Week 40-- What does the Holy Ghost feel like?

Hello again one and all! It's been a slow week out here but none the less the work presses on. This is the final week we have before Elder Ballard comes and visits the mission on Sunday! It's SO exciting! I can't imagine anything better.... Well, I guess if Jeffrey R. Holland were coming I could be more excited, but still, this is awesome! 

So I'm gonna tell some pretty funny stuff that happened first. I feel like I haven't shared any good stories in a while so these are long overdue. We were having lesson at a park and the people we were meeting with were just being great. We were teaching the Gospel and it was going pretty good till the woman picked up a pine cone and started licking it. I kid you not, she picked it up, said "Oh, that's sticky and it smells good" and started licking it, haha. Her  boyfriend said "Cut that out! You're embarrassing me!" and me and Elder Richeson just sat there and tried not to bust out laughing. 

Another great/funny thing that happened was just yesterday. We were in the Gospel Principals class talking about the Holy Ghost and the teacher asked "What does the Holy Ghost feel like?" A recent convert man raised his hand and, in the most dignified and plain way I've every heard any man ever say it, said "Well, it's better than sex." I almost fell out of my chair honestly. It was so awkward the teacher just stood there for about 2 mins stunned, haha. It will definitely be one of my favorite things ever said at church, haha. 

So for a spiritual thought I will go with this cool idea Elder Callister talks about in his talk "His Grace is sufficient". He poses a great question, "Have you been changed by grace?". He says that so many people get caught up in the fact that they have been given the gift of grace that thy don't realize it's also a huge investment. Christ and Heaven Father are really betting that we will make good of the their sacrifices. In fact they depend on it, it's their work and their glory (Moses 1:39). As I read that I just have to think what I can do better to help them out and keep on working hard. 

Sorry these are getting shorter and shorter, but the weeks seem to get that way too! Have a good one everybody! 

-um no exercito de Deus

Elder Teela

Week 39-- I'm getting old!!

Hey guys, it's been a bit of a trying weekend to say in the least. I don't really want to recount a whole lot of it yet but just know that I sure feel like the Lord is refining me. And that is really what I feel like talking about. I'm fine, I'm not feeling like going home or anything I'm just a bit shaken, but not stirred :). 

So when stuff started hitting the fan I read back on some of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon and D&C mostly because that is where I know people with hard trials are found.  I think my personal favorite story is the one about Bro. Joseph in the Liberty jail. His first cry out to the Lord is just so..... raw, so pained. I sometimes feel like I understand just a tiny hint of his pain. But that's not the best part of course. I love the Lord's response and the awesome promises he makes: 

D&C 121:

7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

 8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high;thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

 

11 And they who do charge thee with transgression, their hope shall be blasted, and their prospects shall melt away as the hoarfrost melteth before the burning rays of the rising sun;

 29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 33 How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it upstream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.

D&C 122: 

9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

And there are so many more. The promises from God to those who bear affliction patiently are almost unimaginable. I also love Joesph's response once his mind had been enlightened by heaven's view. He says in D&C 127:2 

 2 And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature tome; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.

So I admonish you all to consider the blessings of going through trials. I've recently started doing something, and I'm not sure I would recommend it, but I think it helps me a lot. I try to thank God for my trials, as I try to take them as opportunists to grow. I'm not sure whether it's smart or not really but God has given another promise that I really can't ignore:  

 19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea,   more.

How's that for a promise? That's where I get my twisted reasoning. 

So yeah, that's kinda my thought train this week. I know it doesn't tell you much about my week but that's all you get! Haha, have a good one everyone! 

-Um no exercito de Deus 

Elder Teela 

Week 38-- God wants us all back

Hello, hello, hello once again my minions! Haha, how are you all doing? I'm great but pretty sweaty. I'm sure that's exactly what you all want to hear but it is darn hot out here right now! The high for Wendnesday is supposed to be 102! I love the sun and all but I hope I get more than some sunburns our of all this nastiness.

So really all I want to talk about it Friday this week becuase of just how awesome it was! We had a trip to the Visitor's center planned with this RC and her boyfriend as his first lesson. We usually bus the the Visitor's center but for some reason we wanted to bike the 10-12 miles there. I'm not really sure why but we did it and it was pretty awesome. We biked right by Fox studios (big name in entertainment if you live under a rock) and through Santa Monica as well. The bike was pretty flat as well so we had a good time just riding along. We didn't know when we started off but we actaully beat the busses too. It only took us around 50 mins to get there and the bus would have taken about 80.

Anyway, we get there, meet up with our investigator/RC couple and head up to the Visitor's center, but it took us about an hour to travel the 10 blocks because they are both.... well exprinaced in life. End of story we ened up getting there about an hour late. We were feeling kinda dumb for throwing off the Sisters' schedule but that all went away when the craziest thing happened. Irmao Lemperle (sorry, I know I just butchered you name), my MTC teacher, walked out of the Visitor's center! It was pretty much the highlight of my day and it was awesome to have that little tender mercy happen.

When we got done with our Visitor Center tour things got even better, Patrick (the boyfriend) accepted a baptismal date! He will be baptized on the 25th of this month! What's even better is that the missionaries in our ward are shooting to do a speacial musical number on that day, so it would be pretty speacial for him I think. He also came to church yesterday (4th time doing so) even though his girlfriend couldn't make it, so we're really excited for him! Miracle do happen people!

So my final thought I want to leave is one on one repentance. I really love this poem that everyone already knows but I want ot share it again: 

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,

"You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during

the most trying periods of my life

there have only been one

set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you."

Mary Stevenson

I love that poem and this verse from Isaiah 49 15-16:

Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my‍ hands; thy walls are‍ continually before me.

The end of the line is this, God wants us all back. He doesn't hate you for sinning and he doesn't want to punish you but if you don't follow the laws that were set back before time even was than he cannot bless you (D&C 82:10). So pelase make His death, blood, sweat and tears worth something!

I hope you all have a great week! God bless you all!

- Um no exercito de Deus

Elder Teela

Week 37-- Cinco de Mayo

Hey guys, how are you all doing? It's been super hot here this week! Around 95 (32 C, I know because a bank had a sign that did both) most days. Oh and our pretty new apartment? No AC. Yeah, that's real fun to come home to every night. Anyway, enough complaining, I'll tell you a bit about my week.

So Tuesday was transfers and the dynamic (but somewhat strange) duo was not broken up! I think I alrady told you all that but I'm not too sure. Anyway we spent the entire morning and well into the afternoon helping a family we never met move. They were a less-active family and out of our area so it was a bit strange getting to know them and then seeing them leave. They were really cool too! Bought us dounuts and a whole bunch of water (because it was 97 that day). That was pretty much the highlight right there. I don't really remeber much more and I changed planners I can't really check....

Wensday we were enlisted in to a big service project. We went to the American caner sosiety and were helping them stamp and adress 5000 post cards about this big walk they are doing. We didn't even come close to finishing. Out of 48 groups by ZIP code, we got 5 done this week.... such a long way to go. We're doing it this week too, so that should be fun, not. But that is okay becuase it is right next to Yogurtland. We stopped by Wendnesday and chowed that stuff down.

Thrusday we are supposed to plan for the next week, but we didn't even get close to doing that. We did some more work on the American Cancer sosiety stuff and then we had a lesson at the temple right after that, so basically those two activities took the entire day. The temple lesson was SO good. It was with this enterna-gator who really isn't too spiritual of a guy but president challanged him to go to the temple and do a lesson there, so we did, and boy did it work! He's been coming to chruch and stuff for so long people have forgotten he's not baptized and he didn't seem much closer until after that lesson. The sisters got permission to bring him into the front lobby of the temple and have him say a prayer and do a short talk in there. The spirit was so strong and he said he felt it like nothing before in his life. After we got out he truned to me and said "Dude, I almost lost in there and started crying in front of you guys!" It was definately a big step froward for him and one of the best lessons I've ever been a part in.

Friday was pretty cool. We had a lunch appointment with the same sister as last week and it went amazing. We asked everyone to share how God has show how he loves them in their lives. We did our part but really the daughter of the non-member/less-active duo is who knocked it out of the park. She bore a powerful testimony and told us how God had blessed her with such great parents. She might have been the only one crying visably but I know that her parents wanted to too becuase I felt some tears just hearing it. She realyl did a great job and I think she has helped bring her family one more step closer to enternal life.

That night we also had an awesome diner with the bishop and his wife the pano shots are from his 14th-floor balcony. We had some good old taco salad and talked about tons of stuff, but the best part is that we got aporval to do a guitar/singing muscial number in sacrament meeting! I'll give you all more news on that when it comes.

Saturday was a great, yet sad, day. We helped one of our favorite families move out of the area. They are so cool and I'm jealous that I had to share them with other missionaries now, but that is how life goes. If you're reading this Bro. or Sis. Henrique all I have to say is that you guys are the best! 

We also found this awesome lady to teach, we went to a BBQ and helped a woman prepare for her upcoming confirmation. I know that saving ordainances are important and all, but our man Daneil makes some mean ribs. It was the night before fast Sunday so we chowed down like there was no tomorrow! It was SO good!

Sunday was the big day. We confirmed one woman and baptized another! It was a very spiritually filling day and to see both the people we have been working so hard with take these final steps to join the Lord's kindom was just the best thing since sliced bread. I played the piano at the service (not too badly) but I was a bit off for sure. I thought it was just the fast but turns out I had deloped some..... digestive issues. We made it through though and it was just swimmingly. The spirit was strong and the ward was there to support so we couldn't have asked for more!

Sorry, but no real time for a thought this week. Check out Isaiah 49:15-16 sometime. It's my power-scriputer of the week you could say.

-Um no exercito de Deus

Elder teela