Elder Brigham Blake: El Sacrifico

Family and Friends,

This has been about the most monstrous weeks of my mission. I would say that Elder Corder and I grinded it out and we were very blatantly able to see the blessing of from the Lord for our sacrifice and service. We were able to teach 36 lessons, have 9 investigatores in church and put 6 baptismal dates for December. I was astonished when investigators who we had not thought would progress walked into sacrament meeting. I know that these fruits came from really putting the Lord and his work before ourselves. I have been humbled and refined by the Lord and love the work that He has called me to do. 1st Nefi 20 verse 10.

I would like to give just a few of the many amazing spiritual experiences that we had. Last Tuesday while waiting for an investigator to come home I felt a very strong impression to sit down next to a guy named Alejandro and just talk. As soon as we sat down and started talking he opened up at how hard his life had been for the past few years. He is a really smart and capable guy but hasn't been able to land a steady job. As we began to testify of the plan of salvation his cousin named Edinson came over and we felt inspired to ask he was could teach them a little bit. We started the lesson and the spirit has filled the room, we talked about what our purpose in life is and the importance of living the gospel of jesucristo. After the lesson Edinson looked very perplexed and asked us what he would have to do to be baptized. We testified of this sacred ordinance and that it was for all people who are willing to repent and humble themselves. We invited them to church and we put a date for the 12th of December. Honestly, these kind of experiences aren't too uncommon here, but what happens is that the people are sometimes too lazy to act on the spiritual impressions that they feel. However we invited them to church and out of nowhere Edinson walked into the chapel on his own at about 9:30. Casi tenia lagrimas en mis ojos por eso.

Another miracle that we had was our lesson with Berling about keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. I was very concerned these past few weeks as his baptismal date fell through because he had to start working every other Sunday. We set up an appointment to talk about the Sabbath day. As we testified and promised him of the blessings he accepted the challenge to ask his boss if he could change his Sunday shift. After the lesson he told us that we had to teach him the scriptures about the Sabbath day so that he could share them with his boss and help him also keep the Sabbath day holy. Haha he's such a thug. The next day he called us and told us that his boss was willing and open to let him change his shift so that he would be able to go to church on Sunday...soooo dope!

All in all this has been one of the most spiritual weeks of my mission, and I think I have found the formula to have success in my mission and in life. We need to be obidiente, dedicated and be willing to SACRIFICE. This week Elder Corder and I have been leaving at 9:30 after our comp study to teach and to talk with everyone, and we have been leaving an hour earlier in the afternoon to be able to teach more people. We have come home everyday SOO TIRED but it has been soo very worth it. I know that I am willing to sacrifice because of the love I feel for every single person I meet here no matter how rude or ignorant they might be to us. This week I have thought a lot about John 15 verse 13 that reads

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Although Elder Corder and I are not laying down our lives, in a way we our sacrificing a greater portion of ourselves that of which the mission and the Lord requires. It has been very humbling to receive these blessings from the Lord. I know that this is the true church of Christ. I know that God is unchanging and that he knows better than his billions of children what brings us happiness. I love being a missionary for the church of jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias.

Until next week! Elder Blake