Week 34: Trials are Hidden Blessings

Hey family!!

How is everyone? Me alegre mucho a escuchar sus expierencias y que todo esta tranquilo con ustedes. Espero que todos esten bien alli en Utah con la nieve y todo. Si disculpame por ayer no supimos hasta domingo por la noche. Ya sorry we didn’t find out that we were going to have the multi zone until Sunday night. This past week was filled with miracles and also with trials of faith and patience for our investigators and for us. A random note, we only have 2 Internet cafes and they are both pretty slow so that is why I can’t send that many pictures. Oh and I got your package but because we are opening an area we don’t have a DVD player so we just sing the lyrics in the house. That one song that I would always sing before my mission that’s called ¨Children go where I send thee¨ I basically sing everyday in the street. I would say I am about an average Gospel rock singer right now with a little bit of country. hahaha. Had to be a little sarcastic. No but that song has entertained us as we make the 25 min walk to the church for our meetings. Next to our house we have two sweet fruit stands (like the ones in Hawaii) they have every kind of fruit and its super cheap, so basically every morning, we eat corn flakes or fruit loops with little bananas, and fruits of every kind. The mangos are coming so I’m excited. The also make the best tortillas. Corn tortillas none of them flour but the corn are so goood! Oh and having fruit makes a good conversation started. start talking about fruit then just flip right into the restoration! ya!!

 

Junior and Stephanie after their marriage. 

Elder Measles trying to place a plastic bag on the drain to hold the water in the baptism font.

But here is some of the miracles and experiences we had this past week.

It’s interesting how we pray to become stronger to have more patience, and as an answer to those prayers we have experiences that test them. Its like working out, we first have to break down the muscle so then it can rebuild and become stronger. It is the same for us as children of God. In the spiritual growth that every person has to experience to become like our Heavenly Father, we are bound to face trials and opposition. This week we had some battles with the opposition, and yes we won. I learned this week that "trials are hidden blessings." We had a wonderful marriage and baptism this past Saturday that at the beginning many of us including our investigators almost threw in the towel and gave up but thanks to the divine help of God we were able to move forward and finish the marriage and baptism. There were problems all the way from motorbikes breaking down, taxis taking people to wrong addresses, miscommunication, etc. but for those who continue forward with faith and patience everything will work out. And it did. Now looking back on this wonderful experience has given me a whole new perspective on what it means to endure when you just want to call it and give up. My comp and me had the blessing to see it but more importantly our investigators and members were able to learn it also. Its so interesting that when you feel like everything is going wrong and is spinning out of control the best way to control the situation is with patience and a calm attitude, with faith that everything will turn out. Many times and people we see the things that are right in front of us and don’t look at the bigger picture. We have faith during the easy times but when the hard times come we sometimes abandon ship and jump off, expecting that our journey was just going to be calm and perfect seas. This past week gave all of us a new meaning of what it means to endure patiently and cheerfully in all of our trials not just when things are going well. But in spite of the trials that were faced this past week, Junior and Stephanie got married and baptized, excited and ready to start their new life together.

 

Junior and Stephanie getting married!

Junior and Stephanie getting baptized:) Elder Neuberger and Elder De Leon

Another amazing miracle that we witnessed this week came for the family that I told you about last week. The man named Olvin. He is married to another lady so first he has to get divorced. We were expecting for this to take at least 3 months but when we showed up the next time, they had set the divorcement date for this Wednesday and have everything ready to go! The other came from another couple that we are teaching that has basically accepted a marriage and baptism date for this next month. In every one of these experiences I would say the key factor to every one of them is the Book of Mormon. These two families are reading the Book of Mormon, which has brought about these amazing miracles.

 

Olvin and his family, experiencing the wedding and baptism of Junior and Stephanie

Had 2 more amazing experiences where we were walking and we saw a house and had the impression to go and contact it. We walked up and listened to the TV blaring with video games. We yelled out Buenas (they don’t have doorbells here and every house is surrounded by huge walls and fences) and a man came walking out and we began talking to him, he started talking to me in English and told me he had lived in the states for 6 years or so. We told him that we were missionaries and that we felt we should stop by and share something with him. He looked at us and opened up the gate and invited us in. He sat us down and began talking about his life, how his dad was murdered and how he has been having a really hard time with everything and with believing in God. He told us at times he feels so alone and just wants to give up. We then had the blessing of being able to testify about Jesus Christ and the plan of Salvation. He asked us to come back and really wants to listen to our message. About 30 minutes later we were walking around and felt we should talk to another house, were a lady came out and told us how her sister has just left and they don’t know where she is at. I felt like I could relate to this lady with some of the things that we have experienced as a family. God’s plan is perfect and He knows His children, we as missionaries are just His messengers to help people come back to Him. It’s simple. Sorry for the small novel I wrote this week, but I truly love this area, my comp and these people. There are hard days that is for sure. But just as the sun rises in the dark, we always find a new light and motivation in this work. Hope everyone is doing great and hope you guys have a great week! I love you guys and always remember that. I am so happy that you guys are starting to read the Book of Mormon again. That book really does have power. Hope everyone is doing great and let me know if you have any questions!

Love you guys

Elder Neuberger