We have found a ton of people to teach, We just hit ten baptismal dates here in Nogal, which means ten people have accepted to be baptized on a certain day. So we are doing work.
One of the people we found this week that is of special mention is Felipe. He is Catholic raised, was baptized in the Pentecostal church, but still hasn’t received the gift of the Holy Ghost. So his doubts were, how can he get the gift, and what is his purpose on the earth? Is there really a true church of God? So we had a very pleasant chat in a local bakery (because he had people repairing stuff in his house), and he accepted that we go back this Wednesday.
Laura was supposed to be baptized on Saturday but didn’t have the right amount of attendances and also, we haven’t been able to teach the commandments, so we are going to keep on going slow but steady with her.
Another remarkable experience, but truly a miracle, was I fasted on Thursday, and I asked that somebody in the street would stop me and be interested in our message.
I fasted, and it happened! As we passed a corner, I saw this lady’s jaw just drop as she looked at us, and she said ¨The Elders!!!¨ So her son was baptized ten years ago, one other member of her family just got back from his mission to Peru, and that same morning, her son that was baptized ten years ago was telling her that they needed to get back to church. And we found them that same day. God hears our specific prayers. And beside that, another six people stopped me in the street and just gave me their phone numbers and addresses (sadly only one other lived in the area), so it was a great confirmation of my personal knowledge that the message is true, and that somebody up above wants me to share it.
Beside that, my Mission President asked me to visit a person living in my area who has been traveling, searching for spiritual guidance. So we found him, taught him, and just had a pretty intense lesson with somebody who was a missionary (in Saint Louis!) to a person who doesn’t even believe in God nowadays. We gave him a blessing through the authority of the priesthood that only we profess to have, in a legitimate manner, and he started to cry. I shared a scripture, Alma 32, and he mentioned that it’s the ONLY scripture in the Book of Mormon he didn’t think Joseph Smith wrote. Another cord struck. I know God also guided me during that visit.
So just imagine if I would write you guys everything that happens to me every week. Honestly my life is pretty good. It’s been hard, but it’s never been an option to just go home. There are people who need to learn more about the Restoration here in Colombia, and I’ve been called of God to preach it.
Also, we had the opportunity to be visited by Elder Zivic, who talked in the General Conference a few days back. he talked to us about a lot of things that we can focus more on to have more success as missionaries, and he was just super funny. A special witness of Jesus Christ, a seventy, like Moses had, or like Jesus called to go before him. A great experience.
I have so much more to say but I just promise that these last seventeen weeks of my mission that I'm going to be a better writer and just try to get it all typed out so I can stun all of you!
I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that because of it I know that God has a plan for me, called the Plan of Salvation, or the Plan of Redemption, or the Plan of
happiness, or the Plan of our Eternal God. All of these phrases come from the Book of Mormon. We search the Bible, and this phrase ¨Plan of Salvation¨ or any phrase that could refer to the same plan, is not found! We can search the Bible to know how to be saved. Is it through works, or grace? And we can just look at how many different churches are with so many different beliefs to know that there's no good answer, no matter how convinced anybody could be on the topic. We can look at the importance of ordinances, is it important to be baptized? OR do I just have to confess Jesus in my heart to be baptized? Why was Jesus baptized? Is it baptism at birth, or as a person capable of making decisions, of sinning? Does God really know me? Why does he permit so many bad things in this world if He exists?
happiness, or the Plan of our Eternal God. All of these phrases come from the Book of Mormon. We search the Bible, and this phrase ¨Plan of Salvation¨ or any phrase that could refer to the same plan, is not found! We can search the Bible to know how to be saved. Is it through works, or grace? And we can just look at how many different churches are with so many different beliefs to know that there's no good answer, no matter how convinced anybody could be on the topic. We can look at the importance of ordinances, is it important to be baptized? OR do I just have to confess Jesus in my heart to be baptized? Why was Jesus baptized? Is it baptism at birth, or as a person capable of making decisions, of sinning? Does God really know me? Why does he permit so many bad things in this world if He exists?
Well, if you have ever had any of those questions. I would invite you to read The Book of Mormon, where you will find a sufficient answer to every question I just mentioned, not excluding many other question that are often asked. I have read the book about eight times and a half during my mission, and I know that with the book, there is power. I share that with all of you because in nineteen months, I personally, me, Elder Tracy (or Connor Ross Tracy) have baptized a Catholic priest, a Jehovah's Witness, Evangelic Pastoras (women pastors), a Jew, and a lot of people who didn't believe before. And I don't name the religions to just put another feather in my hat, but to say that The Book is the difference. It wasn't me. I've just had the privilege.
Elder Tracy
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