What more friends? (Qué más amigos?)
Yeah, that is a really weird phrase in English, but its the Colombian way of life :) Okay, so this week was FULL of meetings and intercambios (exchanges? I think that's it). The work in our area has been rough but we have seen some miracles and some big steps take place for investigators. For example, one guy called us in the morning and said he wants to be baptized and wanted to talk with us at 2pm. OKAY! He has been an investigator for 6 years and when he called, I had no idea who he was, haha. But we are talking with him and his woman (wait, do you say that in English, or is that bad?) and she had a date to be baptized but they had to get married and there came the problem. But they are fixing things now and its awesome to see! It's been hard when Colombia has soccer games for La Copa America because basically EVERYONE is watching it and many are at bars drinking. And Colombia passed to the quarter finals..so we will see what happens. But its cool because the soccer culture here is INSANE. I can only imagine how it was for the World Cup when missionaries couldn't leave the house.
We had our last meeting with President and Sister Andelin and President and Sister Laney get here on Monday. It's going to be so weird to have a change in mission President but I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for our mission. I went HAM on cleaning my bathroom this morning and now the shower walls aren't black and they don't smell! They opened the Santísimo on Saturday and hopefully we can go soon. It's a giant, white statue of Christ on a mountain...like in Brazil. And this week, I also found awesome scriptures during my personal study! It's 2 Nephi 4:17-35
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy? 28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
SUPER AWESOME! This really helped me with always getting down on myself. For me, it's basically saying "Stop getting down on yourself and stop letting the adversary pollute your thoughts. The Lord is with you and he always will be. Call upon the Lord to help you in your afflictions and try with all your might to always chose the right. If you do this and don't look back and make the Savior your rock, your soul will be at peace and the adversary will not be able to drag you down (Helaman 5:12)". The Lord has been so merciful with me and has helped me during everything. I just have to keep focusing on my Savior when the trials come. Love you all and thank you so much for all of your love and support!
Elder Richmond
Yeah, that is a really weird phrase in English, but its the Colombian way of life :) Okay, so this week was FULL of meetings and intercambios (exchanges? I think that's it). The work in our area has been rough but we have seen some miracles and some big steps take place for investigators. For example, one guy called us in the morning and said he wants to be baptized and wanted to talk with us at 2pm. OKAY! He has been an investigator for 6 years and when he called, I had no idea who he was, haha. But we are talking with him and his woman (wait, do you say that in English, or is that bad?) and she had a date to be baptized but they had to get married and there came the problem. But they are fixing things now and its awesome to see! It's been hard when Colombia has soccer games for La Copa America because basically EVERYONE is watching it and many are at bars drinking. And Colombia passed to the quarter finals..so we will see what happens. But its cool because the soccer culture here is INSANE. I can only imagine how it was for the World Cup when missionaries couldn't leave the house.
We had our last meeting with President and Sister Andelin and President and Sister Laney get here on Monday. It's going to be so weird to have a change in mission President but I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for our mission. I went HAM on cleaning my bathroom this morning and now the shower walls aren't black and they don't smell! They opened the Santísimo on Saturday and hopefully we can go soon. It's a giant, white statue of Christ on a mountain...like in Brazil. And this week, I also found awesome scriptures during my personal study! It's 2 Nephi 4:17-35
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy? 28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
SUPER AWESOME! This really helped me with always getting down on myself. For me, it's basically saying "Stop getting down on yourself and stop letting the adversary pollute your thoughts. The Lord is with you and he always will be. Call upon the Lord to help you in your afflictions and try with all your might to always chose the right. If you do this and don't look back and make the Savior your rock, your soul will be at peace and the adversary will not be able to drag you down (Helaman 5:12)". The Lord has been so merciful with me and has helped me during everything. I just have to keep focusing on my Savior when the trials come. Love you all and thank you so much for all of your love and support!
Elder Richmond