Hello again!

We had an incredibly busy week this week but, wow, did we see some awesome things. We had a 3 day leadership training that took quite a bit of time out of our schedule but it was incredibly uplifting. There was a big focus on the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion and how we, as missionaries can act as a conductor for the spirit in our lessons. It was very well done and I know that I left feeling very edified. As a side note, I should mention that a couple of weeks ago I was transferred from my area as a zone leader and was called to a new assignment. President called me as the new Spanish Assistant to the President for the mission. It has been a great experience and I have seen some pretty incredible miracles.

Speaking of miracles :), we were able to see a miracle in the baptism of a family of 6 this Saturday! The other elders in our ward have been working with them for about 2 months and the service was amazing. When they finished taking pictures they came in and all sat down on the front row. I can't tell you how amazing it was just to see a whole row filled up with people in white baptismal suits...the spirit was most definitely present. They incredible part for us was the fact that we had an investigator present and she committed herself to be baptized in four weeks. She told us "I've never felt anything like this before....it's like my heart is jumping inside of my chest and I feel so peaceful...I want to be baptized." It was an incredible experience to say the least :)

As we've had these trainings this past week I've been pondering a lot of different things. From the role of the Atonement in the life of a missionary, to humility in leadership roles, to the power of innovation. I was pondering on how dynamic the work of the Lord is. Not one thing happens as a coincidence. Heavenly Father's hand is in everything. The trick is, will we follow the promptings as we receive them from the Holy Ghost or turn them away as something unimportant? Something came to my mind this week while doing my studies. As missionaries we consecrate our lives for 2 years to focus ourselves 100% on this work. I thought to myself of instances when growing up I decided not to do what I was told and to break the rules a bit (nothing serious but the small things) and it came to me: "As missionaries, when we fail to do all that we can (talk with everyone, ask referrals from everyone, etc.) we are possibly denying someone their right to having the full power of the Atonement in their lives." That hit me pretty hard, not because of anything I've done but along the lines of making me reflect "Am I doing everything I can to help these people come unto Christ?" In a talk titled "Good, Better, Best" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, he quotes President Hinckley who said, "...Work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life does count on it." I thought to myself, "what if I change some words around here to make it say this."

"...Work at our responsibility as [members of the church or missionaries] as if everything in [eternal] life counted on it, because in fact everything in [our or someone else's eternal] life does count on it."

My dear friends, this is the work of the Lord and we must open our mouths to help bring those elect of God back into the fold. We have a very sacred opportunity to lift anothers burdens and in many ways be a guide for others to come back unto Christ. I have come to realize that, in the grand scheme of things, nothing else in this life matters besides sharing the gospel. May each of you commit to helping those you know come unto the Savior so they too can enjoy of the benefits that you now enjoy is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.