Hello Family, Monday Nov. 7th, 2016
First off....today I officially have been away from home for 22 months!!!!!
Time just flies by!!!! Can you believe that I am going to be home in
60 days!!!!!! But who's counting?!?!?!? :P
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| Mamelas |
I'm sorry for all of the struggles that you all went through this week. Life
isn't always easy...but the best part about life, is it can always get
better!!!! Sorry to hear that you're sick mom. Use oregano...it kills
everything!
This week was another wonderful week full of inspiration, revelation and
miracles!!!
First off, Monday was Halloween. How did that go for you all? My companion
and I ''dressed up'' we changed our name tags!!! It was really funny when the
members called us by each others names. Not everyone has learned our names yet:)
On Monday night we had a really special lesson with a less active sister and her
boyfriend. They have been together for about two years now, and were making
plans and goals for their relationship. As they were making plans to get
married, the sister mentioned that she wanted to be sealed in the temple...not
just married. So....she called us up to start teaching her and her boyfriend. It
was really special because investigators don't normally have the vision or goal
of the Temple before we start teaching them, but when we asked Fernando what
goals he had, that was the first thing he said to us. ''I want to be sealed for
eternity with her. Not just marries''. It was great. We taught them an awesome
lesson one....with stick figure drawings (I'll send the picture). At the end we
asked him....''Fernando, do you believe that Joseph Smith was called of God and
restored Christ's church?'' and he told us that yes he did. We asked him why/how....and he told us that he just felt it. It was awesome. We left him a
Book of Mormon to read with his girlfriend. The only problem with them is that
they work from Tuesday to Sunday in Coatza.....so we can only see them on
Mondays, and they can't come to church. We are working with the ward council to
find them new jobs that give them the day off on Sunday. They are really
great.
On Tuesday we traveled to Villahermosa for the mission leadership council
on Wednesday. I'm not sure why, but it took a long time to get there. We showed
up at the assistant's house with four other missionaries at 10:00pm. When we got
there, there was a ton of other missionaries already there. It was great to see
them all. Old companions, and other missionaries that I met a long time ago. It
was nice to recconnect with friends. Of the four gringo Elders of my generation
that are still in the mission, three of us are zone leaders!!! It was great to
see Elder Thaller and Elder Jenkins again. It is amazing how much each of us
have grown and what we have learned during this time...almost two years.
On Wednesday we had our mission leadership council. Best one by far that I
have been to. It was my first one with President Haws...and man is that man
inspired by God. First off we got to see the new church video for Christmas this
year. It is called Light of the World, and it is exceptional!!! Missionaries are
the only ones in the world that are able to see it right now. It will be
available to the public on November 25th. It is spectacular....get ready for it.
The initiative starts on December first and is themed 25ways in 25days. On mormong.org there is going to be a calender from December
first to December 25th with different activities everyday that are supposed to
help people come closer to Christ during this Holiday season. Speaking
of...because there is no Thanksgiving here in México, we are getting ready for
Christmas. Already listening to Christmas music;) Never too early right?
We then talked about Christlike attributes. Specifically diligence.
Diligence in not only completing what we are supposed to do...but going above
and beyond the call of duty. Going the extra mile. For example, finishing the
last lesson of the day at 8:45pm and instead of going home, looking to contact
another person or get in one more short visit before having to be home at
9:00pm. Or finishing a baptismal service at 8:00pm and going to teach another
lesson instead of going out to eat to celebrate. I love the example of
Ammon.
In Alma 17 and 18 is his story.
We all know it pretty well, Ammon goes to work among the Lamanites, and they tie
him up and take him to the King. The King asks him what he is doing in their
land and he says that he just wants to live among them. The King was surprised,
but offered him one of his daughters. As a great missionary, he obviously
rejected but asked to be the kings servant. So the king put him to work with his
sheep. We all know how the story goes of how the sheep were scattered, and he
cut off the arms of the Lamanites, but there were several scriptures that
touched me a little deeper. First off Alma 17:29. Ammon recognizes the way in
which he can be an example to the Lamanites that he is working with. He knew
that it would not be by his own power....he had to rely on the Savior in order
to have that power. We learn in verses two and three that he gained that power
through study, prayer, fasting, and obedience to all the the Lord commanded him.
How he can show Christs power to them and through that, touch their hearts. He
then saves their lives and cuts of the arms of the bad guys. His fellow servants
decide to take the arms to the King and show him what Ammon had done.
So....Ammon now has his chance to present himself before the King with this
great act and receive his reward and the trust of the king. But where was he?
When the king asked, Ammon was out feeding his horses. He was being diligent in
his work. Because of his diligence, the Lord then started to soften and touch
the hearts of those Lamanites. Because of his dilligence, the King told him in
verse 23 I will believe what you tell me. Ammon then had the chance to teach and
convert the King, his family, and all of his servants. Then because of the kings
testimony, many others were converted as well. It is through the diligence that
miracles come to pass. It is when we go above and beyond what we are asked is
when we gain the power of our Savior Jesus Christ. The power needed to convert
hundreds of people. I know this is true....especially as a missionary....but
also in ordinary life. If we are diligent in living the Gospel, miracles happen
in our lives.
It was a wonderful conference. I
sang the closing him Redeemer of Israel.
On Friday we had our Zone class.
The class went really well, and I sang Army of Helaman.
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| Elder Beal! |
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| We make them run in Zone class. |
On Sunday we baptized
Jonathan!!!! Great story that I'll have to share next week....I'm out of time.
This Saturday we have another baptism of Karime!!!
I am doing wonderful, and just
enjoying the blessings of the Lord. I love this work...and I know that it is all
True.
I Love you all and will talk to
you all again next week!!!!
Elder Cavenee
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