July 20, 2015

July 20, 2015

This was a pretty good week! I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be a missionary: Every day I learn more about how sacred this time is.

So this week in Leticia there was a giant event that is called the Confraternidad, (co-brotherhood? I don't know haha). Leticia borders on Tabatinga, Brazil, and Santa Rosa, Perú, so every year, they all get together and have a bunch of parties and competitions and stuff. So lots of people weren't in their houses this week; but we keep pressing on!

This week, we were able to visit C's parents. C was the recent convert that came down from Bogotá a couple weeks ago. His parents are great people, and C even called while we were there! They have a great desire to follow C's example, and to set the example for their daughter.

We have been using the branch birthday list to look for less active members, and a couple weeks ago, we decided to look for a member, F S. We went to his house, but they said he had moved. They also said that he drives a car around Leticia blasting advertisements from his stereo. So while we were waiting for an appointment in the church, we saw the car come around the corner, and we ran out as fast as we could to stop him. He was super happy to see us, and told us to come by. So this week, we found out that the recently-baptized family of 4 hadn't gone to church in about a year because a member had offended them; the missionaries would always come by, but they never wanted to go. On Monday we had a great family home evening, and the spirit was really there. They committed themselves to church!

And on Saturday, two members, D and J, got married! They asked us to take part in the choir, and we sang Oh my Father and The Lord is my Shepherd. It was fantastic, and the speakers gave great messages about the eternal family. I know that our families can be together forever.

On Sunday, there was like a bunch of parades that all of the youth and their parents had to attend, so we postponed the Sunday meetings to 2 in the afternoon! It was really weird to have the meetings so late, but we had a great opportunity to make some visits in the morning. We dropped in on S, who has been progressing a ton. He is a great guy, and really has the desire to get baptized and continue to change his life: I love the difference that we can see in people as they prepare themselves to make covenants with God. The Spirit really works in them; it testifies to me that this really is the work of the Lord. After visiting S, we visited a family that we had contacted, and the appointment went really well! They were really interested in the Book of Mormon, and were excited to hear more. Then at church, Cesar's mom came, and the Salas family! It was so great to see them there.

I can't share with words the gratitude that I have for being able to serve a mission. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is our Savior's true church, that through His grace we will be able to have eternal families, and that I am His servant to help others to reach that goal.

Have a great week!

Elder Toombs