Melipilla: Semana 3

Hoops in the Hood

Melipilla is my home right now and I am absolutely loving it!  There's nothing better than a beautiful sunset, an empanada and the joy that comes from being a representative of our Savior, Jesus Christ! I am truly grateful for this amazing opportunity to be His representative and to be a part of His work. Elder Staheli and I had a couple nights this week when we didn't finish teaching until about 9:50 pm! In order to make our 10 pm curfew we had to do a full sprint to the other side of town to make it home to be exactly obedient! The whole time we were running, we were just laughing and excited about our investigators. When we made it back to the house, we were so tired but we felt that joy that comes from knowing that we gave it our all. I have come to understand that this work is the most important work in history! It's the most important work, the hardest work and therefore, the most rewarding work.

This week we had the opportunity to teach a lot of hard-working, faithful and happy people. There are so many amazing people here that are ready for this true Gospel but just don't know it yet!  We taught a single mom and her three daughters this week and they were so kind; it was powerful to teach this family that families can be together forever and about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The mother and her daughters ended up coming to church this Sunday; I loved playing with their two year old daughter during church, she reminded me of Audrey! We also taught another family from Haiti, they were so humble and fed us an amazing meal, with foo foo. We are still teaching Osmer, from Venezuela. Osmer loves the Church and our message. He is reading the Book of Mormon and he has been coming to church too! He works so hard for his family and is so faithful; we told him that we would help him prepare to be baptized and that we can help his family as well when they get here in October! Ruben is doing great and is learning more about the Gospel, he has been reading and praying all week. He told us that every time he felt doubts or fear, he prayed and read the Book of Mormon. We can all gain strength through faith, prayer and the Book of Mormon!  

An underlying theme with all our new investigators is "Why are there so many different churches? How do we know which one is true?" But every single time we answer with a lesson about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The story the Restoration explains perfectly and answers their questions. People need to know that the exact church of Jesus Christ has been restored. I know that this church is the exact same church that Jesus Christ established. It has been restored through Joseph Smith and we have perfect evidence of this in the Book of Mormon. It is all part of the plan! I truly am so grateful for this opportunity to teach the people I meet in Santiago and tell them that Jesus Christ lives, that His church is on the Earth today for everyone. I know that this is true! I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and I know that President Nelson is the living prophet right now. The Church is true! Don't forget it!  I hope you all have an amazing week and remember that God is truly in the details of our lives. Love you all! 

Give these a read:

James 1:5

Acts 3:19-21

Amos 8:11-12

Joseph Smith History 1:16-17

Love,
Elder Zwick