Weekly Update! July 26, 2010

Well, this week was an emotionally, spiritually, physically draining week. But somehow I still wake up each morning with enough energy to make it all the way through the day with a strong drive and desire! I can definentely testify that the Lord works miracles for his missionaries to continue the work.

This week started out with me getting sick for the first time on the mission! I ate some bad sandwich meat before we went out to prosylite. A few hours after I ate it my stomache wasnt feeling too good and we were knocking a door. I started feeling a litte dizzy and I said a quick little prayer for Heavenly Fathers help through whatever was going on. I thought through what I was going to do if I passed out and there was a brick wall fence that I decided to lean on. I planned it all out and next thing I knew I was on the ground with Elder Davis and the less active talking to me to see if I was all right! I had passed out! But, I had a really good landing from just sliding down the wall so Heavenly Father guided me down to keep me safe for sure. Anways, we went back to the house, I rested for a day and a half, and I was perfectly good to go out after that! So, my first time of being sick in Chile! Im really careful about that sandwich meat now!

Presidnt Humphrey and his wife came out with us to meet an investigator, Manuel, who is trying to stop smoking. His wife is a recent convert and he said that he would be a member no doubt if he could stop smoking. We went over last Thursday and President gave a really good spiritual thought and committed Manuel to baptism. He set it for a week and two days away. We went back over on Saturday all together and President Humphrey gave him a blessing and the count of 7 days started! (To be bapitized, you have to stop smoking for atleast seven days before being baptized.) So, President gave him gum to chew when he gets the temptation and committed him to read a verse in the Book of Mormon everyday. It was really strong.

So, Sunday came around and we were waiting and waiting for him at church but he never came. He already has three church attendences so he can technically be baptized fine if he doesnt go but we really wanted him to go for the Spiritual strength. We left sacrament meeting to go get him. We got to his house and we rang the buzzer but nobody answered. The lights were off and we looked inside. The table was covered with beer bottles and the patio was covered with cigerettes. They had a party the night before for a birthday party with their family. We wanted to believe the best but it wasnt looking too good. We tried not to not think of it too much to get us down that day but we had it in the back of our minds. So, we went to the appointment with them, which was the last one of the day. We walked in being prepared for the worst but hoping for the best. After talking for a little bit, they told us they didnt drink at all! A huge wave of relief went over us. Then we asked Manuel how he was doing with the cigerettes. He gave us a thumbs up! He didnt smoke at all! All those wine and beer bottles and cigerettes were from the company that they had the night before. It was amazing.

I might be writing this story a little early because he hasnt made it throught the week without smoking yet but I wanted to share this story because Manuel withstood the temptation and we are so proud of him. I know he has 6 more days to go but we know he can do it!

We talked about how Satan always tries to tempt us before strong spiritual experiences, like Joseph in the grove, but he also tempts us after to try to belittle the spiritual experience. We might not be hand to hand combat everyday but this war is so real. We are in a war with the advesary and he knows our weaknesses. The Lord will strengthen us to overcome all the temptations if we have faith in him and show our faith.

This is what I wanted to share this week! Everything else is going amazing. We have cambios today so I made it through my first cambio ( first 6 weeks.) I fogot the cable for my camera so Ill post a picture of my first zone next week!

I love yall and keep praying to our Heavenly Father and he will give you the strength through hard times and temptation!

Elder Gregory