I LOve being a zone leader! a lot of administrative stuff that takes
away from proselyting, but we still have been able to teach and find!
We
had 2 investigators at church! Andre and his girlfriend! Andre has lived a very rough life,but he appreciates how much we
love him and how we don't judge him for the things he does and the
language he uses! He knows what he needs to do and he is motivated! I gave him one of my ties and Elder Tonga gave him a shirt and he looked
good at church! He hardly has any money, he works at jimmy johns and doesn't even pay full rent at his place! His buddy helps him out! but
pray for him he really can change! It would be a huge lifestyle twist
but he can do it! That's what the gospel is for!
We have a ton of other people who have been a little flaky this week but
we haven't been able to teach them at all. We had a great lesson with a
guy named Justin! They are a really poor family. Justin is the boyfriend
of Jennifer and she has 3 kids but he is the father figure for them. In
the past he has been mean toward missionaries but we stopped by and he
saw us pull up in our truck and he ran down the stairs and thanked us for showing up. He is going through a difficult time trying to
make money, give up bad habits and be the man he knows he needs to be. He was praying for help from God and guess who showed up, us! We went
inside and taught him. We laid out some expectations and blessing from
meeting with us and how it will bring his family together! He was super
thrilled but he was crying so much.he felt the spirit and it was
strong. He invited us back that night to teach his family but he said he
had to put the kids to bed when we showed up which he was sorry. They
were being naughty so he had to discipline them. He gave us his number
and we are trying to set up a lesson this week. Pray for them as well!
My
companions name is Tomasi Tonga. He is half Tongan. He is playing
college football at snow and hopefully get his grades up so he can play
at Utah. He is a really good player. Played for USA
rugby as well! He is a great loving man and his life used to be way different. His family isn't very active in church but his mom keeps the family together and his
brother is putting in his papers.
Okay so I will share why the mission has changed my
life forever......come see my homecoming talk for all who would like to
know hahaha jk. I will share something
" I love
hearing stories about how coming close to God has quote on quote
"changed my life" but I feel coming closer to God doesn't mean some
force has necessarily made you flip around a complete 180 degrees. Coming closer to God hasn't changed my life but has changed my
perspective, my outlook, the way I view people, the way I view my life. A
life with God isn't being baptized going to church and banking that
your spot has been secured in the very presence of God. It is way way
more than that! The thing that most people don't recognize is that you
are the dictator of your own salvation. Christ has left it up to us to
follow his example and use his infinite grace and mercy that is
available everyday 24 hours a day. He doesn't change our lives.....we
change our lives Through him. The way we change our lives through him is
submitting our will to his. Giving up our carnal desires which I still
struggle to do and taking up his cross and following him. Peter and his
disciples in the New Testament were fishing one evening when Jesus
approaches them and says Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
It then explains in the following verse that peter James and John
"straightway left their nets" Scholars share that the symbolism behind
that is giving up our desires and following God. I might add that by
giving up their nets(fishing) they were giving up their will to God.
They were giving up their desires to fish and make a living and feed
their families. But by doing so they didn't know the transformation that
would come into their lives when they follow Christ. I think the same
case has shown for me.There are a lot of things that I would like to do that
I'm not supposed to do like party and blow my money and give into
everything the world has to offer. But my mission has changed my
perspective in that I'm the most happiest when I'm serving him and
giving him my will. Our lifetime is a constant battle of giving up what
we want and letting as the famous Carrie Underwood stated "Jesus take
the wheel" Jesus is the pilot. He is at the helm and as I let him direct
me my life is blessed! I love being a member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of latter Day Saints. I love what is taught. The principles I
learn to help me become a better person. My wish is for people to see
the blessing of being a part of my church. Literally just come see how
happy living the things I live will make you. read the Book of Mormon,
see the teaching that are similarly taught in the bible in the gospels
and see how everything just makes sense. God has called a prophet in our
day. He leads us and gives us the counsel we need to find safety and
peace from the storms of life. Thank you to those who have impacted my
life and has shown me and exemplified a Christ like life, for I am
forever indebted to you! I will pay it forward! In dreams I can help
someone find out who they truly are. I find out and am reassured who I
am each and everyday as I serve him here in Colorado. I remember who I
was before this life. I know what I can become. I hope you all truly
know how much I love each and everyone of you. And how much God loves
you! He is there, he will help you but it takes giving up some things. But it is all worth it in the end! This is my testimony that he lives! I
love him! In his name I say these things, amen
I love you mom thanks for letting me share my testimony!
