One By One

Elder Rasband came by. In my mission that makes two apostles. I know there are apostles on the earth, being in the presence of an apostle is something else, when I was thinking about all he talked about and why he had came a question came to my mind....Why do they keep coming to Peru?.... This is my answer.

There are about 14 million people in Lima. 5 missiones so about 1000 misisonaries. On Average, each mission baptizes 100 people every month. 500 every people every month In a year that is 6000 people. Home of 41 stake centers, and soon to be 2 temples. Bogota Colombia is about the same size of Lima, they have about 10 stake centers.. That is just Lima...

Peru has 30 million people and 557,000 members of the church. There are two operating temples and two that have been announced. The first temple was dedicated in 1986. Think of that. 

Because of so many great blessings President Boswell has been tightning us up lately. On things so small, and yet so important. I have come to know that we are a very, very obedient mission. President Boswell is a powerful mission president, he is my best example, and has changed my life. By Small and Simple things, great things come to pass.

Even though the church soars towards 16 million members worldwide, we get treated one, by one. When Jesus Christ came to the Americas he invited everyone, one by one, to touch him, and to know he is the savior. Elder Rasband shook each of our hands, one by one. The lord loves his children. When I am in a lesson I do my very best to make sure that person, to me, in that moment, is the only person important in the whole world. so they too can feel the love of being treated, one by one.

Another great week down.

Miracles. Chosen people. One couple is Yanela and Leonel.... they are great. he is a member from a long time ago and she has been coming to church every single Sunday for 3 years. They have three daughters, not married. The other week they called us and said, "Elders, We did it. We are married. We want to be baptized" We had visited them in the past but ever since they got married they saw the light at the end of the tunnel and they will not be stopped. I am brought to tears as I think of the future of their three little girls who's lives are forever changed because of the decision of two parents.

Finally,

I am living with my first companion in the MTC. Elder Derr. 22 months have passed since I lived with him, last night I got talking to him (I really like taking) I stood amazed at the person he has become. As I kneed last night to thank the lord, I was filled with gratitude for the way our potter, the lord jesus christ takes us, the clay, and makes us men. Then my thoughts got turned to a missionary I knew who left and threw in the towell after the MTC.... After 22 months, he has missed it all. He has missed it all.

Why do missionaries change so much? In two years I have come to know more than 5000 people. Investigatores, members, people in the street, parents, kids, teenagers, and who else knows, and there is the answer..... You can't get to know 5000 people and not be changed. That elder who threw in the towell, threw in the towell on more than 5000 people. Every single person matters, one, for one. That is something, he will probably never come to know.

I hope we can all love another one by one. Look into someones eyes and talk to them, knowing someones name can make a difference.

Have a great week.

1. The mission has taught us how to live poor.

2. The craziest thing you will see our mission doing is drawing our favorite book of mormon stories with chalk at the church part of our zone meeting.

3. The best way to make people feel loved is publicly compliment them.