, and i like how he says first got taught us the plan then gave us covenants to keep, and how really that is where are potential comes from. He has a plan and we may not know understand all of it but by following his plan we really can accomplish anything. I liked the part where he said the ¨¨lord knows what he wants and we do not have the right to council him. Why should we, we should be asking him what he wants and how to achieve it. Many do not realize but the church between the sessions gives the world report and shows great things such as church news, or faith counts and mormon messages. One of the mormon messages I have never seen is below and I really liked how it shows us just sometimes the simplest things that are holding us back from reaching our potential.
What really stood out to me in the talk of Elder Pino is the story he uses about the block of stone. Only the stonecutter knew the man was in there. Sometimes we do not really see our true potentail but God does and if we go to him in prayer, scripture study, but most importantly in faith he will help us see what we really can become. Another thing i have learned besides how truely blessed we are to have the restored gospel, but that we do not have the right to determine who should and should not see no their potential. We do this in many ways by tearing people down instead of building them up, gossip, but one thing I have learned is we do not know who is ready for the gospel. I can not say how many times when that the most unlikely people have accepted to hear our message and some to the point of accepting to be baptized. There are countless times when I may have not felt to talk to a person and my past companions have started a conversation with someone when we are on the way to an appointment and are going to be late, somtimes they are great contacts and others may not have been ready at this time but we never would have known if we did not talk to them. We can not let our first impressions determine if they are ready to hear the gospel. I want to invite all of you to think first learn your potential and I know as you reall understand the love god has for you, that you will be ready for the most unlikely moments to share the gospel and help someone understand their potential. The gospel of Jesues Christ is the plan to unlock our potential and happiness, it is also part of this plan to share the gospel.
lunes, 23 de marzo de 2015
Repecting Others the key to changing the world
I am sorry for not using this blog for a long time i completely forgot about it and have decicded I am going to start using it again. I am short on time but here is a copy and paste of what I sent to my family this week.
As contacting people in my time here in Uruguay i am learning frist we can not judge others we really have no idea who is ready and who is not ready to recieve the gospel. Secound we just need to have respect for all relgions this week was a real hard experince with this i did division in another ward and i was helping a recent convert and we found her younger sister that is not attending. her plan was to lie through the lesson but i felt something was diffrent and i decided to take control of the lesson and changed it and it was something i can not explain but all i can say was what needed to be said was said and she cried a little bit but said then that she prefers her new relgion which is black magic..... her sister who is preparing for a mission was crying, and the missionary i was with understood mucical band not the band of black magic. (he later confirmied i was right later in the week). it was such a strong lesson and it was not teaching but it was showing we really care ane testimonies and inviting her to find out for herself. In the end we still have to be respectful, it would only have made things worst if not. It would be amazing how things would chagne in the world if people just respected and lived there own beliefs. for example the 10 commandment keeping the sabbath day holy is in all christian relgions and really we know there are tons of things that break the sabbath. Respect for our own beliefs and respect for others. Something that does not happen to much here or really in all of the world I am sure it is the same. Hopefully the elderes will respect her still talk to her but with love and kindness and one day through the example of her sister she will come back and obtain her own testimoney of the gospel of jesues christ.
You can also see some pictures of me this week on Elder Telomas blog
http://elderteloma.blogspot.com/2015/03/training-week-10.html
Hope you all have a good week and remember to be respectful to everyone even when there are big diffrences of opnion.
As contacting people in my time here in Uruguay i am learning frist we can not judge others we really have no idea who is ready and who is not ready to recieve the gospel. Secound we just need to have respect for all relgions this week was a real hard experince with this i did division in another ward and i was helping a recent convert and we found her younger sister that is not attending. her plan was to lie through the lesson but i felt something was diffrent and i decided to take control of the lesson and changed it and it was something i can not explain but all i can say was what needed to be said was said and she cried a little bit but said then that she prefers her new relgion which is black magic..... her sister who is preparing for a mission was crying, and the missionary i was with understood mucical band not the band of black magic. (he later confirmied i was right later in the week). it was such a strong lesson and it was not teaching but it was showing we really care ane testimonies and inviting her to find out for herself. In the end we still have to be respectful, it would only have made things worst if not. It would be amazing how things would chagne in the world if people just respected and lived there own beliefs. for example the 10 commandment keeping the sabbath day holy is in all christian relgions and really we know there are tons of things that break the sabbath. Respect for our own beliefs and respect for others. Something that does not happen to much here or really in all of the world I am sure it is the same. Hopefully the elderes will respect her still talk to her but with love and kindness and one day through the example of her sister she will come back and obtain her own testimoney of the gospel of jesues christ.
You can also see some pictures of me this week on Elder Telomas blog
http://elderteloma.blogspot.com/2015/03/training-week-10.html
Hope you all have a good week and remember to be respectful to everyone even when there are big diffrences of opnion.
sábado, 30 de agosto de 2014
Somos Como Niños
This week has been a really long week. Good rough hard, exhausting but in the end always rewarding. In the offices we deal with a lot of problems....a lot of problems. I can not even explain because a lot of you reading this would not understand unless you were in Uruguay working in the offices. I could list many titles that we could be called. An elder who is with us now becuase of a major sprain said, ¨I thought all you did was do reembolsos all day, but you literally do anything and everything that needs to get done, go work and teach and then you start your financial day at 9 o clock at night.¨ Elder Brown has also summed up this week with these statements. ¨The offices are just semi organized choas and if this was not the lords work and his hand was not involved in what we do it just would not get done.¨, Instead of going of all the crazyness I want to compare it to the cool things how it has applied to my studies and what I have learned.
First I want to start with this really cool video.
¨http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2119328537001
This was a really cool video. We listen to the mormanchannel stream and I found and watched the video today but heard just the music and message and it happened to be while I was studying Mosiah 3.
First this is a part that really stuck out to me in the video
I work that they may grow. They trust so deeply. How i year to do the same. They know so little how it all came to be.never questioning only trusting.
This is the verse that really stuck out to me this week. I have learned trust is a huge thing. We need to trust who we work with, but most of all trust in our heavanly father. He has literally given us everything and like the video says they know so little how it came to be. We can do everything we can do but in the end we have to hope we have been living accordingly and are humble enough to not only recieve the oppertunities but recognize them. In my studies I was studying a lot about the premortal life and this a plan of happiness everything is for our success and our happiness. Now I am going to post the scriptures but instead of reading them in order we are going to ready them out of order.
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been fromthe fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields tothe enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural manand becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord,and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full oflove, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflictupon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
This really was intresting to me. Mainly because this week I have really been able to see it. I do not know how we got everything we got done. Yes in the end there were a lot of problems and there were days we were wondering when will this day end, but in the end it always worked out and we really just had to have trust. It was crazy to see how he was answering our prayers this week. To end the week I had was looking and just had feeling to look at the scriptures before I went to bed even though I was dead tired and It was Jacob 4 verse 7 i do not even know how or why that came to my mind but this is what it said.
This actually means the same but now looking at it in english does not mean the same thing that I took but all I can say is we have to become like little children humble, but trust in him in all things for in the end they are all for our benefit. Have a good week and remember to ask to find what gods plan is for you and you will be surprised. I have learned so much about myself and what I am going to do in the next year and I know I never would have learned it if I was not out here
First I want to start with this really cool video.
¨http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2119328537001
This was a really cool video. We listen to the mormanchannel stream and I found and watched the video today but heard just the music and message and it happened to be while I was studying Mosiah 3.
First this is a part that really stuck out to me in the video
I work that they may grow. They trust so deeply. How i year to do the same. They know so little how it all came to be.never questioning only trusting.
This is the verse that really stuck out to me this week. I have learned trust is a huge thing. We need to trust who we work with, but most of all trust in our heavanly father. He has literally given us everything and like the video says they know so little how it came to be. We can do everything we can do but in the end we have to hope we have been living accordingly and are humble enough to not only recieve the oppertunities but recognize them. In my studies I was studying a lot about the premortal life and this a plan of happiness everything is for our success and our happiness. Now I am going to post the scriptures but instead of reading them in order we are going to ready them out of order.
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been fromthe fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields tothe enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural manand becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord,and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full oflove, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflictupon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infantperisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation totheir own souls except they humble themselves and become aslittle children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is tocome, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the LordOmnipotent.
17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no othername given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation cancome unto the children of men, only in and through the name ofChrist, the Lord Omnipotent.
17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no othername given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation cancome unto the children of men, only in and through the name ofChrist, the Lord Omnipotent.
This really was intresting to me. Mainly because this week I have really been able to see it. I do not know how we got everything we got done. Yes in the end there were a lot of problems and there were days we were wondering when will this day end, but in the end it always worked out and we really just had to have trust. It was crazy to see how he was answering our prayers this week. To end the week I had was looking and just had feeling to look at the scriptures before I went to bed even though I was dead tired and It was Jacob 4 verse 7 i do not even know how or why that came to my mind but this is what it said.
9 For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command theearth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?
10 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.
11 Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.
12 And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come?
This actually means the same but now looking at it in english does not mean the same thing that I took but all I can say is we have to become like little children humble, but trust in him in all things for in the end they are all for our benefit. Have a good week and remember to ask to find what gods plan is for you and you will be surprised. I have learned so much about myself and what I am going to do in the next year and I know I never would have learned it if I was not out here
sábado, 9 de agosto de 2014
La Doctrina de Cristo
This week we have been focusing a lot on the doctrina de Cristo, or the doctrine of Christ. This is really the most basic but most important part of the gospel. It is Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentence, Baptisim, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Endure to the end.
We have been focusing on teaching just these principles and making sure the people understand them. A lot of them time we know of repentence, but do we really understand it, and do we live it? Those are the two biggest questions we ask.
The first is understanding. We can look in 2 Nephi 31 verse 2 it talks about how important it is to understand but what is it that we need to understand.
To really understand we need to know our purpose or what we want. For most people that is eternal life, and happines in this life and next. The question then is how can we recieve eternal life. We can look at many stories such as the Rich Prince in Mathew but for now we are just going to stay in 2 Nephi 31 because the response is the same. We will start reading verse 10 half way, to where it gets to our main focus and follow me.
Follow me how can we follow Christ. We can read many examples of what he did in the new testament but we are going to read in 3 Nephi 27 13 and 14 we learn he was doing the will of the Father.
Now how can we follow the will of the Father let´s go back and read 2 Nephi 31 verse 10. We can continue reading and we find that the main focuses are the faith, repentence, baptisim, the holy ghost and endure to the end.
We have been teaching these to tons of people and have seen tons of changes in them when they understand. It seems that when we understand we actually apply what we learn. Being in the offices we get to hear tons of success stories of other missionaries and people who have been visted by the missionaries for years and not stepped foot in the church are now returning.
One of the big thing is these is an example our mission president gave us along with a few other variations, but the goal is not to use the same over and over with the less active members we are suppose to study in our personal study and find other refrences of the doctrina de Cristo, and what we study in the morning use in the lesson that day. It has changed not only the mission but my studies and I can not say how important it is to really understand and live the doctrine of Christ all is for our benfit. It is simple and clear sometimes we make it more complicated then we have to but it it the only way. The refrence escaped me right now but in spanish it says you there is not another way to slavation expect through the means of Christ. then the next few verse says we can not live more or less the law. We have to live the law to exactness and luckily this law was made simple for all of us everyone in the world to complete we just have to understand it and live it.
We have been focusing on teaching just these principles and making sure the people understand them. A lot of them time we know of repentence, but do we really understand it, and do we live it? Those are the two biggest questions we ask.
The first is understanding. We can look in 2 Nephi 31 verse 2 it talks about how important it is to understand but what is it that we need to understand.
To really understand we need to know our purpose or what we want. For most people that is eternal life, and happines in this life and next. The question then is how can we recieve eternal life. We can look at many stories such as the Rich Prince in Mathew but for now we are just going to stay in 2 Nephi 31 because the response is the same. We will start reading verse 10 half way, to where it gets to our main focus and follow me.
Follow me how can we follow Christ. We can read many examples of what he did in the new testament but we are going to read in 3 Nephi 27 13 and 14 we learn he was doing the will of the Father.
Now how can we follow the will of the Father let´s go back and read 2 Nephi 31 verse 10. We can continue reading and we find that the main focuses are the faith, repentence, baptisim, the holy ghost and endure to the end.
We have been teaching these to tons of people and have seen tons of changes in them when they understand. It seems that when we understand we actually apply what we learn. Being in the offices we get to hear tons of success stories of other missionaries and people who have been visted by the missionaries for years and not stepped foot in the church are now returning.
One of the big thing is these is an example our mission president gave us along with a few other variations, but the goal is not to use the same over and over with the less active members we are suppose to study in our personal study and find other refrences of the doctrina de Cristo, and what we study in the morning use in the lesson that day. It has changed not only the mission but my studies and I can not say how important it is to really understand and live the doctrine of Christ all is for our benfit. It is simple and clear sometimes we make it more complicated then we have to but it it the only way. The refrence escaped me right now but in spanish it says you there is not another way to slavation expect through the means of Christ. then the next few verse says we can not live more or less the law. We have to live the law to exactness and luckily this law was made simple for all of us everyone in the world to complete we just have to understand it and live it.
sábado, 26 de julio de 2014
Who We Teach and Why
In this post you are not just going to find pictures that look like we are having tons of fun but a family that was really fun. The family below is a family that were recent converts when I got to the area. They are one of the strongest famlies I have seen in the gospel.
Hermana Otonelli is a recent convert, She was found by missionaries knocking doors. The missionaries past her house several times and were about to give up on her when she let them in and they found her and her three daughters two which are twins and the other in the picture below in the purple sweater. The one in the pink is actually thier cousin. Anyway with time they all accpted the invitation to be baptized including her husband who was sadly out of town when we took picures.
They are very faithful, and you can see that the gospel has changed their life. I don´t believe they had tons of problems before they were baptized becasue they are an amazing family but you can tell they went from content to a joy beyond all measure. Hermana Otoneli reguarly gave us amazing food, but also would leave with us and has given us many refrences of her huge family that at the point when I left were just starting to meet with the missionaries.
One really cool thing, that Elder Call and Elder Muller did while teaching them was give them the challange of Elder Ballard and invite a friend or make a new friend and invite them to meet with the missionareis every three months. Every member in this family has beein doing that. I really liked how Elder Call explained it to them. That they willl have a new friend in the gospel or they will just have a new friend. Currently they are working with there family members and as you can see their cousin is enjoying the time with us just as much as we are enjoying the time with them.
Through the mission we have the oppertunity to talk to many wonderful people, and famlies like the family Otonelli. In some cases like them we have seen content families obtain more happiness, and some families who have had hard times come to this truth. In the end yes what we teach is important because the message of God and it is true, but just as important is the message is they why. We are teaching our brothers and sisters and so they can enjoy of the same blessings that we recieve. We are not teaching just to have more members in our church we are teaching and helping our brothers and sisters. If everyone in the world thought this way the world would be a whole diffrent place.
In the end I just had to put this picture of another family we taught in Dolores they are not members but are on the road to be members the last I heard they were progressing and I am hoping within the next few weeks they will be baptized. Best part is the little girl Mataina already told us she believes the Book of Mormon is true. Looking over this post the words can´t even describe the moments I spent with these famlies, and just seeing how the gospel can make a family happier even if they already thought they were happy.
In the end I invite you all to take on Elder Ballards challange and in the next three months find a friend you already have or make a new one and in 3 months the worst thing that can happen is you will have a new friend, but even better you will have a new friend that is enjoying the gospel.
They are very faithful, and you can see that the gospel has changed their life. I don´t believe they had tons of problems before they were baptized becasue they are an amazing family but you can tell they went from content to a joy beyond all measure. Hermana Otoneli reguarly gave us amazing food, but also would leave with us and has given us many refrences of her huge family that at the point when I left were just starting to meet with the missionaries.
One really cool thing, that Elder Call and Elder Muller did while teaching them was give them the challange of Elder Ballard and invite a friend or make a new friend and invite them to meet with the missionareis every three months. Every member in this family has beein doing that. I really liked how Elder Call explained it to them. That they willl have a new friend in the gospel or they will just have a new friend. Currently they are working with there family members and as you can see their cousin is enjoying the time with us just as much as we are enjoying the time with them.
In the end I just had to put this picture of another family we taught in Dolores they are not members but are on the road to be members the last I heard they were progressing and I am hoping within the next few weeks they will be baptized. Best part is the little girl Mataina already told us she believes the Book of Mormon is true. Looking over this post the words can´t even describe the moments I spent with these famlies, and just seeing how the gospel can make a family happier even if they already thought they were happy.
In the end I invite you all to take on Elder Ballards challange and in the next three months find a friend you already have or make a new one and in 3 months the worst thing that can happen is you will have a new friend, but even better you will have a new friend that is enjoying the gospel.
sábado, 19 de julio de 2014
What We Teach
This week was really a good week. We had a last minute confrence and working in the office means we have to help buy everything with following all of the rules and processes the churches has which is a lot of processes and sometimes makes it dificult to work but in the end keeps everything running well and organized.
The confrence was really good. We went over what is it that we are suppose to teach. When I got to the mission we were introduced lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3. Basically all 3 are lesson 1 from Preach my gospel. The idea is they are just organized in away to give commitiments and teach a very short lesson with a lot of impact. In the end we always should listen to the spirit but we were given guidlines on how to do them.
Confusions of these lessons came varied from some thinking that 1.1 was just a lesson about prayer other thought it was to just teach the restoration. In the end the purpose is to teach the restoration in a way that the investigators can have an experince with prayers and pray asking Father in Heaven for what they need most in there life. We were also trained on how to connect and ask them to ask to see if Joesph Smith was called as a prophet, becuase this is also very important.
1.2 is about the Book of Mormon. Missionaries would do exactly has was given a year ago mostly word for word. I feel into this group. We would read the interduction and the first 12 verses of the Book of Mormon. We were told the purpose is to help them have an experince with the Book of Mormon. usually this will work but the message always needs to be applied to their needs because that is what the gospel is for us and our needs. The commitment is after god has answere there prayers for them to prepare to follow the example of Christ and be baptizied.
1.3 A lot of people were focusign on the doctrine of christ which is really important, and next week I will explain this because it was amazing what we learned and when we have applied this lesson we have had tons of success. For right now 1.3 is mostly a verification part but usually held if we can in the church and we review about how the priesthood authority exists today and the need of the sacrad ordinaces such as baptisim and the sacrement. If they have not already usually this is when they should accept baptisim.
I wish I had more time to explain I am short on time today. I can say these three lessons have changed peoples lives not just because this is the restored church, and the message is true but these lessons teach gospel princples in a way that can be connected and made personal for every person. The Gospel is gods plan for us to return back from him, when we really apply it to our lives we can see the truth. This week I have caught myself saying if only they had the gospel. I use not ot think it was a huge diffrence but after talking to tons of people who are not relgious in any regard to people who are very active in other relgions that they are missing something some more than others and that is the restored gospel of Jesues Christ.
The confrence was really good. We went over what is it that we are suppose to teach. When I got to the mission we were introduced lessons 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3. Basically all 3 are lesson 1 from Preach my gospel. The idea is they are just organized in away to give commitiments and teach a very short lesson with a lot of impact. In the end we always should listen to the spirit but we were given guidlines on how to do them.
Confusions of these lessons came varied from some thinking that 1.1 was just a lesson about prayer other thought it was to just teach the restoration. In the end the purpose is to teach the restoration in a way that the investigators can have an experince with prayers and pray asking Father in Heaven for what they need most in there life. We were also trained on how to connect and ask them to ask to see if Joesph Smith was called as a prophet, becuase this is also very important.
1.2 is about the Book of Mormon. Missionaries would do exactly has was given a year ago mostly word for word. I feel into this group. We would read the interduction and the first 12 verses of the Book of Mormon. We were told the purpose is to help them have an experince with the Book of Mormon. usually this will work but the message always needs to be applied to their needs because that is what the gospel is for us and our needs. The commitment is after god has answere there prayers for them to prepare to follow the example of Christ and be baptizied.
1.3 A lot of people were focusign on the doctrine of christ which is really important, and next week I will explain this because it was amazing what we learned and when we have applied this lesson we have had tons of success. For right now 1.3 is mostly a verification part but usually held if we can in the church and we review about how the priesthood authority exists today and the need of the sacrad ordinaces such as baptisim and the sacrement. If they have not already usually this is when they should accept baptisim.
I wish I had more time to explain I am short on time today. I can say these three lessons have changed peoples lives not just because this is the restored church, and the message is true but these lessons teach gospel princples in a way that can be connected and made personal for every person. The Gospel is gods plan for us to return back from him, when we really apply it to our lives we can see the truth. This week I have caught myself saying if only they had the gospel. I use not ot think it was a huge diffrence but after talking to tons of people who are not relgious in any regard to people who are very active in other relgions that they are missing something some more than others and that is the restored gospel of Jesues Christ.
jueves, 17 de julio de 2014
No Fears, No Regrets, and Talking in Everymoment
Real quick. I am running out of time for the week to post but I wanted to talk about another experince I had with my night companion Elder Tolema. We currently have been focusing on talking to in every moment and we have talked to some really intresting people. Only in Uruguay where it is legal to smoke marijuana will you talk to 2 diffrent groups of people smoking and have conversations about life and and Gods plan for us. One turned out to be a dud but the other was really great, and were with it enough to have a really good conversation. They did not accept our message but took a pamphlet and started thinking about things they have not really thought about.
We also ran into some really cool families one who had the missionaries visit her when she was a little girl and gave us her phone number to visit her family sometime next week. Another girl we meet was a young mother who has some really hard situations and she was with her new boyfriend and her three year old girl was hilarious and really ended up helping the situation in the end but they were just making fun of us walking down the street, but we went up and talked to them and by the end had a little intrest and we will also try and have a lesson with them with them next week.
Other people we talked to ended up being a college student waiting for the bus, a man helping park cars, and many others that may not have really accepted our message but had a good experince.
Elder Teloma and I were talking about our amazing day and we talked about a District meeting where a another missionary had talked about what is worse the fear to talk to a complete stranger or the regret of knowing you should have talked to them. For me Fear at times is the hardest but it seems after everytime not talking to them regret always follow. I have learned at times it is hard to talk to people, especially about the gospel at times but I know that if we overcome our fear we will have a amazing results and never have regrets.
We also ran into some really cool families one who had the missionaries visit her when she was a little girl and gave us her phone number to visit her family sometime next week. Another girl we meet was a young mother who has some really hard situations and she was with her new boyfriend and her three year old girl was hilarious and really ended up helping the situation in the end but they were just making fun of us walking down the street, but we went up and talked to them and by the end had a little intrest and we will also try and have a lesson with them with them next week.
Other people we talked to ended up being a college student waiting for the bus, a man helping park cars, and many others that may not have really accepted our message but had a good experince.
Elder Teloma and I were talking about our amazing day and we talked about a District meeting where a another missionary had talked about what is worse the fear to talk to a complete stranger or the regret of knowing you should have talked to them. For me Fear at times is the hardest but it seems after everytime not talking to them regret always follow. I have learned at times it is hard to talk to people, especially about the gospel at times but I know that if we overcome our fear we will have a amazing results and never have regrets.
sábado, 12 de julio de 2014
Hoy es El Día or in other Words Today is the Day
We have a Creencia or a belief that is called Hoy es el Día which means today is the day. Today is the day the lord is hastening his work. Beign in the offices we do not have tons of time to work out in the field expect for the nights but I just want to share a few of my experinces of this belief.
First this sunday we had three people from the Domincian Repulic who just happened to show up at church. They have recently moved here and all meet in the airport. One is a convert for five years I believe who is coming back and just happened to bring all of her non member friends, to the church. They all now have baptisimal dates and were there for an amazing testimoney meeting. Later this week the day the accepted there baptismal dates they also brough another friend who also accepted, then the next lesson another friend who really is not that intrested but that is four people that have found us and not us finding them. We also have a 16 year old who was invited by people that had been invited by missionaries in the past to play soccer every Tuesday and he is also on the road to being baptizied. They all found us not us finding them!!! It is incredible.
The other is one of the testimony from a less active member who bared her testimony and she did not say us but just said two priesthood holders passed by and helped be wake up from my sleeping state. What had happened is we had visited and commiteed her to starting to read the scriptures everyday. This is the cool thing with things going on in her life and such the Lord just happened to place the article President Uchdorf´s article Are You Sleeping in the Restoration. She read this and as she said woke up. She has been attending for 2 weeks. Because of how we divided the area the others have not been able to pass by her house and find her available but each sunday she is there with her daughters and I feel she won´t be living anytime soon. This is nothing that we did yes is it was great to hear our efforst actually helped her but only could that have article in that moment impacted her so much that she felt the holy ghost so strong to return especially with out us being to follow up with her as much as we would like.
To finish
Yo salto de la cama todos los días and trabajo con fuerza y fe sabiendo mediante las profecias inspiradas que HOY ES EL DÍA en que el Señor está apresurando su obra.
I jump out of the bed every day working with all my effort and faith, knowing that through the inspired prophecias of the prophets that today is the day the lord is hastening his work.
First this sunday we had three people from the Domincian Repulic who just happened to show up at church. They have recently moved here and all meet in the airport. One is a convert for five years I believe who is coming back and just happened to bring all of her non member friends, to the church. They all now have baptisimal dates and were there for an amazing testimoney meeting. Later this week the day the accepted there baptismal dates they also brough another friend who also accepted, then the next lesson another friend who really is not that intrested but that is four people that have found us and not us finding them. We also have a 16 year old who was invited by people that had been invited by missionaries in the past to play soccer every Tuesday and he is also on the road to being baptizied. They all found us not us finding them!!! It is incredible.
The other is one of the testimony from a less active member who bared her testimony and she did not say us but just said two priesthood holders passed by and helped be wake up from my sleeping state. What had happened is we had visited and commiteed her to starting to read the scriptures everyday. This is the cool thing with things going on in her life and such the Lord just happened to place the article President Uchdorf´s article Are You Sleeping in the Restoration. She read this and as she said woke up. She has been attending for 2 weeks. Because of how we divided the area the others have not been able to pass by her house and find her available but each sunday she is there with her daughters and I feel she won´t be living anytime soon. This is nothing that we did yes is it was great to hear our efforst actually helped her but only could that have article in that moment impacted her so much that she felt the holy ghost so strong to return especially with out us being to follow up with her as much as we would like.
To finish
Yo salto de la cama todos los días and trabajo con fuerza y fe sabiendo mediante las profecias inspiradas que HOY ES EL DÍA en que el Señor está apresurando su obra.
I jump out of the bed every day working with all my effort and faith, knowing that through the inspired prophecias of the prophets that today is the day the lord is hastening his work.
jueves, 10 de julio de 2014
The Importance of Feedback
If you look in a Preach Gospel you will see in Chapter 8 about planning if you go through the steps the last step I do not know what you would call it in English but here we call it Paso Trece. In this step is where we talk about difficulties we are having with the other, things we need to do better, and so forth. We had a training on this chapter in planning from Preach my Gospel and President Smith taught us a method to give this feed back. This is how it is translated.
What I most value about....(Your work, efforts, the way you teach, etc.)
What I think you can do more efficient is.....
When President taught us this he taught us not only how important it is to give and recieve feedback. This has really changed the mission and has really helped me and companions get a long better and resolve problems and help us be a lot more effective. This week we have had a lot of these some more intense than others, but It has really helped out and this last week has led us to be way effective in the offices and in the field. We have given two of our investigators baptismal dates! It has been great feeling, but it has been a trial of our faith and work. It is really an answer to our prayers. I can really testify that prayers coupled with obedience, faith, and of course trials of faith well prepare us for the moments God has set up for us to suceed.
This week has been a huge turn around becasue of the feedback. Because of our contact with finances we have been blessed to have meeting with President Smith everyonce and a while and some times getting feedback from him can be a very humbling experince, but the feedback has blessed our companionship, our area, the lives of the people we are teaching, and has impacted me and made me a better person.
I would just like to conclude this blog post asking for your feedback about the blog I am writing and things you like about it, and things you would like to see or how I can improve it. Please post your feedback for me in the comments so I can see that and tomrrow when I get on for Pday can apply your feedback for me. Hope you all are doing well and enjoying your day!
What I most value about....(Your work, efforts, the way you teach, etc.)
What I think you can do more efficient is.....
When President taught us this he taught us not only how important it is to give and recieve feedback. This has really changed the mission and has really helped me and companions get a long better and resolve problems and help us be a lot more effective. This week we have had a lot of these some more intense than others, but It has really helped out and this last week has led us to be way effective in the offices and in the field. We have given two of our investigators baptismal dates! It has been great feeling, but it has been a trial of our faith and work. It is really an answer to our prayers. I can really testify that prayers coupled with obedience, faith, and of course trials of faith well prepare us for the moments God has set up for us to suceed.
This week has been a huge turn around becasue of the feedback. Because of our contact with finances we have been blessed to have meeting with President Smith everyonce and a while and some times getting feedback from him can be a very humbling experince, but the feedback has blessed our companionship, our area, the lives of the people we are teaching, and has impacted me and made me a better person.
I would just like to conclude this blog post asking for your feedback about the blog I am writing and things you like about it, and things you would like to see or how I can improve it. Please post your feedback for me in the comments so I can see that and tomrrow when I get on for Pday can apply your feedback for me. Hope you all are doing well and enjoying your day!
martes, 8 de julio de 2014
Being a Perfectionist vs Becoming Perfect in Christ
I have been thinking a lot about doing my best lately. The constant debate in my mind has always been either I did not do that perfectly and I need to be perfect or I use the excuse I am not perfect, I can not be expected to be perfect, so why try. In short I found an article that I really want to share that was my answer to this question. For me though more important than the answer was the timing.
In the offices we are always doing something, and I mean always running around doing something that needs to be done to help the missionaries focuson the lords work. I was having a really hard day and well sometimes even though we are on the mission the mission offices is just like the office and can be very hard to feel the spirit. We had recently had been talking to president about how we do not have enough time to do all or our studies and it is hard. He told us we need to change our mindset and make it a priority. This morning I had not had my personal study because we had to go get my Uruguyan ID card. and number very early in the morning and we did not have time to study. In all the choas I decided I just needed about 30 minutes to have a my own personal and with everything going on the question of being perfect and doing my best was at the front of my mind and I found this article on the homepage of lds.org. I can not describe
https://www.lds.org/liahona/2014/07/young-adults/becoming-perfect-in-christ?lang=eng
For those of you who are short on time I am just going to paste the a few parts I really liked but I know Gods loves us and he answers prayers and through the atonement we can recieve the motivation to do better and our weaknesses can be filled through his mercy.
Hope you all enjoy and have a good day.
In the offices we are always doing something, and I mean always running around doing something that needs to be done to help the missionaries focuson the lords work. I was having a really hard day and well sometimes even though we are on the mission the mission offices is just like the office and can be very hard to feel the spirit. We had recently had been talking to president about how we do not have enough time to do all or our studies and it is hard. He told us we need to change our mindset and make it a priority. This morning I had not had my personal study because we had to go get my Uruguyan ID card. and number very early in the morning and we did not have time to study. In all the choas I decided I just needed about 30 minutes to have a my own personal and with everything going on the question of being perfect and doing my best was at the front of my mind and I found this article on the homepage of lds.org. I can not describe
https://www.lds.org/liahona/2014/07/young-adults/becoming-perfect-in-christ?lang=eng
For those of you who are short on time I am just going to paste the a few parts I really liked but I know Gods loves us and he answers prayers and through the atonement we can recieve the motivation to do better and our weaknesses can be filled through his mercy.
Hope you all enjoy and have a good day.
"As we act and are not acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:14),
we can navigate between complementary virtues and achieve much of
life’s growth. These can appear in “an opposition,” being “a compound in
one” (2 Nephi 2:11).
For example, we can cease to be idle (see D&C 88:124) without running faster than we have strength (see Mosiah 4:27).
We can be “anxiously engaged in a good cause” (D&C 58:27) while also periodically pausing to “be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10; see also D&C 101:16).
We can find our lives by losing our lives for the Savior’s sake (see Matthew 10:39; 16:25).
We can be “not weary in well-doing” (D&C 64:33; see also Galatians 6:9) while taking appropriate time to refresh spiritually and physically.
We can be lighthearted without being light-minded.
We can laugh heartily with but not haughtily at.
Our
Savior and His Atonement invite us to “come unto Christ, and be
perfected in him.” As we do so, He promises that His grace is
“sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” (Moroni 10:32).
For those burdened by cares to find perfection or to be perfect now, our Savior’s freely given atoning love assures us:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28, 30).7"
sábado, 5 de julio de 2014
Feeling the Spirit in the Office
One of the things I am really learning is that being in the offices is still part of the mission, but is still very diffrent. If we are not to careful the offices can just be an offices even though we are doing things for the church. Later in the week you will see a blog post appear about an experince I had this week.
Thinking about this I really have been studying how can we feel and recognize the spirit. For me this is something that is really hard, and I have heard many things that have helped me and I can and probably will write many more blog posts about recognizing the spirit, because it is not only one of the most important things we need to do but something that I am really studying.
For now I want to just write about feeling the spirit in the office or how you can feel the spirit througout the day. I know they are your usualy sunday school answers but they are basics and are very imporant that is the importance of prayer, and scripture study. I can testify now that these basics help us feel the spirit during the day even when we are not in the church. First and foremost as you will read in another blog post about my experince of personal scripture study in the near future. Since I have been here the past three weeks I will be honest we have not had our studies everyday and I can tell you there is a huge diffrence. The other is just simply always having a prayer in our hearts.
For now I want to talk about some changes we have made here in the office that have made us really feel the spirit and change how we have worked this past week. When I first got here we would come in and just start working and that was it, we also had tongs of problems with coordination because we have to share a car and with all 6 of us having to do very difffrent things, on time and in diffrent places it made it really hard. This also made tentions rise and at times we would have a spirit of contention.
How did we fix it. Well president Smith suggested we start everyday with a meeting where we verify the plans, and plan for the next day. This is going to help either way, but he then said we need to start it with a devotional and a hymn. This is something that is only 10 or 15 minutes at the most but not only are we working more effciently, but I can say I am not just working in an office but the office of a mission.
Other things that has been intresting ways to feel the spirit is through focusing on christ attributes. Especially at times when we are driving and people cut us off, or we get a call from a angry land lord. Things are very diffrent when you have to start the conversation off with Elder Holt speaking from the Montevideo Oeste Mission. How can I help you? Focusing on those attributes have really helped especially focusing on the attribute with patience. We get a variety of calls, and we receive a lot of them, but becuase there is a focus on helping the person and being a representive Christ there is a huge diffrence in this offices than any other offices I have worked on and that diffrence is the spirit.
Hope you all have a good week. On a side note I am to a point some of these things are easier to just write in spanish or think in spanish it is funny to think I never thought I would have this probably where I had such a struggle with the languag
Thinking about this I really have been studying how can we feel and recognize the spirit. For me this is something that is really hard, and I have heard many things that have helped me and I can and probably will write many more blog posts about recognizing the spirit, because it is not only one of the most important things we need to do but something that I am really studying.
For now I want to just write about feeling the spirit in the office or how you can feel the spirit througout the day. I know they are your usualy sunday school answers but they are basics and are very imporant that is the importance of prayer, and scripture study. I can testify now that these basics help us feel the spirit during the day even when we are not in the church. First and foremost as you will read in another blog post about my experince of personal scripture study in the near future. Since I have been here the past three weeks I will be honest we have not had our studies everyday and I can tell you there is a huge diffrence. The other is just simply always having a prayer in our hearts.
For now I want to talk about some changes we have made here in the office that have made us really feel the spirit and change how we have worked this past week. When I first got here we would come in and just start working and that was it, we also had tongs of problems with coordination because we have to share a car and with all 6 of us having to do very difffrent things, on time and in diffrent places it made it really hard. This also made tentions rise and at times we would have a spirit of contention.
How did we fix it. Well president Smith suggested we start everyday with a meeting where we verify the plans, and plan for the next day. This is going to help either way, but he then said we need to start it with a devotional and a hymn. This is something that is only 10 or 15 minutes at the most but not only are we working more effciently, but I can say I am not just working in an office but the office of a mission.
Other things that has been intresting ways to feel the spirit is through focusing on christ attributes. Especially at times when we are driving and people cut us off, or we get a call from a angry land lord. Things are very diffrent when you have to start the conversation off with Elder Holt speaking from the Montevideo Oeste Mission. How can I help you? Focusing on those attributes have really helped especially focusing on the attribute with patience. We get a variety of calls, and we receive a lot of them, but becuase there is a focus on helping the person and being a representive Christ there is a huge diffrence in this offices than any other offices I have worked on and that diffrence is the spirit.
Hope you all have a good week. On a side note I am to a point some of these things are easier to just write in spanish or think in spanish it is funny to think I never thought I would have this probably where I had such a struggle with the languag
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)