We played soccer this morning and here is a picture. We play soccer so much! Well, I guess I am in South America...
Hola familia! Things are going good. I have a new companion, Elder Stull, and we´re working hard. Some days are better than others but we work hard everyday regardless. I am so thankful for what Elder Davis taught me and did for the people here but I think it was his time to move on from this ward. He served as best he could and now its time for someone else to come in and have their different views of things and how we should take care of it. I saw Elder Davis today and he has a lot to do in his new sector but hes completely capable and willing. Hes a good guy and was a great companion.
We are teaching a lot and I really feel that we are trying our best to teach to the needs. Ive learned the importance of relating Gospel principles to things that we can relate to now. Especially for children and teenagers it helps a lot. For example, Elder Stull did a wonderful job of asking questions to get to know this one family that we found doing contacts. They invited us in and he asked questions to get to know them. The mom is really friendly and the two teenage boys were willing to listen to us also. We got to know them and with that information of things they like to do, sports they like to play, we were able to relate it to Gospel principles. For example, after our lesson we challenged them to baptism and told them a date that we and they are going to prepare for. At first the two boys were timid about it but I tried to relate it to basketball and soccer which were their favorite sports. We asked them which would they try harder, when they go out and play a game with their friends for fun, or for a competition when your goal is to win? They told me obviously that whenever you have the goal to win and not just for fun. We related this to a baptismal date. Whenever there is a goal in site, we are willing to work harder for that goal. We told them that a baptismal date would help encourage them to work harder to gain a testimony for themselves if this really is the church of Jesus Christ. They understood it and accepted the date! This really helped them understand and Im happy and thankful the Spirit prompted us to say those things. President Humphrey, and especially his wife, have been trying to get us to ask inspired questions. I really have a testimony of how important it is to really feel and understand the needs of investigators and teaching to their understanding.
Well, as I have already told a few people in my family in emails, Im putting talks on my mp3 right now so Im not writing as much. I just bought an mp3 and want to load it with talks. I never couldve imagined before the mission how much I really would love listening to talks! Im really excited for General Conference coming up here soon.
Speaking of talks, Ill share something that I heard in a talk from Elder David R. Bednar, an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I also shared this scripture yesterday with someone so I want to share it with yall. (Hopefully I haven´t said this before but if I have, its really important so it wont hurt hearing/reading it twice!)
In the first book of the Book of Mormon is the Book- 1st Nephi. Nephi is very humble and walked in the ways of the Lord. He was guided at times to tell his brothers that they were being disobedient because sometimes the Lord needs to firmly humble his people. Nephi´s brothers would complain a lot of problems that were going on in the wilderness where they were commanded to be by the Lord. One time they were extrememly frustrated with Nephi and tied him up and bound him. This next part is what I want to share with yall. When he prayed for help, he didnt pray for the Lord to just free him from the chords. He asked for the strength so that he might be able to do it. So through his faith, Nephi broke free. This is a wonderful example of how we should ask our Heavenly Father for help. We shouldnt ask him to do things for us, but for help after we have done all that we could do.
All right, time to head back to the house!
Love yall! Elder Gregory
