Look Out For That Tree

How are things going down there?

Fine.

Does the time seem to be flying by?

That would be an understatement. I feel like I wrote Y'all yesterday.

How old is the young boy Dirceu?(This is the boy that he had a picture of last week)

12

Do you have to get their parents' permission to baptize if they are younger then a certain age?

If they are younger than 18, they cannot sign for themselves, so they need permission from their parents or legal guardian. Many missionaries had parents with hardened hearts and weren't baptized until they reached 18 years of age. 

 

Oh yeah, I forgot the last few times, so here OOOOoooo0000 <- (These are those tighter hugs that just squeeze the puddin' out of you :P)

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Just now I had a flash back to the movie Avatar, as I remembered the many great battleships taking down "home tree." This week we had the privilege to do something similar as we helped one of the members take down the largest tree I have ever seen. The bishop, the priest quorum, my companion and I all teamed up to take down this beast and didn't come out on top until after about eight hours of hard work. Luckily, this member cooks really well so we were greatly rewarded. ;) 

Anyway, let's get to the juicy stuff. This week was really good. For one, we had tons of surprises. We had unexpected service projects, tons of random gifts, lots of sudden rain storms, and best of all, investigators that went to church on their own, walking in heavy rain. One of the other cool happenings was the experience of a family we started teaching very recently. They are a very young family with a shy kid about two years old. We first met the father late one night while we were heading home.  We decided to speak with a man standing alone on the sidewalk. After talking a little, we learned he was there to cool off after a lot of heavy problems at home, so we testified of the power of the gospel to him and we marked to visit with him the next day.

When we visited with his family, they received the message very openly and had a great desire to change. One thing I saw in them was their faith and desire to act on what they learned, even without knowing the ending, or even when expectations were highly negative. We taught the restoration and invited them to pray.  When we returned, we learned that they had said their prayers and those prayers were answered. When we asked them how it went, the man humbly explained that he'd "gone to converse with the Lord" and that the Lord had spoken to him in a small calm voice.  The Lord explained to him that the pathway shown was truly of Him, and that he shouldn't trust in the understandings of men but always seek the confirmation of God. Shortly after, he explained that another voice came, that he described simply as "the enemy", who came to say that he wouldn't disappear just because he'd found the truth, but he'll always be there to tempt and to lead him astray.

When he finished explaining, I just stared for a little while, impressed with the great witness he had received. Then my jaw finally returned and we began explaining to him the witness he'd received from God and the opposition there will be in all things. As he said, he still doesn't know everything, but he is ready to act on the faith that he has.

Of course, not everyone has such great faith or sensitivity to hear the words of the Lord, but I'm so grateful that the Lord has never failed to fulfill his promises and answers all prayers made in faith with real intent. To some He speaks, to others He sends his servants, and to many He changes their lives, but above all, He touches their hearts  and minds bringing a silent but strong confirmation of peace and understanding. I know this not just because I've been  a witness to so many such responses, but because it was such that brought me to this very path and work of salvation. I testify that God lives and this is his work and his kingdom granted unto all who will open up unto Him. I know that there is no other place I'd rather be than right here, right now, and of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Well, thanks everyone for your prayers and support. I am coming into the final stretch of my mission, so your prayers are needed more than ever.  Y'all have done so much for me, if there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. 

But, until next time,

Elder Angus

phrase of the week:

frio de renguear cusco (free-oo gee heyn-gay-ar koos-coo) Meaning really cold. It's a southern slang, where if translated literally, it means "cold enough to make a dog limp."