HEYYYYYYYYYYYY MY PEOPLEESSS this week was very crazy. We had a TON to do to prepare for the baptisms that we had but everything turned out really well. FIRST, I have to share some crazy stories. One of the craziest things happened at church. At the end of church one of the members pulled me out of the last class and told me that she needed help with something. I was wondering what in the world could it be that she wanted help with. My companion and i went with her outside to meet another young lady with her mom. The young lady told me that she was trying to communicate with some dude from Arizona that she needed to meet. She basically asked me to translate the call so that they could communicate. ANYWAYS, first of all it was super hard core difficult to think and speak in two different languages at the same time. But, it was super cool because it was my first translating experience. Anyways, but it was just super strange and everything. I had no idea what they wanted so i basically just ended the call. It was SUPER strange but it was cool that I got to translate.
Also, when we were preparing for one of our baptisms. One of the people (the younger kid name Gustavo) last minute told that he didnt have permission from his mom and COULD NOT BE BAPTIZED. My heart dropped. We literally did so much to prepare for his special day and he was ready and boom. That was it. I was so bummed. Some how, some way, his mom changed her mind last minute and he WAS able to baptized. I got to meet his mom and she seems like a great lady. I am very thankful that she gave him the permission to be baptized and change his life. But imagine, we prepared him all this time he was ready and we prepared the baptism the whole day and boom. He couldnt be baptized. Luckily, everything turned out well and he could. This baptism was really special with him and an lady named hermana Brenda. We vistited her a lot with Elder Sosa when I arrived in Obregon. For a long time, she wasn't ready to be baptized and it made me feel really bad because she is awesome. When she told us that she was ready to be baptized, I was so happy for her. It is one thing that I have seen COUNTLESS times in my mission. Everyone has their OWN time and their OWN conversion. It makes so much sense to me. We are all different so why wouldn't we have different times and experiences. Many times we see people go off the path or members that make incorrect choices. I would ask you with all my heart, please dont judge these people. Everyone has their own time and it happens when the person is ready. We all make mistakes and we all need to repent. Sometimes we forget that we are here to CHANGE and it is part of the plan of salvation. We are all imperfect. We are all on the same path. People are moving at different paces. This is as it should be. Personally, I have experienced my conversion in different ways and times than other people. Please dont let Satan enter into your minds telling you that you dont know enough or your testimony is not enough. Continue with faith and WORK for your testimony. When we work for our testimony of the gospel with a real intent, our it will grow.
I want to share an experience that I had a couple days ago. I love the Book of Mormon. I love the direction that I recieve when I read it. I have known it was true but sometimes I dont really feel it all the time because we teach teach teach and sometimes I feel like a robot. There is a paragraph in the introduction that says that we should read, meditate, and pray about the Book of Mormon to know that it is true. I literally read and teach that section or phrase EVERY DAY. One night, I decided to do as the book asks. I began with a prayer and read for a while and after I thought and meditated. Specifically about what I have read. Ok I know these stories I thought but what does this mean for me PERSONALLY in my life. After thinking, I got out of my bed and got down on my knees before my Heavenly Father with a humble heart and was anxious to recieve an answer. I started to pray to my Heavenly Father with a desire to know of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I recieved my answer. I had always known that the Book of Mormon was true but, I never really asked with a true intent. I testify, will all my soul that it is the world of God. And that we will learn so many things about Him and our lives. As I write this, I feel the truthfulness of this testimony that I have. I promise you, everything single one of you that is reading this, that if you read the Book of Mormon with a REAL INTENT, meditate the message it contains and get down on your knees before our Heavenly Father that you will recieve your answer. It will happen in the time that is right for you because we all different. I know this is true. Personally, it would not be possible to be on a mission if I didnt have a testimony. My testimony is what sustains me and motivates me to be a servant of our Heavenly Father. Joseph Smith himself said "Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none." I testify of the words from a Prophet of God that if we have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Everything is true. If it is true, Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, with the help from Heaven he could restore church, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the exact church that Jesus Christ established when he came to earth. I know this is true. If you havent asked of God if it is true, please do it. Our lives are given a new purpose when we know that it is the word of God. Be patient. Your answer will come.
Love you all!
Giddy Up,
Elder Smith
1. Last day with our district..so sad2. Elder Izucar's last district meeting
3. I spotted myself inside a store
