Querida familia - November 19th

Querida familia,

Well, first off I wanted to say congrats mom on your missionary efforts. Keep it up! I am impressed. It is true that when you are least expecting it the spirit finally gets through to someone. It can catch you by surprise sometimes.

Well, I might as well include my testimony in here for everyone else to hear too....

Anyways, I am so amazed at the perfectness of the gospel. I know that this is the only true church of Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is a book of sacred scriptures that God has specially prepared for our days. It doesn’t matter the number of times that I have read it, I always learn more. I know that upon continually studying of the Book of Mormon one can grow closer and closer to God and our Savior Jesus Christ. I know. It has happened to me. I have gained a greater love and appreciation for what they have done for us. I know the Book of Mormon gives us answers to everyday problems and concerns and has the ability to help us live a happy life. I know Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration of the church of Christ in these days. I know that today we have a watchman on the tower, even Thomas S. Monson. He is a living prophet of God and as such has the keys and authority to direct Christ’s church on the earth. We are receiving revelations from God to guide us in these days. What a blessing! I know that upon following the counsels we receive from God’s servants in these days, we will gain salvation and eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God!

So now for all the exciting missionary work this week. Well, it has been tough because we have been needing to find more promising people and that was getting frustrating especially in this heat. Finally we decided on taking a morning to do what we now call a “manzana burn.” Basically we take a block of viviendas and clap door to door. It is easier in summer because doors are open and people are out. One person will accept you really well, one will try to weasel the way out of listening to you, the next will yell at you, the next will send their children out to lie to you. It is fun! You really get to see the difference between all the people and it is exciting. Anyways, we have been finding tons of promising people between all the rejection we get. We have a ton of future investigators to look forward to now. I guess it goes to show you that when you put your mind to it and put your faith in the Lord, you can see miracles. The majority of the people reluctantly decide to listen, but in there we have found some really promising people. So that has helped our animo a lot.

Also, some exciting news on the Custodio family. Well, Roxana and Silvio decided to separate. Unfortunately not completely for gospel reasons, but that means Roxana can be baptized any time. Silvio lives in another area now so we can’t visit him except on divisions. We passed him on to the other Elders in our district though and we will see what happens. He is only 17 and I think the whole eternal marriage and law of chastity thing started getting to him and he made a good choice. He once said that he would like to go on a mission like us. Now he can, if he still has desires to listen to us and go to church. I hope all works out. Either way, I think it was a positive advancement. I will miss not being able to see Silvio though.

Silvia and Mattias Duarte have been listening for awhile and now the mom is really warming up to us. We have the help of the members on this one and it is going well. We just need to figure out how to get 12 yr. old Mattias to church instead of selling garlic on the other side of the city on Sundays.

I will wait to tell you about anyone else because it is hard to tell who has real promise or not, but I will keep you updated.

The really positive notice of the week came from the hna. Penzkofer who we ate lunch with on Monday. Well, when I was in Villa Cabello it was her sister that I baptized (Teresa). She informed me that Teresa and Ignacio are now getting ready to go to the temple in December to be endowed and sealed. Yeah! I am way happy for them. They seem to be doing way great!

Anyways, I should get going now so I have some time to relax (that was in our plans today.) Sorry I couldn’t write more, I was busy with the school schedule more than anything. Thanks for the help Amy!

Love you all,

Elder Aaron McDonald