Working

Date: August 01, 2012
Area: Santiago, Chile
Companion: Elder Barnes

Hey Family,

But this week was a decent week. We had some ups and downs but it was generally pretty good. There are some investigators that we had been working with that have gone cold which is really sad to see but I guess that means that its just not their time. One day.

But what was great was we met a family this last week that is less active and they are one of my favorite families that I have met here in Chile. It is a married couple that has 3 kids and they are just awesome. They recently moved to the area like 2 months ago and have been inactive for a long time. Mauricio is the Dad and he lived in the states for most of high school, moved back here, got married, moved back to the states for 2 years and then moved back here and have been here for like 8 years or so. But their son is 8 years old and he really wants to get baptized. He has been reminding and asking his parents about church and about baptism for a while and so they finally decided to come back. But the bishops wife told us about them and we went last week to visit them and to invite them to church and what not. We shared a little bit with them and then we invited them to come to church with us and they were like, yeah, we want to come this Sunday. So we were really excited about that.

So Sunday comes around and we have our investigators lined up again to come to church and the only ones that come are Blanca and Ruben (I think I´ve told you about them before, they are great) but they are basically members already. So I was happy that they were there but sad and frustrated that the other investigators didn´t make it- they were the only two. Mauricio and his family didn´t make it either. So I was sitting there thinking about what it is that we could do better, why the people weren´t coming and about half way through the sacrament meeting Mauricio and his whole family AND a niece walk in the meeting and sit down. It was so awesome! It made my day. But all of church they talked about the families and how to strengthen them and I think that the messages were perfect for the family Fuentes (Mauricio). They really liked church and want to come back next week too. I am so excited that they are going to start coming back to church again and I know that the Lord will bless them for doing so.

But I am thinking about Blanca and Ruben, about the Familia Fuentes and how Heavenly Father really does see all of his children and their needs. He really does love each and every one of his children and he prepares them to make the changes they need to make in their life so that when the time comes they are ready to accept him. He will give everyone the chance and when the people accept that opportunity when it comes, lives change. Because only in and through Christ can we really change and be made free of everything that holds us back. It is through Christ that we are made clean and we are purified and we can be worthy to have the blessing of the Holy Ghost in our lives. It is only through His Gospel, and by this means and this means alone can we really and truly achieve true, lasting happiness. Not only here but after this life. We have the assurance that we can live with God again and that we can be united as families forever and I will be forever eternally greatful for my brother Jesus Christ for the chance that he has given me and each one of us. I know this church is true. It is His chruch. His ONLY church, and all are invited to come unto him and partake in it. We are so blessed.

I love you all so much! Les quiero tanto!

Elder Jaromy Holland