el 08 de Junio

what a week, but one worthwhile.

we really struggled this week to manage our time well, and partly
due to the fact that douglas, who we will discuss later, lives in the 
other extreme of our area, and is like a wandering dog, not always 
in the house. and as part of it all, we have to visit our investigators 
each day the week before their baptism because the spirit of 
temptation is the strongest, so we chased the wandering dog each 
day and helped him find a home to stay in the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints.

after sunday, we were really concerned about hermanos roberto
and veronica, a couple who are investigating the church. roberto 
has problems with alcohol, and for fifteen days he resisted all of 
the temptations to drink. but last sunday morning, all ready for 
church, he sat with liquor in his hands. so, saturday we gave him 
this: 

his personal calendar to count the coming 21 days to his baptismal
date. here, investigators have to attend church three times, and go 
for at least two weeks without alcohol or cigarettes before they can 
be baptized, hence the importance of the coming three weeks and 
his recovery from this addiction.​

another great success, would have to include helping this little
guy into the waters of baptism, as the pioneer of his family. his 
brother will be baptized next week, and his parents are starting 
to open up to listening to our message for themselves, so we 
may have a  wedding--baptism party again! (no Photo)

jose daniel and me, all ready for his confirmation the next day!
(picture didn't load from her)

a great tender mercy here is not having a fault of food. the
people here are humble, and also willing to share with us. they 
understand the principle that daniel taught, that if they share 
with the Lord's servants, they too will be blessed with the 
nourishment they need. this is usually what we receive for dinner:

eggs, rice, beans, and bread. something simple to show their
simple offering.

hermano neftali makes the list this week as favorite person,
because he cares enough to travel a great distance to travel 
another great distance to visit investigators. a great ward 
mission leader!

this week i did a little study about the cross that christ asks us
to take upon ourselves in matthew 10:38-39

::And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not
worthy of me. He who seeketh to find his life shall lose it: and he 
that sacrificeth his life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth 
you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that 
sent me.::

but what is this cross that we are asked to take? we read later in
matthew 16:24-26

::Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. And 
now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all 
ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments. 
Break not my commandments for to save your lives; for whosoever 
will save his life in this world, shall lose it in the world to come. And 
whosoever will lose his life in this world, for my sake, shall find it in 
the world to come. Therefore, forsake the world, and save your souls; 
for what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and  lose 
his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?::

take up our cross, deny yourself all ungodliness, keep the
commandments of the lord. 

and the next part is probably my favorite: break not my
commandments for to save your lives. for whosoever will save 
his life in this world, shall lose it in the world to come. 

the lord invites us to take upon us our own responsibility and
take action. our salvation is individual. 

james e. talmadge says

::a cross was a symbol of ignominy, extreme suffering, and death.
however, should they lose their lives for His sake, they would find 
life eternal.::

the lord's grand promise is life eternal. take up your cross, and
come to him.

hermana graves