Punchana Iquitos, Perú

This week has been good. We have been working diligently with the members as well as our district to brain storm how we can better use our time and work in our area. I think that sometimes we look for excuses to not work as hard instead of looking for the blessings to help us find and teach. Yesterday pretty much every house was drinking for fathers day. This is difficult because our area is very small so we couldn't really find an area where there was no alcohol and were there wasn't music blasting. But in reality this was an opportunity to find those who have the same values as us that don't drink or those that observe the sabbath day. But I am so grateful to gain a greater testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Its really amazing how many people we talk with they feel that are missing something in their lives but they can't really say what it is, and our message brings a peace and happiness and fulfillment into their lives. I think that as we realize our identity as children of God we are able to recognize his love for us and learn to live and love his commandments. This is truly when the blessings come to us .

My companion and I are still learning how to work together in our area but we just need to look for those who are interested in our message. We know that only through their  agency will these people accept our message and apply it to their lives. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve those around me and to represent my savior Jesus Christ, Don't get me wrong-- the mission is really difficult because we are all human. We all have our faults and these can be road blocks at times but as we allow ourselves to do the will of the lord we are able to grow and overcome these difficulties.

This week I have been studying Alma in The Book of Mormon and i thought i would share these scriptures with you because i know that we can ask for forgiveness from our Heavenly Father through his son Jesus Christ and we are able to communicate through prayer. i am so grateful for you all hopefully i will have more to write next week!!!

ALMA 34:17-19, 27, 31-35, 38

17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your ^afaith unto repentance, that ye begin to ^bcall upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is ^amighty to save.

19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in ^aprayer unto him.

27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your ^aheartsbe ^bfull, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your ^cwelfare, and also for the welfare of ^dthose who are around you. 

 31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and ^aharden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the ^bday of your ^csalvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and ^dhardennot your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

32 For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.

33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many ^awitnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not ^bprocrastinate the day of your ^crepentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the ^dnight of ^edarkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful ^acrisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth ^bpossess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become ^asubjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth ^bseal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

38 That ye ^acontend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the ^bname of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and ^cworship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in ^dthanksgiving daily, for the many ^emercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.