Baptismal Interviews and Hot Exchanges

Highlights from the week

1. i got to interview a young part member boy. he was really shy but he has a great knowledge and testimony of the gospel. His grandpa is the only other member in his family. He was also baptised this week. it was cool to see his grandpa baptise him. it is always hard to do something on your own especially be the only member of this church in your family. I know they will be a great support for eachother! His baptism will bless both thier lives and the lives of thier family members. hopefully they will also be able to come to have the testimony of that young boy.

2. the zoneleaders came down to Interview Prince! Wahoo! just before we reviewed the baptismal questions with him. he had a hard time remembering a few things like the steps or repentance and he kept mixing up LOC and WOW. haha i was a little worried he would get nervous in the interview and forget it or be too shy to try. haha but he passed! so next saturday he will be baptized!  He is also a PM. his older sister is the only member of their family. haha she reminds me allot of natalie. haha. she is always watching out for her little brothers and teaching them about the church and helping them out with their school work and other parts of their life.

3.I went on exchanges with Elder gamboa. he took me around in his area. he is going home this next transfer. He is super inteligent and very thoughtful. he taught me a lot about working with members and less actives. Haha I have noticed that even though i am the district leader i am usually the one that learns the most from the other missionaries! haha! it was a fun day. even though it was super hot and we walked a ton! haha.(this week it was in the 90s everyday. the highest was around 98! haha everyone is a  little bit more sunburnt each time we come home! haha)

At the beach and computer shop :)

General Conference!

General Conference

this week we were able to watch General Conference. I feel like i have like Joseph been improving on my ability to pay attention. I think it is mostly due to the knowledge and testimony i have gained on my mission of prophets and apostles. it was also partly due to my desire to become a better teacher, to help and inspire those we teach, and to help our area progress. I know that through callings/responsibilities we are pushed to be better than we would have ever pushed ourselves to be on our own. the Lord has a plan and a vision for us. I truly feel blessed to be found worthy enough to have been called on a mission. I feel as if i have grown so much, but at the same time i felt my pride cut down by the talks of General Conference.

Grace

I was especially inspired by Elder Uchtdorf's talk on Grace. I felt like it applied directly to me. my whole mission i have been so focused on being perfect, never breaking any rules, which is not necessarily bad, but I was convinced that through my obedience i would win myself the Spirit, strength and understanding. Elder Uchtdorf stated simply "Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God...Brothers and sisters, we obey the commandments of God—out of love for Him!"... I have never been more suprised at a general conference! haha! it seemed like my whole understanding of the Gospel was flipped over and emptied out! haha! it was actually very stressful at first. for some reason i had never thought of it that way. Elder Uchtdorf then continued "Grace is a gift of God, and our desire to be obedient to each of God’s commandments is the reaching out of our mortal hand to receive this sacred gift from our Heavenly Father." I know now after prayer and another go through of his talk that what he taught is true! we are saved, we recieve the spirit, and blessings because of GRACE. not because of our obedience, but we are still obedient because we love the Lord, because we want to show him we are grateful for his love,guidance, and blessings. when we are obedient, like Elder Uchtdorf said, " is the reaching out of our mortal hand to recieve [these] sacred gifts"

this new knowledge has helped me understand doctrines like Faith, repentance, and baptism as well as The Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. I have seen from the time that i listened intently to Conference that i have recieved so much Grace in my life! I love the Lord and i will be as obedient as i can be because i love him. not because i want to buy myself into his presence. because i want to make him happy. not to make others happy.