This week was pretty cool. the coolest news is that we had the
opportunity to have a member of the first quorum of the seventy come
and visit our mission! Elder Kevin Duncan is his name.
First on Sunday we had a special meeting with all the recent converts
and investigators in the three stakes that make up what is called "The
Istmo." That was really cool because the mission president and a
general authority were able to reaffirm the things we have been
teaching them with their even more powerful testimonies. It was
perfect. one of the guys we´re teaching named Abram has been unsure if
he wants to get baptized because he´s seen people do it in other
churches and later go right back to their sins they did before. He was
worried that he would be a similar case and did not want to mock God.
Now of course we answered this as best we could explaining that first
comes repentance and that it is a change of heart and the holy ghost
would help him afterwards to stay away from sin if he kept on "the
whole armor of god" by keeping up with his scripture study, praying,
going to church and seminary, etc. but he was still a bit unsure. So
later when we were inviting him to the meeting (1 hour away in a place
called Juchitán) we told him that if he would go then his doubt would
be resolved by something the general authority would say or by the
Holy Ghost communicating something to his heart. and probably both
haha.
well, thats exactly what happened. Elder Duncan talked about exactly
that. he basically said what we had told him but in a different way
and coming from him it was way powerful.
I was way happy that the youth from Morro were able to go to that
conference. We brought 17 youth from this little pueblo by
coordinating with Mario (the mission leader out there who´s a suuuuper
impressive person... i´ll tell you about him later) and we contracted
a little transport to take us all the way out there.
I had the unique opportunity to make this happen for these youth. what
happened was that the branch was going to use the money from the
budget they´re allotted but the branch president decided that going to
see a member of the seventy wasn´t a good enough reason to spend the
money and that it would be better to save it for the Christmas
party...
Sunday Mario came to us and informed us that they would not be going
because he didn´t have enough money personally (he usually pays these
things out of pocket) and didn´t get paid until Wednesday so after
prayerfully thinking about it I decided to lend him the money so that
the youth could have this awesome experience. He´s going to give me
back the money on Thursday when we go out there again so its all win
win. I felt way good to have been able to make this possible for the
youth. they had a great time and their testimonies were strengthened.
so after that a couple elders that came from quite far stayed with us
in our house because we had to travel back today and it was way
cheaper to travel from salina cruz than go all the way back to their
area. and the trip is not reimbursable... cool right?
so basically I got 2 hours of sleep last night and woke up sick to my
stomach from not eating much on Sunday but had to go travel an hour
with these and other four missionaries to make sure everyone from this
side got there on time and safely, then help run the zone conference
with my top notch condition haha. it was interesting. what was most
interesting is that the Lord strengthened me a ton. once the
conference started I totally forgot about all of that and had a great
experience! Elder Duncan was really straight up with us and taught me
a lot of stuff. I am excited to go out and apply this stuff and bring
about the renewed vision he was able to transmit to me. so needless
to say, All is well :)
I hope you all are doing great!!!! I love you and thank you for all
your prayers, love, support, good wishes, and all that. I know it
helps a ton.
The church is true. God the father lives and so does his son Jesus
Christ. I know it because I feel their support and love every single
day that i´m out here and with every trial or challenge that I face.
Without being able to feel that I would have given up long ago. but
here I am after 19 months. I know that they love each and every one of
us and that everything they do they do for that exact reason. 2 Nefi
26:24; 1 John 4:16; John 3:16-17 :)
Love,
Elder Spencer Henze
