Mis queridos padres!! Esta fue la
semana de 17 Milagros en nuestro distrito!
(My dear parents! This was the week
of 17 miracles in our district!)
We had so many opportunities to do
good this week. I keep meeting new people here, it is incredible. Also, thank
Grandma Darger for sending me pictures of "Snow Canyon Park". That’s
what the mission looks like to me :)
This Sunday was something of a
"pay-day" for me. The F family asked me to bless and present their
newborn in sacrament (the dad baptized R in July, but still doesn't have the
Melchizedek priesthood) and that was such a blessing. I really love the branch
(Presidente D said they're moving my records down here) and I really just want
to do all I can to grow and strengthen them. The gospel is for everyone...men,
women, and children :) Also! At church yesterday L C came! He is the Catholic
husband of G, one of our recent converts. The real miracle...is that he asked
her to take him to church. Elder Killian and I have been doing something called
the "21 Day Promise" for him...the promise (made by a general
authority) is that if you pray for a list of 9 people day and night for 21 days,
at least one of them will be prepared to hear the gospel. Heavenly Father
really only needs a little faith on our part to do the miracles :) The prayers
of the righteous definitely are heard. I'd definitely encourage you all to make
your own list of 9 people and then give their names to the R.V. Elders as
referrals. It’s so simple!
We kept teaching K and M this week
as well, and they are going to need a little more time before they want to be
baptized, but they do love us and really want to take the lessons. They again
expressed their desire for their 1 year old M to be a missionary like us some
day. I am beginning to really feel for these people like the Book of Mormon
prophets felt about their people...it kind of hurts when someone doesn't commit
to making the needed changes in their life or accepting the restored gospel.
But those feelings just motivate me to pray and plan even harder for them.
This week was all about catching
sight of President Leonard's vision for the mission and I do know that he is an
inspired man. He (and Elder Holland apparently) have a vision of this mission
baptizing 1 out of every 3 investigators that we find. Let me tell
you...teaching people in Spanish, our own area has been baptizing about 1 in 9,
and other Spanish areas are as high as 1 in 22. It’s true that we are so
blessed to be in a mission and in an area where we can teach and help people
progress towards joining the church. The members are amazingly helpful, there
are a lot of prepared nonmembers to find, and Hispanics are very receptive to
the gospel. Just like Ether 12:14 "Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and
Lehi that wrought thea change upon
the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the bHoly
Ghost." We are working so hard on strengthening our faith to do
that.
You will probably remember N that I
have talked about before...well the story continues :) It has been hard to
consistently see her. But we stopped by last night on a prompting, and she was
excited to see us! Miracle! I love it when they get excited to see us. N has
been praying, and she has been having some difficulties in her life. Her
renters took off without even paying her! But she prayed for help, and that
same day, she found new renters! She told us that it really helps her to meet
with us, she just isn't sure yet which church she needs to join. I am counting
on the Holy Ghost to answer her. Just like Sister Stewart said, this is the
work of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. They will help and
guide when we just have the vision and faith.
Los quiero tantisimo. He estado muy
agradecido en estos meses por la expiacion del Salvador y por la oportunidad de
empezar de nuevo y de arrepentirme de mis pecados. Él me apoya, me ensena, me
guia todos los dias, y sin el nada podria hacer. Lo amo con todo mi ser y tan
solo le quiero servir y seguir todos mis dias. La iglesia es verdadera!
(I love you so much. I have been
very grateful these months for the Savior’s atonement and the opportunity to
start over and repent of my sins. He supports me, teaches me, guides me and
without him nothing else would do. I love Him with all my being and want to
serve him all my life. The church is true!)
Con amor,
Elder Michael George Stewart
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