Friday, August 7, 2015

Fin de semana seis



August 6, 2015
There are two things that are talked about and quoted most here at the CCM, the Gospel and...Nacho Libre.
This week has been, nuts, fun, the same as usual, and as always, filled with growth and an abundance of the Spirit.
We have our flight info! We fly out on Monday, from Mexico City to Santiago, have a 6 hour layover, and then fly to Osorno. We packed today.
Last night I was pretty bummed about Spanish. We are learning subjunctives right now and all of my example sentences I made in class needed correction, and I was tired, and a bit discouraged. That day I prayed for help with Spanish, not for myself, but so I can be an instrument in God's hand in blessing his children. I felt comfort, because I know God will help me, because I'm learning Spanish for others.
I just had an experience. A wife of the second counselor in the CCM presidency was with me, Presidente Tenorio, his wife, and Elders Shobe, Woolley, and Boggs. I was speaking with Presidente Tenorio in my rookie Spanish, jk it’s a'ight, and the second counselor's wife came and heard me. She asked me where I learned my Spanish. I said here in the CCM. She then said this is a miracle. Because I spoke well, and I had the accent and everything. That was a TM to me, because in this moment the Lord showed me how he is helping me, and that I am progressing, even when it doesn't feel that way.
We saw a clip of a devotional at BYU Idaho where Elder Bednar spoke about how we can know if promptings we get are our own or from the Spirit. To this question he said: Quit worrying about it! Press forward, do your best, it works out. As long as we are
1. being a good boy or girl,
2. honoring our covenants,
3. keeping the commandments and
4. doing our best,
our life will be guided to do God's work, He will place you where you need to be, guide you to people and experiences you need to have, and most of the time you will never know it is happening that way. In the culture of our church we feel we need to know exactly why, before we follow a prompting, but we don't.
I have an experience with this. I was in a lesson, and I felt I needed to share a scripture, and I picked up my scriptures, and everyone was staring at me, and I didn't know what I was doing, and I was flipping through the pages, and then I saw Alma. I remembered the 2,000 stripling warriors. I remembered their example of faith. I remembered where it was. And I was able to help our investigator.
Sometimes we have thoughts pop into our mind to do something. And we don't see it as a prompting. Just like I had the thought to share all of this with you. But I recognized it as a prompting later. This also applies to priesthood blessings.
The priesthood is a lot like Thor. Yes, Thor. The hammer represents priesthood power. Being able to pick up the hammer represents worthiness. For blessings, sometimes what is in your mind from study and experiences we've had or are having, or things we've learned, are what we need to say. Those things are there for Heavenly Father to draw from, and He has given you those studies, insights, thoughts, experiences to bless the person you're blessing. Is it me or the Spirit? Quit worrying about it. Again, just be a good boy or girl, strive to honor your covenants, keep the commandments, and do your best, and then what you say and do will be guided.
1 Nephi 4:6 "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."
Also, do your prayers stink? I learned how to remedy this! To improve the quality of our prayers we need to give something to God. Don't only take and ask. In your prayers, focus on others. Talk with God. With our friends we don't take, take, take and ask, ask, ask. We tell them experiences, stories, and funny jokes. Do the same with God. In our prayers ask god what HE would want us to do, or what HE would want us to change. Forget yourself. Ask for what the Spirit gives you to ask for.
Also, something I've learned is to say hi and talk to as many people as possible. The more I do this, the more God is able to help His children feel His love, and His life, through me.
I love my mission with everything I have. I know I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is true. I know God has a plan for all of us, for you. He loves YOU. He hears YOUR prayers. He is guiding YOUR life. He is looking out for YOU. God works on an individual level. I know that is true.
God be with you till we meet again,
Elder West

PS.  Pics of me, Elder Boggs, with Presidente Tenorio and his wife [above]. And my companion’s hand covered in mosquito bites [below]. It's a legit problem here. They especially like my companion.

 


From a previous short email last week about Jacob's daily schedule at the CCM:
Our day goes like this. Breakfast. Hour of personal study. Language class. Missionary fundamentals. Lunch. Computer lab language. Personal language study. Exercise time. Daily planning. Dinner. Then another language class. Then a progressing investigator. Then more class. Then bed.

Also from last week:
It also rained and hailed, so we tested out our Chile rain gear.