last week at the CCM

August 7, 2014

HOLA!!! QUE TAL!

 

Well, another great week has come and gone! Its so crazy its already August! Before you know it school is going to be starting again, and before I know it I will be out in the mission field! I have one week left at the CCM. im freaking out just a little bit. I dont know enough Spanish and for a while I stressed and worried about that, but we had great devotionals this past week that changed my thoughs and views on learning Spanish. I have realized that I should wish that I had more time in the CCM because I cant speak Spanish very well, or know enough, or whatever... because as much as I would learn, I still wouldnt be doing anything to help move the work of the Lord forward. I think in every devotional we watched this week the speaker said the Spirit converts. That has really helped me. As long as we have the Spirit we can teach (D&C 50:13-14). Last night Elder Christopher Wadell of the 70 came and spoke to us. He said, "The Spirit converts. If you dont have the Spirit you will never succeed. And its true the other way around, if you have the Spirit you will always succeed. The Spirit is the key to everything you do." I loved this! Not only is it important for missionaries to have the Spirit with them, but its important for every single one of you to have the Spirit as well. How blessed we are to have the opportunity to have a member of the Godhead with us at ALL times IF we are worthy. I love the story of Ammon and how he was able to gather the Kings sheep and not lose a single one. If you read Alma 17:29 he was able to do this because of "the power which [was] in [him]" This power is the Spirit. Like Ammon, if we ahve the SApirit with us we can do anything the Lord wants us to do... even speak a language you dont know:)

Elder Wadell also told us about some changes that have recently been made with missionary work. He said (refering to missionaries today), "You are different. Your role is different. YOur mission is different. Your mission is not to baptize. Your role is to convert, retain and activate." In the past missionary work has been about numbers and convincing people to be baptized, now it is about CONVERTING so the members wont fall away after a few years. We need retention. Elder Wadell said now our goal is the temple. Baptism is just the beginning. Now as missionaries we will teach lessons 1-5 before baptism and teach all the lessons after baptism. We also will meet with and stay close to converts for at least a year after their baptism. I think this is so good. We dont want people getting baptized and then fall away after making covenants with God. I just look at how blessed we have been as a family to be sealed to one another for eternity. I am so excited that this is now the goal of missionary work. I am so grateful that the Trujillo temple will be finished by the end of next year ish so that the people in Chiclayo will have a temple closer to them.

This past week I went to migrations and interpol. We have drivers that take us everywhere and other people who work for the church that do all our paper work. It is so nice! Our drivers just drop us off and the other people meet us there and hand us a stack of papers to give to the government people. All we have to do is sign a few papers and put our finger prints on some papers. We we went we saw some elders who were just barely going to get their Peruvian ID/visa and they have been out for 20 months. So I guess you can live here illegally for a while, so I dont need to worry about that.

I am so grateful for everyones love and support! I am so excited to get out into the field and help bring people unto Christ. I know that we have a message that can change lives. I know this message is true!

 

Nos amo!

Hermana Monson