We have had an interesting month with highs and lows. Highs, when
someone catches the vision of who they are and who they can become, and lows
when they forget and return to their natural-man ways. We have determined
that a mission is as much for the missionary as for the people he or she
serves. With every day comes a new awareness of our shortcomings and
weaknesses; the mission experience accentuates all of that and has made it
clear to our view.
We have seen some good progress with members and investigators who are
coming out to activities and worship services.
We even celebrated “25 de Mayo,” Argentina’s Revolution Day with a big
party at the church where about sixty people came to celebrate and eat “Locro” with
us. Locro is a traditional dish made up
of cow stomach, cow tail, pig skin, pig feet, chicken wings, various sausages
and a few beans and vegetables. It took
hours to prepare and, along with live guitar and accordion music to sing and
dance to, provided the main attraction for the party.
One of our favorite experiences in teaching the gospel so far has been
with a family that lives out in a small hamlet near the mountains. They have been members of various churches
(Evangelist churches in particular) in the past but are still searching for the
true church of Jesus Christ. When we
first met them, they wanted to talk about prophets. We explained how the Bible is a record of
prophets from the middle east (Jerusalem and surrounding areas) and how The
Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ is a record of prophets in
this, the American continent. As we
explained how prophets were led from Jerusalem to other parts of the world and
that God still loved them and wanted to speak to all of his children through
prophets regardless of where they lived, you could see the light go on in their
heads and they understood. The father
even said, “so, that means there are probably other records written by other
prophets that we don’t even have or know about right now that will come to
light sometime in the future.” We
explained how the Bible and the Book of Mormon work together to testify that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he was crucified for the sins of the world
and that he resurrected and lives today.
Having two witnesses (books of scripture) that both testify of the same
Savior and his Gospel helps all of God’s children know that what the Bible
teaches really is true, that we have living prophets in our day, and that God always has and always will work through his prophets to teach his
children. They are really excited to
have this new knowledge and are reading parts of the Book of Mormon to gain their
own testimonies of its truthfulness. I
know it is a true book of scripture because I have read it and felt the witness
of the Holy Ghost as I read from its pages – it has changed my life. Anyone can know of its truthfulness with
surety if he or she will read and sincerely ask God if it is true - he will
answer.
