Change

Here are some bits from recent letters from Elder Packer and Elder Blue Star. They both make me think about how important it is that we are open to change and that we recognize the desire and ability to change in others. I think we all are trying to become better and help others become better too. I know that we can do it if we follow the examples of these great Elders and their great investigators!

"Jorg was very nervous that he would be unable to keep the commitment to follow Christ his whole life as he is 32 and has lots of set ways that he wanted to change but felt it would be very hard. Through the help of the Scriptures and the promise that he would receive heavenly aide through the Holy Ghost, he was able to overcome his fears and valiantly choose to enter the waters of baptism. I have a video that I attached of when he was just baptized in which he speaks of how he felt relieved of his old temptations and how great he feels. Very soon after the baptism, he left and went back to Holland. We received an email that he made it to church and the members ¨jumped for joy¨ when they received him. I am sure his talents and testimony will light up his branch in Holland and that Jorg will continue seeing miracles in his life thanks to his grand decision to choose the path of Christ.... the only path that leads to a fullness of everlasting joy." - Elder Blue Star


Jorg's Baptism








"We found a family a couple of nights ago, Nick and Crystal. We
actually found them about a week ago. We were tracting and this guy
was coming up the stairs and we said, “Hey, how’s it going?” He’s
like, “I just quit smoking,” and he was in a really bad mood and so we
gave him a pamphlet and said, “Cool, man,” and we started talking with
him and he said, “I gotta go,” and he just shut the door. So I’m like
“Ok. So I wrote in my planner that that guy was trying to make
changes. He’s quit smoking, so maybe he’ll like the gospel a lot. So
we went back over there a few days ago because I was thinking, if he’s
quitting smoking, then he’s a candidate for the gospel. So we went
over there and the guy was so cool. He was totally different because
he’s not trying to quit any more and he was in a much better mood. We
went over there last night and actually got in and taught him and his
wife Crystal and they are so cool." -Elder Packer

I love Elder Packer's story. He didn't push but he made a note to come back later. I love that the Spirit lets us know how to talk to people in the ways they need when they need.

Recent News

Elder DeGiuseppe is BACK from his mission (in that case, we can now call him Nick!)! Keep posted for updates of when he will be speaking.

Elder Packer:  "Janet (an investigator) got baptized and loves the ward. This ward is so nice. They fellowship the people we bring to church like hungry lions going after gazelles"

WOW. Look at that ward! They are so EXCITED and ready to help those who are coming in. The full-time missionaries cannot do it by themselves! Can we do this? President Hinckley said: " Every new convert needs a friend in the Church to whome he can constantly turn, who will walk beside him, who will answer his questions, who will understand his problems"

Challenge: Look for people at church whom you don't know. Talk to them, get to know them. Introduce them to others. People feel more comfortable when they recognize some friendly faces!

Elder Packer continues: "Things here are great: the work’s great, the ward’s great, our people are great. In the last 2 weeks, I’ve realized more how minimal I am in the actual conversion process. The Spirit does everything and I’m lucky enough to help people find and recognize it. With the way Nancy and Michael have clung to the Book of Mormon since we gave them theirs, and seeing them come out to church and love it, it’s highlighted who really is making things happen. I love being able to rely on the Holy Ghost to testify of the message of the Restoration. There’s no way I’ve been the reason they’ve come to the point they’re at. The great thing about the truth is that the Spirit will always testify. Unfortunately not everybody who’s felt the spirit has joined, but it’s definitely recognized and at the very least a seed has been planted"

As outlined in Preach My Gospel, a missionary's purpose is to INVITE others to come unto Christ. As he/she opens his/her mouth and testifies and invites someone to learn more, it gives the person a chance to feel the Holy Ghost and exercise their agency to learn more. We are all missionaries. We also have the opportunity to open our mouths and share the good news!

Elder Wigginton: "I bear my simple testimony that Jesus Christ did take upon him the pains and afflictions of the world that we might have a source of hope in this lifetime. He suffered this in the Garden of Gethsemane where he, "fell upon his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39). He was then taken, tried, and crucified by the very people he loved and served. After three days, he rose again, and he lives today. I know this with surety, and because of Him, we are promised resurrection: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22). I testify of this truth and invite you all to take a moment to reflect upon its significance in your lives and in the lives of those you love, to consider its possibilities and implications, for they are eternal and fill my heart with great hope"

NEW news from the Elders!!!

Elder Blue Star:

"We had a great week! We had the family Benitez go to Church and love it. The daughter who is 13 years old went for the first time, and then went and told all of her friends (she has many) about how awesome it was. She wants to share it with everyone. She already read from the Book of Mormon and got her answer. She wants to be baptized and so does her mom"

Look at the simplicity of missionary work. This 13-year old girl just opens her mouth and shares the joy and happiness she finds with her friends. It is like the cake demonstration we saw in Relief Society today. If you have a delicious cake, why not share it with a friend? "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" 2 Tim 1:7 

Elder Wigginton:

"Since being away from my family for so long with limited contact, I have begun to understand the significance of the family unit and its importance in the plan of our Heavenly Father. We teach that the family was organized by and ordained of God; that it is in the family, where if the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the center, that we can experience some of the greatest feelings of joy, security, and satisfaction. It is, after all, in the family where we learn the basic principles we will use to govern the rest of our lives. That is a pretty intense reality. Reflect on it. I know you will see that your family experience has directly influenced your life. Clearly, the nuclear family is not something that all, or even most of us, experience. We all face different struggles within this realm, perhaps tension, divorce, deceased parents, or any from the long list of elements that disrupt this natural and divine unit. Regardless of these difficulties, we have a knowledge of the importance of family and its role in this existence: to produce upstanding, just, and righteous human beings that will seek to acquire the attributes of Christ. In our families and lives, we are always examples and teachers to somebody. I find myself awestruck and incredibly grateful for the parents of these families who are choosing to leave behind their weaknesses and temporal desires in their search to become something better for themselves and their families. Repentance is a real and beautiful thing. It truly is a change of heart that improves our attitude towards life, ourselves, and our Father in Heaven"

I love what Elder Wigginton says. No matter what kind of family we come from, we take lessons from those circumstances. We can learn from both the good and the bad. We we strive to live the gospel and repent and forgive, we are helping one another grow closer to Christ. What better missionary opportunity is there than within the family?

Elder Packer:

"I've been working with Ralph for a while now. In the last two weeks he's seen his life get better as he's been taking the lessons and coming to church. He was always willing to listen, but not very interested. In the last 2 weeks he has made more of a commitment to trying the church. He's a lot happier and random things have lined up lately so he realized he's doing a good thing. It's been neat watching him see the blessings and his countenance change.  The blessings from living the Gospel have been so apparent to him, and the best part is that he was baptized and confirmed!! He's happier and much more driven than when I first met him.

Missionary work has blossomed my testimony. I've seen the powers of Satan every day working on those we're teaching and on me, but the things I've seen the Lord do have been incomparable. Nothing that I'll ever do will be as meaningful and impacting as missionary work. It's the best. The more I lose myself in the service, the more I grow and learn. The message of the Restored Gospel is so important. If we aren't sharing it, we're doing those around us a disservice whom the Lord has placed on our path."

I love hearing his pure testimony. It is clear he loves what he is doing and knows it to be true. Look at the changes the gospel brings! We live in a filthy world, and the powers of Satan ARE at work, but as Elder Packer says, what the Lord can do is incomparable! TRUST in Him. Live the gospel. And help others to learn and feel of the joy it brings!

News from NICK DeG!!!!

Elder DiGiuseppe: "I am a traveler. Which means basically I drive around a van and train other missionaries on exchanges all day every day. I don't have my own area, or my own ward. In fact, wherever I am on sunday, thats where I go to church. Life as a traveler is crazy. I had to drive 18 hours straight on Thursday. how insane! Its pretty intense, BUT I get some serious blessings in response to the work. I think everywhere I have gone, I have seen super amazing miracles. I think one of the sweetest miracles that I saw was when we were at a members house. After teaching we asked for a referral, and they thought and gave us the name of a lady. We went to her house, no one was home. So we knocked her neighbors and taught some good people, and after that we looked at her house again, but the lights were still out and no cars home. But we knocked again. No answer. But, we felt prompted to knock again, and she came down the stairs!!! She said it was funny because she had just been thinking of some missionaries she had met years ago. God touched that member family, us, and her, just so we would be able to teach her. She wanted us to come back and gave us her number and times. it was amazing. She said she would read all of 3 Nephi by next week. I won't ever see her again, but it was awesome miracle to see God touch so many hearts just for her! I loved it."

- Nick promised pictures soon.....keep checking the blog for updates

What a COOL story! It IS amazing how much God loves us each as individuals. We have such an impact on the lives of those people we interact with. Do you look for ways to serve the people around you? To share the gospel with them?

Week of Feb 8th

Elder Wigginton: "This past week has been full of blessing, and struggles. I watch my investigators (the people he teaches) being blessed. And all of these are blessings to me - they have become the blessings that fill my life. It is as if the blessings that would normally be appropriated to my self-interest before the mission have now been translated into the blessing for others that I love." - What great joy this Elder must have. Rejoicing in the blessings that others have. Happy because others are being blessed. Do we look for ways to serve other people and to seek out blessings for them?

Elder Packer: "My favorite thing to do is throwing out commitments to people. Its interesting. Even if they don't accept it, they appreciate the offer. One guys I had to work with for about 10 minutes just to get the pamphlet in his hand and he didn't accept the challenge, but before we left, he said "thank you". You never know whether or not they will do it. They feel something and appreciate it most of the time. I'm trying to throw the commitment out to at least one person every day for the rest of my mission. It feels great" - When we are asking people to do something, we are inviting them to act. To test it out. If we never ask people to an activity, to come to church, to learn more from the missionaries, we cannot know if they will accept. What a great example this Elder is.

Simple Ways to Share the Gospel

I really liked Cameron's talk today for those of you who heard it. Especially his missionary experience on a plane. His seat was next to a couple, and he was trying to decide whether to chat or plug in his ipod. They ended up chatting and he shared his testimony with them and gospel principles. He said something like: "I pray for missionary opportunities, but then I sometimes am not sure I really want to have them"

I guess the hardest part about sharing the gospel is not finding people with whom we can share it, rather having the boldness to open our mouths. But check out what Elder Holland said: "More important than speaking is listening. I promise you that something in what people say will always highlight a truth of the gospel abut which you can bear testimony". We are surrounded by people each and every day. But do we take advantage of the time we spend waiting in lines, running errands, at the store.... wherever it may be to talk to people and look for opportunities in something they say to bring up the gospel? I know that sometimes I just plug in my music or am in such a hurry that I regard people more as obstacles in my way instead of as my brothers and sisters who need the gospel as much as me. I would challenge you all to spend more time during each day searching for little opportunities to talk to people. Whether it be with the person in line behind you, or the lady at the bakery you go to, or wherever. Find out about them. What they are passionate about. And then tie it into the gospel.

Wow. I've been thinking a lot recently about being a full-time missionary and how your whole heart goes into the work. I have some friends coming home from missions, and it is just such an adjustment! You can't help but fall in love with the people you serve, and you have the unique opportunity of full-time serving those around you without worldly distractions; to really feel pure joy and love and the spirit comes in so strong. THATS what makes the gospel worth living. The joy and love and happiness you feel. THATS what makes it worth sharing - despite fear of rejection or being shy. Here are some updates on the Elders serving from our ward! :

Elder Blue Star: "We're teaching this family named the Contreras. The man works as a gardner in the beautiful Buenos Aires Temple and he was was referred to us by one of his coworkers. We have had very spiritual meetings with them. We met them again, and shared a message. We read about the Atonement of Christ, and how much He loves us and we talked about HOW it is that He is able to bless us. It was a short, simple message, but Sister Contreras could not hold the tears back as the Spirit was so strong and Brother Contreras had this just "awed" demeanor over his face. I know that the time is right for them to receive more blessings and as their faith and trust grows in Christ, this humble gardener will be able to enter the temple and receive blessings far more beautiful than the ground he keeps to support his family temporally."

Elder Wigginton: "It is very exciting because it looks like we will be doing two well projects to provide drinking water for the residents in the quartiers where there is no water. I love that the church always does humanitarian projects. Access to drinking water is always so difficult, and oftentimes people spend a lot of their time just going to obtain water for the day. It is of course usually the women who do this as their husbands are out working all day. It is a huge stress and burden on the women because they have so many other tasks they are responsible for. it will be a blessing when all is finished...."Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. But before ye seek for riches, seek for the kingdom of God" Jacob 2:17-19 May this be our resolve - that we might prioritize our lives in the necessary ways to take joy from each day. May this be our resolve - to serve on another, to offer charity, the pure love of Christ, in a time when it is so desperately needed."