coming home

well, i more had a topic with ideas i shared. and i just talked more from the heart. BUT! I still had a little bit of a out line, so here it is...

How having faith in Jesus Christ helped influence the people I taught.

Well, the majority of the people i taught were very devout Christians with an almost unshakable faith in their Savior.

Leap-restored gospel

One of the most incredible people I met was a 90 year old man named Hugo Gonzales. Hugos’ wife and son had be members for over 40 years, basically they were pioneers of the Church in Chile, but he remained in his christian but distant ways. He knew many of our doctrines, one of which was baptisms for the dead. He LOVED this idea. He thought, well, if I live well, when I die, my son can do my baptism, just so I can have every option covered. This was his plan. The work for the dead. Luckily, God knew better and kept this sweet man alive for a very long time and with every step softening his heart. The sisters in the ward before I was there often visited Hermana Nieto (his wife) to make sure she was okay and that the priesthood  was bringing her the sacrament. The week before I showed up, Hugo got together with his son, and mentioned again the baptisms for the dead idea. His son, Rene, offered the idea that it would be so much more special to do it in real life. He also reminded him that his grand daughter would be turning 8 soon, and that they could have this experience together. Hugo didn’t respond, but was left meditating until i showed up at his house and he told us his big decision. He was going to be baptized. From here on out he began to learn the doctrines, and there were times where we would explain things, and they either didn’t make sense, or he believed {before} something else, and when this would happen, he’d stop and say something like, “well, I’m an old man, its time I learned something new. Its time i stopped being stubborn. I sure took my sweet time.” And his prayers were the sweetest things I have heard in my entire life. This man expressed all the faith in the world as he prayed. He chatted with his Father, letting him know his questions, asking to understand better, and making his declaration to follow all that He would send and his love for his Father. And after learning it all (and really learning it!) this young 90 year old man, entered into the water with his son to be baptized. 

Another man, Rodrigo, who taught me what faith is, had a similar situation. His wife and daughter had been baptized 6 months prior and he was a devout catholic. Finally we broke into his heart and he began to listen more intently. Sadly, his curiosity got the best of him and instead of using his time to study the scriptures, he used it to search the internet, and found all types of things to cover the glimmering light growing inside him. I always say he took about 40 steps back having all kinds of questions and problems and worries about his wife and daughter. (silly things like horses and iron) And we began to talk to him about what is faith, and how that faith, was the only thing that would give him clarity and answers. Well, he didn’t like that option… but he agreed. Our ward mission leader, (awesome man) wanted to help him find answers to these questions, by showing him with facts that there were horses and iron and such things, and when he got to it, Rodrigo had already decided those things no longer mattered to him, that IF it were true, then it was true, and God would show his hand. He dropped it all, and decided, that if he received an answer, than these things were true, he didn’t know how, but they just would be. He leaped into his faith, and is in the process of receiving that answer and pushing himself down the path of Salvation. 

Having faith is all about the little things. And it is a process of repentance. 

1. Recognize it (the lords will) You must learn his will (prayer study church {Mormon ABC's}

2. Leave it (your own behind) 

3. Confess it (talk it out with him)

4. Fix it (Do his will.) You must give him your will

5. Accept Him. (Love his will.) Then you must learn to love it

(apply to hugo and rodrigo)