Date
May 16, 2016
Area
Rondonoplis, MT, Brazil
Companion
Elder Vargas
4 months out!
Hello from Rondonopolis for possibly the last time, depending on the transfers that are this coming p-day. This week was a little slow but it was a good one.
Monday: We had a great lunch and the elders and sister from the outskirts of our zone arrived for a zone p-day. We had all the things to play water balloon volleyball but after half of one game, it just turned into a water balloon fight, which was Great! The only problem was that p-day was over and done really fast because we were having so much fun. Then that night, we had a huge dinner at Irma Rosas', a recently converted member. If you do a dinner here, it has to be big because 'bastante' (tons) of people will show up. Basically her whole family and half of her street were there so that was good. We were able to share a message with many people.
Tuesday we had a zone conference! I made a bundt cake, thanks to the ingredients in my package, and it was the favorite thing there. I almost didn't get a photo. Our training was good. We learned about the importance of study and the ways we can improve our teaching by asking questions. By lunch time, Elder Philos was real sick and we ended up having to go to the doctors to get him medication. After that we had a service project. We cut a ton of overgrown vines at a member's house and cleaned it all for him. Once we had come back and cleaned up, we just had time to head out and make contacts for a bit.
Wednesday we visited Clarissee. She had a lot of doubts and questions and wasn't sure about her baptism. We answered everything, shared a message, bore testimony, and encouraged her to pray again and ask Heavenly Father. I have faith, but unfortunately she wasn't at church this week and we have to wait for her baptism. :( But...We are doing our part. That is what is important, that we do all that we can do and then just trust in the Lord and His time. Later we had english class which was pretty fun. I taught about the weather along with sister Hudelston, another American here.
Thursday was a normal day. Lots of contacts and some good lessons. We passed an investigator's house to invite him to an activity and his baby was crying unceasingly and we learned that the baby was sick but the needed medicine wasn't available. I felt inspired to offer a blessing even though they are only investigators. They accepted gratefully. We ended up just saying a prayer because the baby wasn't holding still enough to place our hands on his head. They asked me to pray and by the end of the prayer, the baby had stopped crying. As we left he began to cry again, but Elder Vargas and I, at almost the same time, looked at each other and said that we knew he would be alright.
Friday was full of ups and downs. We had commitments fall through but found some good new investigators. It was really just a normal day.
Saturday we spent the day in the chapel decorating and preparing things for our Karaoke activity. With one hour before the activity, we found out that our sound system had blown a fuse, then the projector stopped working and the computer with the karaoke program started freezing up. 1 hr. later, people were ready and waiting and we were still in the same situation. So as a zone of missionaries, we gathered in a class and knelt in prayer. As we left the class, we had energy and faith. To put it straight, within 15 min. everything was up and running and we had a great activity. Just a little power of prayer experience!
Sunday, church was good. Our upcoming baptism of Carlos Eduardo was announced ~ WhooooHooo! We had a family night at an investigators house and our weekly meeting with the branch mission leader.
It is important to always have a prayer in your heart. Doing this will help with everything. Your attitude will be better and the day will be made a bit easier. Remember the importance of the plan of Salvation. It is an enormous blessing to have the knowledge of eternal families that we have. Share this knowledge with others who don't know but need the help :) Love you all!! Remember in whom you've trusted!
Elder Craig ~
2 Nephi 4:15-35
15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.
16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.