This weeks phenomenal news begins with MEETING Elder Oaks. He truly is an apostle of the Lord. We took a mission photo with him, it was crazy having all 230+ of us together (my first time in the mission seeing everyone). After the photo he wanted to shake every missionaries hand, so we lined up and spoke briefly to him. Along with him was Elder Walker (of the seventy), and pdte/hna. George. When my turn came to greet him, he simply cupped my hand and said: "It is good to see you Hermana Coronado", as if we had met before.
As the conference commenced about 40 of us missionaries elderes y hermanas were able to sing the hymn: Acompañame to him, with Hna. Cook (beautiful violinist), and Hna. George on the piano. It sounded lovely and as we sang Elder Oaks sat right in front of me....
What I loved is that with each speaker I was able to feel their conviction, their conversion and love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. Elder Walked told us something that I loved. It simply isn't enough to be in missionary work, we must convert ourselves to working for the Lord. He placed a lot of emphasis on Using Preach my Gospel in Every aspect of our lives. When Elder Oaks stood, since he doesn't speak spanish he had a translator, but he told us that he never prepares talks when he visits missionaries, he lets the spirit be his guide. Every word that came from his mouth was powerful. I could feel the love Pdte. George has for all of us as his missionaries, I could feel the power of Elder Walker, but it was so much more powerful hearing an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ speak to us. He was just so close, I felt His sincerity and love for us as well. The Spirit truly is in His Countenance.
Some of the things he shared with us that I absolutely LOVED were: We dont teach people the American culture, or the mexican culture, we teach people the Gospel culture. And our invitation to everyone is to be a part of the gospel culture. Our families will allow us to come back together to the presence of our Father, to a celestial glory and exaltation. The BEST advice I received from his whole capacitacion was that we have to Concentrate on teaching people the NEXT ordinance after baptism: THE Sacrament. "This is an ordinance of the gospel we are commanded to participate in every week, not every christmas, or every saints day, Every Sunday. It is Not optional." How much I loved this. I know that if people understand this principle they will understand why it is that we Need to go to church every sunday.
"The gospel is a gospel of commitment." - Elder Oaks
To testify is to know and to say. To be converted is to do and become. This weekend I have learned to struggle in order to grow. Hna. Juliana and I tried SO hard to find someone to baptize this week. We literally went to every resource, I felt soooo many emotions within the matter of 48hours. But I know that No effort goes in vain. This next transfer has been set up perfectly to baptize, a lot, and to retain every one of these people.
TRANSFERS; I will be staying in Teran and Hna. Juliana is leaving to Bonampak (like 5 minutes away). Our 3mths together have been great. I am kind of trending, my whole mission, 2 transfers every companion. My new companion is Hna. Hickman the one with the famous tuxtla gutierrez mexico blog, but seriously I am basically every missionary have seen her blog before our mission. She has been about about 14 o 15 meses. She has a lot of fire, and I am really excited to work with her.
Struggle → Grow → Receive blessings → Bask in the blessings (honeymoon period) → Great opposition → (Lessening of the Spirit) → Remain Faithful → Climb to new spiritual heights → Start all over again.... It is the way of growth. -John Pontius (Journey to the veil)
Suggestion, read the book mentioned above. It has changed my mission.
Have a spirit filled, gospel sharing week. This gospel IS True.
Mi querida familia y amigos,
Les amo muuuuchhhhoooo
Hermana Coronado
Mis favorita MJ's: Frida y Anna Karen. Oh how I wish you could all meet Anna. If she was the ONLY person I saw get baptized my whole mission, it would have been enough. She is incredible. Luckily the Lord continues to allow me to see more and more miracles.
Aaron's curls are too cute, on Sunday we sang I am a child of God, and every time the words "Soy" o "Dios" were in the hymn we'd hear a little belt from 2yr old Aaron.
