Well it's official, I completed 16 months this week! It can be exciting, but also scary how fast the time is going. I am learning to appreciate every day of the mission more and more.

Elder Ayala and I are doing really good, despite a few challenges we had this week with some of our investigators. You probably will remember the experience I shared a couple weeks ago about Marlon and Elizabeth, a family that we had recently put a baptismal date with and that had received an answer to their prayers that this church is true. I can't explain how heart breaking it is when God answers an investigators prayer that these things are true and they choose not to act according to what God has told them to do. Marlon and Elizabeth faced some serious persecution in their family after receiving that answer. We passed by their house a few times this week trying to encourage them and give them strength to keep going. We prayed and read with them, and could feel that the Lord was giving them the strength they needed. However, on Friday they told us that they can't change their religion because of their Catholic roots, even though God has answered their prayers. They asked us not to come back. As soon as they said those words to us, the Lord immediately started speaking through us. We bore powerful testimony to them of the truthfulness of the restored gospel. I know they felt the spirit and have received an answer from our Heavenly Father.

I have found a lot of comfort and strength this week in these few sentences of Preach my Gospel: "Remember that people have agency to choose whether to accept your message. Your responsibility is to teach clearly and powerfully so they can make a correct choice. Some may not accept your message even when they have received a spiritual witness that it is true. You will be saddened because you love them and desire their salvation. You should not, however, become discouraged; discouragement will weaken your faith. If you lower your expectations, your effectiveness will decrease, your desire will weaken, and you will have greater difficulty following the Spirit." (PMG What is My Purpose as a Missionary? Section: A Successful Missionary)

Nica Pizza!

I have the faith that one day they will be strong enough to act according to the answer the Lord gave them. I don't feel discouraged by what has happened and we will continue working diligently and with high expectations.

The rest of our investigators are doing pretty good. Each investigator and family has their individual struggles, but the Lord is helping them resist temptation and stay strong.

It blows my mind to think that McKay receives his mission call this week! I swear he's still a junior in high school. I'm excited to hear where he is going on Sunday in our phone call. I hope he gets to speak Spanish, but he will do great wherever the Lord calls him.

Love you all! Talk to you Sunday!



Mission Leaders Conference



Zone Granada