January 7, 2013

It's a NEW YEAR!

How are things going back home?  Things are going well here.  It was
pretty nice weather on Wednesday and Thursday, I think, but these last
few days have been HOT again.  Things are going well here.  It was
actually a bit of a slow week in some ways.  However, there were some
pretty exciting events.

First of all, MARA GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!  It was really
exciting.  She had been investigating and attending church for the
last 2 or 3 years and finally made the decision to be baptized. It was really inspiring to be able
to see her make so many changes.  It was spiritually very powerful to
see her get baptized.  You could see a real conviction with all of her
heart to serve her Savior and do His will.  As she bore her testimony
after her baptism, I could feel a very real power as she testified
with simple but powerful declarations of truth and the innermost
convictions of her heart.  It helped me to confirm in my own heart my
own testimony that God is our Heavenly Father.  Jesus Christ is the
Savior of the world.  He lives and guides His church.  The Gospel of
Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth in perfect purity.  And
anyone that wants to know that can and will receive an answer from
God.

Yesterday in church, there was something really exciting that
happened.  An inactive member that we have been visiting showed up to
Sacrament Meeting for the first time in over a year.  The fact is that
we didn't even notice that we had come until we visited him later in
the day and told us that he had come.  It is always really great
especially to be able to help Melchizedek priesthood holders to be
able to return back because you know that they will be able to do
great things in being able to help there families become strong in the
Gospel and receive all of the blessings that are available to them.  I
really hope that he can continue to make the following steps so that
he can come back to full activity and help his family to do the same.
One other thing that I am really excited for is the fact that we are
working with several people, helping them to return back to church so
that their children can be baptized.  I have the personal goal of
helping those fathers to prepare so that they can be able to baptize
their own children and share in the very powerful spiritual experience
that they can have that day.  I can't think of anthing that could help
a family more than being able to help fathers become worthy to
exercise the Priesthood to be able to bless their own families.  Then
they can start the path to being sealed together eternally as a
family.

Today we went to a museum here in Santa Cruz.  It was really neat.  It
is actually a pretty good museum with some good exhibits.  It was fun
to especially see a bit more about the history of the earth along with
a more focused history of Chile and this part of the world.

Responding to Mom's question, yes there was a small earthquake here.
I could feel it but it wasn't all that intense.  I have felt stronger
ones will I have been here, but it's always nice to have something to
make life a little more exciting. 

Well I think that is about all for now.  I hope that all is good back
home.  I will talk to you later.

Chao,
Elder Stollenwerk