This week Ill be leaving the city and heading out to a faraway land called Beni. Its a place of poverty with humble people and a lot of dirt in the air. But Im looking forward to meeting the humble people that I feel will be more receptive to the message of the gosple than those here in the city. Ill be the District leader of 8 missionaries. Im not ready or prepared, but Im willing. Thats what will allow me to tap into the power of the atonement so I can be strengthened and perfected as an instrument in the Lord´s hands.
We knew it would be the last opportunity so we had lunch with the bishop and he had a great time joking around with Elder Valdez (The black one).
I tasted Mango for the first time here in Bolivia and it is SO delicious. It gets all stuck in your teeth but its sooo yummy. We stuck a straw in the Coco and drank straight out of it and its soo good. The first time ive done anything like that.
I had a great experience finding people that were prepared this week. I know that the Lord had them prepared because we didnt find them until after we prayed to find someone prepared. Prayer works and God does miracles. So why not tap into that power by following the advice of Nephi in 1 Nephi 15:11?
This is a message for the fathers: I know that if you make sure that your family gets together to read specifically the Book of Mormon and to pray every night, youll NEVER fall away from the gospel. I also promise that if you stop reading and praying as a family, you and your family will fall into an apostasy.
I love you guys and I desire the best for each one of you. Every day, we can do whats right, and thats what brings us happiness, is choosing the right in our everyday decisions. If you havent done so, dont get discouraged, rather, trust in Jesus Christ who will forgive you and heal you, then start choosing the right from now on
Love
ELder Hilton
This week
I learned this week that I have a lot of changing to do internally to become the man God has in mind for me. I know that through patience and willingness to follow God and his commands, Ill be able to arrive to that point. The missions worn me out but I'm realizing each day that this is the point when God is going to be able to make big and long lasting changes in me.
I'm doing a lot of ward activities. I realized that if I want to get something done I just need to do it with all confidence and I'll be able to. We did a fireside with activities and not a lot of people came but each time we do one well have more people and eventually people will start to bring their friends and family to get to know the church and I feel that it will be a great way to find new investigators.
I want to be a more consecrated missionary and I know that only one person knows how I can be. God will help me to recognize how I can change to be a better more focused missionary. I'm willing to give up everything. But the only thing I fear is the loss of some friends. I don't want any of you to stop being my friends. I love you guys and you mean so much to me!
I challenge you all to look up with the word ponderize then do it! :)
Elder Hilton
I have no idea why but this week lasted FOREVER: I had parasites but I'm better now. It was scary. We carved pumpkins! They don't have that tradition here in south america so the latinos were super surprised when they saw a pumpkin with a face and candles inside. They thought it was like evil or something and thinking about it now, it is a pretty weird thing to do haha!
I learned something really important this week. That we don't LEARN patience or humility or charity. They're gifts that only God can lend to us if we search them and if we let him give us these precious gifts. I felt patient then I got prideful thinking like oh look at me and how patient I am. Then I lost my patience and I realized that they're just gifts.
I have a testimony and a conviction of the fact that Christ has established his church once again on the earth, and for all those that have God as number 1 on their list of priorities (by simply taking care of your family before anything else, completing your calling, being obedient, and taking steps of faith by sacrificing worldly things to follow Christ) God will forgive your sins and you will feel a real peace and hope in this life and you'll have a true faith that after this life, we´ll meet God and be with him.
I invite you all to read a vision I had that a friend helped me to type up and learn the principles of the gospel from it. I you like it you can share it with anyone and use it to teach the gospel.
Love Elder Hilton
