In case you didn't know, we didn't see General Conference here in Peru. Sunday was city and regional elections, so Conference wasn't presented at the stake centers (church buildings), but we'll end up watching it this Saturday and Sunday. Our Mission President, being very wise, instructed us to not chill out with the members to watch Conference, but to take advantage of this time to look for as many new families to teach as we can. So that's what we did.
We knocked on like 8 billion doors, set up a table with copies of the Book of Mormon, street contacted, looked up a list of members who haven't been to church, asked for referals and passed out a few of our stash of Church magazines. It was quite the week. It's the last week of the transfer and I was able to fill up every slot in my agenda and more, where it gives you space for ''futuros investigadores,'' which turns out to be 95 families and individuals... but they're mostly families.
It's very interesting when I look at how many people we've contacted and how many people we haven't contacted, how many people have had a small opportunity to learn about the gospel and how many haven't yet. We have a ton of work to do.
When I took the city bus this morning, I was with 20 people or so and realized that not one person (including my companion and I) is living all of the principles of the gospel and has received all of the ordinances of exaltation. In order to receive salvation and exaltation we need to live ALL of the principles of the gospel AND receive ALL of the ordinances of exaltation. Translation: not one person on that bus this morning was currently applying the full potential of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and not a single one was currently living to their full potential as children of God. Translation of translation: We have some serious work to do and it's called the Work of Salvation. It's hastening the work and bringing the Gospel to the entire earth. It's following the direction of a prophet of God who announced the fulfilling of a 200 year old prophesy given through the great seer of the Latter-Days. This requires some serious work and some serious focus.
Friends and family, I encourage that we complete what the Lord expects of us and obey what He is currently revealing. I encourage us to be industrious and engaged in this glorious work of the latter-days. Whatever be our part, it is of great importance and the reward for being faithful and working with our might is so great that it can not be fully comprehended yet. I bare my testimony that I know these things are true. I know that this is the work of God and that Thomas S. Monson is His Prophet. The Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the way to receive peace, happiness and forgiveness in this life.
I love you guys and wish you a great week. I pray for your well being and hope for a happy, bright week :) That we might be able to feel His love and mercy for us in this life is my desire, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
-Elder Jake Avery
Dos Companeros! Dos Bautismos! (September 29, 2014)
Immigration Office (October 13, 2014)
