Family, Friends, and my other spiritual brothers and sisters:
Hi!
It´s me, Elder Budge. This week has gone by fast, I can´t believe it. Tomorrow I´ll have 5 months in the mission. El tiempo pasa volando! As I said last week, I had Changes last tuesday and I received my new Companion, Elder Cab!
So a little about Elder Cab: He´s 20 years old and has 17 months here in the mish. Needless to say, I´ve been learning a lot from him and his plethora of experiences. He´s from Merida, Yucatan. He loves to try to speak english, and I laugh so so hard at night when he tries to tell me something in english. We have been having just a really good time together, we get along really really well. He´s always happy and laughing, which makes the harder times a little easier to get through. I´m sure we´ll have even more success as time comes and goes!
So this week was a pretty normal week, like the last. Sofia wasn´t able to baptized yesterday because she couldn´t get work off--we had kind of a frank discussion and I challenged her to stop working on Sundays entirely--so we´ll meet with her tonight to see what´s up. I explained to her that feelings of apprehension to do what´s right can only come from one source--yep, that old serpent Satan. The Lord ALWAYS provides us a way to accomplish what is necessary in our lives, but that doesn´t mean that the way He´ll provide will be easy. We just have to trust Him--He is perfect, after all.
Jessica, the girlfriend of a member here, was baptized yesterday, which was really really sweet. Miguel (the member) was able to baptize her, which made the baptism extra special. She´ll be confirmed next week!
I hope every one is doing unbelievably well. Love love love you.
Elder Budge
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Hello Temple!
Hi family!
Honestly, this week I don't have much to report. We had a pretty normal week--we taught a bunch of lessons, had some investigators come to church, and we spent a lot of time looking up records of inactive members. Juan, who was baptized last week, was confirmed yesterday. That means a completed family--and they can start preparing to enter the Temple. In a year, Elder Pastrana and I can enter with them. Sweet! Those are the only opportunities we have to go to the Temple in the mission--so I plan on going a lot after I hit my year mark. All is well.
This cycle has ended, and I can't believe it. For those of you who don't know, a Cycle is a period of 6 weeks--and at the end of each cycle, we find out if we're being transferred or not. Elder Pastrana has Changes tomorrow, which means we get to head to Temple Grounds for our Changes Meeting! We've been together for 2 cycles already, and I'll be receiving a new companion tomorrow. I'm really excited, and at the same time a little sad that he'll be leaving me. The Lord know what He's doing.
That's about it, really...Sofia will be baptized this coming Sunday, which is sweeeeet. She has been reading the BOM like crazy and asked me for a copy of Doctrine and Covenants. Golden!
Love you all!
\
Elder Budge
Honestly, this week I don't have much to report. We had a pretty normal week--we taught a bunch of lessons, had some investigators come to church, and we spent a lot of time looking up records of inactive members. Juan, who was baptized last week, was confirmed yesterday. That means a completed family--and they can start preparing to enter the Temple. In a year, Elder Pastrana and I can enter with them. Sweet! Those are the only opportunities we have to go to the Temple in the mission--so I plan on going a lot after I hit my year mark. All is well.
This cycle has ended, and I can't believe it. For those of you who don't know, a Cycle is a period of 6 weeks--and at the end of each cycle, we find out if we're being transferred or not. Elder Pastrana has Changes tomorrow, which means we get to head to Temple Grounds for our Changes Meeting! We've been together for 2 cycles already, and I'll be receiving a new companion tomorrow. I'm really excited, and at the same time a little sad that he'll be leaving me. The Lord know what He's doing.
That's about it, really...Sofia will be baptized this coming Sunday, which is sweeeeet. She has been reading the BOM like crazy and asked me for a copy of Doctrine and Covenants. Golden!
Love you all!
\
Elder Budge
Monday, October 12, 2009
God's elect! They're right here!
Hi!
Just want to answer a couple of questions that have been made. Yes, Mom, the food is very different (yours is WAY better). Mandy, just teach your kids how to roll their r's (just make the sound whil they're babies and toddlers) and they'll be good to go. And a challenge to all: Give refferrals to your local missionaries! I know you know someone who needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Read DyC 88:81.
This week has been utterly amazing. The best week of my mission so far. We have two of the most amazing investigators in the world. One, named Sofia, is particularly unusual (in a very good way). Since we first visited her, she has read every pamphlet we have left with her, and done the additional study found in the back. She has been reading the Book of Mormon like no other, and knows almost all of the Testimony of Joseph Smith (where it explains how Joseph Smith received the plates), and best of all, knows it is true. I went with one of our Ward Missionaries to pick her up for Church yesterday, and she told me everything that she has read so far. When we got to the Chapel, she took a deep breath, let out a huge sigh, and called it "her other house". She has been a blessing to us this week.
Our other really cool investigator is Paty, who lives really close to Sofia in the same colony (San Jose Las Palmas). After teaching the first lesson, explaining the Restoration, and answering a few questions about what we believe about music, dancing, parties, etc.; we invited her to read the Book of Mormon and come to Church. She promptly replied: I'm going to do what you've asked me to do. But you've already convinced me. Needless to say, she is a blessing as well.
The Book Of Mormon is true. It is a witness that God still speaks to us today, through his chosen Prophets, as stated in Amos 3:7--that God will do nothing save he revealeth his secret to His servants, the Prophets. What a blessing we have to know that God hasn't (and will never) change.
Love,
Elder Budge
PS- We baptized Juan yesterday! After his confirmation, he and his wife, Angelica, can prepare for the Temple and go after a year. Sweet!
Just want to answer a couple of questions that have been made. Yes, Mom, the food is very different (yours is WAY better). Mandy, just teach your kids how to roll their r's (just make the sound whil they're babies and toddlers) and they'll be good to go. And a challenge to all: Give refferrals to your local missionaries! I know you know someone who needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Read DyC 88:81.
This week has been utterly amazing. The best week of my mission so far. We have two of the most amazing investigators in the world. One, named Sofia, is particularly unusual (in a very good way). Since we first visited her, she has read every pamphlet we have left with her, and done the additional study found in the back. She has been reading the Book of Mormon like no other, and knows almost all of the Testimony of Joseph Smith (where it explains how Joseph Smith received the plates), and best of all, knows it is true. I went with one of our Ward Missionaries to pick her up for Church yesterday, and she told me everything that she has read so far. When we got to the Chapel, she took a deep breath, let out a huge sigh, and called it "her other house". She has been a blessing to us this week.
Our other really cool investigator is Paty, who lives really close to Sofia in the same colony (San Jose Las Palmas). After teaching the first lesson, explaining the Restoration, and answering a few questions about what we believe about music, dancing, parties, etc.; we invited her to read the Book of Mormon and come to Church. She promptly replied: I'm going to do what you've asked me to do. But you've already convinced me. Needless to say, she is a blessing as well.
The Book Of Mormon is true. It is a witness that God still speaks to us today, through his chosen Prophets, as stated in Amos 3:7--that God will do nothing save he revealeth his secret to His servants, the Prophets. What a blessing we have to know that God hasn't (and will never) change.
Love,
Elder Budge
PS- We baptized Juan yesterday! After his confirmation, he and his wife, Angelica, can prepare for the Temple and go after a year. Sweet!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Holy incredible conference, Batman!
Hello once again my family and other loved ones!
This week has been just incredible. I´m continuing to learn and grow every day; the Lord has blessed me in many ways.
Elder Pastrana and I had another successful week--Claudia was able to be baptized yesterday between the morning and afternoon sessions of General Conference. It was awesome, even though the water was really cold and I messed up the Baptismal Prayer for the first time! But I nailed it the second time, and all went well. I´m grateful that I´m able to feel a small fraction of the joy that our Heavenly Father feels when one soul is brought unto him. Next week, if Claudia´s dad doesn´t work on Sunday, he´ll be baptized as well--which means a family completed and working towards going to the Temple. We had a really sweet lesson about temples and eternal families last night. What a blessing. It reminded me of when I entered the temple with my family. I can´t imagine Heaven without my family.
I was able to learn a lot this past week--I had Exchanges with our American District Leader, Elder Winters, and we had a blast. It´s no wonder he´s one of our leaders; he´s a great example. We knocked the entire day, and yet another drunkard in the street tried to talk me (my companion says i´m a drunkard magnet). It was a really good experience. I´m grateful for my leaders here.
Ok, so Conference was just amazing. Yes Mom, I was able to watch it--all 5 sessions. It was incredible. I especially liked the Saturday sessions; everyone seemed to talk, one way or another, about the nature of our Heavenly Father. We truly have a Father in Heaven that loves us more than we can understand, and we have the commandments He has given us because He knows it´s the best way for us to progress. Elder Oaks explained the difference that exists between mercy and justice, as it pertains to the love of God. He said something to this effect: "If one thinks that having God´s love is like having a license to disobey, that person neither understands love nor obedience". And it is absolutely true--He asks us to obey because He loves us. Mercy cannot rob justice--He knows that only through obedience can we become perfect like Him. In Elder Jorge F. Zeballo´s talk, he explained that the Lord does not expect of us that which we cannot achieve--and He commands us to be perfect. He does not require more than our best; neither does he accept any less--for both would be unjust. Elder Uchtdorf explained that He has promised us all that He has; and if that isn´t enough of a reason to love Him, we must love Him because He loved us first.
I am truly and eternally grateful for my Heaveny and Earthly parents, who show me the greatest love I could ever receive. Thank you.
Love, Elder Budgefference that exists between mercy and justice, as it pertains to the love of God. He said something to this effect
This week has been just incredible. I´m continuing to learn and grow every day; the Lord has blessed me in many ways.
Elder Pastrana and I had another successful week--Claudia was able to be baptized yesterday between the morning and afternoon sessions of General Conference. It was awesome, even though the water was really cold and I messed up the Baptismal Prayer for the first time! But I nailed it the second time, and all went well. I´m grateful that I´m able to feel a small fraction of the joy that our Heavenly Father feels when one soul is brought unto him. Next week, if Claudia´s dad doesn´t work on Sunday, he´ll be baptized as well--which means a family completed and working towards going to the Temple. We had a really sweet lesson about temples and eternal families last night. What a blessing. It reminded me of when I entered the temple with my family. I can´t imagine Heaven without my family.
I was able to learn a lot this past week--I had Exchanges with our American District Leader, Elder Winters, and we had a blast. It´s no wonder he´s one of our leaders; he´s a great example. We knocked the entire day, and yet another drunkard in the street tried to talk me (my companion says i´m a drunkard magnet). It was a really good experience. I´m grateful for my leaders here.
Ok, so Conference was just amazing. Yes Mom, I was able to watch it--all 5 sessions. It was incredible. I especially liked the Saturday sessions; everyone seemed to talk, one way or another, about the nature of our Heavenly Father. We truly have a Father in Heaven that loves us more than we can understand, and we have the commandments He has given us because He knows it´s the best way for us to progress. Elder Oaks explained the difference that exists between mercy and justice, as it pertains to the love of God. He said something to this effect: "If one thinks that having God´s love is like having a license to disobey, that person neither understands love nor obedience". And it is absolutely true--He asks us to obey because He loves us. Mercy cannot rob justice--He knows that only through obedience can we become perfect like Him. In Elder Jorge F. Zeballo´s talk, he explained that the Lord does not expect of us that which we cannot achieve--and He commands us to be perfect. He does not require more than our best; neither does he accept any less--for both would be unjust. Elder Uchtdorf explained that He has promised us all that He has; and if that isn´t enough of a reason to love Him, we must love Him because He loved us first.
I am truly and eternally grateful for my Heaveny and Earthly parents, who show me the greatest love I could ever receive. Thank you.
Love, Elder Budgefference that exists between mercy and justice, as it pertains to the love of God. He said something to this effect
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