week 71

Mommy & All,

"I got a saying that when life knocks you down try and land on your back because if you can look up, you can get up!" -Phenomenal

This week was good. We are really trying to work with Brian so he can progress little by little. Here in Ushuaia, every Tuesday we play soccer and Wednesday we play basketball with the members and investigators. For about the last month or so, Brian has come to every single one to play with us and get to know the members. But he has yet to come to church on Sunday. He says that his church is about the same thing as ours, just different names. We went over to his house and just talked about building a firm foundation. We shared the scripture that's in 3 Nephi 14:24-27. It talks about the guy who built his house upon the rock, and the other upon the sand. I seen to learn something new every time we share this with someone. It talks about how the 2 guys built their houses. Then the torments came, the wind blew, and the rain fell. The guy who had his house on a foundation, was all good when that came. But the guy who didn't have his house on a foundation had it fall on top of him. This was used to illustrate the word of God in our lives. That the people who hear the word of God and listen to it, are building their "house" or their life upon the Rock which is Christ. But the people who hear the word and don't listen to it are building their life upon nothing stable, or the things of the world. In the story we see that both guys went through or suffered the exact same thing. The only difference was where they decided to build their house. 

We were also able to visit with Raul this week. I went on divisions with Elder Jensen and we stopped by to see how he was doing. We talked with him about his testimony and about his desire to get baptized. He has truly felt and seem the hand of God in his life as he testified to us. He is still really struggling with his smoking addiction. He has had a lot of health problems throughout his life and he knows how bad it is, his body just begs for it now. He believes that baptism is the key. That if he gets baptized and becomes a confirmed member of the church, that it may be the key to help him finally throw his addiction completely. We are trying to help him right now, but all we can really do is pray and fast that he can get better and find strength through the Book of Mormon and the things that he already knows. Him and Matilde go on vacation this week to go get married, so we are excited for that as well. 

I'm getting to know Nicolas better every day. He is becoming a great friend. He talked to me this week about being away from the church. He told me more of his story and just how he was inactive and stuff, and he told me never to do it. That the hardest times of his life, and the most pain he's felt was when he was away and when God felt far away. He shared a really strong testimony about that and just about trying to find answers and the Light of Christ in every moment. We aren't alone in this life, even though a lot of times we feel like it. Its just our job to keep searching and looking for the little blessings and things that can just put a smile on our face each day. Because this life is about being happy and finding joy.

Much Love,

Elder Christensen