Miracles Have Not Ceased

Hello my beloved friends and family!! I hope you are all happy and doing well. 

 

 

The Lord blessed us immensely this week. Elder Brockbank and I are in awe of the many incredible things that are happening in our areas. Heavenly Father is pouring down miracles and we are doing our best to keep up. The mission has 24 baptisms this weekend!! WOO!

 

 

We have two people on date to be baptized and we are setting another date this evening. The first one is Jose Blanco! This is such a cool miracle. His girlfriend, Angelica, is a returning member and they have been coming to church on and off for a couple months or so. Bishop wanted us to wait for a bit to start teaching them because he wants to get them married. Well, right before sacrament meeting, he pulled us into his office and Jose and Angelica were sitting down with big smiles! They proceeded to announce that they are getting married on April 3rd!! And Jose will be getting baptized on the same day following the wedding. His son, who is 8 years old, will also hopefully be getting baptized. We are seeing them tonight to begin the lessons!! We're so excited. From one family we will have two baptisms and a returning member! It doesn't get better than that! They mentioned that they want us to teach them how to hold a Family Home Evening! They also said that they will plan on getting sealed in the temple one year from now. Hopefully Elder Brockbank and I will have the honor of returning to the mission to witness that special event. It doesn't get better than that. Pure joy!

 

 

Our other baptismal date is Trinidad! She's on date for April 16th. She's the younger sister of Nestor (non member who is married to Paulina, another returning member) whom we are also teaching. I think I mentioned them last week. We tried setting a date for Nestor but he wants a little more time, which is perfectly okay! He's been reading and praying so we're excited for him.

So we are teaching a family of 7! The Espinoza family. We contacted two teenage boys from that family about a month ago on the street and now we are teaching their whole family!! They are all so amazing. We look forward to making more progress with them. A lot of these miracles came while we were on exchanges with the Zone Leaders from the Los Altos zone, Elders Bringhurst and Johnson. We took them into our areas and went to WORK. They showed us how it was done, we learned so much from them. 

 

 

We continue to make progress with the Castillo family, a part member family from the Almaden Ward. We are trying to get the 9 year old daughter baptized! We have built a really solid relationship with them so we know it will happen soon.

 

 

We are loving this work more than ever!! We are having the time of our lives. I have learned the important principles of obedience and diligence and how the Lord blesses us because of it. When we are exactly obedient and work hard for every minute of every day, the Lord gives us the increase. 

 

 

On Wednesday evening, we attended a baptism in the ever so beautiful land of Hollister, where I began my mission. A small 11 year old boy by the name of Julio entered into the waters of baptism. Following the ordinance, a man that had just been baptized a couple weeks prior, stood up and bore profound testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel. His words were sincere and powerful. Following his remarks, his son, who is not yet baptized, got up to speak. He also testified of the truthfulness of the gospel and shared how good it makes him feel. He expressed his excitement to be baptized in two weeks time. Julio, having just been baptized, then spoke before the congregation. He resonated light! He was full of joy. He testified that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the church was true. He even invited all those who were in attendance who hadn't yet been baptized to do so and promised the blessings that would come. The spirit was upon all  who were in attendance. Nobody could deny what they were feeling. The reason I share this event is because I wonder; what is it that convinces men, women and children? What could possibly convince a grown man or a small boy to change their whole life and devout their time and attention to a church? It is the influence of the Almighty. It is God the eternal father. It is OUR Heavenly Father. He sends us these feelings and thoughts that we might "remember". Sometimes faith is trusting in something that we felt ions ago. It is by these thoughts and feelings that He communicates with us to guide us back to His presence. We are part of God's family in this life and can enjoy even greater blessings as members of His family in the life to come. 

 

 

I know these things are true!! I love this gospel beyond words and I love all of you. Don't forget the importance of Easter this year. We must focus on the living and resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ. It is through Him and because of Him that we have all that we have and that we too, may be resurrected. 

 

 

Have a phenomenal week!!

 

 

pic: exchanges with Elder Bringhurst

- The Restoration! Best message there is.

- My boy Brian! A convert from my first area. I got to see him at the baptism down in Hollister. He was ordained a deacon a couple months ago. This kid means the world to me. As I was leaving, he ran up and gave me a big hug and said, "don't forget about me". I was holding back tears. I love these people so much. I can't even fathom the thought of leaving them. 

- Gabrielle Castillo! Cutest boy in the world

- Fiesta Mexicana!

- and I love palm trees.