Recap

Since, I didn´t have much time to write last week I´ll do a little recap of what´s happening in Palermo. Well, last week we had the privilege of seeing the baptism of Esther Cardozo. To explain this story, we must look three weeks into the past. Well, while on divisions with the AP´s, I was with my old comp Elder Blake and we started to talk with a ton of people. While walking on the street, we saw a woman walking toward the bus stop, we stopped her and started to talk about the Gospel. She told us that she already got baptized and she left because someone had taken the life of her son, during which, she didn´t have much support from the ward or anyone from the Church. At first, she was hesitant and didn´t want us anywhere near her house. I don´t know how but the Spirit worked in the both of us and her heart was softened. We passed by a few days later and she gave us a few blocks to sit on and we taught outside of her house. I actually didn´t feel like it was a very good lesson but for some reason she was very happy. The following Sunday, she arrived with 3 of her children and I about smiled my face off. Haha one of those children was Esther. She learned everything very quickly, understood hard concepts, and even read the Book of Mormon daily until her baptism. Another one of her daughters also started going to church shortly after the first sunday.

As I have shared, it would seem that many times, members of the Church who go through very tough situations find it difficult to understand why nobody was there to help them. As shared by the Savior Jesus Christ in Matthew 25:34-46 when we help our fellow friend in times of difficulty and suffering, even so, we do it unto the Lord. If you believe that there is nobody to help for now, it´s because you aren´t looking hard enough. Everyone suffers and everyone needs a helping hand. Don´t let anybody fall away from our Heavenly Father because we weren´t atentive to their needs. God loves His children. Many times, we are the angels that God sends to those in need. I know it, I live it, I love it!

Elder Philpot

I´m Okay

I don´t have much time to write due to the very unreliable argentine machinery. But just want to let you all know that I´m alright. We had a baptism on Saturday so I´m just peachy. We´re planning another one on August 1st. Things are looking pretty awesome. 

I learned this week that loving what you do is what makes all the difference. I know it, I live it, I love it!

Elder Philpot

The Importance of Being a Missionary

Since we´re in the beginnings of this month, on Wednesday we had Leaders Counsel for all the zone leaders where we go over subjects that are presently important in our mission. This week we talked a lot about the power and authority of our calling, which seems to often be a subject that not all missionaries understand fully. I also admit that at times I forget the grand calling that I´ve been given. Nevertheless, I´ve come across many details that help me to understand really how important it is being or preparing to be a missionary. 

First of all, we have to understand a little bit better the importance of our Savior Jesus Christ to understand why a missionary is so important. When our Savior atoned for our sins, died, and ressurrected, He made possible an infinite amount of hopeful opportunities. By suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane He unlocked the gate to repentance and forgiveness. When He was hung on the cross, He unlocked the uplifting power known as Grace. And when He ressurrected the third day, He made possible the exaltation of man-kind. 

What does a missionary have to do with this? In D&C 84:20 it reads: Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.¨ To help us to feel the power of the Atonement, it can only be given by way of ordinances. To participate in repentance and forgiveness, one must be baptized. To understand and to partake of the Grace of our Savior, one must be true to said baptism and take the Sacrament every week. And if we are to achieve exaltation, covenants in the temple are necessary. 

Missionaries are the only people on earth authorized to open the gate to the Atonement for those who have not yet known the restored Gospel. I hope that my brothers can understand what it means to me to be a missionary. It really means everything. I can´t think of anything that is more important to me than my Heavenly Father and the work that I am in. This is His work. And I wouldn´t be in it if I wasn´t absolutely sure that it is His. I know that my Redeemer lives. I have felt Him in this work. The Book of Mormon is evidence of that truth. I know it, I live it, I love it!

Elder Philpot

Turning Awkward Situations into Miracles

This week has been pretty interesting with my new comp from Chile. I started off with lots of energy, trying to set a good example by talking with as many people as possible and within a day or two we were already seeing great things! On Tuesday, my comp and I were talking about contacting on the bus. It´s actually really tough summing up the courage to sit down next to someone and start talking about the Gospel out of nowhere... especially on a bus. But I knew that God doesn`t make exceptions of people and eventually they would thank me for taking an awkward situation and turning it into a miracle. So we hopped on the bus that takes us to our area and after a battle about the size of World War II inside my head, I decided to sit down next to a lady and start to talk. Well she turned out to be nice but pretty catholic and didn´t want too much to do with it. Hahahaha but my conversation started a chain. The young couple right behind me realized that we were missionaries and started to talk with my companion. They contacted us!!!! Apparently, the girl was a less active member and her boyfriend was really interested in getting married in the temple. They gave us their address and we stopped by yesterday. Unfortunately, something came up but they were planning on going to church together! We invited them to Ward Home Evening and they showed up just in time to have a blast with the members! What´s more, while talking with more people we`ve been able to find a bunch of new partial families and slowly they´re starting to get back into full activity. 

I guess the message that I´m trying to get across is that there are many people who need our help and we can give it to them through the restored Gospel. Personally, I know a lot of Mormons, but I don´t know very many Latter-day ¨Saints¨. A true member of the restored Church of Jesus Christ shouldn´t be ashamed of his religion. I actually love it when they call me Mormon, because it´s a thousand times better than hearing the kids scream Gringo at me. Haha Dare to be a Mormon, Dare to stand alone, Dare to have a purpose firm, Dare to make it known. I know it, I live it, I love it!

Elder Philpot