Week 93 - May 6, 2019

Dear Family,

Well, this week my old companion, Elder Fernandez, finished his mission, which now makes us our group the oldest group in the entire mission.  Super weird to think that, that the next time someone in our mission goes home, it's us.  Time is just going by way too fast...

But, this week, honestly wasn't that special or crazy.  We were able to start the week finding a lot of new investigators with potential that are from Columbia.  When I was with Elder Vega the other week, we just talked to them outside their house to see if they would be interested.  Now, this week, we passed and were able to teach them about the Book of Mormon, which got them excited.  They now have a lot of potential.  We are hoping that this next week we will be able to help them be a little closer to their Savior.

As well, we were able to do a family night with Christian Chichande and his family and teach them about the Plan of Salvation.  It was a great lesson.  Christian is super excited for his baptism.  That is basically all he talks about when he is with us.  As well, it's bringing more unity in the family which is an even bigger blessing.

Israel and Jessica are doing great.  We were able to do a lot of follow up with their marriage that they are going to do at the end of the month.  They are super excited, as well... We have been getting super worried that one day they will just decide that they should get married later.  But, we feel like they are locked in on getting baptized and married at the end of the month!  They keep on surprising us with how much they are learning.  They have been such a blessing for us. Keep praying for them so that they can continue to progress.

As well, the past week we had found a family that is super interested in the church.  I guess that they kind of found us. But we went and taught them two times this week and one of the kids was super interested in our message.  All of them want to get baptized.  Some of them aren't married, so it will be a longer process than we like.  But the rest are super excited!  But, wow!  I don't think I've ever seen anyone live in such poor circumstances in my life... They have a little house that is constructed super bad that doesn't have water or light... They live outside the house for the fear that it's going to fall over and they eat maybe once a day... So sad, sometimes I wish I can do more to help the people out here. So sad... 

But, other than that, honestly not much happened.  All of our investigators are progressing well, and we are working super hard.  This week in "Come Follow Me," I loved the story about the woman caught in adultery.  It's in John 8: 3-5, 7, 9-11:   "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that we such should be stoned: But what sayest thou?  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  She said, No man, Lord.  And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more."  

In "Come Follow Me," it has a little quote from Elder Renlund that says, sorry if its wrong I'm translating from Spanish:  "The Savior did not accept the sin of adultery, but neither did he condemn the woman, but what he did was encourage the woman to reform or change her life.  She was able to change her life thanks to the compassion and mercy of Him."  It says in the Joseph Smith Translation that "the woman glorified God since that hour, and believed in his name."  I love that comment, I love the attribute of Christ that he doesn't condemn us, but he invites us to be better and be a little more like him.  Think about that this week.

Elder Copeland