This week was
sooooo awesome! We spent so much time working
with Jose and preparing him for
his baptism!!! On Monday last week he was a little nervous about the first of
April, he said he wasn't sure if that was the day he wanted, but as we talked
he eventually told us that the day didn't matter as long as he was able to make
that baptismal covenant with God. When he said that it blew my mind. He is
probably one of the most converted people to the Gospel I have ever seen. He's
not converted to us or the ward but he is converted to the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. He understands what faith is, how to repent, and he told us Saturday
night that he super is excited to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. He'll
be baptized this Saturday, the first of April, at 4 in the afternoon, just
before the Priesthood session.
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It's been super
cool to watch him progress and I am so grateful for this opportunity and I have
learned so much from it as well. One of the biggest things I have learned from
Jose is how we ought to honor the commandments. He treats them very sacredly
and understands that they come directly from God. As soon as he learns a new
commandment he doesn't hesitate to keep it. He just says "okay" and
dives in, even before he knows what the blessings are. Like with the Word of
Wisdom and Tithing. With both of those commandments he was like "alrighty
I'll do it. If it's a commandment then I need to do it." It has helped me
to realize just how I should treat and honor the commandments. They are not
suggestions or things that are good to do. They are given to us from God and we
need to keep them and as we do, God promises to bless us.
This has been a
theme for me throughout the week. I have pondered and thought a lot about the
scripture in Mosiah 2:22. It says "And behold, all that he requires of you
is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his
commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that
which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you
and prosper you." It's so simple! Yet such a powerful promise. All he
requires is that we keep His commandments, and when we do that he promises to
give us success, and as we know, God is bound to His promises.
Jose is honestly
doing so well. I wish that I could just record every lesson we have with him
and send them home to you. He just has so much desire to be better. It is really
cool. On Saturday we had an awesome lesson with him about the Atonement and
Baptism and he told us about some of the changes he had seen in his life since
he started reading in the Book of Mormon and going to church. He feels like he
has changed a lot and we have recognized it as well.
One of the
coolest changes I have seen in him is how personal his prayers have become. He
just empties his soul to God, and the Spirit is so strong every time he does
it. Another is just his countenance. He just looks different. When I first
knocked into him when I was with Elder Aguirre he just looked sad (for lack of
a better word), but now he has this light about him, and it's sooo cool to see!
A neat
experience with him was on Sunday in Priesthood. Bro Clive (our Ward Mission
Leader) stood up and announced his baptism on Saturday and Jose's biggest
fellowship, Hno Martinez, was so shocked. I didn't see his face but Elder
Cannon told me that is was first like pure shock, and then pure happiness. He
then turned to Jose and gave him a huge smile and a big fist bump and then
after church Hno Martinez spent like 15-20 minutes just talking with him and
sharing scriptures.
Man I wish I
could keep going but I'm running out of time. Jorge is still doing well. We had
several nice lessons with him and he's progressing very slowly. He is now
praying twice a day and reading 2 verses a day, which is a lot for him. His
biggest thing is that a lot of what he learns just doesn't stick, however he
has seen some awesome progress and looks a lot happier lately.
We also had
interviews with President again this week and as usual it was an amazing
experience. They're always so spiritual.
Anyway love ya
all!!
--
Elder Miles
Washington
Yakima Mission
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