Week 11: The Plan of Salvation and Forever Families

1. How did your baptism go?
-It didn't happen but we are hoping for all seven to be next Monday at the beach.

2. I saw a picture online of zone conference in Tonala.  What did you learn about? I also noticed that you looked sunburned. Are you?
-I'll write about it in the email.

3. Have you tried the bbq sauce with them down there yet?
-No I haven't had a chance.

4. Can you give me more info on pictures when you upload?
-I will when I upload.

6. I noticed that there are new APs. Does your mission president like them kind of young in the mission as APs?
-Both the APs have a lot of time in the mission. Reyes was in the office for awhile and the other one was out for quite a bit of time.

7. Have you been able to set up your camera for Wifi? Does your building in Tonala have Wifi?
-I don't know how to do the Wifi.

8. How are your shoes holding up?
-The shoes are doing good.

Mom side note:  They walk a lot and he says that he aches.  

9. How many investigators do you have?
-At the very least 30 every week because every week we send our top 30 to president.

Tonala Zone

This week went by so fast. I'm so confused too because I really can't remember much of this week. We were all over the place. Just a fair warning too, there is not much comedy relief in this email. 

So this week we had a zone conference here in the capilla (chapel), I will  talk about that in a minute. But first,  as we were sitting there, we got a phone call from a member. One of our youth died. He and his family were fairly new converts so that was pretty sad. We were running around this city trying to figure out what was going on but once we finally got to the family we had the opportunity to talk a little. He was 15 years old, his first day on the job, when he got hit by the bucket and arm of an excavator. One thing I will say is yes life is hard. Many things happen in our lives that test our faith. But in those times and always, we need to keep our faith of the plan-- the wonderful plan that our loving Heavenly Father has provided for us. The plan of salvation is one of the many things our Father in Heaven has provided us with to be able to be with him again, with our families forever, and be perfected for eternity. When we lose a friend or family member here on Earth, yes it is rough, yes it is sad, but it is not the end! This plan gives us an eternal perspective. This gospel gives us the ability to know this life does have meaning and we will see our family and friends again after death. But the important thing to remember is we are still responsible. We have to continue to learn and grow in the gospel. We must continue to keep the covenants we have made to the Lord. As it says in Doctrine and Covenants 82: 10, He is bound when we do what He says but when we do not what He says we have NO promise. His word is right in front of us in the scriptures. His plan for us is in them and as we follow His word, we have the promise from Him we will be with our families together forever. But it is only by and through Him and His gospel that this is made possible.

If you haven't already done it, y'all should make a group of youth to help the missionaries out. The Gathering of Israel is hastening. We need the youth to work alongside the missionaries to get their friends coming and part member families coming and less actives coming. The youth may not think they are of any help but they are! We cannot do this alone--well, I mean we can but if we want to reach more people, it is through the youth and family.

The zone conference was pretty good. I love hearing from the Domans. Hermana Doman gave a really good spiritual thought that I will share a little bit of. She focused on the aspect of faith. Faith is important. It's the first principle of the gospel. She talked about fear's role in faith. Fear's role is to destroy faith. Fear is a powerful thing with people that are investigating the church. They probably often have the fear of change, the fear of what people will think , which is why we need to be stressing faith to people that are investigating the church. Our faith should be centered on our Savior Jesus Christ because it is through Him and through our faith in Him that we are able to receive comfort and feel joy in times where without faith we would probably have fear. 

It is very important to remember that our faith is like a muscle. We need to be exercising it and working it out to get it stronger because it's hard to just have this huge amazing amount of faith. But the way we work our faith out is by reading the scriptures, praying,  going to church, and living the gospel. Pretty simple right? It's hard sometimes but it is something simple. Through strengthening our faith we have something to lean on through the toughest times in life.  

Talk to y'all next week. Hopefully I'll have more to talk about.

HASTA EL ARBOL
TGM!!