July 29: The Guiding love of the spirit

We have changes tomorrow, and Elder Alconz and I will be staying here another change together. We are both super excited and ready to harvest what we've planted in these past 6 weeks. We were sad to say goodbye to 3 great and amazing elders this week, Elder Bezzant, Elder Morris, and Elder Fillmore. It was a hard goodbye but I'm super happy for these boys and their examples in showing me how to be a hard worker and a successful missionary. 

This week when we were contacting a street, my companion was talking to a large group of kids when I saw an old man walk out of his house to leave. I immediately left what I was doing without hesitation to go and talk to him. In our conversation, he told me that he is very ill, and would like us to come in to help him. When we approached his door his daughter started yelling that we were about to enter into her home. We sat down, and she explained to us that this old man is a member of our church baptized and everything. She explained that there is not a single person who visits him, or when he needs help is here to help him. We were mind blown when she explained all this. Jose (the old man) pulled out his old Book Of Mormon and told us how much he loves this book and how inspiring it is. His daughter explained to us that before the missionaries baptized her father, he was Catholic, not an ordinary Catholic but a strong Catholic. She testified the change our church has had on his life and the difference that she's seen in his life. Even at 80 years old, Jose continues to read the Book of Mormon every day without glasses, and attended the church with us yesterday by himself. 

This story can relate to every one of us. The amount of faith that this man has is incredible. To be able to have such a strong testimony despite all the things that have happened to him. A lesson for this is that we need to develop a testimony in Christ's Gospel, not his Church. Not a single ward house or stake is perfect. There are countless members that get offended or stop coming to church because of dumb silly things that caused them to fall away and lose their testimony. But if we develop a testimony on the things our church teaches, it won't matter it members offend us, or if silly dumb things happen because we know it's true and we will not be able to lose our rock-solid foundation. Just like Jose, we too must develop our testimony in the things the church teaches like the Book Of Mormon. 

My Scripture today is contained in D&C 58 27-28 which says

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. 

I love this scripture. Like Jose, we all have our own agency to choose for ourselves if we want to bring to pass much righteousness. Every single person has the gift to choose, whether it's right or wrong. But, when we do good, we will not lose our reward which is eternal life. May we all continue to develop our foundation upon Christ's gospel that we never may wash away.

With Great love,

Elder Rich

We made a Venezuelan favorite, Arepas.

This is Ruber from Venezuela 

The sad goodbyes to Elder Morris and Elder Bezzant

And Elder Fillmore

July 22: And the work continues

This week marks the last week before Elder Fillmore goes home. The past week he gave his final testimony in our zone conference and I admit, I bawled. The following week my brother Austin takes off and finishes his mission. I'm super pumped for him and am grateful for his great example and stunning personality to all those he encounters. I will miss hearing about his funny stories and spiritual experiences but couldn't be happier for him.

This week we continued to work and work and work. We have been blessed with the power of finding through little effort. We didn't have a whole lot of time to find, but the few people we talked to, our words and spirit touched their heart and they let us in and we blessed their house. I am amazed at the number of people that are living their lives in darkness, who don't know what they are missing out on. Wonderful people whose hearts are so closed they aren't willing to listen or accept our precious message and blessings. My heart mourns for those who chose to deny our message. I think about the life of Jesus and his life, although he was a great and chosen man the people still decided to reject him, and eventually kill him. We are so incredibly blessed to have this gospel in our lives. 

A scripture that I really liked this week is in D&C 20:29 which says

And we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.  

This scripture describes the most basic doctrine of Jesus Christ. These ordinances are necessary in order to be saved or else it is impossible to be saved. We must repent, have faith, and endure to the end or else we can not be saved in the kingdom of God. 

Love Elder Rico

Found a golden man

Soccer this morning at 5:30

July 15: The power and blessings of the Book of Mormon

We taught Lucy a couple more times this week. Like everybody here, she is also a part of the crew searching for a job. When we first found her, I testified that if she reads the Book of Mormon, God will bless her with a job. Although it may take time, God will bless her. She explained to us that she found a job washing clothes, making $15 a day. She was a little sad that she can only work 1 day a week. We said "That's what you get when you aren't specific in your prayers. You only prayed to find a job, you didn't pray to find a job working every day." 

One day we couldn't find a man in our ward to join us with some lessons we had, so we asked an investigator if he wanted to help us and he said it would be a pleasure. We went to a couple of lessons, and at the end, he bore his testimony about how we've changed his life, and that we are really here to bless and serve people. It was super powerful.

Always remember, the Lord blesses each and every person that takes time to read the Book of Mormon. If we truly put God first, and have goals, in the end God will prepare what we need if we read this book. For me, I decided to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish out loud. Through my errors and mistakes, I can now read better in Spanish than I can in English and I can speak very fluently. We have a member in our ward who is special needs that can't read very well. He read the Book of Mormon and now he can read. And like Lucy, who read a little and after 6 months of searching for a job, God puts one in her path. For any of you, if you want to accomplish something read the Book of Mormon and God will bless you. It has power and so many blessings.

Love Elder Rich

The 2 week countdown for Elder Fillmore

Also for Elder Morris 

Elder Mora at Zone Conference

 Cool statue

Venezuelan money

July 8: Finding the Elect

This week we contacted a small part of our sector. We didn't have too much luck, but later in the week, we felt prompted to knock a few of the same doors again. We knocked into a gal named Lucy, who when we found her was watching a 55-minute Youtube video about god. She explained to us that she loves watching videos about God and learning more about him. She told us that she has been through some very hard times and is looking for a church to attend. We were able to testify that there is peace in Christ. Anyway, we taught her 3 times last week, she was 15 minutes early to church (which never happens here haha) and absolutely loved it. We have a visit with her tonight, and well see what happens.

We have been finding the most prepared people in my time here in this new sector. I was so sad when I found out I was closing my golden sector and moving to the sector with nobody progressing or coming to church. When we started this transfer we committed to working hard, having a positive attitude, and putting the goal that we are going to baptize. Our dedication and attitude have helped us change this sector. We have found more than 15 people each week and had new people coming to church every single week who have the biggest desires to continue learning. The Lord knows what is best, for all of us. Even when we don't understand one bit, he knows. He has a perfect plan that we don't often understand, but he does. 

The scripture for this week is Moroni 7:42-45

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Something I have been studying this week is charity is the pure love of Christ. For some reason, this Christlike attribute is the hardest, and longest to develop. As human beings, we are very prideful, in many things. We think we are better than others, stronger, better looking, smarter but we're not. We are all alike. If we read about the life of Jesus and his ministry, he didn't spend his time only with the rich, or with the good looking, but he spent his time ministering and loving every person. He doesn't just invite the smart people, or the people in the United States to partake of his salvation but his invitation is for everybody. I hope we can all look at others as beloved children of God and find opportunities to love and serve them. Because without charity we are nothing.

Love Elder Rich

Pictures:

1. my Friend Jon 

2. Elder Binda from Brazil

3. this one looks better

4. thank you mother

5. MCDONALDS

July 1: Officially July

Not much happened this week, since our ward has no trust for the missionaries we have been visiting tons of members, sharing messages, and of course gaining trust. 

We found a couple of pleasing people this week and have taught them a couple of times. We expected to have 10 investigators at church on Sunday but only 1 came. His name is Edwin, and he's 29 years old. We found him in his internet business and we shared a message about Joseph Smith and watched the 20-minute restoration video. He explained that he couldn't go to church because he needs work to make money. We testified on the power of sacrifice.  We told him that God is willing to bless each person that sacrifices something for him and in return the person receives an enormous amount of blessings. He committed to coming and he's come to church 2 weeks in a row. We passed by his place, and there was an insane amount of customers buying things or using his computers. I looked at him and said "Told ya" We will be working with him this week and will help him recognize God's hand in his life.

The scripture for this week comes from Ether 4:12 which says

12 And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world. 

I really like this scripture, if we think for a second of all the good things we have in this life - our family, cars, jobs, life, religion - it all comes from a loving Heavenly Father. He loves us and because he loves us he provided a way that we can return to his presence through the grace of his son Jesus Christ. He only does things that persuade men to do good, he is our shepherd, that leads us to only do good. He is the light, life, and truth of all things, he is our Savior.

Love Elder Rico

my companion Elder Alconz

a Venezuelan named Jon

exchanges with Elder Morris

another one