Coming off a High from Work of Salvation Broadcast

Fammmilliaaa como les va este verano?

I think everything is going well from the sounds of everything... Even Dad is getting some sweet relief from the Texas heat in beautiful San Diego! haha the bad thing is going camping in July is not the best way to avoid the heat... but I'm sure you'll have fun with the whole fam there!

Wow I am coming off a high from last nights national broadcast of the Work of Salvation! Did you guys see that? I hope so because Missionary Work has changed and will keep changing for the better! It really got me so excited to start working more with the members. 

I have seen both sides of the Work here in my mission, when members are fully involved and when the work is pretty much done by the missionaries and I can fully testify that it goes way better when the members play an active role in finding, teaching, and retaining investigators. We as missionaries are here to help with Missionary Work, not to do it all. We are full time teachers, while the members are full time finders. (see David A Bednar, Ask in Faith) 

The members have an opportunity to gain friendships that missionaries just don't have. The first thing that someone thinks when we knock their door is "oh no what does he want to sell me?" The members have a chance to be an example of someone normal, (or not always in shirt and tie) of how members of our church are blessed by the Gospel, and is much easier for them to find prepared people to teach then we are. I just loved the words of Elder L. Tom Perry last night as he announced that we are going to change how missionary work is done. Can you just imagine how fast the work would progress if every member fasted and prayed for missionary opportunities and for the valor to act on the promptings? It would be something amazing... we are all missionaries whether we have a black tag or not! 

I would invite everyone to feel how a missionary feels when he shares the restored Gospel with someone. As Elder Oaks once said, "We are not just looking for people to add to our congregations, we are opening the doors to the Celestial Kingdom, no one else can do it.." I am just really pumped for what was said last night.. Lets do it!

Okay, I believe I should also report just a bit of history that was made just about 2 hours ago. The classic Latino vs. Gringo soccer game was once again played today and after losing 9 times in a row, we finally pulled the upset. That's right, after getting out to a 3-0 lead we took the game 5-3. It was incredible, and I believe we will never play again, haha.

Well as of now in our area we are preparing 2 people for baptism this week, they are Harrison Castro, who I told you about last week, and Selatiel Cruz. Selatiel has been an investigator for a whiiillee now and has finally decided that now is the time to enter in the covenant of baptism. He is the father of Daniela, who got baptized in April. His case is really interesting because the familia took a lot of heat for the Church's sake, Daniela has been the victim of a lot of attacking by a lot of familiares and friends. We even went to their house one time while a pastor from another church was trying to convince them to leave the church. 

We have been consistent in helping through a bunch of doubts, but the faith of the familia is really what is getting them through. I really think that the adversity is what really helped Selatiel gain a real testimony. It was put to the test quick and when he had to stand up for his daughter and the decision that she made he found himself testifying of things he wasn't sure he knew. Luckily, Heavenly Father blesses that kind of faith with pure testimony and that is what helped him progress. I was so grateful to be a witness of another miracle, because so many times I have seen faith torn down by that same manera (way). People get their faith questioned and back away in fear of what they cannot see, without a full rooted testimony based on revelation provided by the Holy Ghost, it is hard to remain faithful. But there are cases where faith overcomes fear and hope overcomes doubt, and that is nothing short of a miracle.

Things are still going well in the Branch, the news of the chapel has lit a fire under the members! We are having trouble fitting into the casa capilla, and so it is stressful thinking of how we are going to accommodate but I'm sure something will work out for the mean time. I will try to get pictures of the casa capilla next time seeing as how I have never sent pictures of it. (sorry mom, really...) haha

Cambios (transfers) are coming this next week and I am more than nervous thinking that I might get changed, I don't want to think about it right now but lets just say that will be more than sad. Elder Inga and I are going on 2 cambios together and a third is super rare in the mission. I'm trying to sneak little hints that I would love to stay in my letters to President.... haha just kidding but I know that it is the Lord who directs this Work.

Anyways thanks for all the support and mom and dad for the great letters and pics. I take back EVERY smug comment I have ever made of dad´s excessive picture taking... haha but really.

Have a great week and I will write you again next week!

Elder Eliason

Pics next week I promise!