Another Baptism! August 10, 2015

It was another solid week this week! We are having a lot of success here out in this Pueblo, and I really do love being in a small branch. It gives us more of an opportunity to grow a small group of members into a ward some day. I am loving the challenge right now. 

We were able to baptize again this week. His name is Miguel. He is an 8 year old child, and was accepted very well by the Primary here, and he really enjoys going to church. He also wanted to be baptized by Iñaky who is a future missionary that enters into the MTC in 8 days, so that was a very cool experience for him. 

Baptizing a small child reminds of something that Jesus taught in Matthew 18: 3-5. It says, "And he said, verily verily I say unto you that if you do not become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, anyone that humbles himself like this child, this is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. And he that receives in my name a child such as this, he receiveth me." I translated that so sorry, but the lesson is the same: We need to be children of Christ. If we look at children, they pretty much love each other and get along no matter who the other child is. And why are we to be different? We may be grown up, but we all need to act and be children of Christ. No matter our differences, we need to love other people before we can help them. And as we become more and more like small children in Christ, we will reach the Kindgom of God. 

Completed a year this week! Also a pic of my companion that caught a bird in a house of prayer haha. 

Love you all,

Elder Andrews

The Power of a Future Resurrection: 3 August, 2015

Another great week here in the tiny little pueblo of Maravatío! It was kind of a crazy week with a ton of stuff going on, but we managed to make it into a great week.

I will just go to the highlight of the week. The baptism of María Agustina, a blind, one legged woman with diabetes. It was kind of a weird baptism trying to get her into and out of the font because there are almost no men in the ward, so we had to awkwardly not grab her but lift her up haha. However, at the end of things, she was able to get baptized. I loved it. I really was able to gain a testimony of the future ressurection that will happen to all of us.

In Alma 40:23 it talks about the ressurection. I am translating so bear with me, "The soul will be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and all member and joint will be reestablished to its body, yea, not one hair of the head will be lost, but rather all will be reestablished to its proper and perfect form." 

We will all be ressurected to perfect bodies one day. I love this. María Agustina will one day have a perfect body. It is a gift from Christ for us. However, we need to take this perfect body and enter into the presence of God and stay there. We have a wonderful gift that we receive regardless from God because He loves us immensely. All we need to do is return that love, follow His commmandments, and we will have our perfect bodies in Heaven with our families and God one day. I know that this is true. I love the Plan of Salvation that was created for us. It is called the Plan of SALVATION because that is the point. Salvation means being with God, and that is His goal for us. We should want and strive for nothing else. 

I love you all so much, and always remember that God made this plan, earth and opportunity all for us, and because He loved us first, we love Him.

Elder Andrews

P.S My feet are so white!!!

Elder Andrews "still kinda got it"

 Mission President and his wife with Elder Andrews

¡Dos Milagros! 27 Julio, 2015

This week was a really frustrating but regarding week. We had had a lot of families that were going to go to church, but Satan worked hard to not make them go. My companion and I were pretty dissapointed, and then the baptism planned for this week had to leave town. However, we prayed to find a miracle family to bring to church or a baptism. 

We went to church on Sunday when all of the sudden we saw a few people that we did not recognize. I talked with the dad and everything was good when he said, "hey what do I need to do to get my daughter baptized?" I said that we would just have to teach her and they could get baptized. He then says that he is not a member because he has not been able to get married to his "wife" yet, but the daughter had gone to church in another ward for a while. We then go to meet the daughter and we ask, "Would you like to get baptized today maybe?" She gave a big yes haha and we taught her what she needed to know and already knew a lot when the dad says, "hey can you baptize my other daughter who is 11 too?" Shocked, we just kind of shouted, "¡Claro que sí!" (of course!)

It was a great little baptismal service and from this, I have learned that specific prayers and faith can really work miracles. If we pray with a purpose, we will receive answers. And as we have faith, we can see the miracles happen in our lives as well. 

I hope everyone is doing great, and always keep the faith. It can do anything.

Elder Andrews