Date
April 27, 2015
Area
Reconquista, Argentina
Companion
Elder Jordy Soto
A Visit from Elder Oaks
Hola Hola,
Wow, it has been quite a crazy week. So, this week we were thinking that we were finally going to be able to leave the zone leaders apartment and move in to our new apartment. They have still been building it, but our landlord told us that it was going to be finished this week. Well we got a call from Pres. Franco this week and he told us that we weren't going to be able to rent it anymore. Basically our mission, as well as all the missions in the world, are getting smaller in number of missionaries, so he didn't want to commit to a new contract. So, Wednesday we moved all of our stuff that we stored there at the new apartment over the to the Zone Leaders apartment. And now we just live there. We are a little short on space, but we are making it work. The good thing is that we now have our bed frames and don't have to sleep on the floor anymore! I was excited about that. We actually made them in to bunk beds, so that's fun.
We are still teaching R. This week we taught her and L. (her boyfriend) about the Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is really into it and really understands. She has a great desire to learn and is really seeking her answer. We really believe that she already has her answer that all of this is true...its just hard for her to recognize it. Unfortunately she didn't come to church on Sunday. We went by Saturday night to teach her more about the Sabbath Day, but when we got there she looked really bad and just wasn't doing well. She told us it wasn't a good time. She was nice though and told us that she was going to try to come to church. We were worried about her. We think that she might have gotten in a fight with Leo. We are going back tonight to see though. Pray for her!
So guess what. Random thing. This week I have really come to like avocado. Some members gave us a bag of giant avocados and we just eat it on bread with a little salt. Thats soooo not me....but I really like it!
Yesterday church was really good. I sat on the stand again. Its really weird sitting up in front of everyone. L. came. This is only the second time that she has come since I have been here again. (Saturday we had a great lesson about the dia de reposo, and I think she finally saw the importance of coming to church). So, yeah, Elder Soto and I still keep pretty busy as counselors in the branch presidency. Yesterday we couldn't even make it out to our area because we had meetings all afternoon - missionary corelation, branch council, and then we had to plan next weeks meetings with Pres. Borda. We basically have to do everything right now. He is still learning about his calling, but he is really excited.
So....the highlight of my week...which may have also been the highlight of my mission....ELDER OAKS! Let me just start off by saying the following. I KNOW WITH ALL MY HEART THAT ELDER OAKS IS TRULY AN APOSTLE OF GOD. He is without a doubt a modern day prophet, seer, and revelator. I learned so much from him and the spirit that was with him was incredible.
So Friday the whole mission traveled to Resistencia. We all had to be there and seated at about 3. The meeting started at about 4. Elder Oaks came with his cute wife and also with Pres. Gonzalez (president of South America Area) and his wife. We all stood when he entered the room. There was a great feeling of reverence and peace as he came in. Then we had the chance of briefly shaking his hand. One by one. It went by soooo fast, but it was incredible to be right up there and shake his hand and look into his eyes. Its kinda hard to explain, but as I did that, I could just see calmness in him. As I shook his hand he said, "Hi Elder Christiansen."
President and Hermana Franco spoke first, followed by President and Sister Gonzalez. Hermana Oaks talked and then Elder Oaks. As he stood and began to speak, one of the first things he said was, " I AM FILLED WITH TRUTH AND LIGHT...." BOOM! that hit everyone hard.... then he said that he NEVER prepares anything to teach or share when he addresses missionaries, that he just depends on the spirit. That was incredible. He said, " I am filled with truth and light and I could speak for hours concerning matters of salvation...but since we have such little time, I must make priorities about what I am to say....I MUST depend on the spirit." He then continued to talk about the importance of trusting the Holy Ghost in our teaching and really learning to follow the guidance of the spirit. He spent a good chunk of time explaining HOW revelation is received. He talked about "the law of bias" - discerning between promptings that might be our own thoughts about promptings that truly come from the spirit. He says that he usually knows if its a prompting of the spirit if its something that he doesn't really want to do =) (he gave the example of having the "prompting" to sleep in, versus the prompting to "GET UP!" at 4 in the morning and "listen"!). He also talked about thoughts that just show up "on the blackboards of our minds". He also talked about Dreams ( which I found incredibly interesting). He invited us to seek more revelation when we are planning for the needs of our investigators. He, as well as all of the others that spoke, made great emphasis in KEEPING THE SABBATH DAY HOLY! There is great need for this. The world that we live in is moving further and further away from this commandment. Be aware!
I could go on and on. It was an incredible experience to be in the presence of one of the 12. My testimony of them has grown immensely during my time in the mission. I love them and admire them and FULLY sustain them. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who guides us through his holy servants.
Have a great week and do everything to get closer to the Savior.
Con Amor,
Elder Christiansen