I'm Proud To Be An American

These past few weeks with Elder Martínez have been a total blast! As we go about serving the Lord and getting to know the people and area together, we are seeing many miracles.

Here are the highlights of the week:

For the 4th of July, we taught Elder Martínez how to celebrate America's birthday by playing real football for our morning exercise and cooking up hamburgers! Elder Martínez and I took the dub, thanks to his game-winning touchdown! It was legendary.

We found a less active member while we were contacting in the streets one morning. We quickly found out why he's inactive. He asked us to help him understand why "Mormons" believe in two Gods when there's only one God. He said, "Solo hay un Dios, ¿verdad? Y si solo hay un Dios, ¿entonces por qué tenemos a Jesucristo y Joseph Smith?" (There's only 1 God, right? And so if there's only 1 God, why do we have Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith?). I couldn't stop myself from laughing a little bit. It was also funny seeing the look on my companion's face after he shared his doubt with us. Obviously, he was a bit confused and probably never had a testimony of the church when he was baptized as a kid. We taught him the message of the Restoration to clarify and testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, not another God. After sharing the message, he seemed relieved and was excited to tell his wife and children, who are not members of the church, the truth. He said he would come to church and bring his family! So pray for Jared that he can have the desire to come back!

Elder Valeri V. Cordón of the General Seventy came to our ward conference to speak!

I just want to leave you guys with a scripture that has stood out to me a lot this week and has helped me throughout my entire mission:

"O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins by denying the justice of God. But do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart, and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.

31 And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, so that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according to my words. Amen." (Alma 42: 30-31)

Preaching the restored gospel of Jesus, helping people understand that it changes and lightens our lives, and bringing souls unto repentance brings me immense joy. I absolutely love being one of the Lord's Servants.

Have the best week!

Elder Felt