Walking in His Way

Dearest Family! 

Happy thanksgiving to all! I love you all so much and am so thankful for each of you in my life. Really . No joke. Love you all.

Some funny things to start:
So once I got my stomach under control, I got a crazy cough, cold, sore throat, EVERYTHING! I became the king of powernaps this week till I just got dizzy and napped for 4 hours. I am thankful for priesthood blessings from my comp.

Also, long story short, we were eating with our bishops family yesterday and the conversation turned to TV, and the bishops wife LOVES THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY! I told her I had repented and wouldnt watch it again, but she couldnt help but update me about how they were recently on Doctor Oz. Oh goodness. I love life.

So today I just wish to share my gratitude for being a missionary.  If I were to narrow down my gratitude to one simple thing this year I would say that I am grateful for the chance to become. It is a blessing that comes from having the Priesthood on the Earth. Let me explain:

This past week I went on exchangesand while we were out contacting in the streets, I went to buy some crackers thanks to my gastritis. As we got to the shop, the lady recognized taht we were gringos so she asked us to teach her son English. Well, that turned into a conversation about the gospel and then I felt impressed to talk about baptism. So I bore my testimony about the Priesthood. I saw her face glow as we testified about the gospel, and then I said, I testify that we exercise the power and authority of God given to man to even baptize man on Earth. Right as I said that, the lady looked very doubtful and said, And how do you claim to have such a power? Where did you get that power? Well, I took out my Line of Authority and showed her that I had evidence that I received my authority starting with Jesus Christ, down to other men, until myself! Her face started to light up again as she realized that we arent just men who claim to be ordained of God. We are ordained of God. But that isnt the point. We dont just want bragging rights to have the priesthood of God to baptize, baptism is just the start on the road to conversion. Christians recognize that baptism is the door to salvation, but the door to salvation opens to the path of exaltation. The path to exaltation is what we call conversion. The testimony is just a start to what comes to be a change of a lifetime. Elder Bednar stated that Knowing by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ is important and necessary. But earnestly coming unto Him and giving our whole souls as an offering requires much more than merely knowing. Conversion requires all of our heart, all of our might, and all of our mind and strength. (see Converted unto the Lord in the Nov. 2012 Ensign, see also Elder Oaks talk called Challenge to Become)

I add my gratitude for this process. For the process to become more like my Savior each day. It is not an easy process, but easy things are never worth value anyway. If college were easy, a degree wouldnt be worth anything. And so it is with exaltation. If the conversion process were easy, becoming like God wouldnt have such a great eternal value. 

Last night I contemplated on why I was given such a nasty sickness this week. I realized that I didnt ask for Gods help via a Priesthood blessing immediately because I thought I could do it on my own. It wasnt until a few days later when I had rested for 4 hours that I humbled myself and asked for Priesthood help. I realized that I cant do it alone. No one can. And it is thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the covenants and ordinances of the Priesthood that I can become like my Savior Jesus Christ. Thats what Im grateful for. Thats what Ill be forever grateful for in my life. I hope each of us can be more willing to walk the path of the Savior. I finish with a hymn that has touched me a lot this week:

As now we praise thy name with song the blessings of this day,

Will linger in our thankful hearts and silently we pray

For courage to accept thy will, to listen and obey.

We love thee, Lord, our hearts are full; well walk thy chosen way.

(As Now We Take the Sacrament)

As I thank God for the chance to change, I also pray for courage. For courage to keep going and for courage to accept His will, and to walk in whatever path He puts ahead of me.
 I love you all and I hope you eat some turkey and gravy for me this week.

Love,

Elder Risueño

Look to Your Lord and Live

Family!

Before we get started, my gastritis is fine now. The medications work great and I kind of am on trial and error as to how my stomach reacts to certain foods. For example, I cant eat both rice and potatoes. Just one or the other. And I must always be munching on water crackers or something so the acid does't get to much for me. I did feel like Grandpa Perry was happy with me from the heavens because yesterday I cooked myself a hard boiled egg and cut it up and combined it with sesame seed bread! My FAVORITE! and then I made a peach juice. SO GOOD! I swear Grandpa Perry ate that with Nana May... and SOY MILK! Tastes funky, but I feel great. And I also love powdered milk. I know, my comp says I eat like an old lady but I said thank you because every one loves old ladies so...

This week has been really great. That's it. Honestly, pretty much everyone has rejected our message that we have tried to share, but man I love the message I carry. Its really easy to get down and stuff, but I cant! I just start laughing because I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am  doing the Saviors work and sometimes I don't know what He wants for me but I trust Him and keeping walking through life, as we all should.

Today's message is kind of special for me. Exactly 16 months ago, on July 17th, 2013, I embarked on this journey of a lifetime. I left LAX and flew to Peru where I would start my training as a missionary.
Today marks the two-thirds completion of my mission and I simply wish to share why I do what I do. And simply put, every member of the church I represent should have the same motives to be missionaries as well. I pray that the Spirit will help each of you see the greatness of being a simple missionary.

In a guide entitled PREACH MY GOSPEL, we learn the following: You are called to represent Jesus Christ in helping people become clean from their sins. You can do this by inviting them to come unto
Jesus Christ and become converted to His restored gospel. To come to the Savior they must have faith in Him unto repentance-- making the necessary changes to bring their life into agreement with His teachings. You can help people develop such faith by teaching them the restored gospel by the Spirit and inviting them to commit to live according to its teachings.

So as a missionary, I try and find people and help them come unto Christ. While most people have a set religion, we teach that the Lord himself restored his pure gospel teachings to a prophet today who
helps us on the path back to Gods presence.

While it is difficult and we young people face much rejection, there are moments that remind us of the blessings that come from being representatives of our Savior.

Let me tell you a story about a man that Ill call brother John. He and his family were reactivated a few months ago and have been doing great spiritually. John is a recovering alcoholic, but we have been visiting him weekly to make sure hes okay. Even a week ago he said he didn't have any temptations toward alcohol! Awesome, right?! But on Saturday as we were walking to our lesson, we found John with a beer can in his hand and he saw us and said he didn't want to talk. Though we were very sad, we could not and would not give up hope. After all, we are representatives of Jesus Christ and he is not a Savior of second chances, he is a savior of as many chances as needed. So on Sunday we saw Johns kids and set up a lesson to visit them that night. As we knocked on the door, he opened it and was still drunk. He said he was angry and didn't want to see us, but we spoke to him and loved him and did all we could to help him. Within a few minutes he started crying and through his sobs he said, Soy imperfecto. (I'm imperfect.) And he then looked at me and I smiled and said, I am too! And we laughed and we all hugged each other and we helped John see, yet again, the love Christ has towards him.

Yes, we are all imperfect, but we all need a reason to become better people. And that's where Christ comes in. Thanks to the Redeemer of the World, we all can have the hope that we can and will change, no matter how long it takes. And though it takes a long time to change, we can
find joy in the One who knows all of our struggles.

David Naylor wrote the following:
Behold the wounds in Jesus hands
Look to your Lord and live
He yearns to bless you with His love
And all your sins forgive

Oh, empty is the heart of man
When it is filled with sin
Come, open wide your broken heart
And let your Savior in.

I testify that it is only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can be saved and changed. That He requires us to make certain changes so that we can experience the complete joy that comes from
living our lives in accordance with His will.

I am so happy to be a missionary. I do it because I love my Savior. I know He lives and I know He needs help in bringing His children Home. I simply finish with a quote from Clay Christensen. He said:
Every time you take someone figuratively by the hand and introduce him or her to Jesus Christ, you will feel how deeply our Savior loves you and loves the person whose hand is in yours.

Till next week,
Elder Risueño

Being what he wants me to be

Dearest family,

This week has been yet another crazy one so get ready for another long letter. I just pray that the Spirit will give each of you some peace as i share my testimony in the best way possible.

so to start with, i have gastritis. like father like son, right? for the past few weeks i thought it was just lactose intolerance but i cut out the lactose and i was still in pain. So we went to the doctor, and to my surprise, the same doctor that removed my big toe nail was there to see me! We had a good laugh together. i am doing well, healthwise. As long as i change my eating habits, stop stressing, and start exercising, Ill be back to normal in a few weeks. Thanks for your prayers and such.

this week i had a great opportunity to play not one, but 10 different times in musical numbers of some sort. bolivia reaches 50 years of having the church here, so we even went to the main city plaza, they gave me a fancy keyboard up on the gazebo, and i accompanied a few musical numbers. it was stressful and last minute, but yet again i was blessed with the gift of sight reading to bless the lives of many.I played in the plaza, in a recognition ceremony that night, the zone conference, the adult and general sessions of general conference.  i just wish to share my testimony of music and how it changes the lives of many. its worth the practice and worth the dedication.

But whether you have the talent of music, or the talent of being a leader, or some other talent, we are all blessed with some gift to help the world. This past week I got super stressed with a lot of struggles. Not just the music stuff, but i was also struggling to be a better leader, to be more organized, to be just more successful. And so i got to a super spiritual zone conference with president willard, and found a moment to speak to him. We went outside the chapel and I pretty much told president i didnt think i could become a leader. there seemed to be so many successful missionaries and there was Elder Risueño- Everyone sees me as the super happy, pianist, who jokes around and is super out there. Everyone knows im unique, but sometimes it seems better to just be like everyone else. So i expressed those feelings to President, and I am so grateful for his response. More or less, he told me, ¨Elder Risueño, I need you to use your God-given gifts and talents to become the leader God wants you to become. Dont try to be anyone else, just be the person God has made you, and work with Him to become the person He wants you to become.¨ He then invited me to study the Book of Mormon and learn from the different prophets who, with their unique talents, blessed many others.

Let me just tell you, i love my president. For many years I have been told that I need to change because im different. But i testify that the Lord needs me and my talents to bless others. And he needs the same for each of you. He needs each person to use their individual talents to help others.

There's surely somewhere a lowly place

In earth's harvest fields so wide

Where I may labor through life's short day

For Jesus, the Crucified.

So trusting my all to thy tender care,

And knowing thou lovest me,

I'll do thy will with a heart sincere:

I'll be what you want me to be.

This hymn is not intended only for missionaries. it applies to each of us in our lives. the difference between a servant and a disciple is the following. A servant obeys till his work his done. A disciple obeys and lets his work shape his life. I testify that to achieve complete happiness in this life, all we need to do is trust in the Lord completely and love Him. He doesnt give us commandments just so we can be happy in the moment, but so that we can BECOME HAPPIER forever. Commandments dont just make us peaceful, they make us perfect in Christ (see Moroni 10:32).

I love the Savior, Jesus Christ. He is my great example and I will follow Him forever. I trust Him to guide me as I walk here in Bolivia. i testify that whether youre a freshman in high school or a senior citizen, you matter to God and he needs you to help his lost sheep.

Till next week,
Elder Risueño

My Anthem

Dearest Family,

Como estamos? How are we? I hope everyone is great here. I continue to
just enjoy each day of the mission and love inviting others to come
unto Christ.

A few funny stories:
So on Halloween day it HAILED! A HUGE STORM! The first time we stayed
inside for a bit because it was literally dangerous. We booked it to
get home fast and Elder Bailey got hit by a hail! But he was fine.
Happy Halloween!

So I definitely had a Coalie moment with a members dog. We visited
their house and a dog jumped on me and I started talking in my high
pitched and WUSHHHH the pee flooded out of the dog and onto me.
Whatevs. Dogs love me!

Besides that, its been a pretty difficult week. We only taught three
lessons with investigators this week, one on Saturday night, the other
two just last night. The last two were miracles because we entered
church without progressing investigators and a couple came in and had
been invited by the sisters to church just an hour before and stayed
and LOVED CHURCH! The other investigator is the Elders Quorum
Presidents brother who was touched by his brothers example and has
accepted a baptismal date for November 29th. But lets rewind a bit:

So Saturday we started our fast and we were hurting. Five days without
investigators isnt easy for missionaries, especially leaders. But
Elder Bailey and I have spent so many great moments just saying
prayers of thanks. Each night we share our testimony and gratitude to
each other for our days. We never focus on the negative side of our
work, we just focus on being happy. And that is the key to life in
general. I say that a lot to each of you. But Saturday we came home at
4 to do some Progress Reports for the ward and had no where to go. So
I got on my knees and before I prayed, I chose a hymn to sing to
myself. Here is some of the text:

Nearer, dear Savior, to thee,
Nearer, nearer to thee--
Ever my anthem will be
Nearer, yet nearer to thee!
Loving thee, ever I pray,
Aid me thy will to obey.

Of all the anthems I could have, mine would be Nearer, dear Savior, to
thee. That's my goal in this life: to grow nearer and become more like
Jesus Christ. As I sat and prayed for direction, I felt a great
calming sensation, just as each of us always wants in life, and I
continued with the work. The next day we went to teach the couple that
we met in Sacrament meeting and we brought our ward mission leader and
his wife with us. We had a great lesson with this family. They were
impressed by the ward, we shared how the gospel blesses families, and
it was great. But as the lesson kept going, we didn't to the point of
our lesson: That God speaks through a prophet. That He still talks to
us as individuals, and that we are representatives of Jesus Christs
church. I prayed for a moment to share this message and I received it.
The husband was astounded that two 20 year olds were teaching him and
I stopped him there and said the following.

¨Sir, I may only be a 20 year old. I may not speak Spanish perfectly.
I definitely don't have a college education, nor a lot of life
experience. But what I do know is something I treasure greatly.¨ And
that's how I started the story of Joseph Smith. And that is how the
Spirit testified to their hearts that the message was true. It was at
that moment that I grew to know my Savior more than I had been able to
in previous weeks and months. Up until that point I had been ashamed of
the baptismal invitation because I didn't want to offend people. But
with that family, something changed in me. After having a dry spell of
lessons, I realized that baptism is the door to happiness. The door to
change. The door to Christ. And if I don't invite a family to be
baptized, I am not bringing them to Christ. We went from that lesson
to our last lesson of the night and we taught this new investigator,
Ismael, about the Book of Mormon. I testified to Him that this book
had brought me closer to Christ and than any other book I had read.
And from there, I invited him to come unto Christ through baptism. My
companion and I set the baptismal date for the 29th of November.

The changes that have happened in me haven't happened just because I
have a name tag on. There have been many others just like who haven't
been changed one bit by this name tag. The changes have happened in me
because I have come to trust in my Savior and Redeemer a whole lot
more than I used to. I pray to my Father in Heaven each day and find
the Savior in the book of Mormon each morning. I work so hard to
understand my Saviors will and do my best to help those in need. As we
enter the time of thanks and the time of giving, it is my hope that we
may also remember the time of loving. It is through Christlike love
and service that we continue to change and become better people. And
these changes are a little bit each day, till we look back and see
what Christ has made of us.

I love you all! :)
Till next week
Elder Risueño