Ok Elder Carrillo, you think you can get buffer that I can before the change, we'll see about that. My comp and I made the resolution that we were going to have a contest, a competition, a game of sorts to see who can have the best abs, arms, and just upper body in general by the end of the change. Hmm...we all know who's going to win the abs contest, I have like a 20 pounds head start over my comp haha, gordito :) We took pictures of us shirtless and printed it out and put it in our journals on the first day of the test, the "before" picture. At the end of the change the 20th of February, we're going to see who looks the best, biggest arms, etc. The loser o sea Carrillo el chapincito, has to buy the winner some food, probably a Big Mac to celebrate, haha. The lady that printed out our pictures just handed them to us and laughed at us...don't know what she was laughing at...I look great with my shirt off, white as a ghost with a farmers tan and 0% muscle...FOR NOW! :) I'm excited about this, simply because I want to show my comp up. I do it at nighttime before going to bed and writing in my journal (every day mind you), and showering. It's pretty fun and it motivates me as well to work harder in mission work.
While reading the Old Testament this week, reading all the wars and massive slaughters of people that the Lord commanded His people to do, it really made me think, why do people fixate so much and dwell on the fact that the Lord would command Nephi to kill Laban to get the brass plates? Saying that the commandment was to not kill. Are you kidding? Have you ever read the Bible? It is completely full of examples of God telling his people to go kill those that break the commandments or oppose His will. Ever read Alma? All wars and battles, killing those that fight against the truth and light. There is no difference. God will only be so patient with those who completely spit on the obedience to the commandments. He promises to destroy those who oppose Him, and those that take up arms against Him. the Lord has and will always command His prophets to rid the world of the wicked.
Group night was a huge success this past week, we had 47 people there! WOAH! Record for us, really getting the branch involved. I drew this awesome sign for the Primary, drawing each letter out of objects, looked pretty cool.
The highlight of the week though obviously was having our mission conference with Elder D.Todd Christofferson. It was so amazing. The first time I've ever seen the ENTIRE mission together at the same time, because at changes only the missionaries or their comps that have changes come, so there is like usually only a little over half of the mission there. Everyone was there this time, like 214 missionaries, huge gathering, even those that were off on Blas came, had to get planes to come on in. It was so powerful, just like exactly a year ago when we all got together to listen to Elder Nelson, and took a mission picture. We all passed through and shook the hands of 5 general authorities, Christofferson and 4 members of the 70 and Area 70 and their wives. President Ward said that it was his first time ever being together with that many general authorities at the same time. Ok wow, Christofferson's Spanish is flawless, 0 imperfections. He sounds exactly the same as he does in English, just in Spanish, same tone of voice and all. Apparently he and President Ward served together in Argentina when Elder Richard G.Scott was their mission president...crazy huh? I loved the conference. He talked a lot about the importance of the Priesthood and helping people understand the necessity of it in leading the Church. One thing that a general authority named Elder Maine said was that "The Father and the Son were the first companionship in this dispensation". Isn't that cool? God and Jesus Christ are a companionship, just as I am with my comp. That spring morning Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ went contacting in a grove of trees looking for people to teach and inspire, weird huh? :P
What was also cool about the conference was seeing all of my comps that I've had in the mission, except my trainer (and Plummer, haha.) But I got to say hi and hug like 8 companions, so sweet, and I realized that through it all, I've really loved all of them, even Saavedra who I didn't enjoy being with at the time, we still had a few laughs seeing each other on Saturday. I got to talk to Elder Aguilar, my Mexican from my 2nd change back in San Mig for a long time. He told me that he went to Stake Conference in the city because he's in the city again and he saw a guy that we taught and were trying to baptize a year ago who was atheist, Javier, remember him? Well, guess what? Not only did he get baptized, but at Stake Conference they had him stand up as part of those who had recently received the Melchesidek Priesthood! That's so awesome! I taught that guy, we found him together from an hermana in the ward. The Spirit just flooded over me when Aguilar told me that, I was so excited. And to top it all off, another guy we were teaching named Santiago, who was practically a member but couldn't get baptized because he was living with a lady that he wasn't married to, got married and baptized! Wow. Seeing the fruits of the labors a year later :) It was really great everyone. It's a wonderful feeling to know that these people have been baptized and that I got to be part of their conversions.
When a missionary works hard, he is just simply happier. It's weird and I've really felt that this week. We honestly didn't work very hard and I was really getting on myself for being so lazy and I was just mad and getting upset over every little thing. And I realized that I wasn't doing what I was called to do, to find, teach and baptize. When I'm teaching a person, I'm just in a better mood. I need to be doing something productive in order to feel spiritually happy. Funny how that happens. Laziness really just makes me angry, at myself, not at others around me.
I heard a cool quote from Elder Clarke that he wrote down from Gordon B. Hinckley which says "We are on the road that leads to immortality and eternal life and today is a part of it. Let us never forget it". Every day counts, every hour, minute, second, counts, and there are angels silent notes taking like the hymn says, of each thing we do, be it good or bad.
We had a really fun pday today, after a good district meeting where we as a district decided to make a contest.( Lots of contests this week, like working out, haha.) This contest is to see which companionship can get the most baptismal dates this week. Whoever wins, I promised to buy them lunch next week, unless we win (which we will clearly, haha) and then my district needs to buy us lunch. We're just gonna go crazy this week, inviting everyone to get baptized, every possible chance that we get, in contacts for the first time, lessons, less actives, everyone. Everyone needs to be baptized and that's why we're here baby.
Scriptures this week are the following for all ya'll Ramonians and Americans in general :) Moses 6:58-60, awesome scripture in the Pearl of Great Price that I got to read to Elder Christofferson when he did a big Q&A. Talks about what each part of the baptism does, water, Spirit and blood. Last we have an amazing scripture from Abinadi (one of the greatest defenders of Christ I've ever read) in Mosiah 13:3, which says that those who oppose him cannot touch or harm him until he has finished delivering the message that God commanded him to do.
I love you all, hope you know that, thank you for your letters and prayers, I need them. Have a stupendous, marvelous, extraordinary, fantastic, superlative week (trying to use bigger English words to keep my vocabulary adequate). Love you :)
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