Hey, how is my AMAZING and WONDERFUL family doing?!?!?!?!
Your missionary, Elder Boaz, is doing well for the week. We had a great week in the aspect of finding some great new people in areas where we have never knocked in before. I love being in the mission and it really doesn’t matter where I’m serving, whether in the country or the pure city. I know I have the Lord’s guidance where we go when we trust that He’ll be there when we put our mind and actions into HIS will. I have been reading a talk lately from Elder Corbridge of Chile’s Area Presidency to missionaries only about being the “4th Missionary.” He puts missionaries into 4 classes and explains to us the difference in between every one of them. The 3rd missionary does everything he HAS to do but it is all contrary to WANTS to do. He changes the lives of other missionaries, members, and people, but he doesn’t change and, therefore, the mission he served did nothing for him…..because “his will and desires” weren’t in line with the “Lord’s will and desires”. He just “sacrificed” himself which means that he suffered in doing his service to God. He didn’t enjoy it and benefit from it. The 4th missionary “consecrates all of him-“self” and will to the Lord as he is obedient and works.
Matthew 10:39 says, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
I can’t express how true that is and how necessary it is for every one of us to follow it. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, came was born into the world in this Christmas season to be our Redeemer and fulfill the perfect plan of God to help us return to Him. I am amazed and so grateful for this man who was born in such humble circumstances but had the greatest purpose of any other person. I know that Christmas time gives me a reality of what I can become by following Christ and understanding where He came from in his earthly conditions to what He eventually completed at the end of His life. I feel my Savior’s love and I love him as well.
Only Claudina was confirmed with the Holy Ghost yesterday because we couldn’t get a hold of Eric during the week to help him come to church. He wants to be really committed but he needs to learn to do things on his own will to be committed to the Gospel. We’re gonna have to help him realize that.
For some other side notes on the week: we live by the Air Force Base for Chile and we always get to see their acrobatics in their small airplanes. They will fly directly straight up and once they can’t do it any longer, they will purposely start free-falling in mid-air for some time until they catch themselves and fly out of it. Elder York and I always get a kick out of it. Also, the presidential elections for Chile were yesterday and Sebastián Piñera won but it turns out that there was a mis-count in the voting so the country needs to re-vote in a month. Everyone was so involved in the voting yesterday that it was pretty difficult to work but be we were still out truckin’ along. Haha! I love how we, as missionaries, work in all situations. It makes me so happy to serve the Lord!!!
For a little update on food, Sister Godoy from our ward (she’s like our mom here) made us meat tacos with tons of things to put on them the week before last. They were INCREDIBLE!!! I have quite a few pictures to send next week because my camera died today. I’ve also bought a “mate” cup to drink an herb here that’s really popular here and in all of South America called mate. I loving drinking it with hot water and juice as well. York totally convinced me to start taking it up so we drink it in the night times. Much fun!
I feel privileged to be a missionary of Christ and thank you all for your support.
Today, we had the mission Christmas Party for P-Day down in Rancagua. The whole mission got together, took a photo, had a mini-devotional, and then we played sports and ate for about 5 hours straight. It was one of the funnest experiences of my life!!! Especially to get to know so many amazing people as missionaries. This is the reason for why I’m writing sooooo late today.
*******As for the Christmas DAY phone call, the phone number that I gave you is all correct to call out. It goes straight to our cell phone. I was thinking that you could all call me at around 2:00 PM in MY time zone. That would be a very good hour to call. If not, we can think of something else. But I believe that would be the best situation.**********
Les Amo MUCHISISISISIMO,
Elder Boaz
Saturday, December 19, 2009
12-7-09
Hey Fam and loved ones,
I have got to tell you all, I am dead tired today because we played soccer with some of the Zone and some youth of the Stake. It showed me that I have to run more in the morning when we exercise instead of just doing crunches and pushups. Haha! I was gased and have almost no energy for the night of work but it’s ok. I had a blast today and am so happy from yesterday’s Sabbath Day.
Yesterday showed me once again why the mission is worth all of the turned down doors, barking dogs, hot weather, companionship disagreements, or fallen appointments we have. The morning started out with testimony meeting in church that was filled with great testimonies that helped the investigators we had in Sacrament meeting. That’s right…we had 6 investigators in church!!! Eric and Claudina (who were baptized yesterday) came to church as well as the family of Patricio and Susana (the couple that we had found about 3 weeks ago). After sacrament meeting, we had a full class of Gospel Principles and everyone participated. Everyone was friendly to the investigators and made them feel so welcome. Elder York and I were really nervous this morning that the family of Patricio and Eric weren’t going to come but they arrived with hope in their hearts and desire in their soul to know more about Christ’s church.
The Baptismal Service was at 4 pm yesterday and everything went really smooth. One daughter, one grand-daughter and two great grand-kids came two support Claudina in her baptism which a special sight to see. She has 7 sons and daughters but doesn’t get many visits from them, so it was great to see that some family from the south south of Chile to support her in her baptism. Unfortunately, nobody came to support Eric in his baptism. He hasn’t had a good relationship with his parents for a long time and preferred that they didn’t come. We had an incredible attendance from the ward at the baptisms and I was impressed by the support from the members here. It touched me to see that Claudina was saying one last prayer of repentance before our Bishop baptized her. She has changed her countenance and actions to come into the fold of God. Eric was so happy today as well…probably the happiest that we have seen him since we started teaching him. Lehi, our mission leader, baptized him. He bore his testimony of this being the true church and how he was happy even though the people he wanted to be there weren’t there to support him. He has a new family in the ward and I believe he will go far. We are going to help him go on a mission because he is already ready to go. Haha! In Claudina’s testimony, she said that it seemed like two angels came to her house to save her and become baptized. It made me feel like a true servant of the Lord to hear her say that and know that I have a potential to live up to. I will send you all pictures of the baptism and recent pictures of us soon. I forgot
I love hearing about the things that I hear from home. I want to see my loving family SOOOOO BAAAAAD. My twin sisters look GORGEOUS and are becoming great young women. I am so happy for them. And as well as my ALWAYS-GORGEOUS mother and sister-in-law. Rachel and Rebekah better be careful because all of the guys are going to want to start dating them senior year and in college. :D I CANNOT WAIT for the announcement for when Austin and Marisa are expecting their first child. That will be some of the sweetest news I might here on the mish…but be patient and wise about it, Austy!!!! Haha! I love my bros, sistas, and Paps!
As for Christmas time, our mission Christmas party is on Dec. 14. It stinks but oh well. I will only be able to call you guys between the 24th and the 27th. Whatever time you think it will be best to call me, just let me know. On Christmas Eve (24th), we work UNTIL 6 pm and on Christmas Day (25th), we START to work at 6 pm. Maybe you all could call me with a calling-card on the cell-phone we have for our sector. The way to call our cell phone from where you are from is as follows: 011 + 56 + 9 + (94434508). Our actual cell-phone number is in parenthesis. That might be a lot simpler for everything because I’m simple-minded in those kind of things. Haha!
The week of work was a little slow but was equally spiritual and fun. The fruit is starting to come like crazy here in Chile so we’re going to be eating A LOT of fruit in the streets and in the houses soon. I’m stoked for that. I love you all and want you to know that my knowledge of the truthfulness of the Gospel is surer and surer everyday of my life. I’m blessed to have been guided in this path by my parents, siblings, and friends, along with my Heavenly Father. Take Care and we’ll be talking next week.
Con mucho amor,
-Elder Boaz
I have got to tell you all, I am dead tired today because we played soccer with some of the Zone and some youth of the Stake. It showed me that I have to run more in the morning when we exercise instead of just doing crunches and pushups. Haha! I was gased and have almost no energy for the night of work but it’s ok. I had a blast today and am so happy from yesterday’s Sabbath Day.
Yesterday showed me once again why the mission is worth all of the turned down doors, barking dogs, hot weather, companionship disagreements, or fallen appointments we have. The morning started out with testimony meeting in church that was filled with great testimonies that helped the investigators we had in Sacrament meeting. That’s right…we had 6 investigators in church!!! Eric and Claudina (who were baptized yesterday) came to church as well as the family of Patricio and Susana (the couple that we had found about 3 weeks ago). After sacrament meeting, we had a full class of Gospel Principles and everyone participated. Everyone was friendly to the investigators and made them feel so welcome. Elder York and I were really nervous this morning that the family of Patricio and Eric weren’t going to come but they arrived with hope in their hearts and desire in their soul to know more about Christ’s church.
The Baptismal Service was at 4 pm yesterday and everything went really smooth. One daughter, one grand-daughter and two great grand-kids came two support Claudina in her baptism which a special sight to see. She has 7 sons and daughters but doesn’t get many visits from them, so it was great to see that some family from the south south of Chile to support her in her baptism. Unfortunately, nobody came to support Eric in his baptism. He hasn’t had a good relationship with his parents for a long time and preferred that they didn’t come. We had an incredible attendance from the ward at the baptisms and I was impressed by the support from the members here. It touched me to see that Claudina was saying one last prayer of repentance before our Bishop baptized her. She has changed her countenance and actions to come into the fold of God. Eric was so happy today as well…probably the happiest that we have seen him since we started teaching him. Lehi, our mission leader, baptized him. He bore his testimony of this being the true church and how he was happy even though the people he wanted to be there weren’t there to support him. He has a new family in the ward and I believe he will go far. We are going to help him go on a mission because he is already ready to go. Haha! In Claudina’s testimony, she said that it seemed like two angels came to her house to save her and become baptized. It made me feel like a true servant of the Lord to hear her say that and know that I have a potential to live up to. I will send you all pictures of the baptism and recent pictures of us soon. I forgot
I love hearing about the things that I hear from home. I want to see my loving family SOOOOO BAAAAAD. My twin sisters look GORGEOUS and are becoming great young women. I am so happy for them. And as well as my ALWAYS-GORGEOUS mother and sister-in-law. Rachel and Rebekah better be careful because all of the guys are going to want to start dating them senior year and in college. :D I CANNOT WAIT for the announcement for when Austin and Marisa are expecting their first child. That will be some of the sweetest news I might here on the mish…but be patient and wise about it, Austy!!!! Haha! I love my bros, sistas, and Paps!
As for Christmas time, our mission Christmas party is on Dec. 14. It stinks but oh well. I will only be able to call you guys between the 24th and the 27th. Whatever time you think it will be best to call me, just let me know. On Christmas Eve (24th), we work UNTIL 6 pm and on Christmas Day (25th), we START to work at 6 pm. Maybe you all could call me with a calling-card on the cell-phone we have for our sector. The way to call our cell phone from where you are from is as follows: 011 + 56 + 9 + (94434508). Our actual cell-phone number is in parenthesis. That might be a lot simpler for everything because I’m simple-minded in those kind of things. Haha!
The week of work was a little slow but was equally spiritual and fun. The fruit is starting to come like crazy here in Chile so we’re going to be eating A LOT of fruit in the streets and in the houses soon. I’m stoked for that. I love you all and want you to know that my knowledge of the truthfulness of the Gospel is surer and surer everyday of my life. I’m blessed to have been guided in this path by my parents, siblings, and friends, along with my Heavenly Father. Take Care and we’ll be talking next week.
Con mucho amor,
-Elder Boaz
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Just after Thanksgiving!
¡¡¡Hola de otra semana aquí en Chile!!!
First off…HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! We pretty much did nothing to celebrate Thanksgiving here but it’s all good. We weren’t thinking too much about that American holiday until President Resek reminded us during Zone Conference in the morning.
It feels like yesterday when I said that I have 7 months in the mission and now I have 8 months in the mission. HOLY MOLY!!! I’ve been living in a Latin American country for half a year now. The missionary work goes by really fast when you are focusing on the investigators and it may not seem like it in the beginning but all you have to do is wait a little bit and…smack! 8 months have passed. I’m a third of the way done with my “full-time” mission for the Lord. I love this Gospel and to be able to share it with others Being a teacher of the Gospel really teaches you in the process as well. I find myself saying things during lessons that I didn’t know completely until I said them to the investigator…and then I thought to myself, “Whoa…that was the Holy Ghost right there.” This time in my life has helped me understand more obviously and simply when the Spirit is speaking to me and when it isn’t. “Elder” is literally a part of my permanent name right now and my life calling for this space in time is to be a disciple of Christ. To be considered one of his specific messengers is a huge blessing for me and a humbling experience. I can really explain my feelings very well but they have helped me want to have the Restored Gospel be in the lives of all of my loved ones.
Like I said earlier, we had Zone conference on Thursday and President Resek spoke on how we must use our faith stronger while we are searching for knowledge in the scriptures. We need to be confident and believe that we’ll receive the answers we need for our investigators in our study of the scriptures. Before the conference, we were told to study Chapter 5 of Preach My Gospel which teaches about the importance of the Book of Mormon. The truth of everything that comes from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Restored Gospel is based on whether the Book of Mormon is true. I tell you all that it is. It is the pure and full word of God and helps us understand the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I learned how we can base so much of our teaching over this simple fact. God is in control and has given us answers and a guide to life’s biggest questions by this book.
I received an awesome tie with a nice letter from Elder Romero (my last companion) in the mail before he finished his mission. He returned to Bolivia and is working now. He was a great companion and although we had head-butts at times, he and I worked miracles together in Doñihue. I learned a lot from him.
For an update on the missionary work here: Eric didn’t get baptized yesterday but will be baptized this coming Sunday with Claudina (80 years old) who has been progressing well. Both have transformed their lives to arrive at the Gospel. Eric went from being without direction, smoking, and partying; to his search for something “more” than all the vagueness of the world; to leaving these harmful things and committing himself to remain in the Gospel. Claudina went from reciting prayers regularly and strongly in the Catholic Church; to questioning why she always had much anger and little love; to repenting of her bad actions to her family and following the Path of the Lord to His true Gospel. Elder York an I are excited for this coming weekend because it’s been a long road for these two. :) We are working with some other youth to be baptized soon as well like Felipe (17 years-old awesome kid), Matius (10, son of inactive mom), Leo (13, cousin of Matius), and Kevin (11, son of reactivating mom). So we have some future Priesthood that we’re forming in this ward.
We spoke yesterday in sacrament meeting on missionary work. Elder York spoke about what our covenants are from Baptism and what is expected of us as members. I spoke on how we can better understand how a new convert feels in the conversion to the church so we can better know how to help them. It was a great experience and even helped me in my perspective of the converts in the Church. I love My Savior Jesus Christ and my EXTREMELY LOVING Heavenly Father.
I want to end by sharing a scripture I shared in my talk. It is in ALMA 31:33-35:
“33 Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this people.
34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.
35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.”
Take Care, My prayers are with you all…especially Grandpa,
Elder Josh Boaz
First off…HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! We pretty much did nothing to celebrate Thanksgiving here but it’s all good. We weren’t thinking too much about that American holiday until President Resek reminded us during Zone Conference in the morning.
It feels like yesterday when I said that I have 7 months in the mission and now I have 8 months in the mission. HOLY MOLY!!! I’ve been living in a Latin American country for half a year now. The missionary work goes by really fast when you are focusing on the investigators and it may not seem like it in the beginning but all you have to do is wait a little bit and…smack! 8 months have passed. I’m a third of the way done with my “full-time” mission for the Lord. I love this Gospel and to be able to share it with others Being a teacher of the Gospel really teaches you in the process as well. I find myself saying things during lessons that I didn’t know completely until I said them to the investigator…and then I thought to myself, “Whoa…that was the Holy Ghost right there.” This time in my life has helped me understand more obviously and simply when the Spirit is speaking to me and when it isn’t. “Elder” is literally a part of my permanent name right now and my life calling for this space in time is to be a disciple of Christ. To be considered one of his specific messengers is a huge blessing for me and a humbling experience. I can really explain my feelings very well but they have helped me want to have the Restored Gospel be in the lives of all of my loved ones.
Like I said earlier, we had Zone conference on Thursday and President Resek spoke on how we must use our faith stronger while we are searching for knowledge in the scriptures. We need to be confident and believe that we’ll receive the answers we need for our investigators in our study of the scriptures. Before the conference, we were told to study Chapter 5 of Preach My Gospel which teaches about the importance of the Book of Mormon. The truth of everything that comes from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Restored Gospel is based on whether the Book of Mormon is true. I tell you all that it is. It is the pure and full word of God and helps us understand the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I learned how we can base so much of our teaching over this simple fact. God is in control and has given us answers and a guide to life’s biggest questions by this book.
I received an awesome tie with a nice letter from Elder Romero (my last companion) in the mail before he finished his mission. He returned to Bolivia and is working now. He was a great companion and although we had head-butts at times, he and I worked miracles together in Doñihue. I learned a lot from him.
For an update on the missionary work here: Eric didn’t get baptized yesterday but will be baptized this coming Sunday with Claudina (80 years old) who has been progressing well. Both have transformed their lives to arrive at the Gospel. Eric went from being without direction, smoking, and partying; to his search for something “more” than all the vagueness of the world; to leaving these harmful things and committing himself to remain in the Gospel. Claudina went from reciting prayers regularly and strongly in the Catholic Church; to questioning why she always had much anger and little love; to repenting of her bad actions to her family and following the Path of the Lord to His true Gospel. Elder York an I are excited for this coming weekend because it’s been a long road for these two. :) We are working with some other youth to be baptized soon as well like Felipe (17 years-old awesome kid), Matius (10, son of inactive mom), Leo (13, cousin of Matius), and Kevin (11, son of reactivating mom). So we have some future Priesthood that we’re forming in this ward.
We spoke yesterday in sacrament meeting on missionary work. Elder York spoke about what our covenants are from Baptism and what is expected of us as members. I spoke on how we can better understand how a new convert feels in the conversion to the church so we can better know how to help them. It was a great experience and even helped me in my perspective of the converts in the Church. I love My Savior Jesus Christ and my EXTREMELY LOVING Heavenly Father.
I want to end by sharing a scripture I shared in my talk. It is in ALMA 31:33-35:
“33 Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them because of the iniquities of this people.
34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.
35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.”
Take Care, My prayers are with you all…especially Grandpa,
Elder Josh Boaz
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