Día 160

This past week was pretty good. The past Tuesday I completed 5 months in the mission, not quite bump day but that is getting really close. On Monday we had a noche de hogar (family home evening) with Olga, Graciela, and Dani, with the Chavez family from the ward. It was a really great night, and it is so rewarding to see how happy they are and how excited they are to learn. Dani was asking Hermano Chavez all sorts of questions about the priesthood, and it made me really happy to see how the Gospel has blessed their lives. It is very humbling that the Lord has trusted me to help Him in His work.

We had exchanges two times this week. On Tuesday I worked with Elder Johnson in my area, which was pretty great. We were walking in the street and said hi to some people who responded back really nicely, so I asked them where a street is, which I am already familiar with. This opened the door, however, to talk to them, a trick I learned from Elder Buxton. While I was getting the directions I didn't need from the man, Elder Johnson began talking with the woman, and after awhile she said, "you know, I do actually speak English quite well." Turns out these people were from England. The only hard part however was talking to them in English... they asked what we believed, something that is really easy to talk about as a missionary... but talking about the restoration in English? It was a struggle to get the words out... and I'm not sure if I made a whole lot of sense. Friday we had exchanges again but this time with the zone leaders, and this time I went to the area Laboca to work with Elder Vidal. It was my first time doing companion exchanges outside of my area, but it was really great and I learned a lot.

If all goes well this week, this Saturday we could have 4 baptisms, with Marcela, her sister Leila and her brother Geoani, and a 19-year-old girl named Andrea who attended church for 3 years but never got baptized because she was under age and her mom wouldn't give her permission. We're really excited and looking forward to a great week!

Something I've grown to appreciate this week is the importance of attendance at church. We know that if we aren't baptized there is no way we can enter into the Kingdom of God. However, being imperfect, we always commit sins and when we do that, we break our baptismal covenant. That being said, if we don't attend church to renew our covenants with the sacrament, there is also no way we can enter into the Kingdom of God. The Church is true and our Lord Jesus Christ is at the head directing it. May we all make the extra effort to attend church and endure to the end is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Love,

Elder John William Garrett