Scripture Power

The scriptures have a real power!

This week we started teaching an incredible woman named Maria. She studies the Bible, and eagerly accepted a Book of Mormon. When we came back the very next day, she had already read 8 chapters!

A few days later, she told us how the trials seem to be piling up in her life. We could see that she was under a lot of stress. I was racking my brain, trying to determine which scripture we ought to share with her to help bring her peace, when a quote from general conference popped into my mind.  "It really doesn’t matter [which verse]. ...open up the Book of Mormon, for instance, and begin to read. Soon the feeling of peace and inspiration will come, and a solution will present itself.”

So we let the book fall open and started reading. We read and discussed three short verses, and immediately I could see a clear change in her countenance, it was like night and day! She was calm, happy, confident. She said the scriptures were even giving her goosebumps!

I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are not a nice idea, or good advice. They are counsel straight from God to us, through his representatives the prophets.

This week, our friend Orlando took a big step - baptism! He moved to Colorado shortly there after, but the good news is that the Church is the same, no matter what state or country you find yourself in.

Have a great week

Family Home Evening

Have you ever been to a Family Home Evening? Well you should definitely try it out! Just go to your Mormon friends' house on any Monday night and you will definitely have fun!

Last night we got to go to two FHEs. In the first, four families from the church got together, sang a hymn, talked about how we can put on the armor of God everyday, and ate some delicious treats.

For our second FHE, we went to the Sanchez family's home. We played a silly but fun game to remember the 10 commandments. It's called "Listo, listo, cae!" It was an intense game! Though the house was full of adults and teenagers, 7-year-old Sophia won!

This week, I learned that gratitude is a choice and that it can fight off almost any negative thought or feeling. If you don't believe me, try it!

Have a lovely week!

New Language Study Technique: Eating Jalepenos

Well this week, we were so happy that Gerardo decided to make a covenant with the Lord and be baptized. It's a big step to take at the age of 15, but he's more than ready. It was so exciting to see all the youth participating in his baptism - giving talks, saying prayers, leading the hymns, even giving him an official welcome to the Young Men's program.

In other big news, this week we got to eat stuffed jalapenos! Picture this - whole jalapenos, stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and grilled. It was the most delicious thing! I highly recommend it! Lots of people around here tell us that eating spicy food will help us learn the language faster. I think it's true too!

You know when someone tells you something and you just know in your mind and your heart that it's true? Well that feeling comes from the Spirit, and the Spirit comes when missionaries are called of God and testify with power and authority. There's a story in the Book of Mormon where the missionaries testified with such power that "it were not possible that they should disbelieve their words." What an incredible power that came to those righteous missionaries because they taught the truth and the lived what they preached.

Have a wonderful week!

Favorite Skunks and Quotes

Lately we've spent a lot of time on the far edge of our area. South of Las Cruces there are a few little towns- Vado, Mesquite, La Mesa, San Miguel- and we get to teach people in all of them! I love driving down the highway and seeing pecan orchards and fields! Every part of the world is beautiful in it's own way. However, with new terrain, comes new critters that I never saw all that often before. There's one neighborhood where we see 2-3 skunks every time we go!

Our new district leader, Elder Chamberlain loves inspirational quotes - he even keeps whole books of them! This quote about the refiners fire really caught my attention. The Lord leaves us in the refiners fire for a purpose. That purpose is so that we will become purified, so the Lord can see his reflection in us.

And I guess it was just a week of inspirational quotes! I went on exchanges so I got to visit a different area for a day. Sister Yenchik and I got to spend the day teaching on campus at NMSU. That was a new experience! I also got to steal inspirational quotes off the walls of their apartment. Here are a few highlights:

Well everyone, hope you have a lovely week!