Que onda chakalones!!
Hello!! I sure hope you’ve had a great week, what is up? How has life been? How was your week? How’s summer?
We had a pretty normal week this week, but normal is great and joyful! It’s so weird that I’m already almost at that point in the mission…but until then we keep working a todo dar!
Anyways…
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– We worked a lot. We worked a lot of new places, a lot of different kinds of contacts, a lot of creative stuff!! We walked all over, talked to people in an old and weird and funky mall, and tried lots of new stuff. It’s good to keep out of the routine and to challenge yourself to be creative–we learned lots of new stuff and met some awesome people!
– Went and got another arrachera burrito from TaquerÃa Las Cazuelitas and holy smokes it really is as good as I remember. I’m about ready to consider how damaging it would be to my health and to my wallet if I got one every night.
– On Friday, we went to my last Zone Conference, which was super inspiring and at the same time so sad to think about!! I learned so much from the Bradys again, especially about faith and showing our commitment to the Savior by action, not just word. I especially loved that President asked us the question: are you doing things or building your life your way, or the Lord’s way? He talked about what it means to be a witness of Jesus Christ, and how to live after our purpose, both as missionaries but especially as lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. Am I a witness and representative of Jesus on Sundays, or every day? What’s my biggest purpose? I learned so much and I felt like the messages were tailored to me! It was so good.
– Our friends Arturo and Enrique came to church again and loved it!! I was super grateful for the peace, comfort, and forgiveness that I felt while taking the Sacrament and I hope they felt the same. Being a missionary has absolutely changed my perspective of the Sacrament: my week is filled with protection and joy as we remember why we take the Sacrament and who it represents. It’s amazing!
– We are officially back into the thick of rainy season. Blazing hot in early afternoon and downpour right as we leave lunch. You would think after 23 months that I’d have learned my lesson and leave the apartment each day a little more prepared…
– Went with Elder Leavitt and we visited Ivonne in Casas Alemán. She made us some very spicy chilaquiles and gave us each a capybara backpack. My goodness I have way too many capybaras from that family. It was tons of fun to talk to them for awhile and visit with them, it’s so sad to say goodbye! I have made so many amazing friends here in Mexico City and I am so grateful for each of them and the ways they’ve changed my life.
Yeah! That was about all the mentionable things that happened this past week. It was a great, joyful week of working hard, being creative, testifying of Jesus Christ and trying to be more sincere about everything I do. I’m so grateful for a Savior who makes up the rest for my imperfections and promises to make me whole by His grace, if I give Him my heart.
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I love faith. I love trying to understand what true faith is, and learn how to deepen my own faith. I love the power and peace exercising faith in Jesus Christ brings into my life. I love that the Bradys had us each write a talk about Faith in Jesus Christ in preparation for Zone Conference! Here’s a few things I learned while writing that talk.
Faith, as I think we’ve heard many times, isn’t simply a belief–it’s an action. Faith isn’t simply believing in Jesus Christ and that He is your Savior, it’s showing your belief and trust in Him by doing all that He asks and creating a relationship with Him.
Or, as James 1: 22 invites,
“be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only”.
I love two kinds of faith, deeper and more meaningful than just faith, that the Book of Mormon teaches about. Those are…
Unshaken faith (Jacob 4: 6) and exceedingly great faith (Alma 13: 3) which is better said in spanish as exceptional faith.
Luckily, the Book of Mormon tells us exactly how Jacob, Joseph, Alma, and the high priests he taught with got such a deep or different faith, mentioned rarely in the Book of Mormon.
Jacob and Joseph (paraphrasing) “studied the prophets, believed in Christ and worshipped the Father in His name, received many revelations, and kept the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to Him”.
Alma and the high priests were chosen adn had such exceptional faith because of their “repentance, good works, having chose good, choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish”
I love that we can deepen our faith by such simple and seemingly routine means. Study the words of the prophets. Repent mulitple times a day. Be obedient to God’s laws–they point our souls to Jesus Christ. Go out and do good. Choose righteousness over death.
If I had more time I’m sure I’d ramble much longer but I’ll leave you with that. Your Heavenly Father wants to have a much deeper relationship with you. How are you going to deepen your faith in Him? The Book of Mormon will give you plenty of plans and ideas to do just that!!
I love you so much. I keep praying for you! I hope you have an amazing week.
Talk so soon!
Elder Crockett 🫂
