Week 51: I Went To Mexico??

We went to Brackettville two times last week and had some bomb lessons!! We met with Elizabeth and she is very excited to read the Book of Mormon and learn more about what we believe! We also met her husband and some of her kids and they would like to meet with us as well! 

We also met with Virgie and Antonia (her mom) twice! Virgie is the most prepared person I have met on my mission. She said she is searching for the truth and what church is right. Antonia had a lot of questions for us and was pretty skeptical at first. We gave her a picture of Christ to mark the chapter we assigned them and she held it up and looked back and forth from the picture to us hahaha. We realized she probably was concerned that we viewed the picture as an idol so we explained to her that we don't worship the picture and that it's just a reminder of Christ. She didn't seem completely satisfied but she let it go haha. We invited them to church and Virgie told us she wouldn't be able to make it because of work and appointments but  the Spirit (and her mom) worked on her and she changed her mind and said she will get Sunday off. It was amazing to see how the Spirit can help change someone, even in the smallest ways. Fast forward to Sunday... they made it to church and loved it! Virgie said she thinks she found the right church and that she got all Sundays off so that she can come every week! Antonia didn't say much but she was smiling at the end. Aaahh it made me so happy! We also had 5 other people come to church. This whole transfer it's been really difficult to get people to church but these last couple weeks we've had some amazing miracles! 

We had a lesson with a young couple (the Millers) and they are very critical of our beliefs. They also invited some friends over during our appointment so that was interesting. They didn't seem to like our beliefs either. It was pretty frustrating and it made me nervous because I don't like contention. We had a member come with us though and she killed it. She got off her mission 5 years ago so she knows what she's doing.

We met with the Castañedas again and talked about the Plan of Salvation again. They're trying to figure out how to receive answers to their questions and learn how they feel the spirit. They are very genuine though and I have great hopes for them.

Oh and we got transfer news! I'm staying in Del Rio and getting a new companion! This is the first transfer in my mission where I'll be the senior companion. I'm finally starting to feel like an older missionary haha. 

This week I studied agency and I wanted to share this scripture from 2 Nephi 2:27, "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." 

Agency is such a blessing! Isn't it amazing that we get to choose our destiny and it isn't forced upon us? By making choices we become more like our Savior if we choose to learn from our mistakes and accept His grace. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to live on earth and exercise my agency, which is all made possible through Jesus Christ! Because of His sacrifice for us, our mistakes are not the end and we can find joy in using our agency. 

- Elder Christensen

Pictures

1. According to my phone I went to Mexico 

2-3. The district!

4. No profile pic 

5. Brackettville!