That Endeavor

Dear..... Whoever-the-duce-is-reading-this,

Life is good. Yesterday, we had a Branch Conference here in Cuicatlan. Since this is not a Stake but a District, President Reeves presides. We weren´t sure if he would take the 5 hour drive to get here at 10:00 am, but sure enough he did!

I would like to share a story that President Reeves told about his father.  This is far from a sad story, but a truly happy one that shows true faith and understanding in the Plan of Salvation. 

DISCLAIMER: This story is NOT word for word and only a few of the quotes are directly from the mouth of President Reeves. He has shared this story on many occasions.

President Reeves´ father had terminal cancer and had been fighting this condition for a few months.  In the midst of his struggle, his wife passed away and left him feeling alone.  His kids were always near by and always cared for their father, but as much strength as he had to fight cancer, he had no desire to fight loneliness.  That next Thanksgiving, President Reeves entered the room of his father to find him sitting up in his bed with a bowl  in his lap.  He asked his dad what he was doing to which came the response,  "I am trying to eat, but I’m not hungry.  I just can’t eat with this medicine."

 President Reeves then moved closer to the bedside of his father and asked him,  "How ya doin Pop?"  "Son, This has been a good day.  My old friend President Monson called and we talked all morning."  You see, President Monson called him because he was sick and wanted to help, but because of his agenda and all that he had to do, a visit to his old friend was not possible.  President Monson did, however, ask what he could do to help.  The reply of that sick and dying man is one that we would all do well to remember.  He said, "You are a man very near to God.  I know that if you ask Him, He will deliver.  I miss my wife.  I love her so much and all I want is to be at her side.  Can you do that for me?  Can you help me see my wife again?"  The Prophet responded,   "Tomorrow, we are holding a meeting of the leadership of the church.  We will pray for you."  Not 3 days passed before that the prayer was answered.  He was once again united with his wife.  And he would never be separated from her again.

His father truly understood and had faith in the Plan of Salvation . He knew that he would see his wife again.  He knows that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God and that through his guidance; we can all find eternal happiness.  He knew that Christ died for him, his wife and for all of his posterity so that they could all be together in the glory of Him who loves us and created us to the end that we could all attain all that He has.  I share that testimony.  I desire, that in my last days, I will show that unshaken faith in my Savior and in that Plan that the Father has created for us.  I hope you can all join me in that endeavor.

Elder Heath, signing out.

Just an Update

Well this week went well FO SHO!!!!!  Jose Francisco and Ramiro were baptized yesterday and they were just awesome!  We had about 25 people show up for their baptism and we were only expecting like 5.  They really appreciated it.... and the cake and soda that a sister brought.  Hahaha.  The water was cold, yes.  But it was CLEAN and that is the most important part!  Hahaha.  They are really firm in this choice and I don’t think that it will be anytime soon if EVER that they fall away from activity in the church and keeping the commandments of God.  They are solid!

Our other investigators are kinda iffy at the moment.  I don’t know what happened.  Guillermo just disappeared with his wife.  Panfila and Carmen are not reading nor are they praying as we taught them.  I haven’t given up hope, but there is just “something in the water”.  

We found a future investigator but I already forgot her name.  It was hard to hear her speak because there were taxis right behind us.  Also, this one guy that is always drunk and begging us for money just walked up to us the other day in the street and wanted to meet with us in his house.  He wasn’t drunk, that I could tell, and he gave us the name of a member to bring with us if we wanted.  Wow.  That was amazing.

Well folks, that’s my update for now. Not much time since we got back late from some service in another side of the District.  I love you all and I thank you for your love and support!!!

Elder Heath

            This drawing is one of mine.  

I caught it!  Mwah ha ha!!!

A rare green iguana. 

A poisonous white lizard on my desk.

                                        
                                

Friends piled in to attend the baptism.

                                       
                                

Elder Herrera baptized Ramiro.

I baptized Jose Francisco.

Always Changing

Well there was another change in my area.  The baptism that we had planned for this week with Jose and Ramiro, has been changed for this next week so that Ramiro´s mom can be there.  She is really great and probably a future member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.  We haven’t taught her, but we explained a few things to her because she was wondering about the baptism and what we were teaching her son, and she just accepted what we said and threw in her own great comments.  She left quickly though to get back to work.

Guillermo is still going, though we can see him once a week.  His wife was in the lesson too and she said that it wouldn’t be easy to leave the Catholic church because they have their images and all that.  She straight up said "images".  I quickly wanted to respond with the 10 commandments, but I was held back.  I just had to wait for something.  Her husband then found the scripture in the Bible and told her,  "See?  It says it right here, in Bible and clearly, that images are wrong."  She was silent.  Very silent.  We dropped the point and moved on to other things that probably hit her as well, just not directly.

We weren’t able to meet with Panfila, the woman that had the dream about her brother, nor her daughter-inlaw, Carmen. We will work with them this week.

Now, for this AWESOME general conference.  I just want to talk a little about what Sister Dalton said about raising little girls.  I loved it.  I put that into missionary work.  How can the investigators know what to look for in the church of Christ?  How we treat our companions is the first step.  How we treat the other members is the second and how we treat them is the third.

For members, how they treat their families and their leaders.  Are you respecting those that you have a calling to serve?  If you don’t have a calling, are you loving those that ask you to help them in their callings with support and service?  If you aren’t, why would anyone want to join a church that has no support?  

Christ is the foundation of this church.  But a foundation has corner stones and does not go on forever.  How then can we have Christ for our foundation if we are not standing on that foundation, but wandering off.  Love every person, including yourself, and you will see growth.  Love your wife, and your daughters will know what to expect when it is their turn.  Mothers, respect the righteous guidance of your husbands, and your sons will not fail in finding a worthy and a loving wife when it is time.  

President Reeves always talks about marriage to us.  Not to make us want to move past our missions, but so that we can use our missions to prepare.  This is our time to prepare because this is where we are.  Where are you?  Great.  That is your place and your time to prepare.  Be an example to help the future generation prepare as well.  

I was pretty much writing what came to my head so I hope it makes sense because I have NO time to correct it.

I love you all!!! "Be good and be good for something." - President Hinkley

Elder Heath

GOLD!!!

WE HAD CHANGES!!!!  Elder Herrera is my new comp and he is bien chistoso (very funny).

Creo que nosotros vamos a tener un cambio bien suave.  Èl quiere trabajar porque su ultimo comañero no trabajò mucho  (I believe we are going to have a very cool transfer.  He wants to work because his last companion did not work very much)

We already talked about all that and I told him that we have a lot of work and I want it ALL done at the end of this six weeks. He then said, "Pues, podemos divertirnos un poco. Estoy bien con algunas cosas." Yo dijè,  (‘Well, we can have a little fun.  I’m okay with a few things’)

"Yo no. Yo voy hacer todo correcto y si no me quiere seguir, no voy a jalarlo. Pero voy a poner el ejemplo."   (‘Not me, I’m going to do everything right and if you don’t want to follow my lead, I’m not going to drag you.  However, I will set an example for you’)

I`m a little proud of that because I don`t have the most will power in the world, but I am really getting better. My time with Hernandez helped a lot.  I wasn`t having problems with Elder Hernandez, but he stopped talking to me and I could just feel that there was something under his skin.  I figured that I shouldn`t pull it out so I asked only once.  He said there was nothing so I dropped it.  We ended working really well.  We found 3 people this last week and they are AWESOME!!!

First is Guillermo (WIlliam in English).  He started off telling us that he knows that his church is wrong and that it is as revelations says, "La gran Ramera del mundo". (‘Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth’)   I forgot how to say it in English.

He is looking for the truth and believes our words that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and he is VERY excited to read it.  He said, "Solo es que.... SIENTO algo quando ustedes hablan de este libro y yo creo que es verdad. Yo quiero saber mas de Cristo entonces estoy muy emocional a leer este escritura."  GOLD!!!!  (‘It’s only that… I feel something when you speak of this book and I believe that it is true.  I want to know more about Christ so I am very excited to read this book of scripture, GOLD!!!’)
Next is Carmen. She told us she lived in Tijuana for years with her family, but her brother got lost somehow. They don`t know where he is. He had papers to go to America so it`s possible he is there, or so she thinks. She then said that they were very close. 

One night she had a dream that he came to her and said, "Yo estaba castigado, pero Mamà vino a salvarme y ahora soy libre.  Aqui esta Mamà."  (‘I was punished, but Mom came to save me and now I’m free.  Mom is here’)

Her mother then walked out from behind him. She woke up crying from joy. I don`t know why I asked this because it was just very random with the conversation, but I asked, "Y cuantos años tiene su Mamà?"  (‘and how old is your mom?’)

"Ella murio hace muchos años."  (‘She died many years ago’)

We then knew what happened to her brother but we didn`t have time to explain it to her at that moment and it just seemed better to let her realize it on her own, so we left the.... folleto (pamphlet) of the Plan of Salvation and testified of what it was and how it is truly the plan that God has for us. I am super excited about teaching her!!!

That`s my time yall! I love you and I hope you are all well! I will be commenting of General Conference and the speakers for the next few weeks so be sure to tune in!!!

Elder Heath

(English translation offered by David Manuele , Colton’s brother in-law.)

Thank you

This is just a general message.  I’m not feeling very well today and I’m keeping this short.  

I love you all and I want to thank you all for your letters: Lanae, David, Jared, Mitch and Mom.  Thank you for the advice and for the uplifting messages.  I want to let you ALL know that I love you and that I am keeping you in my prayers each night.  

Look for the blessings because they are there even if it is simply in a well needed and unexpected smile from a loved one. It is a great thing to have someone love you and have them near to you.  That is the hardest part of a mission, not having all that love in your face every day regaurdless of how much you give to others.  But the sacrifice brings forth eternal blessings and I wouldn’t trade this for any amount of time in my house.  I couldn’t see my family before November 26, 2012 and  be happy.

 I love you all and I never want a single one of you to think that I am forgetting you or don’t pray for you because I do and I am.  Thank you so much for your support and love.  I feel it over this great distance.

Sincerely,

Elder Heath