Monday, May 30, 2016

Crying Repentance: Heidelberg Week 6


May 23, 2016

Mom and Dad,

Hi :) Happy Birthday to Austin! 14, going to high school soon, still tying knots and playing with knives I'm sure :)

This week really flew by (like they all do to be honest) Some things that I learned this week: Don't eat too much red meat. There was a sale at the store, only 99 cents per Kilo for a preseasoned roast so Elder Clemente and I seized the opportunity and ate that roast in like two days (I will post pictures in the near future). We also ate some pig stomach type meat which was a lot of fat and a little bit of meat. This week will be brown rice and chicken.

The weekend was a bit stressful but really successful, a girl who lives in one of the neighboring cities had moved here to Heidelberg area before her baptism and asked one of the elders who began teaching her to perform the baptism, so Elder Clemente and I did a split. We started the split out with a Spanish appointment, which actually went really well. It was another testimony to me that the spirit is the most important thing in missionary work, because even though I can't communicate well yet the spirit was there and it was a fun and uplifting time for all of us. It was also comforting too see how much progress I have made with the language.

Afterwards we took the train to the church and I was able to give a baptismal interview. This girl was so prepared, at about age 19, she gave up smoking within a week and sacrificed so many other things. She is so full of light and her experiences are a miracle and a testimony that God changes people when we have the desire to be changed., to repent and let him change us.

I gave a talk about the Holy Ghost at the baptism and a talk about missionary work in my ward, it's a good thing that I enjoy public speaking :) The Spanish ward is seriously so supportive and patient, seeing smiley faces in the congregation during my talk was encouraging.

I talked a lot about this passage: D&C:18
10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh;
wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent
and come unto him.
12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men
unto him, on conditions of repentance.
13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!
14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying
repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me,
how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have
brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your
joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

Missionary work, "crying repentance", inviting people to come to God, is really inviting them to take a bigger part in the atonement of Jesus Christ, to help others to enjoy the blessings of His sacrifice for us. We are brothers and sisters, Children of God, and there is a lot of joy in loving and serving your family.

Love you!

Hayden

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