Last month of 2015, WOW! Well, this past week was pretty good, full of miracles, and also disappointments.
On Tuesday, we had a miracle. Around 2 pm we were just walking on the street and from behind us we heard a lady yell, "Elderes." In my head, I just thought it was going to be people that mock us like it always is. But I turned around anyways and it was two ladies, so we went back to talk to them. One of them was a member from Granada (my first area). She somehow remembered me from a year ago haha. She just came to Jinotepe to visit her sister Xiomara. We just talked outside of her door for like five minutes and put a cita (appointment) for Thursday. Turns out she basically asked us if she could get baptized. Has a couple doubts, but came to church yesterday and stayed the whole three hours and loved it. We have a cita tomorrow with her to meet her kids and we are going there with the bishop and his wife. She has a baptism date for the 26th. If her sister wouldn't have come to Jinotpe, we wouldn't have ever met her. It was a miracle. God prepares his children.
On Wednesday, we just spent the whole day looking for new people. Didn't really find anything.
Thursday was Thanksgiving. We went to a resturante called Terry's Diner. I ate a hamburger. I definitely have had a better Thanksgiving that's for sure haha.
After that, I went down to Rivas with Elder Kleiner to visit all of the possibilities, got home pretty late, but we got Claudia and Daniela interviewed and everything was good.
Saturday, for lunch, Claudia invited us to lunch at her house before her baptism. She got baptized at 5. She was super happy, she is awesome. I love them as if they were my own family.
(Baptism of Claudia.)
Daniela was supposed to get baptized at 5 also but she had to wait in a line for her graduation clothes and didn't get home til 7 and she was sick so wanted to do it on Sunday morning at 9 am. So we said Dale (Meaning, "Go ahead.")
Sunday morning... we called Daniela at 7:30 am, and she said that everything was ok and was just about to start getting ready. At 8 am we called a member to go and help her and her two kids. Turns out on Sunday morning they were celebrating the birthday of her sister in law (preparing to get baptized as well). So all the family was at their house and the mom of Daniela told everyone that they were listening to the "Mormons." All of the family started to mock Daniela and Griselda (the sister in law), saying all sorts of crap from coffee to Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon.
So Daniela left the house with her two kids to the park. She didn't end up getting baptized. Last night we went to go and talk to them. They told us all of this. We also talked to Daniela's mom for a bit to try and help with the problem. The lady is so close-minded it's sad... Daniela and Griselda have a strong testimony, but last night they both told us it would be better if they stopped listening to us because of all the problems. Daniela's mom said that if she gets baptized, she has to leave the house with her two kids... We tried helping them out, they want to do it, but don't know what to do... PLEASE pray for them and their family!!!
This past week, Dad told me to read a general conference talk called, "What Lack I Yet?" by Elder Larry R. Lawrence. It was awesome. I really liked it. Here are some of my favorite parts:
(Click on the above link to read or listen to the conference talk Elder Copeland is referring to.)
If we are humble and teachable, the Holy Ghost will prompt us to improve and lead us home, but we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way.
We came to learn and improve until we gradually become sanctified or perfected in Christ.
The journey of discipleship is not an easy one. It has been called a "course of steady improvement." As we continue traveling along the straight and narrow path, the Spirit continually challenges us to be better and to climb higher. The Holy Ghost makes an ideal traveling companion. If we are humble and teachable, He will take us by the hand and lead us home. However, we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way, like "What do I need to change?" "How can I improve?" "What weakness needs strengthening?"
(El Joven Rico.) He was a righteous young man who was already keeping the ten commandments, but he wanted to become better. His goal was eternal life. When he met the Savior, he asked, "What lack I yet?" (Matthew 19:16-22). Jesus answered immediately, giving council that was intended specifically for the rich young man. "Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and... come follow me." The young man was stunned. He had never considered such a sacrifice. He was humble enough to ask the Lord but not faithful enough to follow the divine counsel he was given. We must be willing to act when we receive an answer. Every one of us, if we would reach perfection, must at one time ask ourselves this question, What lack I yet?
The Holy Ghost doesn't tell us to improve everything at once. If He did, we would become discouraged and give up. The Spirit works with us at our own speed, one step at a time, or as the Lord has taught, "Line upon line, precept upon precept, ...and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts,...for unto him that receiveth I will give more." For example, if the Holy Ghost has been prompting you to say, "Thank you" more often, and you respond to that prompting, then He my feel it is time for you to move on to something more challenging, like to say, "I am sorry, that was my fault."
A perfect time to ask, "What lack I yet?" is when we take the sacrament. In this reverent atmosphere, as our thoughts are turned heavenward, the Lord can gently tell us what we need to work on next.
The atoning sacrifice of the Savior is what makes perfection or sanctification possible. We could never do it on our own, but God's grace is sufficient to help us. "Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints, for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better." -Elder David A. Bednar
I would like to suggest that each one of us to participate in a spiritual experience, perhaps even tonight while saying your prayers. Humbly ask the Lord the following question: "What is keeping me from progressing?" In other words, "What lack I yet?" Then quietly wait for a response. If you are sincere, the answer will soon become clear. It will be revelation intended just for you. The Spirit can show us our weaknesses, but He is also able to show us our strengths. Sometimes we need to ask what we are doing right so that the Lord can lift and encourage us. He rejoices every time we take a step forward. To Him, our direction is ever more important that our speed.
Be persistent, but never discouraged. We will have to go beyond the grave before we actually reach perfection, but here in mortality we can lay the foundation. *It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow that we are today. If spiritual growth is not a priority in our lives, if we are not on a course of steady improvement, we will miss out on the important experiences that God wants to give us.
"I have learned that where there is a prayerful heart, a hungering after righteousness, a forsaking of sins, and obedience to the commandments of God, the Lord pours out more and more light until there is finally power to pierce the heavenly veil. ...A person of such righteousness has the priceless promise that one day he shall see the Lord's face and know that he is." -Spencer W. Kimball.
Love you all, have a great week!
Elder Copeland
(My omelet. We ran out of plates, so I had to use the law of castidad folleto as a plate:)
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