Sorry for not having time to write much again this week. Just know that it was another great week in the service of our Lord.

This week was Gabi´s baptism. She truly has had an amazing change of heart. She seems so much more happy now. I know that the Spirit of the Lord has brought about this change, and it is amazing to see it.

Pues, ya no tengo más tiempo, pero ¡que sepan que les amo! El Señor siempre está presente para ayudar a todos sus hijos. No importa sus pruebas que está pasando, les prometo que nuestro Padre esta pendiente y hará lo necesario para que todo esté bien, quizas ahora o quizas despues. Confien en Él. Les dará consuelo.

Con amor,
Elder Jayson Fraser

"God has not ceased to be a God of miracles"

20 abril 2015

As you might guess from the subject line, this was a good week.

In a lot of ways it was a normal week. We studied, planned, worked, walked, talked, and taught. I really don´t see any reason why God would have decided to give us such a good week other than the fact that He loves His children and blesses them every once in a while.

We´ll start with Gabi. I´ve already shared a bit about her, but I´ll put it in context. She has listened to missionaries for at least 3 companionships already (quite a long time). Since I´ve been here she´s progressed a lot. She has recieved several specific answers from God: she knows that God loves her, she knows that the book of mormon is true, and she has even recieved a specific answer that she should be part of this church. Yet she is the type of person who doubts and questions everything, and she doesn´t want to be baptized until God answers her specifically that Joseph Smith was a true prophet.

On Saturday there was a baptism in the Pradera ward. We invited her to attend. She seemed to enjoy it, but she still seemed to have doubts. On Sunday she came into sacrament meeting with a big smile on her face. I went to sit by her, and she excitedly expressed that she feels ready! She recieved yet another answer at the baptism and, although she still doesn´t have a complete knowledge she has decided to live by faith and trust in the answers she has recieved. If all goes according to plan she´ll be baptized this week. I could truly see that she had a change of heart.

Daniel, another investigator, is 17 years old. His parents live separated. He has a strong testimony already but we´ve never been able to teach his parents (His mom attended church once about a month ago). We went to visit him in his dad´s house and both his parents were there and willing to listen. We have a great hope that they will be able to progress together.

On Sunday we gave talks in church and I noticed a guy in a t-shirt and jeans towards the back (not outlawed, but not the usual attire). I figured he wasn´t a member, so after the meeting I went to talk with him. He´s named Juan, and he said that he decided to come so that he could get closer to God. He seemed to love the services and all of the classes. He should be able to progress quickly.

The spirit was strong this week. God wants us to remember that He is there and He loves us. I know that that is true. "God has not ceased to be a God of miracles" (Mormon 9:15).

Love,
Elder Jayson Fraser

Gabi´s Baptism!

Trials are for our own good

13 Abril 2015

This week was difficult, but, well, difficulty is important. It is by tribulations that we develop patience, and from there experience, hope, and eventually the love of God may be shed forth in the heart by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:3-5). I know that as we trust in God and lem do His own work in His own time, everything will work out for our benefit (2 Nephi 26:24). I have seen that to be true in my own life. God has tested me, but He has blessed me greatly as I endure those trials.

As Kevin W. Pearson of the quorum of the seventy recently taught, "to ´hang in there` is not a principle of the gospel." The key word is endure. As we endure our trials with faith, all will be well. If you think all is well, just ask yourself "have I already recieved eternal life?" If the answer is no, then you`ll probably have to endure some more (Jacob 6:11). But it is all part of God`s plan. He sees the big picture and knows how to help us (see the talk by Rafael E. Pino, one of my favorites). Trust in Him.

You`re probably wondering by now why my week was hard. It wasn`t really all that hard; I just got to ranting a bit there. It wasn`t an easy week, but I know that God will provide ease when it is necessary and difficulty when he sees fit.

This week we had little sucess in many areas. We taught few lessons, couldn`t find anyone new to teach, and now we`ve gone two weeks without anyone giving us a referral.

Basically all of our investigators are falling away. Gabi, who already knows that the church is true (she has recieved direct answers from God on at least two occasions), decided that she doesn`t want to go to church any more. Another investigator told us that she decided that she`s going to go to a christian church instead. Another investigator, brother of a member, started drinking again after years sober and left home.

To sum things up, it has been a bit rough. But we continue in faith, knowing that God will provide in His time. Trust in Him and He will make your weaknesses strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ether 12:27).

Love,
Elder Jayson Fraser


p.s. - Life would be no fun if it were all easy, right?

A week full of revelation

This week was an awesome one. It was especially awesome because of all of the revelation recieved during general conference. I invite everyone who reads this to study the talks given. If you already have, do it again. Make questions about whatever doubt you may have or situation you may be passing, and if you dilligently search the answers in the most current words of our living prophets, apostles, and revelators with a prayerful spirit, I promise that you will find them.

I decided to prepare really well for the conference. I wrote almost 20 questions. some were simple, some were complex. Some were actual doubts or things I didn`t know, others simply a search for a spiritual confirmation of truths that I already know. Every one of them was answered in at least 3 of the talks given this weekend. Every talk gave me answers that I had been looking for and I was filled with the Spirit, confirming to my heart the validity of every last doctrine or principle that was taught, whether by words or not. I found even more subjects that I needed to hear, and I`m convinced that had I not prepared or had I not actively looked for it, I would not have recieved such potent revelation.

I learned that the family "isn`t part of the plan of happiness; it is the plan of happiness" (Boyd K Packer). I learned that we can`t earn salvation (Dieter F Uchtdorf). I learned that God wants me to recieve a fullness of joy (Rafael E Pino). These, among many other things, strenghtened greatly my testimony of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, of His and my loving Father, and of their true and restored church.

The rest of the week was good too. We had a zone meeting where I also recieved a lot of revelation. We had lots of good lessons and saw spiritual progress in many people including, and even mainly, ourselves.

I know that God truly lives and loves us. I know that He desires that we can be happy and has prepared the plan. His Son made it possible. He broke the chains of death and sin and now we all have the oportunity to recieve all that God has prepared for us. Now it`s just up to us. Will you accept Christ as your personal Savior? Will you really allow Him into your heart, allow Him to govern all of your thoughts and actions?

The plan is laid out before you. You made the choice before. Will you choose to follow Him again?

Love,
Elder Jayson Fraser