Christmas Presents! (Week 49)

Elder Hernandez and Elder Herman

      What an amazing week! One girl this week was convinced that I was a model, and then we met this crazy Christian guy who was SOOO drunk, and he said a prayer yelling at God telling him to bless us, and he was touching our faces and kissing us, then banged the ground yelling, it was kinda freaky. Definitely one of the most interesting experiences of my life. We have also been very blessed and a lot of people let us in their house while contacting! It has been awesome. Then Sunday was just amazing! The baptisms of the family Torres Bello! The Dad is a member and moved here about the same time I got here, then his family came and they weren’t members, so we have been teaching them and they are so great! The baptisms were very special. It was amazing seeing how happy the Dad was seeing his whole family in the waters of baptism! It just makes me soo happy! The Dad compared his happiness to seeing a triple hamburger, hahaha. And then we got to talk to our families! Man I have an awesome family. I love them so much. It is crazy I have already been away from them for about 1 year! It was really good for me to see them and it made me even more motivated. I could see how fast time has gone and I know that the next year will go by faster. And don’t worry everyone, Tayson is still playing baseball everyday. J And man I love Chilpa. 2 families came and brought us food last night for Navidad! Que bendicion!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      What a great time of year. The time the whole world celebrates in unity the birth of a Savior and Redeemer of the world in Jesus Christ. How grateful I am that God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son so that I can have eternal life. Mateo 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” If it wasn’t for Jesus the Christ I would have to live in my sins forever and would never be able to be in the presence of my Heavenly Father again. Thanks to Jesus Christ I have an example of what I need to do and what kind of person I need to be. Thanks to his teachings I know how I can return to live with my Father in Heaven again. Thanks to Jesus Christ I can be happy in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  I love my big brother so much, He suffered so much for me and I will never be able to pay Him back! I love you all so much. I hope you all had a merry Christmas!!

Love, Elder Herman

Baptism!

CTR Rings for the baptized family and missionaries.

It's Not Beginning To Look Like Christmas (Week 48)

Food and Fun!

      This week some cool things happened. So first there is an awesome family here that takes care us of real well! Their daughter just got back from a mission and they said they didn’t have enough money for a Christmas tree this year, and they are super festive! So Monday night we went and bought them a tree and surprised them with it, it was super cool! I LOVE CHRISTMAS. Me and Elder Hernandez have progressed a lot together and are getting closer so that’s good. We found an amazing family who is really prepared. I hope they progress! The Dad says he wants to find God and he contacted other missionaries. When we were teaching them he also got chills so we explained it was the Holy Ghost and then invited him to be baptized. They accepted and the lesson was very powerful! I love being a missionary! Also changes are tomorrow, but we are staying the same here in Chilpa! I’ll have 6 months here and I am so excited!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Man I love life. It is super hard but I am so grateful I understand why I am here. We are here to progress, to be tested, and to have joy! I like the scripture in 3 Nephi 12:48 a lot. It says “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect”. That is the goal, to become perfect. We will never reach perfection here on this earth, but we must try! We  must progress. It makes life fun! It makes life a challenge! But most of all it makes life worth it. I like to think about an ice sculpture. You start with a big ol block of ice. Its ugly. Then you start chipping away and making it pretty. We are like the ice and God is the sculptor. He gives us tests to break off chunks so one day we can be an amazing, perfect, ice sculpture! But its not easy. We always have to be reading the scriptures and finding things to get better at. We need to repent and grow. I really love this life and I love the Plan of Salvation and am so grateful to have this knowledge! I love you all so much, keep on pushing on!

Con Amor, Elder Herman

Sharing Christmas!

The Missionaries.

WHAT A WEEK! (Week 47)

Elder Wegner & Elder Herman

      Wow, another amazing week. I love the misión so much and now time is flying! I am already coming up on a year mark! But some highlights of this week. Tuesday we had a Christmas “devotional”. We played minute to win it and just had fun all day! Broke piñatas and Presidente ven le tus watch Elf! Then they gave us some awesome Christmas presents! I really love President he has made the misión a lot better! He has been really creative, and also yesterday we had a big Light The World activity with 5 zones of missionaries in one place contacting the world! We were in a central park and a whole stake of members were there. There was a choir and a ton of balloons with lights on them and the little Light the World cards, and people wrote messages to light someone's world! A ton of speakers and screens showing videos, it was unreal! I went in the middle of traffic just handing out Light The World calendars to all the cars that passed, haha, it was fun! President was even contacting everyone! Also Campestre, my first área, was there! SO I saw a ton of them and talked to them all, haha it was cool cause I could actually talk to them well! And my first convert, Laura Oyuki, was there staying strong! They are gonna get sealed soon so I hope I can go! It really was a special day! And also Ana Isabel got confirmed! It made me so happy to be able to see her confirmed a member of the true Church of Jesus Christ. And the primary program too, man how blessed am I! It made me cry but only a little! Cause there was a family of investigators there and the kids participated so it just made me real happy to see them already involved in the church! God is good!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Well this week I have been reminded how blessed I truly am. Gratitude is something that always makes me happy. I have realized that I have been on the misión for a while now and just looking back and seeing all the opportunities the Lord has given me just makes me want to explode with joy and love!! I can’t express the happiness I have had and will have thanks to my misión! It truly is the best 2 years. J I love you all so much thanks for supporting me! Remember to be grateful and thank God for all he has given you! Que tengan una bonita semana.

Con Amor, Elder Herman

Merry Christmas from Elder Herman

Elder Hernandez & Elder Herman

I Love the Mission (Week 46)

      This truly was an amazing week! A ton of things have happened! First off Light The World started! So day one was “de gracias recibisteis, de gracias dareis” (freely you have received, freely give), so we went to these train tracks and gave a ton of clothes to these homeless people. It was super cool. Then Saturday was “tuve sed y me diste de beber” (I was thirsty and ye gave me drink), so we went to the train tracks again and gave everyone water bottles! It is really awesome being able to help others and participate in Light The World! The ward has also been awesome in supporting us and helping us! Then Sunday was the baptism of Ana Isabel, but she had to make it to church on time, so Elder Hernandez and I did splits with members to be able to go for her and other investigators. The family I went for wasn’t home so we got to the church and Elder Hernandez showed up and wasn’t with Ana Isabel! So we were all bummed cause she wouldn’t be able to be baptized. But then a member came running out and told us that she was already in the church! So that was a miracle! She came all by herself! Then after church we went out with some members and contacted everyone we saw. It was really awesome! But then the best part of all! The baptism of Ana Isabel! It was so special! The members here are awesome and there was a lot of people at her baptism and the spirit was so strong. She cried when she got baptized and you can just tell she felt the spirit! Then after we went and ate with them, haha, they had a mini party! But this week really was great it is good to see all the hard work and fasting pay off! God is good!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Well in these times of Christmas I would like to talk about service! Remember to look at the calendar and watch the videos of “Light The World” so that everyday you can serve someone else and light the world! Preach my Gospel says “One of the greatest blessings of membership in the Church is the opportunity to serve. When we give loving service to others, we are serving God. When we are baptized we COVENANT to give such service.” I love the word covenant. In the church we make covenants with God. Or we make agreements with Him. We accept to live His commandments and He promises to bless us with happiness and eternal life. Mosiah 2:17 “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” Man I just love God so much and it makes me want to love everyone, so that I can serve Him more! God has given us all so much it is our duty to repay Him and be instruments in His hands to help other people, or His other children, and our brothers and sisters, to be happy! I love you all so much and I hope you all can light the world everyday this month!

Con Amor, Elder Herman  

Elder Wooten & Elder Herman

Ilumina tu Mundo (Light the World) (Week 45)

      Welp, a pretty crazy week here in Chilpa. First off, one of our investigators Belen, whose husband is a member, had a baptismal date for the 24 of December, cause that’s when their son completes 8, so they would get baptized together, said she wants to get baptized sooner! So she and her daughter might get baptized this week! And then we went with Ana Isabel and she said she wants to get baptized this Sunday! So we are seeing some miracles here. I am always reminded that this is the work of the Lord and he is always here helping us do his work. And fam Torres, who we found last week, all went to church this week and liked it a lot, so thats good. We are seeing a ton of progress here in Chilpita!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      This week I would like to talk about 1 Nephi 8, the visión of Lehi. So Lehi partook of the fruit of the tree of life and had great joy, and his family also, besides Laman and Lemuel. They were led to the tree by the iron rod. We always need to be focused so that we are following the iron rod, because many times in our life we will pass a mist of darkness and be tempted to fall away. 1 Nephi 8:23 “And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way that they wandered off and were lost.” Let’s not be like the people who got lost when trials and challenges happened. We need to be strong and endure to the end. Verse 24 “And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.” We need to always be clinging on to the iron rod so we can always be partaking of the fruit that is desirable above all other fruit and fills our soul with exceedingly great joy!  But also beware of the people in the great and spacious building who don’t want us to partake of this fruit. Who mock us and try to make us fall away from the iron rod. I can testify to all of you that life truly is happier holding on to the rod and following the straight and narrow path rather than doing the easy thing and falling away in the mist. I am so grateful for scripture passages like this that help us be guided and find strength. Always remember to do the simple things, read, pray, and go to church! If we do these 3 things constantly we will always follow the straight and narrow path and be able to partake of the fruit of joy and happiness! I love you all so much. I am so grateful to be serving the Lord! Les amo!

Con Amor, Elder Herman

Una Buena Semana Pues (Week 44)

Elder Herman is happy to be a representative of Jesus Christ!

      This week was really awesome we saw a couple miracles! We found an awesome family whose parents got baptized like 15 years ago, but moved and lost contact with the church. The Dad saw us in the street and started talking to us so we went to his house and he has 3 kids that aren’t baptized . But when we got there they all told us they wanted to be baptized. It’s a really cool family and I am really excited to help them enter the waters of baptism! Also this week someone in our apartment building died so everyone was sad. We are teaching one of our neighbors and he asked us if we could give a little message to them and some other people in the building. So we taught 3 of the 8 apartments, haha. We are going to make everyone Mormon! And 2 came to church! Man this week was really great, we also had Zone Conference and it was honestly the best one of my mission! Our mission is progressing a lot and I am excited to see where it goes!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      This week I read a talk about opening the heavens by Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi. It is a very good talk about how we can obtain power and answers from the Heavens. It says we all need a "sacred grove" so that we can get away from the world and ask for help from God. Just like Joseph Smith went to a grove in 1820 early in the morning to look for answers from God. We need to go to a place that is calm and quiet so we can be alone with Heavenly Father, so we can talk to Him and we can listen to the answers He gives back to us. Prayer is such an important tool that God has given us and we must take advantage of it. We must build our relationship with Him so He can give us strength and guidance here on our earthly journey to happiness. I love you all so much and hope that you can all find your "sacred grove" to talk to God in peace! Tengan una buena semana.

Con Amor, Elder Herman 

Good times, good friends!

Good food.  : )

Mission Fun

Hola (Week 43)

      Another good week in the books here in Mexico! Well, so this week was changes and they opened 2 areas in my District, so now there are a lot of missionaries that I get to talk to, its great! Wednesday we had our District meeting and the assistants came. It was good! This week we have had a lot of success finding people and found a couple of families. We found one family who I really think and hope that they will progress. Gerardo (dad) and his 2 sons Sergio and Mario. Gerardo said he is willing to do anything to help his kids. Mario is kinda lost in drugs but wants to change his life. They were really interested in the Book of Mormon so that’s a good sign! We haven’t had a baptism here in Chilpa so I have been wondering what I can do better or differently, I think this change we will have a couple! But if anyone has advice or some tips, throw them my way!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

Showing off his new mask!

      This week I have been really focused on goals. Goals are SO important to set so that we can have a vision of where we want to be and what we want to achieve. We have to have a vision of where we want to go in this life or we will just go where life takes us, and who knows where that will be. In Preach My Gospel there’s a quote by Elder Ballard “I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in his life.” I, like Elder Ballard, am also very convinced that we must have goals so that we can push ourselves to achieve not only what we want, but also what the Lord wants. Elder Ballard also has an amazing talk on goals called “Return and Receive” I definitely recommend it! I invite all of you to look at your life and find what you want to achieve and who you want to become and set goals to help you on your way. We are only here on the earth for a little time, so we might as well make the most of it and get to work! I love you all so much! Have a great week!

Con Amor, Elder Herman

The District

Elder Hernandez and Elder Herman

Good Food!

Feliz Halloween (Week 42)

A little Halloween fun!

      What a week! Tuesday had intercambios with Mira Azul then got home for like 30 minutes and went to Ciudad Labor with Elder Wegner! It was super fun! And here in Mexico they do like the “trick or treating” November 1^st so it was super fun with Elder Wegner. Two white guys out on Halloween, haha. It was funny cause no one asked us for candy, and then some people gave us candy, and everyone came and asked for candy, haha. We were emptying our pockets. When the kids ask for candy they sing a song “Mi calavrita tiene hambre, hay un dulce por ahi?” Then yesterday had a cool experience. We were going to visit a future investigator and we went and found him outside on his porch smoking. He told us his sister had just died and he was sad so we were able to share with him the Plan of Salvation and also talk about the atonement. It was really awesome except for the fact that all the smoke from his cigarette went right in my face and I could barely breath, but it was so worth it. He said it comforted him and it was a really cool moment. To see that the Lord really does send us to people who 
                                                                                                 need to hear his message in the perfect time as well.

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Saturday me and my comp had a really cool experience. In the morning we studied about consecration in our thoughts and actions and the Holy Ghost and how important it is to follow all of his promptings. So we left the house and went knocking on doors. It was unreal. We knocked on like 6 doors and everyone accepted us! And we were able to teach 3 of them. It’s because we truly were focused and had the right intentions. It’s like hitting a baseball. If you take your eye off the ball (God) you will miss. But when we are focused on what is important we can find the sweet spot and hit the ball. It is so important that we are always focused on whats right in all our thoughts and actions. Preach My Gospel says “Your mind is like a stage in a theater; in the theater of your mind, however, only one actor can be on stage at a time. If the stage is left bare, thoughts of darkness and sin often enter the stage to tempt us. But these thoughts have no power if the stage of your mind is occupied by wholesome thoughts, such as a memorized hymn or verse of scripture that you can call up in a moment of temptation.” I really like this because it is so true! The more our mind is blank the more Satan will fight to enter, but we can get rid of temptation whenever with a scripture or hymn! I know these things are true and I know this is the work of the Lord. I am reminded of it everyday! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

               

Love, Elder Herman  

Elder Herman & Elder Wegner!

Hola (Week 41)

      Well this week was good. We focused on Rosa Maria and her family a lot this week. She said she wanted to be baptized the 4^th of November (this Saturday that’s coming up) but she didn’t go to church yesterday so she can’t get baptized until after Sunday. So that’s a bummer, but on the time of the Lord she will get baptized. But it’s super cool to be able to teach them, they are literally golden! They’ve had so many spiritual experiences and their lives have truly changed! It just makes me so grateful to be a missionary and be able to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. We have seen a lot of people start to progress so we are looking forward to this next month! I really love this area a lot, the members are awesome! Even though I think yesterday was the first time we started sacrament meeting on time, haha.

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      This week I have been studying la caridad y amor (charity and love). These Christlike attributes are so important! Moroni 7:46 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth” Here we see that if we don’t have charity, well, we are nothing. Charity is one of the most important things that Jesus taught us. The first commandment is to love one another, and charity is the pure love of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 13:4 it explains really well what charity is. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up” I think this scripture explains my mom perfectly. She has definitely suffered long when I was in the house being a crazy teenager, but has always been kind. I think the envieth not is really important also. I feel like my mom has always been happy with what she has. I am very grateful to have a mother who is full of charity! She has taught me by example all these years and hopefully I will be able to be charitable as she is and as Christ is. Les quiero mucho! Que les vaya bien esta semana! Exito! (I love you very much! Have a good one this week!)

Con Amor, Elder Herman

 

God is Good (Week 40)

Elder Wooten & Elder Herman

      Wow folks what a week! Started off with intercambios in Mira Azul. It’s a pretty cool area! I was with Elder Wooten and we got to find some pretty cool people. Best part is that there is a street called “Calle de Hambre” there’s just a ton of food all along the street, it’s amazing! But a couple days ago we got to see a miracle! So in the morning I said a prayer to find someone in a yellow house. We went knocking on doors and had a little bit of success but not too much. Then we needed to leave, but I saw a yellow house at the end of the street. So I went to it and the door was open and it was a papeleria (stationary shop) so I walked in and talked to the people then just started preaching! It was a daughter and her mom. The daughter seemed interested but the mom not so much, but later we found out that the mom is friends with Rosa Maria! So we talked about that and told her to talk to Rosa Maria about our message! And she opened up a ton. Then leaving she gave us a soda. Our Heavenly Father answers prayers when we pray with faith and do our part! I have seen it time and time again here on the mission! Also the progress of Rosa Maria and her daughter Laura is going great! They both came to church and loved it! The only problem is that Laura isn’t married but living with a man. So that makes it a little hard. But she’s figuring it out and the Lord will bless her! Also I got the opportunity to baptize an 8 year old kid! We found his mom in my first week here in the area. They were less actives but now they have been coming to church lately and the kid wanted to be baptized, but his Dad couldn’t do it so they asked me to. It was a very special baptism just to see the joy and excitement that was there!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

       This week I would like to talk about the Holy Ghost. Something that is so amazing that we have. The 3^rd member of the Godhead is given to us after baptism. That’s pretty dang cool! God communicates with us through the Holy Ghost because it is a spirit and can enter into our bodies. On the mission I have come to know the spirit pretty well, but I would like to know him more! It is amazing to see the miracles you see when you follow the spirit. The spirit has many functions. One thing I have come to love is that the spirit is a comforter. In life we need some comfort a lot! When I have felt discouraged or lonely or anything I know I can pray to my Father In Heaven and he will send me his comforter. John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” After baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and also when we partake of the Sacrament we are promised that we will have the spirit to be with us. God loves us so much he gave us a God to dwell inside of us! Man I love this gospel so much! I am so grateful to be a missionary and to help other people come unto Christ. I especially love all the chances I have to become more like our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. I love you all so much,  que tengan una bonita semana! (Have a nice week.)

Con Amor, Elder Herman

After the baptism.

Time's Flying (Week 39)

Elder Herman playing catch for the first time in 9 months.

      What a week! Started off great. So on Tuesday we went with an investigator named Carla. She is awesome and has been telling us she would go to church for a couple weeks now. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she was so interested and happy. She accepted a baptismal date and then came to church yesterday wahoo! Then later the most powerful experience of my life. We went with Rosa Maria and her family. Rosa went to church last Sunday and her daughter wanted to but couldn’t. They both read Moroni 10:3-5 and both prayed after. Laura, her daughter, was SO excited! Like literally she was so happy and smiley. She shared her experience how she prayed and after she felt something, but like really strong peace and said she has been feeling different since and a lot better! And her mom said she has seen a change in themselves and that after she prayed she had been feeling so much better from experiences that have happened and all. Her cousins died in the earthquake and she felt really bad, so she has been going to a psychologist. She was going to go yesterday cause she was feeling really bad, but then after her prayer she felt fine and ended up not going! I could see the spirit working in them. Right when we got there they were just so happy, I almost cried tears of joy! Experiences like this make all the rejections worth it! I love being a missionary! Haha. Also had a slumber party on the ground! But it’s not the same as sleeping on nice soft carpet, like at home, haha, the tile is pretty hard. Also a little tender mercy, I got to play catch today! First time in 9 months! Man how happy was I!  : ) 

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Well from this experience I’d like to talk about the power of the Book of Mormon and prayer. I got converted through The Book of Mormon and prayer, and now seeing other people doing the same, and being able to help others, just makes me so happy. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and when we open it and read it everyday we have the spirit with us and we can know without a doubt that this is the true church by reading it and asking God. Just like it says in Moroni 10:3-5. I’d like to invite you all to read these 3 verses and ask God if this is true or not. Even if you already know it's true. I have done it a couple times and every time I do I am assured that I am in the true church of Jesus Christ. I love you all so much and I love missionary work! Cuidense mucho les quiero.  (Take care. I love you.) J

Love, Elder Herman

Sleeping on the hard tile floor.

Life Sure Is Somethin' (Week 38)

Elder Hernandez & Elder Herman 

      What a busy week. I don’t think I have ever been so busy in my life! We are running everywhere trying to make all of our appointments! Don’t worry though I am not complaining! We have found a lot of people to teach lately and now we are just trying to get them to conversion! On Saturday we went with a girl named Ana, she is awesome. The last time we saw her was about 4 weeks ago cause after the earthquake she went to help. But when we got there she said she had read some of the Book Of Mormon and said that she feels something while reading it! She was saying it’s like other books, but you can feel the difference between the Book Of Mormon and any other book! So we were really excited about this and she has been doing awesome! Also got a sweet new camera that’s a touch screen and has filters so I am pretty happy! And only 800 pesos! J

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Well I would just like to share my testimony that I know that we are never alone and the Lord always helps us. Knowing where I am now and what I am doing is crazy compared to where I was before my mission. I have grown so much. I have given myself to the Lord and He has made me an instrument in His hands. When we turn to the Lord we will always make weak things become strong. “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Corinthians 12:10. I know that first we must be weak and then when we turn to Christ He makes us strong. “Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever”, Alma 26:12. I am so grateful for the scriptures that help me everyday of my life! I know the church has been restored by a Prophet, Joseph Smith and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to declare this message to the people of Mexico! I love you all so much cuidense mucho!

Love, Elder Herman

Elder Wegner & Elder Herman

Having fun with the new camera!

Crazy Week (Week 37)

      Well this week was a little crazy. So first I got my hijo amado, Elder Hernandez. Haha He is an excited Elder and I am excited to be able to show him the ways. Also got to watch conference on Sunday! Then on Thursday night President called me and told me I’m a District Leader now! So these last couple days have been crazy, but the Zone Leaders (Elder Wegner) have been telling me what I need to do. Haha. But it is great I have an opportunity to help more people! Also, training Elder Hernandez is great he is really excited to work and it’s fun showing him the ways of the missionary life. We also had the opportunity to find an amazing new investigator named Monica this week that is going through so many hard challenges. Testifying to her that Jesus Christ is always there for her was a highlight of my week. She was crying as we were teaching her from her door and accepted a baptismal date faster than I have ever seen! My eyes have been opened to the many miracles we live everyday!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

       Well in conference there were a couple talks that I loved! One of them was from W. Craig Zwick where he said “look beyond what you see” and he said through the power of Jesus Christ we can see beyond what we see in reality. Many times we put restrictions on our abilities. We say many times “I can’t” “It’s too hard” or “It’s impossible” But we all know “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me”. We can do all things. Nothing is too hard for us, we are children of God! He also said that we must look past stereotypes. Stereotypes are what tell us that we can’t do it. They put so many limits on our life. I know that when we are with the Lord, He will help us look past what we can see and He will help us be the people we need to be. I love you all so much, thank you for everything!

Love, Elder Herman

Sorry no pictures today 'cause I just got my new camera, haha

Earthquake! (Week 36)

Mexico City Temple trip...and earthquake experience!

      Ok so I had one of the craziest things in my life happen this week. First off we went to the temple! And while we were half way done with the session the building started to move. So we were like, whoa, what’s going on, then boom, the temple was going crazy and we were holding on for our lives! We were in Mexico City when the earthquake hit! It was so crazy! The chandeliers were swinging all over the place and we thought they were going to fall on us and then the lights went out and we were just on the ride of a lifetime. But luckily the temple is made very well and nothing happened. But the earthquake did do a lot of damage and a lot of buildings collapsed so that is really sad. Our mission didn’t get affected, but we have heard that there are a lot of people without homes and it’s a hard time here in Mexico. And then the next day at a district meeting my camera got robbed L Oh and we have cambios (transfers) tomorrow and I am going to be staying in Chilpa and training! So I am excited for what the mish has in store for me!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

       This Sunday I had the opportunity to give a talk in sacrament meeting. My companion talked about the Second Coming so I decided to talk about the Judgment and Repentance. The Judgment is something really important that we understand. In Alma 12:24 it says that we are in a state of probation, a time to prepare to meet God. We are just being tested here on Earth and after we die and are resurrected we will be brought to be judged. In Alma 12: 14 and 15 that says we will be condemned for our words, works, and our thoughts. We need to be careful what we think cause our thoughts turn into words and our words turn into works. Luckily we have the gift that we can repent. Thanks to Jesus Christ our Redeemer we can repent of all things. We can ask for forgiveness and change. Then in Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins”. We have the opportunity to repent of our sins and the Lord will remember them no more. We can be pure to enter into the Kingdom of God. And if we are faithful and repent we will be able to live in the Celestial Kingdom. If you could, read Doctrine and Covenants 76:51-70. It talks about what this Kingdom will be like. We will be in the presence of God and Christ, we will overcome all things. It helps me to know why I am here and what I can achieve. I am here to be tested, it is a challenge and if I endure well I will be living with my Heavenly Father in his Kingdom for all eternity! It’s worth it! I hope we all have our eye on the Celestial Kingdom so we can be with our families forever! I love you all. Have a great week and pay attention in conference!

Love, Elder Herman