Baptism! (Week 23)

Elder Wegner, Dany, and Elder Herman at Dany's baptism.

      This week was good. A couple let downs though. L So the family Angeles Rosales said they weren’t ready for baptism yet so we need to work with them. But we weren’t able to talk to them much after they said they weren’t ready and then they didn’t go to church. L But the good news is that Dany got baptized and confirmed! It was a very good experience. She gave her testimony at the end and it was awesome. Makes me really happy to see someone make the decision to be baptized and enter into the Kingdom of God! Also had a cool experience with another investigator his name is Ceaser. His mom contacted some missionaries cause she wants to have a better family. Her son (Ceaser) does drugs and she wants to fix everything. Last week we went and picked up Ceaser and kinda made him come to church, haha. He really liked it but when we visited him this week he was talking to us crying saying something has changed. Right after church his wife, who he hadn’t talked to in a long time, called him. Their daughter has been having some health issues and they thought she might die, but Sunday after church she called and said their daughter was going to be ok! I have seen a change in him. It is amazing to see the gospel working in peoples lives!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      On this weeks special of “Spiritual Thought Of The Week” I’d like to talk a little bit about the amazing gift of prayer and gratitude. Prayer is something so simple but so powerful. We can talk with our Heavenly Father about anything. He is always there for us no matter what the situation, no matter what person. Every one of us are children of God.  He wants to hear from us, and he will bless us when we talk to him! Something muy importante is that we are grateful. Gratitude is the attitude! I have seen in my life that when I pray and I thank God for everything I realize how blessed I am and I am much happier! Just like the Hymn says “Count your many blessings name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done!” This is so well said! We also often hear the quote “You don’t know what you got until it’s gone” well if we count our blessings and show gratitude now we will truly know what we have while it’s still here! I honestly think that this is what makes a happy person. Gratitude is the attitude. We all know that when someone isn’t grateful for something we don’t want to give them anything else. Well I’m sure it’s the same for God. But when we are grateful God will want to bless us more! And then we will have more to be grateful for! How great is that. When we are sad we can count our many blessings and I promise that when you do that you won’t be too sad anymore. You will see the hand of the Lord in your life. But remember to be grateful on the rainy days AND the sunny days! This will bless your life so much I know it with all my heart! I am so grateful for every one of you and for all your support! I am also so very grateful for my opportunity to be a representative of Jesus Christ and learn and experience new things every day! I am grateful for every trial I have passed through to make me stronger in my testimony and as a person. Last but not least I am so grateful for the Gospel. It truly is the answer to everything!

Con Amor, Elder Herman 

Happy baptism day for Dany with Elder Wegner and Elder Herman!

Celebrating Dany's baptism with family and Elder Wegner and Elder Herman!

Wow! What an Amazing Week! (Week 22)

Picture of the baptism Elder Herman talked about.  A member in
Mexico sent it to me (his mom) Saturday night, June 24, 2017.

     This week was amazing folks! This is the Lords work! I saw that more this week than any other week. First off we ran probably a little less than a mile in 4 minutes to get home on time! Theres the first miracle! And then I have truly seen the Lord prepare his people. This week we went to a baptism for the Elders of Huehuetoca. It was really good, but the best part was that a member brought her friends! So we had 2 investigators there and then we went over to their house later to teach them and the girl told us “Quiero bautizarme” (I want to be baptized). I think that’s one of the best things I’ve ever heard! I have already seen a change in her. It is so amazing! 2 weeks ago in our lessons she would just be on her phone the whole time and not listen, but now she is so interested and excited to be baptized. So we are baptizing her this week cause she already has gone to church enough times! Then we had a lesson Saturday night for a family that is getting baptized this Saturday also! Except we realized on Thursday that we haven’t taught the Word of Wisdom or Law of Chastity. So we were a little scared they’d have problems with these and have to wait to be baptized. But we taught the lesson and it went so well! They understood it all and promised to not drink any more coffee and to keep these commandments! I didn’t expect that at all but the Lord has prepared them! It is so amazing seeing the change in these people when they make the decision to be baptized. Next week is going to be a very good week!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Alright this week I want to talk about Missionary Work. This is the work of the Lord without one doubt in my mind! There is no way two 19 year old boys could come to Mexico, learn another language, and convert people into this church without the Lords help. This is also a testament that this is the true restored church of Jesus Christ. We are all sons and daughters of God and he wants us to be happy. So he gave us the gospel of Jesus Christ. God wants his children to be members of La Iglesia De Jesucristo De Los Santos De Los Ultimos Dias. He is preparing people everyday and this work isn’t only for missionaries with name tags. I hope no one takes advantage of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and that you share this gospel to others. Even if you’re in Utah where “everyone's a member” you can be a missionary to less actives, actives and just about everyone! Everyone needs the messages. Study the basics in the gospel and you will be reminded of how blessed you are to know this gospel. Go watch a Restoration video. Study the Plan of Salvation that God has prepared for us. And remember to have faith, repent, remember your baptismal covenants, remember to listen to the Holy Ghost, and to endure to the end! Every one of these simple missionary lessons we teach are so powerful! And every one of them are so important. I promise that this gospel is pure everlasting happiness. It is the answer to everything in any situation! I can’t express how much I love this gospel. It has helped me in every moment of my life and is helping me more than ever here on my mission. I love you all so much! Sigan adelante!

Con Amor, Elder Herman

Life's Good 😀 (Week 21)

Elder Herman on a moto taxi.

      This week was good, we have been putting in some WORK! Highlight of the week was we had 8 investigators at church yesterday! And all but one have baptismal dates! There are 2 families, one the family Angeles Rosales (Yareli and her kids Kevin, Brian, Joselyn, and Evelyn) and the family Carlon Martinez (Manuel, Guadelupe, Diana, and their little girl Alondra) and then a members friend, Dany! Sunday was kinda crazy running around getting them to church, but it was great! Also had a really good lesson with family Angeles Rosales and broke the ice with them a little better cause they didn’t talk much, but ay va! And they said they are still feeling good about their baptismal date the 25 of June! So that’s great. Also the other night it was raining so hard and I looked outside and saw poor little Jimmy (our dog) all curled up getting soaked! So me and my comp went out and made him shelter! We are so good to him!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      I just wanna say, how blessed are those that know the gospel and are obedient! This week we had a lot of lessons with members, and their testimonies are so awesome! In every converts testimony they say their life has changed. We can see changes in ourselves and others when we are living the gospel. The gospel principles are the answer to every problem that anyone will ever have in this life. A couple months ago in Campestre a guy on the streets was saying how Mormons always have nice houses and are living good. All I could tell him was welp, we are blessed! We just have to do our part and God will do his and take care of us! There are so many temporal blessings that we can earn with obedience in the gospel. I can testify that living the gospel honestly helped me to be a better baseball player and so many other temporal things. Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21 “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated. And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it was predicated.” We have so many blessings just sitting up in heaven waiting for us to earn them with our obedience. God wants to bless us but he also wants us to learn and grow and to go get the blessings! There are also spiritual blessings. Blessings of feelings like peace and happiness in our lives no matter what the situation. Mosiah 2:41 “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in ALL things, both TEMPORAL and SPIRITUAL; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of NEVER ENDING HAPPINESS. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.” Wow. That’s pretty dang cool. Keep the commandments (there are a lot more than just 10) and you will be blessed in all things! You will dwell with God in heaven in a state of never ending happiness! How great is that? But, that is if you hold out faithful to the end. It’s not free. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it! And remember, remember that these things are true! For the Lord God hath spoken it! I love you all and I want everyone of you to earn the blessings that God has for you. Be obedient. Do what you are supposed to do even if it isn’t the easy thing. Read your scriptures. Say your prayers. Go to church. And build from that. Remember why you are here and who gives you everything. God wants us to be happy. He wants us to return to live with him in a state of never ending happiness. One more time. Be obedient. I love you all! Go get those blessings!

Con Amor, 

Elder Herman

Jimmy the dog under his shelter and out of the rain.

The Church Is True (Week 20)

Elder Herman & Elder Wegner

      This week was good. Man time is flying though! We had 5 investigators at church yesterday so that was great! We were expecting more, but we will get them next week! We also keep finding a lot of people that are interested so the work is going great! We taught a woman how to pray this week. She had never prayed before and she is somewhere around 60 years old. We asked her to say the closing prayer and it was great, and she really liked it! Also I talked to a guy that believes in death.. They are called Santo Muertos. Everyone here believes in Saints, like virgins and stuff, but these guys believe in death cause after we die we are going to be skeletons. So I asked if he believes in eternal life and he said ya. So they just focus on the body part of death, I guess? I don’t know, the dude couldn’t even explain to me what they believe in. He believes in Jesus and God but doesn’t believe the Bible, so we asked him how he knows Jesus is real and he said cause we are here. He couldn’t answer half of our questions about his own religion but he still didn’t want to learn more about Jesus. This world is so lost.

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      On this week's special of “Spiritual Thought Of The Week by Elder Herman”, we are gonna take a little look at some scriptures in the Bible and Book of Mormon! Wahoo! First off in the Bible John 10:16 “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd”. Hmm, who are the other sheep that Jesus is talking about? Boom 3 Nephi 15:21 “And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.” The Book of Mormon is true! I hope you guys had the chance to read and pray about the Book of Mormon this week! As you do you will have a greater desire to learn more and will grow close to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! This church is SO true! The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and if we read it everyday we can have more of him in our lives! We will have the spirit with us to comfort us and guide us everyday! I love being a missionary! Thank you all for your support, I love you all!

               

Love, Elder Herman

Must be a typical day on the road in Mexico.