Ministering is really cool!

May 7, 2018

This week we have had some really cool experiences with the members and nonmembers.

With David Suárez, recently married, he is the Elder´s Quorum President. He invited us to come with him to talk to his Cousin. She lives not to far away from the chapel. Her name is Maria José. And she is interested in the gospel as she too is starting a family with her husband. Although we haven´t talked with him, we are really excited to help them out this week 😀

By searching for a less active member, we found her dad, who is really full of knowledge. He knows so much of the Bible, that I think he himself is sick of all the different arguments that come from it alone. He is really in a tough spot in his life where he thinks that he won´t ever be able to put off the burdens he has, the things he says, and the guilt he has. We really care for him and we want to share with him that the gospel of Jesus Christ can help him to change and become a better person.

We had a load of people come to church this Sunday, although not all of the people came, we are super happy that so many came. Omar and Mayra came to church. We found Mayra from information sent to us through the internet. She is a member but he is not. Omar is really interested in motorcycles and is in the Area Fuerza. He is in charge sometimes of the radar machine not too far away. But he came to church. Not only did he come but he participated a bunch. He is investigating a lot and is deciding little by little. More recent converts came today too! And someone recently just moved from Venezuela with their family. Just like the Hermano Cevallos. who is now the Elders quorum president´s 2nd counselor.

Sometime in these past days, a man approached us and started talking about that he has looked us up and that we are a secret organization from the CIA. He was really convinced, what he found on the internet. The internet is a wild place ]:

MINISTERING IS REALLY COOL. Many, many people here were really confused about what it is. BUT, because Hermana Balverde, the ward Relief Society president, many more people know what is and what they need to do. Although I have a pretty good idea of what it is, she is inspired, and explains with great clarity. So at church this past Sunday. We set goals, about activities, what we are going to do about it. My favorite part about it is that Ministering involves being friends with the people you are in charge of. Not just any friend. But a good friend. A friend who loves them for who they are. A friend who will help them out no matter what they have done or where they have been. I know that sometimes we, as people, try to do the opposite, cover ourselves with light and never with darkness. But what is it that Christ did? He stood in the midst of darkness, as a light for everyone who wanted to hear, see, be healed, or feel important. Because Christ is the best friend you will ever find in your life. No matter where you have been, what you have done, he will be there and so will his servants, and now in this case, ministering brothers and sisters.

We went on an intercambio, companionship exchange with Elder Walquist! Awesome! What we did basically is sprinting back and forth across the zone to coordinate lessons and be present for some baptismal interviews. There are many miracles here. One Sister wanted to be baptized immediately after being an investigator for many months.

I got to visit and walk the streets of Samanes another time. Why? Because of a missionary invasion in Samanes. Basically all missionaries from the zone, come to the sector to go and visit people, like Part member families, or investigatores, or less actives, with the goal in mind to find new people. So I got to say hello/goodbye to some of the sisters that were over there in Samanes. What was really chévere (great) is that we were able find a recent convert that was baptized about 2 or 3 years ago. But has gone inactive. So we talked to him and reminded him of the days of his baptism. He said he wanted those days back. We promised him that the sacrament, does that. And he wants to return to church. We shall see if he went. But his mom, is not a member. And she could be interested in the gospel. 😀

We passed by the Mission Offices to pickup new daily planners for the next 6 weeks. While we waited, Elder Tafur came! He came to take his final exam for English. He will be heading back to Iquitos Perú in a couple weeks. We shared a final heartfelt goodbye and we headed out.

This week really, really fun and I hope week can make it even more fun and filled with the spirit. I hope all who read this may have a good week filled with the spirit.

Chao, love you all,

Sincerely,

Elder Wilhelm