What’s up chakáles!
Happy September and happy fall, hope everyone is thrilled for another year of school! Hopefully the weather is still fantastic and everyone go on a bike ride up Emigration Canyon once the leaves start changing. Heckkk yeah! 🍂🍁
We had an absolutely fantastic week here in Valle Ceylán so in case anyone really cares to head about some random stories again, here we go!
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– On Friday we had Zone Conference with the 70, Elder Douglas, the president of the Mexico area, and had MLC with him on Saturday. Dang, he must have been inspired because we as a mission got some much revelation and new plans to improve as missionary work. The Spirit was exceptionally strong for those 2 days and I learned an absolute ton from him, such as the importance of being constantly uncomfortable in missionary work, the idea of desire -> priority -> decision -> action -> outcome (happiness or misery) which was really interesting, and his biggest focus was for sure the Sacrament. Why do we go to church every Sunday and invite our friends to come with us? Not to check a box, count a number, see some cool art, meet religious people, or even to listen to messages about the Savior. Those things are good and fantastic, but the only part that really matters is taking the Sacrament. Taking the Sacrament is literally participating in and receiving power from and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It renews all our Covenants, including in the temple and in baptism, sanctifies us, and we are promised to have the gift of the Holy Ghost. Taking the Sacrament is literally taking upon you Jesus Christ’s sacrafice and fills you with power, Spirit, healing, forgiveness, repentance, and purity. How absolutely awesome is that!! Think about the fact that you are literally participating in the Atonement of Jesus Christ this next Sunday when you take the Sacrament.
– Anyways I have way too much stuff I’d love to talk about from the meetings with Elder Douglas but I’ll cut it short and save it for later and just say that it was super spiritual and inspiring. He is a man called of God.
– We went on divisions this week with a trio, so I got to be in a trio for the day which was kind of fun and kind of super hectic, but we had a good time and saw some miracles!!
– Listened to a talk awhile ago called You Are Receiving Revelation and it talks about listening to the first thought that comes to your mind (as long as its something good) and not listening to the second, which is usually the one that says “no that’s dumb” or “that’s just me thinking”, and I’ve been trying to do that. We walked past this door one day and I thought “huh maybe we should knock that door” but second-guessed myself because we were on our way to a lesson. Finally, after like 20 seconds, I said something and we went back. We met Elyde, who came to church 2 days later and has a huge family that is super interested. I am SO excited for them and so grateful for the miracle. I love being a missionary!
– I saw 5 people crammed on 1 motorcylce. Now, it was a mom, dad, and 3 little girls under age 12 and over age 6, but still, tell me that’s not so impressive!
– We’ve been playing basketball lately with the bishopbric, the other elders, and the ward mission leader most mornings. I’m absolutely trash at basketball but it issss so fun and the trash talk is even more fun! I loveeee this ward.
– We were assigned to write talks for Zone Conference, based on the talk Put On Thy Strength, O Zion by Elder Bednar, and studying the talk was super cool. I would highly recommend reading it and seeing what you think, because I really love that talk now! Had a couple super spiritual moments while writing it.
– We taught English class which was really fun, until they asked about the verb “to get” which is like an odd combination of like 7 verbs in Spanish, but only under circumstances. I thinkkkk they left and generally understood “to get”, teaching English is a lot harder than I thought.
– Elyde and her sister gave us some horse meat, and laughed as we made faces. Kind of good, kind of funky, definitely new, and probably from a sketchy horse. So yeah, that’s its for that highlight!
Well, that’s about it for my highlights for this week! It was a great week and we are hoping for a couple baptisms this weekend! Please pray for Alberto and Francisco this weekend!
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Well, given that I’ve talked a bit about the Sacrament, I thought maybe I’d share an interesting scripture that I read this week that talks about justo eso. Here’s what Alma teaches in chapter 5, 33 and 34! I love the way he describes the invitation that Jesus Christ offers!
“Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.
Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely.”
Now THAT is cool! Nephi teaches that the tree of life “is the love of God, the most desirable above all things.”
Isn’t it interesting that Alma compares the love of God to the bread and water of life? We can literally partake of the fruit of the tree of life that Lehi spoke of when we take the Sacrament! Think about that too next time you take the Sacrament, it is something so special and will bring you literal power.
Now I think that’s all I’ve got for this week, but I’d invite you all to keep on studying about the Sacrament and understand the power that it has! Take upon you Christ’s name and the blessings are infinite!
Go have a super dope week and serve others in small and simple ways. Read your scriptures! Go make other people happy and you’ll be happy yourself! Remember that you’re always in my prayers and that I love you all tons!
Talk soon amiguines ❤️
Elder Crockett 🚲
