Weddings and Baptisms

Dear everyone,

We were blessed with a wedding and two baptisms this week. The wedding went off without a hitch, which was the most surprising. It was somewhat stressful trying to organize it all, but we were able to involve most everyone. The Bishop baptized Jose and the new Stake president baptized Deidi. I was glad to have the ceremony over, just because of all the stress involved in organizing it. But for the first time in a long time, the ward was able to see how a baptismal service should be and I hope that in the future, we will be able to do it in a more organized fashion.

So as we left the wedding, I noticed there were a lot of people in the lobby. I heard them talking about something at 9:30. I assumed that they were there for the next wedding. I thought to ask them about it. But I decided not to. Then the thought was persistent. So I said a little prayer and I promised to talk to the young man (who I assumed to be the groom) if I was given the words to do so. So, the same question came to my head and I asked him. After talking to him for a bit, I found that he was to be married that day and I asked him if he would like to learn how his family could be eternal. He accepted and I'm pretty sure the missionaries have passed by his house. I'm going to verify that as soon as possible.

We also had a fun experience with Yolanda, a recent investigater. We went and talked with her and gave her a Book of Mormon. The next time we visited her, she was already in chapter 4 and said that she felt the book was true. We invited her to pray about Joseph Smith and attend church. She wasn't able to make it this week, but considering her situation it is understandable.

So yeah, Love you all,

Élder King

Insights on the Spirit

Dear everyone,

This next week, we should have some good news. We had a bit of a scare this week, because our gold family didn't make it to church. My companion called them in the second hour and he didn't really understand what they were saying. He just remembered one word "apuñalar" which means "to stab". So we were understandably worried. Turns out on the way home from work Saturday, José got stabbed in the arm by some guys that were fighting in the street. He got some stitches and he's okay now, but they were in the hospital all night and couldn't make it to church. He said he even felt prompted to take a different route home, but decided against it. So there was a lesson to be learned and they are still very decided on their baptism this Saturday.

We have been focusing a lot lately on getting help from the members, and we have seen some progress. There is still a long way to go, but I feel like we are at the beginning of a great movement here in Colombia. I just hope we can get it moving as fast as possible.

I had an experience recently. It was very interesting and insightful for me. As members of the church we are constantly striving for improvement. As we improve, we feel the spirit in greater measure in our lives. But as we sin and continue in error, our revelation channel, the spirit, cannot convey its message because we make ourselves unfit to recieve it. I felt as though I had done just that, through personal error. A wave of bitterness came over me. I felt as though despite my efforts to become better, it wasn't working and that I was confined to an annoying cycle of pride and misery. I felt as though I had been abandoned in my struggle, that because I had made a mistake, that help was no longer available to me.

 But then, as I stretched my soul to feel the spirit again to enjoy that wonderful blessing that I had, until my flaws reared their head, been a recipient, I felt the warmth of the spirit as though it were trying to reach me through a thick cloud of darkness. I realized that God was trying to get to me, trying his hardest to get me back. I felt the urgency of his love, I felt just how much he wanted to reach me, but that it had been me that had pushed him away, however unintentional it may have been. I don't know if I have ever felt that way, it's always so hard to remember that joy. I know it must be the joy of repentance. I'm still not perfect, but I know that I'm trying and God knows as well. The more I approach Him, the more I feel that he approaches me.

 Keep on chugging and don't worry about your sins. Christ took care of those. What each of us needs to worry about is how we can utilize the Grace of Christ to overcome our sins and weaknesses.

I love you all,

Elder King

Better Late Than Never

Dear everyone,

Sorry for writing late, we went grocery shopping and I forgot that it takes forever to get people moving around here. I had a great time talking with the fam yesterday, and of course it was mother's day, so once again, Love you Mom! We are going to be heading out to a family home evening with some new investigaters  tonight, so I won't have a lot of time to write.

I'm doing well, especially now that a subway just opened up close to our house. They have delivery as well. I also found a five liter orange juice and couldn't pass that up. So much better that water.

We should be having a lot of new investigaters in this next week. The ward just had a good talking to about missionary work and we will be giving talks this next week as well. Hopefully they will take it to heart and start finding references for the missionaries. Speaking of which, nows a good a time as any to talk to someone about the gospel! It's super easy, you just have to get down and do it.

Anyway, love you all,

Élder King

Almost Mother's Day

Dear Everyone,

This week dragged on a bit too long for my liking. We are still trying to figure out the area changes, we lost a lot of members and a few investigaters. On top of that, one of the members of our family for baptism didn't come to church yesterday. It was really abnormal and we don't know why yet. We'll be dropping by today to see. I'm worried about them and the other less active members that live by them. We talked to Paulina, who got baptized in Cartagena and is kind of put out. She liked the members in her old ward better. Just hearing her talk about it made me really sad. I also heard some sad news about members from my area in Armenia. I just have felt a bit heavy from all the things that are going on.

Now, I hope you all don't start thinking the wrong thing. I'm happy and I've decided to stay that way. It's a blessing that I am able to say so. I am so grateful for the many things that God does for me. It's natural to feel sad or let down when other people choose to stray. But all I can do is keep loving them and serve them with more love. I guess I'm learning to love the people here, because I feel for them and with them.

I honestly don't know how to express how I'm feeling, maybe it's the deteriorated english or just the newness of these feelings. Perhaps ambivalent? I don't know really. Anyway, I'm healthy, don't worry about that. I found some orange juice and I have been loving that. Me and Elder Steadman found some Malt O' Meal cereal and that's been great too. I'll get the call stuff figured out with Mom.

Love you all,

Elder King

Business as Usual

Dear Everyone,

Looks like me and Elder Steadman are going to be together another transfer! I'm pretty happy about it. Our district didn't have any transfers other than Elder Caicedo is going to his mission tomorrow. The limit changes are officially approved by the first presidency and our area got considerably smaller. Unfortunately Antony, the policeman from last week, isn't in our area anymore, but we get to keep the Balderama family. They will be getting baptized the 27th. We are going to have to work super hard to get new investigators this week, but the ward seems a lot more excited to work, seeing as we got multiple references this past sunday.

So I've been thinking about and studying repentance and forgiveness this week. I'm trying to learn to be more forgiving and as I do I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. I'm still pretty terrible, like when my roommates don't wash their dishes, the neighbors play music in study time, etc. etc. The small things seem to be the most unforgivable sometimes. But if we can't forgive, we can't be forgiven either. It's the difficult reality. Repentance without forgiveness wouldn't make much sense if the great Mediator was the one not willing to forgive. He is, but we need to be like him (at least as much as we are able) in order to recieve said forgiveness. As Amulek told Zeezrom, He will not and cannot save us in our sins. I'm making the conscious effort to retain a remission of sins, and I invite you all to do the same. That is the yoke of Christ, which is easy and the burden is light.

So today we went to the Arvi Park, a cool forest in our area. It was nice to walk around the mountains again. Fresh air and no worries. I definitely want to visit again if I can. Still waiting for my package, although I'm pretty sure it's already here in Medellin. Just waiting for the office people to go pick it up..... any day now....

Love you all,

Élder King