Okay family, lets be sad for a few minutes because I wont be emailing
you next week... SORRY! Carnaval is next Monday and NO ONE IS LEAVING
THE HOUSE for 2 days. No joke. So until the 10th, I hope this is going
to be good. For those of you who are wondering what happens during
Carnaval, people drink a ton, and here they throw balloons filled with
paint. So missionaries with white shirts? Double trouble. So Ill let
you know what goes down in 2 weeks! Until then, happy halfway mark mom
and dad as empty nesters! BELIEVE IT! 7 and a half months down, 7 and
a half to go! LOVE YOU!
So this week was so dang crazy. Lets be real. So Tuesday morning I
started feeling NOT GOOD! My stomach was fighting SOMETHING and it
caused some massive stomach problems. Understand the subject now?
Diarrhea massive and crazy. So I called the health secretary, and took
some meds and continued with the feeling. It was a 3 day test. So a by
Thursday it was NOT GOOD! I stopped taking those wastes of time. And
so I prayed for help to get me focused on something else and... IT
POURED RAIN! No joke. Like it was a foot of water. I recorded stuff
and took pictures. I dont think I can send pictures this week so with
the package thats going home with the gringos that are here, Ill send
those pictures. They are to die for! I sang in the rain, and I
pretended like I was swimming! So I got my mind off and I was good
until Friday.. We had a service activity to help the people who are so
with problems in Beni and Trinidad because of the rain. So the members
fed us SALTEÑAS and BURGER KING! Remember my last meeting with the BK?
Diarrhea. So this time I was worried. But I ate! Duhh! I finished what
I could.. Fast forward to that night.. 11pm. THROW UP! Thanks dad, for
teaching me how to throw up with grace. No tears, or anything. I just
held that pot like it was my momma and threw up. 4 times then I was
done. There went the BK. So I didnt go to the medic then, I let my
comp sleep. NOT A GOOD IDEA. I was sick in the bathroom with problems
on the other side of life. But I was a big boy and cleaned up well.
Thanks, Mom and dad. So THEN we went to the medic. Turns out my diet
is horrible, fried foods, and I have to give it up. DANG IT! But I got
the meds, I still feel kind of nasty, but I rejoiced that I got
experience life! YAY DAD AND SON TIME!
So this week was a bit of a MIRACLE week. Dad and mom, thanks for
telling me to rely and wait for God to tell me where to go (Dad) and
to see the good in each person (Mom). We found a family that will be
GOLDEN! Lets hope they make it to church this coming Sunday. Gabriel,
who was supposed to get baptized around this time just told us he
doesnt want to talk to us again and that hes suffering... but did he
read and pray about the book of Mormon? NOPE. Thats all we ask,
people. Read, meditate, and pray. Frustrating. But we keep it going!
Lets hope we get a wedding on this month!
So while we were going home from the Clinic, I saw a GRINGA! An
american.. But she wasnt american. She was from Germany! She was
traveling alone and was super confused as to why I would want to serve
a mission and really seemed skeptical about what I was doing. I was so
confused! Why would she say that? So I started thinking and SINGING!
Thats right... ready? TOGETHER:
I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I know who I am.
I know God's plan.
I'll follow him in faith.
I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I'll honor his name.
I'll do what is right;
I'll follow his light.
His truth I will proclaim.
Thats right. I sang that proudly in my head! I want to focus on 3 parts:
1. I know who I am. How awesome is that? We are sons and daughters of
a Heavenly Father! He knows me! I can talk to Him and He will help
me!!
2. I know Gods plan. He has a plan for ME! He wants me to return to
Him. He has set requirements for me to return to Him to show Him Im
faithful. I want to help people with that
3. Ill follow Him in faith. Because I know these things, I will act
and I will follow Him.
Thats my invitation for each of us this week! I hope that we all can
get closer to our Savior. He wants us to Follow Him. How can we do
that? Heres the answer in the book of Mormon:
10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to
keep the commandments of the Father?
It is my hope and prayer that this week we will choose to follow Him
by keeping his commandments a little bit more. Lets choose one this
week. And strengthen it a ton. WE KNOW WHO WE ARE! We know why we are
here. This life is hard, but its not sad. Its a life of hope because
we know why we are here. It is my hope that each of us will help
others to know that and understand it more.
I love each of you, and I will talk to you all the 10th.
Con amor,
Elder Risueño
Monday, February 24, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Loving life! (Week 30)
FAMILY!!!
Guess who got to stay in Trompillo???? I so did. Oh my gosh. What an answer to prayers. Im not kidding. Elder Chura is still with me and its the best. He is really excited to learn more English and its awesome. What he says is so awesome and he is led by the spirit. He is District Leader now, which means he is in charge of two other companionships. I have deemed myself the First Lady, or I guess Im the First Man. He is in charge of making sure everyones doing okay, and I support him and clean when hes working, or just serve when I can. I love it.
Okay, so Valentines Day winner goes to my grandma, Dawn Fudge Miller, or DFM! No joke! I LOVED her card. And I opened it in front of the entire 20 missionaries because they asked who my girlfriend was, and I assured them it was my Grandma. So they recorded my opening it and I LOVED IT! Im the key to my grandmas heart and she is the best. I couldnthave been happier. It definitely alleviated some stress on Monday, thanks grams!
So an update on the investigators... Guys! This work is hard! Rocky is not going to get baptized... We realized we saw him as a number and a baptism and that he really doesnt have a desire to be baptized and wont accept that the Restored Gospel In FULLNESS is on the Earth today. Its a hard concept for Cruceñas, or people in Santa Cruz. But, my companion and I DIED laughing because he didnt go to church last Sunday, and we asked why, and he showed us WITH HAND MOTIONS what was happening in his stomach and the troubles he was having in the bathroom. You guys, it made my life. I love Rocky.
Gabriel isnt progressing either. He isnt reading the Book of Mormon, his parents are inactive, and his grandma, too. We are going to work with him this week. PLEASE PRAY!
With Oscar, the young kid. His dad told us there is no way he can get baptized and that he can only go to church with us Sunday and THATS IT! When he turns 18, he can get baptized. We are praying that in a few weeks we can teach his dad once hes a lot more relaxed. And guess what? OSCAR CAME YESTERDAY! We were running late, and he almost went by himself. Wow! How awesome life is!
So yeah! Elder Chura and I are working on RESCUING! It means bringing a Less Active back to activity! We are going to bring 8 people back to church this month! We are almost sure! Life is great, here. Elder Chura and I WANT baptisms. President Willard wants us to have one baptism each week. WOW. So we are ready for miracles. We are working on our teaching methods each day and earnestly praying for help on how we can better help our investigators. We are also eating healthier so that we have energy to work. It poured a TON this week, please pray for people in Beni, Bolivia, but now its super hot. So we NEED energy! I love where I am and even though it can be a little sad, my companion and I are angels. I was so humbled when we visited a Return Missionary who was inactive, but decided to come back because he felt like he had left God and knew that it wasn't what he should have done. I KNEW he saw himself in us. He served 10 years ago. But here I am to tell this man that he is worth it. He is as worth it as he was 10 years ago. Ahh. And we sang to a deaf man! Well, hes not deaf, but he cant hear too well! So I thought LETS SING! so we sang. And he still couldn't hear. But I sure felt good! I love being close to God. I love helping others know that they are worth it.
A quick story from my past:
When the age requirement for missionary work changed, I was definitely one of the many who felt it was their time to serve. As my sister received her call, my urge to go on a mission grew and grew. But, because of my commitment to study at BYU Idaho, I had to wait till I was up there to send my papers to serve. Just as soon as I got settled in up there, I went to my last two interviews with my Bishop and Stake President. I sat in my final interview with my Stake President and it was great. We spoke of my dreams, my goals, and my fears. As we got to talk more, I spoke of some trials I had faced as a youth and, even thought they weren't sins I had committed, they had caused some personal setbacks. As I opened up to my Stake President, he told me that these trials I had faced needed to be reviewed my some professionals to make sure that I was emotionally ready for a mission. So at that point, my dream of a mission was put on hold. My Stake President assured me that these happenings were of no fault to me, but that the mission was a high stress life and that the leaders needed to be sure I was okay. AS I finished the interview and walked out, I cried and cried.
I was 16 hours away from home and I felt abandoned. In a moment that was to be the happiest of my life, it became the saddest. For weeks I sat in fear of an evaluation, that was to come my way. I questioned my purpose in life and what I was to do with life. But one thing I never stopped to do was attend the temple. I continued to pray to God each time I went, but I told Him that I didn't see a need to pray about my mission call because everything was in HIS time and yeah. That was my prayer.
About a month after that interview, nothing had happened. My mission papers hadn't moved anywhere, and I was tired of being frustrated. One Monday morning, I woke up early to do some scripture study and spend some time with God. I wrote this question in my journal: When will my call come? That was my question! I began to search for the answer. Now, I cant remember what scripture I read that gave me my answer, but Ill sue this scripture to illustrate my point:
35 Nevertheless they did afast and bpray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their chumility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the dpurifying and the esanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their fyieldingtheir hearts unto God.
(Hel 3:35)
I realized that in the past month I had acknowledged Gods timing, but I hadn't accepted it. I hadn't yielded my heart unto God. In that moment, I found my answer. I wrote in my journal that my call would come in the Lords time. I began to trust Him even more and I was filled with the peace and joy of the Spirit. I finished my study by thanking him for the humbling me. I gave my all to him. I was humble. I was willing to follow Him. About 4 hours later, my dad called and said that my call was ready to be assigned. Again, the Lord taught me that timedoesn't matter; what matters is a humble heart and a willing mind. One year ago this coming Friday, I received my call here to Santa Cruz. I will never forget that great trial. I will never forget the importance of being humble and being worthy to feel the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Before I opened my call, we all sang this song that brought great feelings of love and joy to my heart:
I promise you that angels are here. I know that this life brings great trials, but God knows each of us and our challenges. Don't focus on how long your trials last, but on how you have grown through your trials. Find these feelings of joy that bring you closer to God.
Happy 7 months to me, today! And happy 10 months to Ellyn!
Con amor,
Elder Risueño
Monday, February 10, 2014
Love! (Week 29)
Hello family!!!
How are we all doing? Happy Valentines Day!! Well, this Friday. So I know that you all are dying to be my Valentine so its super easy to be my Valentine. All you have to do is listen to a song by Michael Bublé or Whitney Houston and think of me! Simple, right? And if you don't have a desire to listen to either of those people, then I'm definitely not your Valentine!hahahaha. Just kidding. But really.
Anyway, this week has just been splendiforous here in Santa Cruz! One of the most exciting things that happened this week is I weighed myself for the first time since I left home and Ive gained 15 pounds! NO JOKE! hahahha whoa. The people here say that the missionaries need to be gorditos so that they can have evidence that they served a mission when they get home. Well, Ill definitely have something to show when I get home. The food is so good. I love chocolate and life.
Oh, and I sleep talk in Spanish now! Winning! I guess I taught a lesson one night.
Okay, so this week is TRANSFERS!! Its pretty much like Christmas each 6 weeks because we wait until 9:30 to see what will happen. I decided that I might leave so I might as well soak up some first world stuff I have here. I got my ties dry cleaned and ate pizza. For those of you who don't know, the mission is a few pueblos so we never know! A few families have told me if I stay they'll buy me Cinnabon! YES! Winning.
Okay, so the updates on life this week:
So we had one of those crazy miracles you see in the Ensign happen this week. So we went to visit like 3 investigators and no one was home. Or the person was sick. We were super frustrated and just wanted someone to teach and help and we had nothing. We had a few scheduled lessons later, but nothing to do at that point and we know that knocking doors is ineffective so my companion decided to go visit a Less Active we had visited the day before to see how he was doing... As we were walking to his house, a 20 year old and his younger brother were trying to carry a closet in their house and failing. So we SUPER missionaries came to the rescue. My comp used his muscles and I pretended like I knew what I was doing. We got in, helped them and talked to them and GUESS WHAT?! The young kid is a recent convert, the 20 year old is Less Active, and his girlfriend is an Investigator! Can you say CHRISTMAS?!! We had a great lesson, shes Catholic, but loves the church. She just hasn't been yet. hahah. They didn't go on Sunday because it was pouring rain and their clothes didn'thang dry in time--we don't have dryers here-- but they had a spiritual Sunday! Hno Ivan told his grandfather that he had a testimony of God leading people to scriptures so they said a prayer and opened their scriptures and WABAM! They went to Mosiah 9 which talks about prophets and their importance! What had we spoken of the day before? Prophets. No joke. They told us they had a testimony and we were SO CLOSE to invite them to baptism, but we had to book it home. Uhh can we say golden? Yup, we can.
So Roque and Gabriel didn't go to church Sunday. Which means no baptism this Saturday. Oscar got permission from his parents to be baptized, but he isn't as motivated to learn more as usual. Its definitely a hard part for my companion and me. Please continue to pray for us so that we can become the missionaries God wants us to become so that we can help these people! But who knows what will happen when transfers come? If I end up leaving the area, I will be so content to know that I left the area better than it was. That's the purpose of missionary work. Whether or not you have the name tag, you need to find people that you can help, and those who can help YOU!
This week, as we celebrate Valentines Day, I want to talk about the love Christ has for us. I read a great talk called, The First Great Commandment by Jeffrey R Holland. I cant express how much I love the talk, but you can read it and let me know what you think! The talk is all about how we can love God and serve Him. More importantly, how we can love Jesus Christ.
Elder Holland said this:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments,”14 Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it.
I love how we can focus on helping others in this time. I feel like we just want to find something to show others we love them this day. Or maybe we want someone to say that they love us. Well, Christ is there. He did everything for us. He loved us with all of our perfections and died so that we can experience an eternal joy. I'm so grateful that I was called to be a representative of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm not perfect. I'm nowhere near. But God trusts me. He trusts you. Sometimes we forget how blessed we are. Its so easy to see others and be grateful we aren't in their positions, but do we ever feel like we can help them? We need to. We must reach out. It doesn't have to be a big present. It can just be a simple act of pure love. Last year, my valentine was the library. She and I were in love last year at BYUI. This year, my valentine is la vida. I am in love with life. I am in love with how I can help other people because Christ trusts me. He has given me this knowledge of who I am and who I can become. Oh, it is wonderful
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!.
.I hope that this week we will be able to enjoy the love that comes from Valentines Day and well be able to enjoy all that God has given us. And that, in turn, we will share that love through the blessings of the gospel.
And please don't judge me that I haven't sent photos in ages. My charger hates me and so I'm getting a knew one today... NEXT WEEK!
Con amor,
Elder Risueño
Monday, February 3, 2014
Be One with the Lord, Daily (Week 28)
Hey family!!
How is everyone?? So I got a ginormous letter from the Moss Family Christmas Party this week and it made my life. But snail mail really stinks here in Bolivia. Like snail means it takes a month or two to send letters and receive them. So feel free to update me with your life via snail mail if you want, but Im going with email for most of the time! Thanks Moss Family!
The picture of Scott Teague aka TWINKLETOES made my life. Kari Teague and family, wherever you are, I love you all and Twinkletoes will always be my role model in life. Thats right. Im still a kid at heart. Send my love to that man. And shine his shoes for me.
Okay so this week was a week of MIRACLES! I forgot to tell yall, its the 50th year of missionary work here in Bolivia! Crazy, right? And the Lord is hastening it. Monday dad told me to work harder and smarter. Thursday we had a Zone Conference where President said to repent and get to work more. My companion and I had 30 lessons this week! We usually have 20. We just booked it everywhere and talked when we were given the chance. Its so awesome this work. Im definitely hoping I get to stay here in Trompillo for another transfer with Elder Chura. Its so funny because my companions last name means BUENISSIMO or super awesome in Tarija, a city south of Santa Cruz and my name means SUPER SMILEY! So the people of Santa Cruz get to meet Elder SONRISA and Elder CHURA! Yay them!
Okay, so I feel like God wantred to make me super h o m e y this week because I swear my life was a movie this week. So my companion and I were called gorditos this week, which means little fatties with love and so we freaked and went on a diet. So I decided to buy banana bread from an sister to eat at night before bed and guess what? It came as a BUNDT CAKE! I died! This week Im eating it again and Im buying cheap flowers to put in the middle. Thank you, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I dont know how the diet thing will go, but we run each day, I ran 4 laps for the first time ever, and we only buy ice cream once a week! Winning!
So we had a Greek Wedding moment, ready for the Nacho Libre moment? So we went to English class that a member teaches and then ORPHANS walked in and asked us if we wanted to buy cakes to help them cover living expenses. I said to myself, Why cant we have just like a salad or something? ...oh how I missed yall at that moment. But of course I bought the cakes. Again, maybe we can pray for a desire to diet.
Ready for something AWESOME?! So I went to visit the lady who speaks french and she spoke to me asking why our name is Elder and I couldnt really understand her, but she was SUPER open to us this time! Again, catholic and doesnt want to change, but talks to me in French. So guess what? I called President and asked for permission to buy a book to practice french like once a week and he said that I could practice EACH DAY for 15 minutes during language study! YES! Im going to go shopping in the next few days to see what I can find. But I WILL be trilingual when I get home. I want a book that teaches spanish speakers how to speak french so its more wise use of time.
Okay, now for the update on life with the investigators:
Roque, thats how you spell it, is doing well. Turns out he was A MONK! I accidentally said Monkey, and he wasnt that. Difference between Mono and Monko or something like that... Anyway. He went to church and is ready, but he needs to go 3 times before baptism and he needs to remember what we teach him. But He WILL be baptized! YAY!
So Gabriel, the youth that is the nephew of a brother in the ward, is SO ready for baptism! We just have to help him resolve his questions. And to turn him away from false info on the internet. Please, pray for him.
Oscar, a teen who is listening to us, cant talk to us for a bit. His parents dont want him baptized because of false rumors someone is spreading where he lives. NOOOOO. He didnt go to church yesterday. Oh how he wants to be baptized. His sister, too.
Carolina and Enrique, our amazing couple, have bettered their lives so much! I love it! They keep telling us that they have avoided fights because they are praying together! A family that prays together, stays together! Now we just have to get them married! We got this! Prayers, family, prayers!
But I believe in miracles and so I am so sure that these baptisms will happen.
Ready for todays message? Me too. :)
So this Wednesday my best friend and my cousin is going to start her mission! How happy I am for her, and Ive spent so much time about the key to missionary success. Kacies mom, my aunt Julie, reminded me to be BOLD! I think thats the key to being a good missionary, whether full time or at home. There is an example of this in the Book of Mormon. Alma was teaching some people who werent very happy with him and he said the following So they were
And they stood forth to lay their hands on me; but behold, they did not. And I stood with boldness to declare unto them, yea, I did boldly testify unto them
So they were trying to attack him, but because he shared what he knew to be true, he was able to have the power of the Lord. I have thought so much about what it means to be bold. I dont have a dictionary with me, so I feel like to be bold is to be B.O.L.D. Be One with the Lord Daily. When we are on the same page he is, when we are thinking his thoughts, when we are humble to what he wants, we experience that joy. We must be accepted of Him. We know the simplistic things we must do: read the scriptures, say our prayers, etc., but do we know if we are accepted of Him? When are one WITH him, we are able to know what He would want for His children. II promise
Elder Erich Kopischke of the 70 shared the following:
Seeking and receiving the acceptance of the Lord will lead to the knowledge that we are chosen and blessed by Him. We will gain increased confidence that He will lead us and direct us for good. His tender mercies will become evident in our hearts, in our lives, and in our families.
I promise each of you that if you seek this acceptance of Him, that you will be one with Him. Its not an easy task, but its something we all must do individually and with God. Yesterady Elder Chura and I visited a less active who said he was busy, duhh, but started talking to us. He said he was atheist and didnt want to talk to us. Long story short, after 20 minutes of talking to him through his gate, we had another appointment to return and he was open to us. If we had left, and not testified, he would have continued lost. But he was found and he will be rescued. We were BOLD.
To those who may be preparing to serve missions, or those who are in the middle of their missions at home, NOW is the time to be BOLD. To be one with Him who is our creator. I know He lives. I know this power can be ours if we only search for it. Power comes simply by the flick of a switch. By a decision.
I hope we all can go forth with this power from today, and forever.
Go forth with pow'r to tell the world
The gospel is restored,
That all may gain eternal life
Thru Jesus Christ, the Lord.
Go forth to preach his glorious truths
Of peace, of joy, and love,
That all who heed his holy word
May praise the Lord above.
I testify of His love for us. Of the power we can have if we but flick the switch in our lives to be one with Him.
Con amor,
Elder Risueño
Teaching a Door (Week 27)
Hey family!!!
How are you guys? I hope all is well in the US of A and that everyone is eating Mac n Cheese. How awesome it is that my sister and I both celebrated our big days the same way! WITH MAC N CHEESE! Love it! I love my sister and I loved reading her letter last week about seeing people change. It definitely is what the mission is all about... but Ill get to that later.
First and foremost, the weather here is CRAZYYY! Uhhh its supposed to be summer here and it is BITTER cold! Nothing was crazier than waking up to water dripping on me from the crazy rain. And cold showers were a lot easier when I sang THERE IS SUNSHINE IN MY SOUL TODAY! Thanks Nana May for the advice. I did have a bucket shower yesterday which made it better. It was nice and warm while the bucket had water in it. We helped a handicapped man build his brick house and while we were mixing cement the rain just came out of nowhere like one of those surprise burps and WABAM! It was pouring. We got to rest a bit, laugh a bit, then get back to work.
Something REALLY cool that happened this week was I got to use my French! No joke! I was talking to someone and somehow French came out and I lost so much of my french, but it was fun! She ended up speaking to me in French, I responded in Spanish, and THEN she spoke in English asking if it was okay if we returned when we had time, but she didnt want to talk about religion. I said it was totally fine, but religion will come in one day! But yeah, trilingual! I will learn French after the mission. Definitely positive. I taught my companion how to say I have lost my book in 3 languages. Fun times!
This week I have definitely learned how to be firm, but not sassy. When I left home, I also left the sass. Well, in the CCM I was a bit sassy, but yeah. I have been more of a pushover now and these people need to know that we are NOT like other religions. That God DOES have prophets today and that they should pray to know its true. Weve seen some miralces in an ex bishop who is less active and we had a lesson about the importance of paying tithing because he didnt want to, and we really laid down the law for love. This week he told us hes going to stop traveling so that he can have a calling and he wants to go to the temple! WOW! MIRACLES! He has made a 360. And its not because of me, its because the Spirit was there. The Spirit converted him. I just had to make sure he knew what we were teaching was true.
So we had ward council, and there was NO electricity. AND everyone from the ward council showed up. It was definitely a first. So we were really sad as missionaries that the one day everyone showed up to help, there was no power. Hna Thorley reminded us that we as members and missionaries were the light! So we had that ward council! We got some light from cell phones and just emulated the love of members and missionaries working together. It was so awesome.
So we went to visit a less active. Hes really sick. He had problems that made his face look really bad. His sister, a returned missionary and super active lady, asked us to visit him. But she felt badly because he didnt want us to come in and see him, but she wanted him to have a lesson. I thought for a bit, and remembered the days when dad was sick and couldnt leave his room and Ellyn and I sang and shared music so that he could hear! I remember those days! I remembered how much better he felt and how much it blessed his life! So I asked if we could sing. And we sang to the door. We sang to his door. He never let us in. He never responded, but we testified that God was close to him. That he was never alone. It was the most spiritual lesson Ive had with a door in my life. I knew at that moment that God loved this man. I found out yesterday at church that he wants us to return and he wants to talk and sing to him again. I love testifying through music. I know music breaks barriers. It goes through doors that separate a missonary and a person sick. I love my mission..
As we were walking to the Casa de los Impedidos I SWORE I saw Jean Val Jean so I knew I had to talk to him. No joke. Like from the beginning when he was working as a slave. And guess what? HE came up to US! Hes a less active who is need of help. He used to be pretty well off man, but sickness overtook him and how he has CRAZY arthritis in his hands and we were there to help him. Im so happy he was put in our way. Im so happy that even though its hard to see people who cant move their hands, or sleep on the floor in the pooring rain, that I am able to help them to live a better life closer to God.
This month we have a goal for 5 baptisms! Hno Rocki, who is paralyzed, will be baptized the 15th! Along with Oscar, a youth, and we are hoping for Hno Gabriel! This youth is so smart and wants to learn and is just so on fire! All 3 went to church this past Sunday and enjoyed it. Hno Rocki couldnt hear anything, but he is such a blessed son of God. And we also have a couple, Carolina and Enrique who we are hoping to get married this month! THEY have made a 360, too, and were on the point of divorce, but the gospel changes lives! They are now praying together and reading the scriptures together! Now, with my sister, I may not see these people baptized. Transfers are the 12th. How sad! I dont know. But if I do, its okay because I have been able to participate in their changes and their growing closer to God.
This Monday I received my family Christmas letter and I loved the message that my sister and I both shared individually. Thatr Christ lives. That because He lives, we live as well! I love the hymn that says the following:
I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.
I, too, share my testimony that He lives! Why is that so important? Because with these simple truths, we build our own testimony! Our foundation is so important. So many Bolivians know that Christ lives! But they dont believe that He speaks to us today through prophets! I testify that He does! That He loves us and He speaks to us individually as well. I love this gospel. I invite each of you to read the book of Enos in the Book of Mormon. Its super short, but so powerful about the reality of Christ. I know that He has fed my soul when it hungered and that He will do the same for you. Enos was a man who was far from perfect, but because he desired a relationship with his savior, he prayed and grew closer to Him. I testify that this is true. That by learning about Enos, you will also learn that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Its another example of Gods love for us. He does have a rest prepared for us if we follow Him. Shortly before he died, Enos said this:
And I soon go to the place of my arest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall brest. And I rejoice in the day when my cmortal shall put on dimmortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the emansions of my Father. Amen.
I testify that this is true. That by learning about Enos, you will also learn that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Its another example of Gods love for us. He does have a rest prepared for us if we follow Him.
I love you, I love the Lord.
Con amor,
Elder Risueño
Search, Ponder, Pray, and SHARE! (Week 25)
My dearest family,
Im super sorry about what happened last week with the whole letter. We had problems with the internet location, with the time for internet and so many other things. But this week Im back to normal so YAY!
Ill try and send the pictures of the hand written letter I wrote last week so I wouldnt forget what happened the past week. Elder Chura, my companion from La Paz is amazing and we are working hard. We enjoyed delicious ice cream and BBQ Chicken pizza for NYE so dont worry. We also had some fun with some food not going to well about a week ago. We definitely enjoyed some bathroom trips and laughs. You have to laugh at the fact that our dueño, or renter, is the Spanish version of Tulas Mom from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. No Joke. Its the best. She even gives us really gassy food. Thats not in the movie, but it should be.
Elder Chura LOVES to exercise. Which, yall know that isnt too good for me. My favorite exercise activity is called the sleeping sit up. Its where you go from your bed to the floor, with your blankets on, and you do sit ups with your eyes close. Its pretty great, except Ive had too many accidents where I go down from a sit up and sleep a little longer. Hence, weve made some changes as a companionship. We now eat a TON of fruit. Bolivia thrives with delicious fruits. We cant eat strawberries, but cherries, bananas, apples, peaches, pineapples and the lovely Hachachairu! Its a fruit that you suck on, then spit out. Definitely weird and nasty, but crazy aweswome! Weve even gone running at the park a few times! I decided to time myself one time around the park and I went a whole 2 minutes without stopping! Believe it! I then rested for about 10 minutes after that. One step at a time, family, one step at a time.
We had a CRAZY funny lesson last Monday. So we went to teach a part member family and we had a great lesson plan, but before we got to it, we had to answer a question about why we celebrate Halloween. WHAT? Yes. We did. Our recent convert, Hno Adolfo, had a pamphlet from another church that showed why Halloween was bad and he was confused as to why we celebrate it. I couldnt help from laughing and my companion took the reins because no matter how I explained how it wasnt bad, he didnt understand it. The lesson came down to how we feel during the celebrations of Halloween. In Moroni 7:17 we learn that that which is good comes from God! So if we are celebrating Halloween with our families and eating candies and NOT worshiping devils, we are good to go! Remember that, my future missionaries!
Tuesday I got another crazy bout of food stuff. I dont know what I ate, but it was awesome because I felt like dad in that I had to go to the bathroom BADLY all day long. oooh it was crazy. But I kept thinking of how Dad is still sick and continues to walk with me here in Santa Cruz. Im sure he was with me during those moments!
Another crazy moment happened to be when we were talking with our angel convert, Hna Irene who was baptized Christmas Day and WABAM! Poop landed on my comp. And it was not normal poop. Definitely food problems with the bird, too. We definitely enjoyed a good laugh.
This week, I wanted to thank those of you who have served my friends who dont have family writing them. Elder Vallejo, my friend who served with me in my first area, is now with me, too! He got transferred here last week. And I was here when he received his first package of his mission! I was also with him when he opened his presents from his Secret Santa. Bremmer family, thank you for making his life. I couldnt be happier to see him feel loved all the way from the USA. To the others who have sent or will send, thank you, as well. This is how missionaries live. And also, thanks for the package for me, too. Starbursts, Skittles, Hot Cheetos, chocolate, and more. I was definitely happy. And it helped me when I didnt have ice cream in the house. Oh, and I cant forget the mustaches! Pictures to come soon!
Yesterday, was another Dad themed day! I got to go to the Family History Center with the same part member family from Halloween lesson. Hna Regina is super baptist and has no desire to leave her church, but she doesnt understand temples. Last night we worked on her family history and she learned indexing and I just lit up with sheer joy to feel the angels and my dad with us! Yay for Family History! And I cant forget about my Nana Moss who is a Family History missionary, too! Thank you to all who participate in that program.
Todays message is centered on the blessings that come from the Book of Mormon. This past week, we have been pounded with questions regarding the Bible, where our power to baptize comes from, and so many other encounters where people want answers from the Bible. I hate contention. I just want to plug my ears when I feel that someones angry. So I usually let my companion take the reins. This week I studied the Bible. I found ways to respond, but I wasnt too happy. I read Preach My Gospel, a manual for members to read about missionary work, and there arent too many answers to help us with that situation. But what does it have? An entire chapter on how we can answer these questions with the Book of Mormon. I shared with Hna Regina this week that her church is only missing something. In the introduction of the BofM we read that it contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. But people want the Bible. WHY wont they read the Book of Mormon? Why wont they pray to know its true. I think its because to them its just a book.Chapter 5 of the said manual provides many answers to people who have burning questions about life. These answers are found in the Book of Mormon. Maybe people wont read the book of Mormon because they simply dont know what the chapters have to offer. What we need to do is read it with them and show them that we atalk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we bprophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our cchildren may know to what source they may look for a dremission of their sins.
That is in the Book of Mormon. That shows them a ned to read it. Maybe it would help if we remembered the steps of knowing that the scriptures are true:
I love to read the holy scriptures,
And, ev'ry time I do,
I feel the Spirit start to grow within my heart-
A testimony that they're true.
Search, ponder, and pray
Are the things that I must do.
The Spirit will guide, and, deep inside,
I'll know the scriptures are true.
Brothers and sisters, how can we expect our friends to search the scriptures if they dont know what to look for? How can we expect them to feel the Spirit if they think a Spirit is a ghost that scares? This week my invitation for each of us comes from a chapter in the Book of Mormon that teaches us where we can find joy and peace. it says:
if ye have known of his goodness and have atasted of his love, and have received abremission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God
For those of you who have tasted of this joy, remember those feelings and share them with a friend! Simply invite your friend to read the screiptures with you. Find the questions that they want answered, and search the scriptures for that answer. I promise that as each of us remnembers the blessings that come from serching, pondering, praying, and SHARING the scriptures, we will receive strength to fight our daily battles. To reach our goals. To exemplify the Christlike attributes within us.
Have a good week, everyone. We are working with a few people. But powerful people. They need help learning to work. They need to understand the importance of the Book of Mormon. We hope to baptize a 22 year old, Carlos, this February 8th. He needs to get to church. Please also pray that we will continue to find more people who need the gospel. I love you all.
Con amor, Elder Risueño
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