Elder Bednar

Date: October 15, 2012
Area: Santiago, Chile
Companion: Elder Barnes

Hey Familia,

This week was another great one and, yet again, I don´t know where the time went. It seems like the week starts and ends the next day, time is flying. But its a good thing, life is great.

But this week like I said was a great week. It went by really really fast. We were able to teach a bunch of lessons this week and we found some great new investigators too which is great. We still don´t know who will be leaving the sector but I kind of feel like it will be me. We shall see. But President Essig was saying that we were going to have the changes this thursday but he changed them to this coming monday so there is a little bit more time that we´ll have together. But I think the change will be good. We get along great, i´m not saying anything in contrary to that, but it is nice to have new companions to help you to grow in different ways. I have learned a lot from Elder Barnes and in our time together for which I am very greatful.

But the highlight of the week was Cristobal. He is the bomb! He is nine and is such a great example for everyone. Actually we had lunch with them today and his dad, Hector, made a dish that tasted a whole lot like the Sunday roast that you make every week dad. The lamb. SO DELICIOUS!!!!!

But we had to teach everything really really fast to Cristobal to get him ready for his baptism. Basically we taught everything in like a week and a half. He is really smart though and was able to understand everything! But it was like 2 days before his interview and he still hadn´t prayed about the church and Joseph Smith to see if what we were telling him was true. But basically he had the most awesome answer to his prayer. It iwas a bit like the tree of life vision that Lehi had. He said that he was dreaming and everything was dark. He sawa light in the distance and started to walk toward the white light. Suddenly much closer to him appeared a red light and he heard people calling to him telling him to go to the red light but he said that he didn´t want to and he kept walking to to the white light. Once he got there he felt GREAT and the best part is that he said that he heard the voice of Jesus Christ. He didn´t see him but he heard him and he told him that ¨he should keep on the path that he is on because it is a good path that will help him.¨ And he woke up feeling extremely happy! it was an awesome experience! I´m not going to forget his dream=) I know the church is true. But he was so ready for his baptism=)

We don´t have a baptismal font here in Cerro Colorado so we had to go to another sector but we did it with 2 other people that were being baptized from the branch were we went. It was much better to do it like that because there were lots more people than normally go from our ward alone.

But we had a great lesson the other night with some people that we found. Their names are Nelson and Luis and they are from Perú. Nelson was talking about why he believes in God and that he was basically a drunk that spent all his time in the street every day but then 5 years ago he saw how his family was suffering from him and he decided to change and he, one day to another, and has been sober ever since. But he kind of got out of control, the people can really talk a lot sometimes. But then we were able to talk and share about the Restoration and it was one of the best lessons that I have had on the mission. We testified of Joseph Smith and that Christ, through him restored his true church to the earth and I was testifying and telling them that they could and would be able to know for themselfes by asking God. And as I was speaking I felt a great peace in my heart bearing witness that it was true and I knew that they could feel it too because they were quiet, sitting on the edg of their chairs and looking at me intently. They were nodding their head to everything that we told them, they knew it was true. After, I asked Luis what he felt in his heart and he said that he could feel a great peace and tranquility. It was great. We are going to be passing by this comming week to see how they are, hopefully some thing good will come of it.

But Spencer, thanks for the Fast. I know that this week will be a great one too. Last week we received lots of great blessings and this coming week, i´m sure, will be the same. Thanks for everything. I have the best family.

Thanks for everything, I love you all,

Hasta la proxima,

Elder Jaromy Holland

Oh yeah, and this week weare going to have a conference with ELDER BEDNAR!! ITs going to be incredible!​