Thursday, August 4, 2016

The Tasmanian Devil....Semana 57

Hello Hello! It was a super nice week here in Paraguay. First because the weather was not too cold nor too hot. That is very rare here. Also because this week we were able to get out of the office and work a little more! Right not the area is a little dull, we have a couple people we are teaching but can't seem to help them get to church! There is a 19yr old guy named Marcos. He is super super cool. We have been working with him for 2 months now. He has been reading the book of mormon since we visited him, he knows it is true, wants to be baptized, but can't seem to make it to church on sundays. He has been plenty of times to visit us here during the week, but come Sundays, he gets stage fright! He comes from a super Catholic family, and he is a little scared to upset them. But he loves the book of mormon, is in the process of a true repentance, seriously every time we go we see how he is changing. The first time we showed up to his house, he said many racist jokes (after asking us if we are racists), cussed a lot (mostly in english), and couldn't sit still. at all. But now, he actually looks us in the eyes, his vocabulary has changed 360 degrees, and he explains the scriptures that we left him to read in a way that truly shows his interest. We have been working with members lately, and it is helping. We are hoping and praying to see him at church tomorrow. 

Another family we are visiting are recent converts. Val and Alfredo and their 3 yr old son Yago. They are from brazil, speak pure portuguese, and are so amazing. Val tries her best at spanish but Alfredo does't try one bit. Luckily, I can understand 90% of what they say! But anyways, on Thursday they took a walk around the temple, and Yago saw Moroni on top. Now, he asks us and them about "Moroni's Castle" haha. This little kid is hilarious. He almost never sits still. Is always running around, screaming, throwing food, anything to make his parents mad. But when it is time to sing a hymn or read the scriptures, he runs to get the books and yells "Vamos cantar Vamos orar!" Last Sunday, he was running and screaming around church during the last hour, Priesthood. Alfredo was about ready to be ordained a Priest and he would not stop screaming. As soon as they put their hands on Alfredo's head, he was instantly quiet. It is amazing how innocent children are and how smart they are at the same time! 

Christ said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Watching this 3 yr old boy turn from the Tasmanian Devil into the most calm child at the time of prayer is such a great analogy of conversion to me. When it becomes time for church, for the temple, for prayer, for scripture study-do we leave all the worldy things that cause headaches and problems outside the door? Are we able to turn from Instagram to scripture study without the urge to check twitter just for a second? (For me the whole insta/twitter thing is pretty easy right now seeing that I have no access to either.....) Are we able to turn our phones off during sacrament as we ponder the Savior's sacrifice for us? Are we able to leave our resentment with our Savior and our Heavenly Father as we speak to them in prayer? To allow us to forgive our enemies and pray for them? The gospel is all about conversion. It is all about putting our heart and mind into it, to learn more and become a better person each and every day! Life is not easy. People will cut us off while driving and make us mad but living the gospel is about being converted and living in a way the Savior would live. It is about changing our hearts for the better, literally changing them to think and feel happy all the time, no matter if our brother eats the last bit of ice cream in the fridge. Changing our hearts to be truly converted allows us to recognize the Lord every day in our lives, and recognize that his commandments are in place to guide us to true happiness. Being converted to the gospel allows us to see the blessings in our lives rather than the "poor me's". I have got so much more to learn, and such a long way to go to become what my Heavenly Father wants me to be. Conversion is a very long process, I feel like I just hopped on the train but I know it is worth it. Wickedness never was happiness, but doing the things in our every day lives to be converted to His gospel is. 

I love you all and hope you all take some time this week to become a little more converted to the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ!


Elder Zawug 
 Elder Stanley is going home!  
Sweet Paraguayan shirt, looks like cruise material!

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