Hola de Cambios

Todo està bien aquì en Jorge Chavez!

This week was relevatory in our progress as a companionship, as well as my progress personally as a missionary. I spent a good time thinking about why we aren`t having baptisms, in spite of our hard work, our efforts to be humble, obedient, and just about anything we can be or do (PME pg. 238) to acheive our purpose (Mateo 28:19).

 19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We`re trying our best to help Josuè`s dad be able to baptize his son. I think we are going to have to change his date from the 22, but he`s 9 and is meek and willing to wait for greater blessings (i.e. being baptized by his father).

I`ve decided this week that this is my last week in this sector without success. From here on, I`m not going to be satisfied with my efforts if we don`t have either a baptism or a less active activated. I`ve looked at the situation here, and we have a field ripe for the picking, and I have no reason to not have success every week.

We`re excited to learn about transfers tonight! We`re about 90% sure one of us is going to change. Probably E`Pinedo, but it could be me too! And one of the zone leaders in our ward is finishing his mission, so we`ll be getting a new zone leader tomorrow. I`ll let you know next week!

Se me estaba pidiendo que compartiera algunos escrituras que estaba estudiando. Eso significa que voy a hablar del evangelio, entonces va a tener que ser en español, lo siento. Recientemente leì con un elder los versículos 3 Nefi 12:48 y Mateo 5:48. Testifico que Cristo fue perfecto, que su perfección fue a un grado que nosotros no podemos entender sin el espíritu. A medida que aumentemos nuestro habilidad de percibir el espíritu, también nuestro entendimiento del perfección de Jesucristo aumentará, nuestro humildad profundirà y nuestro porción del hombre natural volverá màs y màs dèbil.

[I was asked to share some scriptures that I've been studying.  That means I am going to speak about the gospel so therefore it will have to be in Spanish, sorry.  {And the reason he is writing in Spanish is because he is now more comfortable talking about the gospel in Spanish rather than in English since that is how he is learning to share his spiritual feeling.}  I recently read with an elder 3 Nephi 12:48 and Matthew 5:48.

Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

I testify that Christ was perfect, that His perfection was of such a degree that we can not understand without the spirit.  As we increase our ability to perceive the Spirit, so will our understanding of Christ's perfection increase, our humility will become more profound, and our portion of the natural man will become weaker and weaker.]

I always write my testimony out beforehand so I can write it with the spirit in our room, and when I go to internet (where the spirit most definitely does not reside without diligent miracle seeking) I can just type it. But today, I left my testimony book in the room...so it`s going to be a little bit shorter.

Yo sè que mi Salvador vive. Èl es el bálsamo de Galaad. Sufriò para limpiarnos, no solamente del pecado mismo, sino todos los efectos del pecado, sea nuestro o no. El arrepentimiento renueva espíritu, vivifica fe, realiza esperanza, cultiva caridad, y edifica testimonio. Si nosotros sentimos algún fruto que no sea un fruto del espíritu de Dios (Galatas 5:22-23), seremos purificado de este espíritu por medio del fuego del espíritu santo. (3 Nefi 18:11, Mosiah 4:3) Asì nos llenamos de gozo completo, y nos preparamos para hacer y guardar convenios con nuestro Padre Celestial. Èl es nuestro Padre. Jesucristo es su hijo, nuestro salvaciòn. Que nosotros seamos cambiados por medio de su gracia es mi obra, y mi gloria. 

[I know that my Savior lives.  He is the balm of Gilead.  He suffered to cleanse us, not only from our sin itself, but for all the effects of sin, whether ours or not.  Repentance renews the spirit, enlivens faith, realizes hope, cultivates charity, and strengthens testimony.  If we feel some fruit that is not a fruit of the spirit of God, (Galatians 5:22-23)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 we will be purified of this spirit through the fire of the Holy Ghost.  (3 Nephi 18:11, Mosiah 4:3)

11  And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

 3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

 So we are filled with complete joy, and we prepare ourselves make and keep sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father.  He is our Father.  Jesus Christ is His son, our salvation.  That we can become changed through his grace is my work and my glory.]

Love, Elder Hicken