April 28, 2014

Wow, this week just ended and I felt like it had just started. The time is slowly ticking down and the days are going by faster. This week we didn't do too much. We taught a lot of people and walked a lot.

We are still working working with L and D. He has changed his baptismal date for the 10th of May. But his wife no longer has a date.. We are working with her on that. I love this family and we have a really good friendship. We are hoping that we can teach her the importance so that she will want to do it with her husband. I was talking to ex Elder T and he thinks that he is the key. After L is baptized, I'm sure she will see it and wanna do it as well.

Thats one thing I have learned in the mission, that we can not force people to do the Lords will. Sometimes when we take people to church, I feel as if the people just go because we told them they need to and not because they wanted to. As a Missionary, I have learned that I need to do all that I can to teach about the importance of completing with the commandments and the blessings that they can receive from doing so. But I cannot force them to do it. It would be like getting talked into doing something that I never wanted to do and then hating it after. That's what happens here, a lot of missionaries convince the people they teach to get baptized and then the missionaries wonder why they never want to go back to church. We always have to remember that they have their own agency and that we can do nothing about it. We can teach them what they need to do but in the end, it is up to them if they want to follow it or not. That's where a true conversion comes in. That is when one actually does what they need to do because they WANT to do it, not because they feel obligated to do it. It's sad to see people reject the things we teach but we can't do anything about it other than pray and keep helping them all we can so they can realize for themselves that things the Lord has in store for them!!!

You have agency, and you are free to choose. But there is actually no free agency. Agency has its price. You have to pay the consequences of your choices.

~ Dieter F. Utchdorf

Our agency, given us through the plan of our Father, is the great alternative to Satan’s plan of force. With this sublime gift, we can grow, improve, progress, and seek perfection. Without agency, none of us could grow and develop by learning from our mistakes and errors and those of others…. I do not really think the devil can make us do anything. Certainly he can tempt and he can deceive, but he has no authority over us that we do not give him.

~James E. Faust

¡¡¡Les Amo MUCHO!!!

Elder Daugherty