First things first, I hope Chris had a spectacular birthday yesterday! I sent lots of good wishes your way. Also, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to mom and dad tomorrow. I hope you guys have a wonderful day and are able to do something special because being sealed in the temple for eternity truly is something to celebrate. I'm so grateful that we have an eternal family, thank you!
I've finished my first change out in the field. I just found out that I'll be staying in the same area for my next change as well, and with Hermana Rodas again also. I was very pleased to hear that. I feel like there's so much more that we can still do in the are of Santa Librada.
Also, I'm very happy to report that Hna Rodas and I had 3 more baptisms yesterday. Leandro and Maxima, who are now happily married, are also members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! They have plans to enter the temple on August 4th of next year.
Robert Carrazco was also baptized yesterday. Robert is a 28 year old who had a very difficult start in life. In the school that he attended as a child, the children were forced to traffic drugs, with frequent death threats if they didn't. Obviously that doesn't exactly provide a wholesome environment to grow up in. He got involved in a lot of bad things. His brother was baptized about 7 years ago and is actually serving an LDS mission in Nicaragua right now. His mom was baptized about 6 months ago. We visited his mom often, but he was never interested in joining the discussion. One day, about 4 weeks ago, he came into the room holding a hymn book, and sat down, ready for us to begin the lesson. That Sunday, he came to church and he's been to church every Sunday since. About 2 weeks ago, they called me up to the pulpit in the middle of Sacrament meeting. I don't even remember what I said, but I know it was simple. When we went to visit him later that week, he said that I had said something that made him decide to be baptized. We were shocked! To give you a picture of Robert--his hair is longer than mine, he is covered in tattoos, and has more piercings than I can count. We've been working really hard with him, and he was finally baptized on Sunday! Whoo-hoo!
So this week I've been studying 'hope' a lot. I think hope is such an interesting concept. In the world, hope is something abstract, intangible, and uncertain. However, in the gospel, hope is an extremely powerful, positive feeling of CERTAINTY and trust in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The combination of faith, hope, and charity is mentioned frequently in the scriptures. When we have faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we have a concrete hope in the promise of exaltation and eternal life with God and our families. Faith and hope are both motivating forces. When we have them, we are inclined to act--or in better terms--to serve, to have charity towards others. When we act on the faith and hope that we have, the Lord blesses us with more. It's a continuous cycle of progress and learning. It's wonderful! Also, everybody has enough faith to start this cycle. It all begins with a sincere desire, that's all the Lord asks. And, if we want more faith, we can ask for it! The Lord will help and bless us.
I love Ether 12>4 which says,''Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with a surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.'' Isn't that a beautiful scripture! It basically sums it all up.
I know that this gospel is true. I know that faith in Jesus Christ and hope through His Atonement are spectacular gifts from God that come through studying and living His word and His gospel. With those principles comes happiness, which is really what this gospel is all about!
I love you all TTHHIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSS much *imagine me stretching my arms out as far as I can*
Go forward with faith (and hope and charity)
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