Tuesday, July 29, 2014

MOM TIME IS LIKE A SUENO (dream), SUPER FAST.


BUENO, WHERE DO I START.  THIS WEEK FOR YOU GUYS IS JUST AWESOME TO HEAR, OTHER THAN THE SICKNESS THING (Brian's dad and I got sick after Trek), WHICH SUCKS. SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING IS GOING JUST DANDY UP THERE. 

YA KNOW I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT DADS BIRTHDAY, I ACTUALLY NEVER KNEW WHAT DAY IT WAS ACTUALLY ON.  I JUST WENT WITH WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SAID.  BUT THAT'S AWESOME. SOUNDS LIKE HIS BIRTHDAY WAS LOW KEY, THAT'S HOW HE LIKES IT. PERO MOM THAT'S REALLY FUNNY THAT YOU BOUGHT HIM A NEW SCORE OUTDOORS T SHIRT BECAUSE I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW THE STORE NEEDS KNEW SHIRTS. THE OTHER ONES ARE DEAD. BUT REALLY I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK (Kind of an odd thing for a missionary to think about.) YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE PICTURES OF IT BECAUSE, MAYBE IF YOU CAN, SEND ME A SCORE SHIRT.  I LOVE TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE BUSINESS. ITS LIKE OUR BABY. AND WOW OUR BABY IS GOING ON 2 ANOS (years). THAT WENT FAST, I GUESS IT GOES BY FASTER  WHEN YOU ARE WORKING HALF A YEAR. 

THAT'S REALLY COOL THAT THERE WAS A HOME COMING AND A FAREWELL SUNDAY. HUNTER WILL BE AN AWESOME MISSIONARY. I CANT IMAGINE AUSTIN LOSING WEIGHT.  ITS SO TRUE MOM WHAT YOU SAID, (I told Brian how you could tell that the return missionary was having to translate from Russian back into English.) ITS ACTUALLY REALLY HARD TO TALK IN ENGLISH. I TALK AND TALK AND WORK TO IMPROVE MY SPANISH THAT I AM STARTING TO LOSE MY ENGLISH. MY HOME COMING TALK WONT BE AS POWERFUL AS I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE. BUT WITH PRAYER AND FE (faith)GOD CAN HELP OUT. BUT YOU ONLY HAVE TO SAY THE TRUTH FOR THE SPIRIT TO TESTIFY TO THE HEARTS WHO HEAR IT. 

I TALK WITH PEOPLE ALL THE DAY WHO DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH US, WHO HAVE BEEN SPIRITUALLY NUMBED AND DON'T HAVE THE DESIRE. ITS SUPER HARD. I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE TO DROP AN INVESTIGATOR WHO IS ANOTHER CHILD OF GOD, BUT SOMETHING EVERY MISSIONARY AND MEMBER HAS TO KNOW IS THAT GOD GAVE ALBEDRIO, FREE AGENCY. THEY CHOOSE. AND SOMETIME THEY CHOOSE THEIR ON CONDEMNATION. WE DON'T GIVE UP. IF THE MEMBERS DO THEIR PART, AND THE MISSIONARIES THEIR PART, WITH PRAYER, MANY WILL BE BAPTIZED. 
 
WELL, THIS WEEK HAS BEEN INTERESTING. WE HAD A LESSON WITH THIS FAMILY ABOUT THE RESTORATION AND IT WASN'T THE BEST LESSON. SO WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET BACK IN THEIR HOUSE TO HELP THEM MORE. THEY FELT OUR WORDS TO BE TRUE AND ARE HIDING BECAUSE OF THEIR FEAR. WE HAVE FOUND THEM A FEW TIMES. I REALIZED THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN FOCUSING MUCH ON TALKING ABOUT FAMILIES. FAMILIES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO GOD AND TO THE CHURCH. WE WERE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT WHAT CHURCH IS TRUE, BUT THEY HAVEN'T NEEDED THAT. THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND GET INTO THEIR HOUSE AND TALK SOULY ON FAMILIES AND THE PLAN OF SALVATION.
 
TAMBIEN (also) THIS WEEK WE FOUND SOME REALLY GOOD INVESTIGATORS. WE FOUND A FAMILY OF 20 O MAS PERSONS (20 or more persons), AND AT LEAST 13 DE LOS PERSONAS (13 of the persons) WE CAN BAPTIZE. THEY ARE SO FUN TO TALK TO AND THE KIDS JUST LOVE LISTENING AND TALKING WITH US. THEY ARE STILL NEW SO I WILL GIVE AN UPDATE ON THEM NEXT WEEK. 

MOM TIME IS LIKE A SUENO (dream), SUPER FAST. TIME JUST KEEPS GOING FASTER AND FASTER AND FASTER AND DOESN'T REALLY SLOW DOWN. DAYS FEEL LIKE WEEKS BUT WEEKS FEELS LIKE A DAY. AND MONTHS FEEL LIKE SECONDS. TIME IS FAST. WE HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND NOT PROCRASTINATE THE DAY OF OUR REPENTANCE, ALMA 34 Link to the Scripture

MOM, GOD IS WATCHING OVER THIS FAMILY. 

I LOVE YOU 

ELDER LUKE

Monday, July 21, 2014

Today I had a realization. I speak two languages!

Man I loved hearing about trek (Our home ward youth took a pioneer trek last week). I hope that I can be a father in the next trek. (OK.  That's weird for this mom) That's weird to think that I will back in time for that. (Our ward goes every four years.  Brian will be 22 when the next Trek happens.  Que mom freaking out.). Read Jacob 7.26 ("by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream.")  Say that time is like a sueƱo (dream); Super fast.  This time is actually going by super fast, things pass by, people change and we are always finding people. For me right now I have 7 meses en la mission (7 months on my mission).  I am not really counting down the days that I have until I have to see my family.  I am counting how little time I have left to do this awesome work. But of course I dream of the day I will be back the los brazos de mi mama (my mom's arms). 
 
But hey trek sounded awesome. I was busted up laughing in this tiny little computer lab when I heard about the skit about spin bikes and the picture of Drew Dayton. It's so awesome that the youth in our barrio (neighborhood) get that opportunity to go on trek, high adventure and things like that because they don't have things like that here. They don't have the mountains to go backpacking, or the money to go biking. But what they do here is play futbol cada martes (soccer ever Tuesday). Which is fine because EVERYONE loves playing futbol here. Its their thing so esta bien (so OK).
 
Its really cool that you were able to see and hear how strong the youth are. Yet again its different here. The youth program no is lo mismo (is not the same) and they don't have la gente (people). Its awesome when there are the youth that are strong in the gospel and are raised with good parents like Nephi in , 1 Nephi 1:1 ("I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father"). I really am grateful to be born in the situations and family that I was.  I have been blessed, truly blessed and its not even funny. I was thinking yesterday when so many people from our family and ward wanted to help with the cost of my mission. God really knows our needs and with prayer and our actions.  He will provide. I have seen what he has done, is doing and will do for our family.  Every time I read your letters I feel the spirit. A paz,(peace) a gozo(joy), something awesome that just says, "your family is awesome, keep doing what your doing". Its just awesome.  
 
I was teaching a lesson yesterday.  We read 2 Nephi 33:10 hasta el final (to the end). Link to Scripture The Spirit really guided the lesson and we started talking about keeping the commandments, but with exactness. And this scripture that is repeated several times in the books of Nephi says that if we keep the commandments we will prosper in the land, but if we don't we will be cast out from the presence of God, por ejemplo adan y eva (by example of Adam and Eve). Its so true. The thing is, its really easy to keep the commandments, its hard not to. We keep the commandments and we are blessed.  Everyone wants to be blessed, but not everyone wants to keep the commandments. But its so true.
 
Bueno (Okay) this week not much happened, I baptized someone. Not much, ha just kidding.  We baptized this little girl.  She is so smart.  She loves the church and has such a strong testimony. She reminds me of Becca so much. She is so awesome. Her parents are not active but we are working on activating them. Ya mismo (right now).
 
This week has been tough because  I have been doing everything. My companion said that presidente put him with me to prepare me to train new missionaries this next month. Elder Roman was zone leader and they put him to district leader, which is not common but he told me the purpose. So he has been pushing me a lot to get better so that I can be a good leader and trainer. I have been a little stressed with that but I am getting better and that's always good.
 
This week we have been working with this family, La familia Panta. They came to church yesterday. They have problems, but the gospel refines people. The dad is so accepting and willing and does whatever we say. The kids are cool too.  They have started to feel the difference entre el espiritu (between the Spirit) when we are there and when we aren't there. Today we are going to put a fecha (date) for baptism. I will tell you how it goes next week. That is it about this week. I have been trying to learn a lot, because I am still new and I want to be a powerful missionary.
 
We now live with a new missionary, he is a greengo. He talks very well in Spanish but he is so nervous, like I was.  He is so culture shocked, like I was.   But then I realized and was thinking about when I was first got here and how I couldn't talk Spanish. But today I have a realization; I speak two languages. I do. I haven't registered eso (that) before. But I do and its awesome. The gift of tongues is so real.  I just love this so much. I love this work.
 
I love you
Elder Luke

 
 

Monday, July 14, 2014

This week we have been looking and finding.

Man, it sounds like everyone is having fun down there in Boise. Man, I miss biking, but I love seeing the pictures of how studly dad is. I brag a lot about him. I cant wait until I get to ride STP with my dad, despues (after) STP, no telling what race we will be doing. I plan on biking a lot when I get back.
 
Bueno (okay), this week was good. We have been finding new people left and right. We just have to talk to them and we can find the golden investagadores. This week we have been looking and finding. We found a family that are just awesome. The parents are a little older and slower but their son is so smart. He understands everything that we are teaching. Every time we ask him he always says that the church that Christ established consists of Profetas (prophets), apostles, authority, and revelation. He really understands and explains everything to his parents. Yesterday, Bryon, the kids, he is 12 anos (years) and his dad attended church. The dad had so many questions but Bryon fit in so well because he had so many friends. We are going to work hard with them and get them a baptismal date for agosto (August). 
 
We had such an awesome lesson with another family that is progressing slow. But we taught the message of the restoration. They had such awesome questions.  We answered them.  One of the sons had problems.  He was confused. We taught him about the Book of Mormon and that with the Bible there is lots of confusion, but with the Book of Mormon there is no confusion because it has the fullness of the gospel. The spirit was strong. We later returned back a few days later and the son said he didn't read, but he prayed and he said that he felt something incredible.  We asked him if what we have taught is true and he said yes. He wasn't able to go to church but we are trying with that family. 
 
Other than them we found another lady who came to church for the first time.  She loved it and really wants to learn. Again working hard with that. Tambien (again) we were working with the new converts that we have. Because they still need some help.  The older lady we just baptized has changed so much.  She is so much happier. She told us that she paid her tithing.  She didn't even need help or anything.  She just did it.  It strengthened my fe (faith) knowing that she has really been converted. 
 
This work is so awesome. 
 
My companion hoy (today) had cambios (transfers). I am still in Bastion Popular. But I have a new companion Se llama Elder Roman. I have felt and received word that he was assigned specifically here con mi (with me) so he can help me prepare and grow so that the next cambios (transfers) I can be a leader. I feal that it's true. He is so awesome and has so much experience. I am excited to work with him.  My other companion Elder Cordova is now zone leader in another zone. He will be an awesome leader. 
 
Its just so awesome, this work. I pray for you mom every day.  I pray so much here because God knows that I have needs. He helps me so much by blessing you.
 
Have a wonderful week, PLEASE BE SAFE as you guys do such awesome adventures.
 
I love you mom
Elder Luke
Elder Luke loves street art and murals


American celebration for Elder Luke's 6 month mark
 

Monday, July 7, 2014

I cried because my prayers are being answered

Hey Mom. Just so you know I cried with your carta (letter). Because prayers are being answered, that's for sure. I will elaborate on mas abajo en la carta (below in the letter).

Pero, woo these couple weeks sounds like its been freaking crazy in Boise. Trek, STP, Work, 4th of July. A lot more crazy than here. This week has been normal, We have been focusing on finding new people. Because the way it works here is that our investigators need to asistir (attend) church three times. To have baptisms this month, we have to have people in church this last Sunday so that we can have baptisms 26 de julio. So we have been focusing a lot to find people so that we can have baptisms on the 26 de julio. Well, we found people. One day we just found this kid on the street and we asked him a question and wrote his information and then passed for su casa (his home). When we got there su tia (his aunt) let us in and was super comfortable talking to us. So we taught something small and put a cita por (appointment for) another day. When we passed by we taught la restoracion (the Restoration). The grandpa didn't understand very well, so the kid explained it all. He understood it all and is super cool. He is young and super cool around us. The problem is that he couldn't go to church, so he wont be able to be baptized until August. Ta,bien cintacted a family that we met when their mom died when I was first here in Bastion Popular. Well they were super receptive and very grateful that we came to comfort the family. We taught them el plan de salvacion (the plan of salvation). Explained donde esta su mama (where their mom is). But tampoco (neither) they didn't go to church. So August. But this other family, super awesome. The dad went to church, he said he will come back next time. Vamos seguir trabajando con el (We will continue working with them). So we want a feche (save the date) baptismal for the 26. But we have other people who can be baptized that have past asistencias (attendance). We need to this week work a lot with them. But apart de eso (from that) we had a baptism. De tres personas (three people). Was awesome, because tambien presidente Dennis y su esposa  (the mission president and his wife) attended the baptism.  Was awesome. They were so grateful. The lady, se llama (called) Leuteria Macas, when we shook her hand afterwards to wish her congratulations, she grabbed my hand then with the other hand grabbed my elbow and had a firm grip and said that if it wasn't for Elder Cordova and yo (me) she wouldn't be here. It was so awesome. Then domingo (Sunday) they received the Holy Ghost. So awesome. Now we just need to keep them on the Straight and narrow path. That's it about this week. Just rolling a long. Well no I am really trying to improve. I never want to stay the same I want to improve.  When we improve we become closer and closer like Christ. Every cambio (transfer) i am being prepared and refined.
 
Well, I cried because my prayers are being answered. I have been thinking about my family. A LOT. And I have been praying that the spirit will guide them to know the truth. The spirit has been working hard. I love that. I cried because I know this is true and I just want that for all of you. I love my family so much.
 
Hey in this week with all the craziness, Remember Christ. The sacrament prayer and our covenant with God through baptism says that we will remember Christ siempre (always). I was thinking how antes la (before the)mission I didn't really fulfill that covenant. Now that I am a missionary I  invite everyone to keep that covenant. You guys to. If you remember you will have the spirit. If you have the spirit your lives will be so much better and you will be able to feel the love of God.
 
Elder Luke
 
 

This is the surprise baptism mentioned in last weeks email

 

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Surprise Baptism

Well I am thinking that you are freaking out because I haven't written. What happened is that today is the anniversary of the mission. So we had a huge party. So hoy (today) is our P Day. All the missionaries in the mission were in one capilla (chapel) celebrating one year in this mission. Hermana Dennis said that we baptized in one year about 2000 personas. But because of the party we got back super late and we have lessons actually right now. So I have to make it short to get going.

Last week we had a surprise baptism. He lives in another sector but his family lives in our sector, and he spends all of his time and attends church in nuestro barrio (our neighborhood). When we first started talking to him we found that he knew all that we could teach and had a testimony, so we put a baptism date and announced it to everyone. So we asked the assistants and they said no. So we talked to him and cancelled it and he understood. But the word got to his daughter who is on a mission in Mexico. She asked her presidente for permission to skype to see the baptism. He said yea and she started to plan it all. So she called her dad, obispo (bishop), and us. We told her that we couldn't.   She was crying and told us that we need to try harder to get him baptized. Well we got permission to call presidente directly and he authorized it, even for the next day. So the next day we had his interview for baptism an hour antes (before) the baptism. All was good and he was baptized. His daughter saw it all, super spiritual, his son baptized him.  Other than that nothing much happened.

Mom, I need to repent.  I have pictures but I will send them next week. Just because I don't have a lot of time.

Just know mom, I know its short and there are not any pictures, but I absolutely love this gospel. I love it.

I love you

Elder Luke