28th of March

Well, last week I was thinking that I would be writing about a couple of baptisms for this week. But, the matrimony didnt get baptized. It was a rough week overall in the work but we were able to find some people at the end of the week and so we are finding more people to teach.

The wife of the matrimony, Elizabeth, was ready to go last week. She had her interview and everything and was 100% ready but her husband still needed a testimony of the restoration of the gospel. We taught that all week to him and even watched a movie of the life of Joseph Smith, but all sorts of doubts came to their minds. We went over on Friday and they told us they werent getting baptized and maybe they would sometime in the future. Victor couldnt believe it when we told him that the Pope has absolutley no priesthood authority and that his baptism was invalid. Elizabeth also went back to her old ways saying that her baptism was valid and we told her that it wasnt. All sorts of things came out of their mouths just trying to prove us wrong. In the end, all we could do was share a few scriptures and testify. The Spirit gave me a tranquility after that I had done all I could and my companion as well so I was feeling ok on my part but I still felt horrible for the decision that they had made. The next morning I studied the scriptures with that on my mind. I read in 2 Nephi 9:44 of Nephi preaching after testifying of Christ and his gospel. A part says, ¨...Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them before you... wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of ther works, that the God of Israel did witness that I shook your iniquities from my soul...¨ Thats just a chunk of the scripture but its really powerful. That gave me a lot of closure.

We have contacted a lot lately and at one point we saw a kid, 13 years old, playing soccer outside. We played with him for a few minutes and a lot of other kids on the street came. We gave him a pamphlet and got his address. We went back the next day and he was in his house really excited to let us in. We ended up sharing a message with him and his mom. They seem really good. Also, we found a lady that had been wanting to go back to church but was inactive. Her husband isnt a member so we went back and shared with him. The Lord is blessing us with new people now!

Ive been reading in Doctine and Covenants and there was one scripture that really hit me. The Spirit moved across me as a wave when I read it because it had been the morning after the lesson with Elizabeth and Victor. Ill end up this email with that scripture.

Here the Lord is speaking to the early Elders of the church. Doctrine and Covenants 68:6- ¨Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.¨

Love yall!

Elder Gregory

(A few pictures from the past few weeks)

Como estai- 3/21/11

As always, the week flew by and here I am again writing a weekly update! Elder Horton and I are getting along really well and we are working hard. We have been working a lot with a matrimony, Victor and Elizabeth, and they are planning on getting baptized this Saturday. We are really happy about that.

We had our interviews with the President this past week and we did some practices in front of the asistants to the President. Something that one of my zone leaders said is that it is scary to him when he isnt changing. He means that in the sense that we always need to be improving, so through the practices we were able to see a lot of things that we can improve on.

That program that I explained a few weeks ago is going well with the families in the ward. I dont know if we will be getting a lot of references through it but atleast its strengthening the ward and motivating the members to look for less actives and help them come back!

One thing that we have taught a lot this past week is about obedience. We have taught the word of wisdom, a commandment that teaches not to consume 5 things- tea, coffee, tobacco, illegal drugs, and alcohol. Sometimes people want all the reasons in the world to justify this commandment and we give them health reasons sometimes, but all we really have to say is that it is a commandment and chao. The Lord knows better and thats what he says so thats all we need to know! Obedience is something extremely important and Im really gaining a stronger testimony of it through teaching it here in the mission field!

Love yall!
Elder Gregory

March 7, 2011

It was a good week- as always! Elder Horton and I are getting along really well and hes doing a good job trying to fight of the thoughts of home! We always work hard but the thing is to find how to work more effectively. I talked about the program last week and that is really going well. About fifteen families are all doing their reading and goals so we have that going but we are trying to figure out other ways to find. Its really fun to try new ideas!

We had conference with the mission president last week and it went well. I learned more but what they tell us in conference really isnt anything new. For me, they are really all about animating me to want to work harder and give me a boost of energy to last to next conference. Elder Horton gave his final testimony since that was his last conference and he testified of obedience, which ended up being a main theme for the rest of conference. We are really working a lot harder to be more obedient.

The investigators are doing good. Luis´s sister, Natacha, is slipping away a little bit but we are working with the young women and the young women presidency to animate her again. She didnt go to church last Sunday or the activity because she is a little down. Her mom told her no when she asked if she could get baptized and plus, school is starting. I still feel like there is a lot of hope though. Victor and Elizabeth, the matrimony, are doing all right. Its really complicated with them and it goes a lot deeper than just getting an answer to know if they church is true to be baptized. (Elizabeth already knows its the true church!) They have a lot of confidence in us and tell us their problems so we know what is going on, but we had to bring the Bishop in to help council them. He is helping a lot and I am really grateful.

I never thought I would be dealing with problems that I have seen in the mission as a 19-20 year old. But, it just shows how much the Lord trusts in his representatives who carry his name on a plaque over their heart everyday for two years. Im loving the mission and I have never felt so sensitive to the Spirit in all my life!

Love yall!

Elder Gregory