Buenas tardes familia,
My companion and I had a pretty good week this past week; we were able to visit quite a lot of people and had some good lessons as well. We've also been knocking on lots of doors and trying to find new investigators, and we've also had a bit of success in doing that as well. The people that we've been teaching have been having a hard time showing up to church on Sunday but we've been having lots of great lessons with them and are hoping that they can go soon.
We had a special zone conference with Presidente Robinson and the assistants on Thursday and had a really spiritual conference. We all learned a lot of new things and it really gave us some motivation to keep working in the hot sun down here haha.
It's been really hot lately and the sun is just always out but we just keep working and working and working. It's actually pretty hard but there's really no other choice at this point haha.
The church has started a new program called ¨My Plan¨ that is made for missionaries who are preparing themselves to go home. It's an online slideshow/questionarre that I'm doing right now that helps missionaries to plan for their life when they get back home. I already started it and it's really cool so hopefully that will help me out somehow.
I heard about the Cavs winning the Finals, that was crazy how they came back from 3-1 and I'm glad that LeBron took home another championship.
Well, I'm down to 3 weeks left, I still feel like I'm not getting that trunky but I definitely do think more about home than I used to haha.
Scripture of the week: 2 Nephi 9: 28-29
28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
I've been studying 2 Nephi this past week and honestly all of chapter 9 really stood out to me. The prophet Jacob here explains how men have the tendency to lean on their own understanding and not trust in the counsels of God or of his prophets. I think that the best way that we can keep a strong testimony and remembrance of the commandments and counsels of God is to always read our scriptures, even when it's hard or when there's not time. People can say lots of things against the Church or even within the Church there are many who complain about the leaders or the way it's administrated, but only those who trust in God and in counsels are the ones who 'will not perish.' Over the past two years I have come to the conclusion that the only real, true, and happy way to live and obey the gospel is the Lord's way and none other. Every other way just simply cannot bring the same blessings or happiness to ourselves unless it's the Lord's. It also brings to mind how many times the Book of Mormon brings up the phrase ¨the wicked traditions of their fathers.¨ Many of the Lamanites and Nephites were stuck and couldn't progress spiritually because they were so stuck to the way that everyone else around them was living. For that reason it is so important that we read the scriptures and see what they teach us, and if their way is different than those around us or even ours, look for a way to change that and obey the commandments. I know that all of this is true because I've lived it and the Spirit has taught me that it is true.
Thanks for all of the emails, I love you guys so much and can't wait to be home so soon! It's so crazy that in just a few weeks I'll be back at the house and will be able to hang out with you all again! Take care, hasta luego.
Con amor, Elder Thayne