You are not alone.
Dear family.
My word, I love you all so much. I am so grateful that we are a family and that we can be together forever someday. That is the miracle of the Gospel. That is the purpose of missionary work. Our purpose is to bring people to the temple to make covenants with the Lord for all time and eternity. Consequently, you have to first be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that this church is true. I love this church. I love this work.
I had a dream a few nights ago that I went on divisions with Elder Oaks from the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. THAT would be pretty awesome. Well, this week was fantastic!!! We are teaching a family: Rosimery, Henrique, and Gustavo. I´ll just start off by saying they are amazing! They will be baptized at the Chapel Dedication (which will be on the 19) They are so awesome. We taught them the first lesson last week. Gustavo and Henrique went to church on Sunday (we had 11 investigators!!!) They loved it. It was super awesome. They want to serve missions!! Henrique can go in a year! They will be fantastic missionaries. Rosimery told us yesterday that Gustavo used to be very rebellious, but from the day that we passed by, he has completely changed. He will just grab the Book of Mormon and read it. He reads by himself, he´ll read it to his mom. He has changed because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am really gaining a huge testimony of the Book of Mormon. I know that any person who reads it with real intent will receive an answer and know that it is true. I know that the Book of Mormon changes our nature. It increases the Spirit in our lives. I have grown to love the Book of Mormon here on the mission.
We are also teaching a wonderful family that is now on the quest to stop smoking. They are doing really well and will only continue to do better. I am super excited for them.
We also brought a family to church. They are super catholic. Everyone went except for the mom. It was wonderful. Their dad said, "We are only going because we promised you a visit." He liked it fair enough but the problem is that his kids loved it. They are planning on coming next weekend! How neat. What a wonderful problem. They are reading the Book of Mormon and are praying for an answer.
Franciele (Juliano´s wife) has almost completely stopped smoking and will be baptized at the dedication. Everyone is super exicited and we are working like bees to get everything in order for the open house and the dedication.
I love the Lord and I love the mission. I was reading the scriptures and I found a part in Alma that described a mission perfectly. It says:
"26 But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls.
27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to aturn back, behold, the Lord bcomforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear withcpatience thine dafflictions, and I will give unto you success.
28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.
29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their asynagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been bstoned, and taken and bound with cstrong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.
30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our ajoy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.
31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the afruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are bmany; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us." (Alma 26:26-31)
This is the true church. This is the work of the Lord. I love this church. I know that God lives. I love Him and I love His son Jesus Christ.
Don´t Stop Believing! See you soon!!!
Com Amor!
-Elder Nathan Palmer Askins
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