Christlike Charity (Week 32)

Hey everyone! :)

I am so grateful for the chance I have to be here serving a mission and being a representative of Jesus Christ.

I don't have much time to write this week because we just watched both of the Saturday General Conference Sessions but boy, was it worth it! I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the earth today, with the authority and priesthood of God, with a living prophet and apostles. Their words today inspired me to be a better person, member of the church and missionary. Let's put the words of these inspired men and women into action and the many great blessing promised today will become evident on our day to day lives.

Last Sunday we had the baptism of Ana Luisa, the neighbour of Carmita's family. As we were walking to church with the whole family, we became worried we would arrive late for the family's confirmation and for the sacrament meeting. As we quickened our step up a steep road, a member pulled up and said jokingly: "Are you going to church?" Before I knew it, half of the group was on their way to church tightly packed in a members car. We walked no more than 1 minute before a kind sister in the ward pulled up and told us all to squeeze in. I'm pretty sure there were 5 more people in the car than there should've been but in the end, we all got to church on time for their confirmations. How lovely it was to see Christ-like charity in these humble members and what a marking moment it was too for these people who are getting to know the church as well.

The baptism was wonderful and the primary organisation welcomed her with kind words and a little family history booklet. She asked me to baptise her which I did gladly. The water was cold as the heater broke, but she came out of the water smiling and I was overjoyed to help another one of God's children enter His fold.

Ana Luisa with her wonderful neighbours. Check out little Rodrigo! He even got a marriage proposal at church on Sunday. ;)

Ana Luisa is a bright young girl with a wonderful spirit. She has the desire to follow God although her mother unfortunately is not too involved in her life, she spends most of her day with Carmita's family. I'm sure they will grow firmer in the gospel together and who knows, one day she will be a wonderful sister missionary helping other people do the same. :)

This week, I finally had my interview with President Farnes! It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul and President clearly saw my worries and stress caused by the rush of transfer week and other office duties. Here in the mission office it can be difficult sometimes to handle all the problems and do everything whilst remembering I am a missionary and there are people who I need to find, teach and baptise at the same time. President Farnes taught me in my interview that I need to balance both the temporal and spiritual, giving utmost importance to the things of the Lord, if not I will get discouraged and feel down. That happened last week with so many things to do and organise, I felt stressed and overrun. At the end of the week I realised I had not been doing scripture study and praying as fervently as I should. I realised that without the Lord, it would be easy to feel like this constantly. As I have applied his counsel this week, I now feel the spirit more closely and am able to balance the two aspects of my missionary life better.

Yesterday we had the chance to do a family home evening with Conrado and Vanessa. She asked us to dedicate her new home which we did. Then we sang some hymns and had amazing food made by Conrado himself! ;) I also learned that Conrado did synchronised swimming for a chocolate TV ad. He is a man of many talents!! :D haha.

Anyway, I love you and leave you! Til next week!

Elder Torres