Well a lot has happened over these past few weeks I haven't informed on. Elder Montoya from the first quorum of the 70 had a conference with us several weeks back. He helped us improve the quality of our baptismal services and showed us a picture of a baptism with over 100 in attendance, 8+ missionaries, 2 baptisms at once, more than 30 in white shirt and tie on the banks of a river with several men wielding axes, spears, and machetes on the shore.... to protect those in the water from crocodiles. A real life or death experience of repentance and obedience, I'd invite you to look for the picture. He invited us to think, love, and do all as Christ would, have at least one lesson with the bishop accompanying us every week, to pray for the bishop and his family and make his worries our's, to know the names of all the church leaders in our ward and the names of their children, to greet people as Christ would... looking them in the eyes, share our testimony looking in the eyes of our companion every day before proselyting to keep Satan from coming between us, and to be alert, obedient, smile, and most importantly forget ourselves.... I can't exaggerate the power of doing that. Please try a few of these invitations out for yourselves and see the blessings.
There's a lot of drunk people in my area here in Airport 2 of Tarija Bolivia..... I have from the airport here in Tarija all the way to Bermejo almost if you want to check some map out.... it's a huge area. Probably half of it is covered in vineyards.... so you can imagine why there's a lot of drunk people..... rarely see any of them turn violent, an never against us. The Lord blesses and protects us. I'll admit a slight laugh combined with a little sorrow for the wickedness of souls is unleashed every time we're out walking or a taxi drives us past some guy just straight lights out on the side of the road sleeping.
I've found a good new technique of keeping little kids from distracting our investigators in lessons here.... they like making faces back and forth XD especially eyebrow movements haha I've had some good experiences with that.
I'm so grateful for the cold weather here, so nice for a change from the Bolivian heat. My area is really deserty, pretty cool, way huge. Love it here in Tarija.... one of the nicest places in our mission. Check it out online seeing as I'm only 2 months or so behind on sending pics ha sorry about that.
I realized over these past few weeks that the jobs people have here really impede the missionary work... not to complain or say anything about Bolivia, just a trial I realized. The large majority work as taxi drivers, construction workers, or in el campo, or in other words, farm work. It's rough to focus on families and find men that could possibly be future priesthood holders when so many work Monday to Saturday until 8 at night and then go to markets and visit family on Sunday. Just a little update on the majority of our mission, but we still meet and find prepared people that the Lord places in our path.
An easier way to describe the Atonement of Jesus Christ.... reconciliation. Which in Spanish means re: go back, return, redo; con:with; cili: part of the root for chair, or seat. In other words, going back to sit down with Christ. Even easier.... a hug. Imagine the fulness of the Savior's forgiveness or the simplicity of the love one finds in a hug from the Savior or a hug between two young children. (Something Elder Uceda from the 70 helped us learn in a stake Conference we had a little while back).
Our mission President Willard did what most mission presidents don't do and had final interviews with each of us instead of getting ready to leave. He gave me the most powerful priesthood blessing and advice I have ever received. I can't explain how much I love and appreciate him and his wife. Real life examples of the Savior's love and obedience. We had our last conference with him this past tuesday and it was so amazingly powerful and spiritual I can't even explain. They explained so many beautiful truths, even regarding who we choose to marry after the mission.
If you struggle receiving answers to your prayers, keep your sacramental/baptismal covenants of taking the the name of Jesus Christ upon you, ALWAYS remembering Him, and keeping His commandments and then you won't have to question if it's your own feelings or those of your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. When we are exactly obedient, our feelings WILL BE those of the Savior and our Father. Just STOP the little disobedience... alright? My mission president had his first kiss with his wife on the cheek.... the day before asking her to marry him. Their dates consisted of doing service projects together. He helped her down the stairs holding her hand once and liked it so much that he asked if they could hold hands more often.... and that was it. I wish I could express that same Christlike obedience and love that he has for me for each of you.... because it just inspires to change your natural man desires and make them the Lord's desires.
I'm talking with more people than ever, I'm a new missionary, more obedient than ever, working with my companion to make him more obedient, and developing Christlike attributes. I invite you to do the same. Even though I have felt some profound sorrow for those that don't want to change their lives and repent, I find joy in finding and talking to new people. I already love my new mission president, don't even know him yet, I'll have a conference with him this friday. I've invited people in the street and in the first few minutes of our lessons to be baptized and feel the power of the divinity in the ordinances Doctrine and Covenants 84: 20-21.
I have a big weekly list now of you all to email.... let me know if you don't want to receive my emails. I love you all.... be obedient.
Here's a pic of me trying to force my last bit of happiness out after hugging my mission president and his wife for the last time this past week.... sorry I'm not that sad almost ever now.
Love,
Elder Van Horne
My letter to President Willard (my previous mission president)
Dear President Willard,
As far as the work goes, I feel more guided by the Spirit than ever and did my best to complete the invitations from Elder Montoya and your's regarding urgency this past week; I wasn't perfect, but I turned as many of my desires over for the Lord's as I could, striving for 100% obedience. I talked with more people than ever, and felt much more confident about the future of my mission and the state of the work right now.
I ugh.... I'm a little lost for words.... and fighting the tears here. ... I don't think anyone has had a greater influence for good in my short life than you and your wife. I can honestly say I'm quite sad I let my challenges keep me from enjoying my entire mission with you as my mission President... but I know that the Lord has a better plan for me. I can't express with words the love and gratitude I feel for you both. The Lord has been making me stronger than I had ever thought possible. I KNOW I was sent to this mission by revelation for a LARGE part being that you were going to be my mission president. It has been a privilege for ME to be a missionary guided by your love, direction and Christlike example. I find it much more easy to think, "What would President Willard do?" instead of always "What would Christ do?" as I work with my perfectionism and reach upward for advice and guidance. You may not have the keys or the time in the future, but I'd love to stay in contact with you at least every now and then for the rest of my mission. My only hope is that the Lord will continue to strengthen me as He has done so very much as you two leave and I put my trust in the Priesthood keys and the Lord. I hope I returned even a fraction of the Spiritual light you have illuminated me with in this past year. Be strong as well, President Willard, I'm sure none of this transfer will be easy for you either and I'll be praying for you and your family... as I have always done. The Lord makes much more of us than we make of ourselves. I love you President Willard, with all my heart, thank you for being the perfect mentor to turn my broken heart and crushed spirit over to our Savior more.
Love,
Elder Van Horne
As far as the work goes, I feel more guided by the Spirit than ever and did my best to complete the invitations from Elder Montoya and your's regarding urgency this past week; I wasn't perfect, but I turned as many of my desires over for the Lord's as I could, striving for 100% obedience. I talked with more people than ever, and felt much more confident about the future of my mission and the state of the work right now.
I ugh.... I'm a little lost for words.... and fighting the tears here. ... I don't think anyone has had a greater influence for good in my short life than you and your wife. I can honestly say I'm quite sad I let my challenges keep me from enjoying my entire mission with you as my mission President... but I know that the Lord has a better plan for me. I can't express with words the love and gratitude I feel for you both. The Lord has been making me stronger than I had ever thought possible. I KNOW I was sent to this mission by revelation for a LARGE part being that you were going to be my mission president. It has been a privilege for ME to be a missionary guided by your love, direction and Christlike example. I find it much more easy to think, "What would President Willard do?" instead of always "What would Christ do?" as I work with my perfectionism and reach upward for advice and guidance. You may not have the keys or the time in the future, but I'd love to stay in contact with you at least every now and then for the rest of my mission. My only hope is that the Lord will continue to strengthen me as He has done so very much as you two leave and I put my trust in the Priesthood keys and the Lord. I hope I returned even a fraction of the Spiritual light you have illuminated me with in this past year. Be strong as well, President Willard, I'm sure none of this transfer will be easy for you either and I'll be praying for you and your family... as I have always done. The Lord makes much more of us than we make of ourselves. I love you President Willard, with all my heart, thank you for being the perfect mentor to turn my broken heart and crushed spirit over to our Savior more.
Take care.
Love,
Elder Van Horne
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