The Road to Discipleship - May 29, 2017

Hello Everyone, Well this week was a great week because we finally got to see Juan get baptized. It was so awesome to see how prepared he was and the baptism service was so awesome because he bore his testimony and thanked us so many times for sometimes fighting him and pushing him to realize all of the blessings that he could recieve. The elder that did his interview talked about how Juan was telling him about his goal to get sealed in the temple in a year and that was the vision that he had. Juan was getting baptized because he was willing to start his road to discipleship with his vision focused on the eternal covenants that are made in temples. It was interesting because for the last lesson with Juan before his interview we had Oscar come with us to teach and he shared the scriputre in Doctrine and Covenants 18 that talks about how the worth of a soul is great. I think about all the time and energy that we put into the lessons with Juan. I remember at the start when we began teaching them the tiredness that we felt as we left those lessons, not physically but emotionally and spiritually. It was an investigator and now convert that I felt like I put all of my heart, might, mind and strength into helping him recognize and recieve the blessings of the eternal love of our Heavenly Father in his life. And as I look back, we put everything in, and yet we still, at times, came up short of being able to help him. There were times that we felt inadequate, or other times where we felt that there were no more answers, but in the end we saw and felt the hand of God be made manifest in the life of Juan, and he was able to recognize it in the end as well. It was a huge blessing to see him finally be baptized on Friday. We continue to be showered with blessings here in San Blas to continue to find new investigators. There were days where we had to contact a lot, and we didnt find anyone. But then we would see a member and they would tell us about a friend or relative that they have that we needed to visit. It is amazing to see the desire of the people here to share the gospel and be willing to invite us into their homes. We continue to try to be blessings to the people rather than look for our blessings. The other great thing that has been happening this week is the progress of Jorge, the last member of the soccer team that has been listening to us. Carlos and Germain have been passing the sacrament these past few weeks, and Jorge has been able to see that. More than anything, we know that Carlos and Germain arent teaching Jorge the gospel, but they are showing it to him and that is what is helping him to progress. We are hoping to see Jorge get baptized this week and see him be able to participate alongside Germain and Carlos. But this story is better. 2 months ago we got word that the San Blas Branch was getting ready to close and the new alignment had already been made to split it and join it to the other wards here. Following the baptism of Germain a few weeks ago, we got word that that had been cancelled, and that San Blas was now going to become a ward in July! They said that with these baptisms and the growth that had come through it then it was reason enough to create a ward here instead. Not only are Carlos and Germain doing all that they can to progress, they are helping the kingdom of God to progress too. It is amazing to see these teenage boys make the work progress so much for their desire to do more and be more. This week has been a week that has helped me to look to try to become more like the Savior. I have seen the examples of these converts and to see what they are doing has inspired me. They are teaching me far more than I could teach them. Their desire to become like the Savior and follow in his footsteps is helping others to do the same. They are being a light to the world. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. The light that all of these people have shown is simply through their good works that they have shown, and I hope that more than anything, who I am and what I do inspires others to be more and do more. I have learned that this is what discipleship means, to become more like the Savior each and every day and demonstrate it each day. I am so happy to be able to teach this amazing message to the people of San Blas each day. I hope that you all have a great week. Elder Peterson

Baptism of Juan

Teaching Germain how to tie his tie