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 

Love You All (Week 35)

      Well this week nothing too crazy happened. It was independence day here the 15^th but it wasn’t much like the 4^th of July. #merica But we had our first appointment with a girl named Ana and she is awesome. She is so excited to listen and learn from us and so open! I hope she progresses quickly and we can get her into that baptismal font! Mari Ruiz is doing awesome and progressing still! We are working for October 1^st with her!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

Elder Herman celebrating Mexico's Independence.

       Well something really great happened this week with Hermana Mari Ruiz. After one of our lessons, when we ended testifying to her, she told us that she feels that we love her and really want the best for her and that she really admires how we are here on our own will. This was really important for me to hear. I have been thinking lately how my investigators feel towards me. She told us she is really grateful for us and that she also loves us. This is really important in all aspects of life. We need to show our love to everyone! It is something I wasn’t very good at before my mission and I hope I am improving, so when I get home I can love all of you guys more than ever! But I want to invite you all to show your love in actions to the people that are important to you. And also tell them often that you love them. God has blessed us all with amazing people in our lives and we should show God that we are grateful for that blessing by showing our love for them. Well I love you all sooo much! J Thanks for everything you all have done for me! 

Go tell everyone you love them for me!

Love Elder Herman