The Big Update

 Oi pessoal!

Sorry it's been so long. We usually go over to the other Elders apartment and have some fun on pdays, so I've been pretty bad about writing emails, but I'll be better, I only have a few more to write anyway. 

Pueblo has been awesome, the other missionaries I'm serving with and I have really become a band of brothers. It's awesome being able to joke and laugh with these Elders, and to also be able to help each other focus on the most important things in life, and help others find those things as well. The area I'm in is pretty small, we share the area with 2 other Elders. They have a much bigger portion, so they have the car, but even with the small population, we've been able to find some really cool people to teach. Sometimes as a missionary, it may feel as though everyone wants to tell you their problems, but the more I learn, the more I just want to share God's love for these people. Knowing that we have a Father in Heaven who has a plan specifically for us and loves us is one of the greatest comforts ever. 

On Saturday, we were able to do an earth day service at a big park with a bunch of other missionaries. It was super fun, and we all got free hot dogs at the end. If there's anything that motivates 19-21 year old guys, it's definitely free food. I don't think I've ever dug up so much grass, but it was a nice workout. We also got to see some cool birds that the park was taking care of that had been injured. Who would've thought that so many owls don't hoot? To be fair, I can't remember the last time I've heard a hooting owl, so maybe Elder Egbert and will go on some adventures to find some and keep you posted. 

And we don't just do service sparingly, when we say we'll do whatever you need help with, we mean it! We were able to help a lady named Donna move a lot of things from her house and were able to talk with her more about Jesus Christ and his restored  gospel. When she asked if we could get a few things from her storage unit we thought it would just be a little bit, but we had no idea what we were in for. Donna is pretty hilarious, and she was afraid of thieves, so she used tons of zip ties, rods, bars, and who knows what else to tie all her stuff up. We ended up filling a U-Haul truck after finally dismantling it all enough to sort through. She said she wants to sell it. Donna also LOVES to talk, teaching  her is an experience. Even though we don't get out much, I've met a ton of interesting people. 

Sam is the person we're teaching who's preparing to be baptized. Sam is awesome, and so committed to the gospel, even if parts are hard for him. Sam doesn't have much but is so willing to give of what he has. He also told us that instead of getting rides, he's committed to biking all the way to church! Even though I'm on a bike, he's probably outdoing us. Seeing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ change people for the better is one of the greatest joys a missionary can have. 

Lately I've been reading a lot in the Old Testament. I've also been listening to some wonderful talks from Apostles of the Lord, so I might have to refrain from sharing 100 scriptures or so, but I'll try to stick with a few. 

The book of Micah has a lot of verses that really stuck out to me. Micah is actually quoted more often than you'd think, and chapter 5 even contains the specific prophesy that Jesus Christ will be born in Bethlehem, which is quoted in the new testament. Micah spends a lot of time prophesying the doom of his people due to their wickedness, but also speaks of the gathering of Israel in the last days, showing how the Lord will love his people, and always give them a chance to repent and come back to him. In chapter 6, Micah describes what the Lord really wants from us. Verses 7 and 8 read: "Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

For all the many things the law of Moses required man to do, none of it meant anything without a loving and humble heart. I love these verses because they show the Lord wants us to do good things, but it should be because we love him and are becoming like him, not because we are trying to follow a checklist to get into Heaven. 

The last verse I wanted to use is from Micah is chapter 7 verse 8: "when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." Jesus Christ is the one that lifts us up after we have fallen. He is the light of the world, a light we can look too even when we feel like we're surrounded by darkness. When we're the most lost, he is the one that can lead us back to the right path and help us on our way home. I know that God loves each and every one of you, and that his son is anxious to help you follow his example and become like him.