Week 35 - The week where Daniel came to church again (3x)

Well, let us address the subject. Daniel came to church this last weekend for the third time and he came by himself this time also which is super cool! He is really showing desires to make it to his baptism now! We have it planned for this Saturday and we are really excited. It has been about 7 months since this area has had a baptism so the members are really excited as well!

C. unfortunately didn't come to church though. We were really confused though too because we passed by Saturday night and she said that si o si she was going to be ready when we stopped by to pick her up but when we went the next morning she wasn't there... We want her to progress so badly because she has already told us that she has prayed and received an answer about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon but now the not coming to church obstacle is really taking it's toll. We`re going to try one or two more times but if she never comes we can't keep going unfortunately.

We've found 2 really good new people recently. One is named O. O. is a really nice old lady that told us the second time that we passed by that she was having a crisis of faith and that she noticed and she wants to return to where she was before. We gave her a Book of Mormon and told her that if she reads it and prays about it she would begin to fortify her faith and she accepted the invitation. For now she seems really good and I`ll let you know as we keep visiting her.

The other person is named R. She is super nice and always is ready to listen to us when she tells us she will which is super convenient. The only thing is that she's living with someone without being married and she smokes so she has some obstacles to overcome but she's progressing well in what she thinks about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Once we get that basis everything else becomes so much easier to talk about.

We also did Divisions with Colon this week and it was super cool. We got to meet 3 different people that are going to get baptized this weekend! They are super cool and we are so excited for them too! Colon also has been a very "dry" area for a large number of months so this was much needed for their branch.

Scriptural thought for the week is in Helaman 4:13:

And because of this their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands.

I really thought it was interesting how it mentioned that due to the boasting of their own strength, they were left to that own strength that they thought was so great. Not so much a punishment from God, but as a natural consequence of their pride, they lost the blessings of God. This really made me think about the importance of keeping in mind from where come all the good things in my life and to whom I should always express that gratitude. That has really started to change the way I pray, really making sure I acknowledge and thank a little more than I have been doing, and so my invitation is just that. To really think deeply about what God has given you and really focus on showing gratitude for all that we have.

Love you all! Nos vemos!

-Elder Martin

Having fun talking with the family!