November 5, 2012 letter

November 5, 2012

Hola Familia! :)

Thanks so much for all of the birthday wishes! :D It was so nice of you all to take some time and write me an email :) It was so great to hear from everyone! I love you all! I don't have anything planned for tomorrow, although we have a service activity, and two lessons set. So just a regular day :) 

So last week we had a lesson with René again! Unfortunately, she hasn't been able to read and pray about it, which is pretty important haha. Like I said before, her husband was a member, and she pulled out some of the stuff he had and wow it was awesome! There were Liahona's from the 1980's and old missionary pamphlets, and my companion said he saw a booklet that had conference talks from 1918! So this guy got together a lot of random stuff, but they were really interesting. Seeing all of the prophets and apostles back in the day was really neat to see. The problem with René is that it's so hard to get a hold of her! And so she didn't make it church yesterday, so that was disappointing. Of all the people we're teaching, she's progressing the most. So there has been a ton of finding, and not a ton of teaching going on. 

Happy Halloween! :D we had interviews with the president that day, and we went right after the zone leaders, so we got up pretty early to travel to the mission home. It was great though! President is an awesome man and I'm so grateful for everything I'm learning from him. We're still working to bump up the mission and to improve, so that has been a main focus, to individually evaluate ourselves and work to get better and be better. Good news! I got the packages and letters! That was the coolest, thanks so much mom! and everyone that wrote me :) that was a really great Halloween and it was really great to hear from all of you. 

I have found a really great love for studies :) and I love studying the scriptures, and the words of modern day prophets. It really fills me with so much joy and I find everything I read so interesting. Ive been able to read from each of the standard works each day for a few weeks, and well as some books that I have. I finished the Miracle of Forgiveness in English! 

We had a lesson with a woman named Noemi and her daughter. This was interesting because Noemi doesn't believe in God. The biggest thing with her is that she finds it boring or impossible. In our lesson we were teaching with the spirit and with intentions to persuade and we did a pretty dang good job, it was a really good lesson and we could tell that she could believe. It's just easier believing there isn't a God. One of the things we talked about was Love, which is a powerful driving force for us as God's children. And with her daughter there, my companion asked her if she loved her daughter. Noemi looked at her and just said nope! Not at all. There aren't such things as those feelings, and all she does is pity her, so she takes care of her. I was so blown away by that! I cant imagine a life without love. That really just sucks all of the purpose of life and progression. It was really sad talking to her because she could be so much happier. That is something I learn more each day, that the gospel is joy and peace and love and progression. 

Yesterday had some of the most spiritual and joyful moments of my mission. I was fasting for the things President Giuliani asked for, and in testimony meeting, there were three memorable testimonies for me that really touched me. One was our investigator, Mariana, the next our recent convert, Pablo, and then finally our ex-ward mission leader, who has been a member for like 40 years, Hno Sosa (we share the same birthday!). Mariana goes up and was so humble, she began by thanking the ward and for people that have been helping her, and then she says 'I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ' and bam, I started crying. That was her first time going up in sacrament meeting. Then Pablo goes up and also starts thanking people, he looks at us and says he's thankful for us, and said he is so grateful for this church. He was previously an active member of a big church in our area. And started talking about the peace he feels, the closeness to God and the strength he gets. He talked about how he wants all of us to feel that way as well. And wow that was so neat! He got really choked up when he started talking about the peace he feels. And then Hno Sosa comes up and starts off talking about how the prophets speak the words of God, because they are His servants, and how, we at times speak His words as we are His humble servants. And then bore testimony of the prophets and the church with such conviction it leaves no doubt that it's true. I really enjoyed those three testimonies.

I'm grateful for the church because I know it is true, with all the doctrine that Christ taught, and teaches. I know it's a path to happiness and eternal life. I know Jesus Christ lives and that He is my Savior and Redeemer, and I'm so grateful for His example. That He would love one so weak and rebellious as me. I hope you are all feeling and experiencing the joys of the gospel. I miss you all and I love you, thank you for your birthday wishes :) that really means a lot. That's my birthday testimony I suppose, haha. And happy birthday President Uchtdorf tomorrow!! :D (we hang out...)

Los amo,

Elder Alek Clubb