Something to ponder

Hello everybody,

This week I want to leave you with a quick assignment or homework if you want to think about it in that way. I want you guys to read Alma 5: 26-27. I want you guys as a family to think about these questions and to ponder them in your hearts and to make plans to have your lives where you can say yes to all these questions. There's a lot of times in our lives where we don't even realize when we are going in a good path or not, or if we are doing everything we should like Elder Godfy said in his talk. He had a good job and was living happy and did not even realize he could become and be even more happy until he pondered it. I don't want us to think we are okay when really we have a lot to improve. We can ask ourselves the question like elder Uchdorf said is it I lord, is it I that is messing up in everything? I know that we can do a lot better in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and he wants us closer to him because he loves us. He wants us to be an eternal family but first we have to do our part. it I hope you can read and ponder and identify the things you can do so you can be better. 

 i love you guys with all my heart don't forget daily scripture study and prayer!!! :)

Elder Gomez

Prayer

Familia,

I wanted to share  a scripture with you guys it's found in Mosiah 27:14. Alma the son goes against the church and they want to destroy it. His dad prayed so much for him that an angel went and stopped him and told him hey because of the prayers of your father I'm here to convert you so to say it like that ha-ha. I really like this scripture because it teaches us how powerful a prayer can be. We can actually pray for people and the lord will help them. If we know someone in need well lets pray for them but with real intent and the lord will help them. I just want to express that I know that prayer is real and the most important thing we can do. I know that he does listen and answer and I hope you guys every night are going down on your knees and praying as a family. Please pray on your knees as a family and see the miracles that the lord can do in our lives. I know it to be true and I want all those blessings for our family. I like Alma pray every night that you guys can be okay and read and pray always and I know the lord will answer my prayers. If you do this I promise you will receive the blessings and we will all be more united. I love you guys every single one of you and I hope we as a family can all strive to become better and closer to the lord. Every night I'm on my knees and I want to be able to feel that you guys are doing it as well as a family. I can feel it when you guys do it and it would be the greatest blessing you guys can give me. Like I said, I love you guys and keep moving forward.

 

Elder Gomez

Tulua: magical city filled with great spiritual experiences

Hola Familia!
Como estan? It is so good to hear from you and mom Karolena looks so cute with that Bear Cowl you made her. Thanks for the scripture, D&C 93:1

Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;

 

This scripture is so true I have seen it here on my mission, the best times I have here or when I feel the closest to my Heavenly Father is when I'm 100% obedient. It's awesome.

 

This week for me was normal nothing too interesting happened. Went to Buga to do an interview and when we got there  a church activity was just starting which was way fun. I'll get back to that in a second, during the interview I had a fun experience. The interview was with an older lady and she made me laugh so much. She was talking about how the devil is always messing with her and she said, "ese diablo tan metido (that devil so nosy), ese negro asqueroso (that disgusting being)" ha-ha. I was kind of surprised and could not help but laugh and was like yep so true ha-ha.

 During in the activity at church they asked me to do magic it was like in front of 40 people and I got really nervous but it went really well. I had everybody's jaw dropped to the floor. It's the best feeling ever and I have been mixing the magic with the gospel. I have an act that goes with the plan of salvation, its awesome. Although sometimes it is not well received. One time we were doing magic to some kids and they were all happy and then this grandma came out and I did an act and she got scared and knocked the cards out of my hands and said that's from the devil ha-ha. I tried to tell her that it's not from the devil it's just tricks ha-ha people are just funny sometimes. 

We have had a lot of awesome spiritual moments this week. We found this young girl she's 18 but lives alone and we started teaching her and wow we felt a spirit so strong. I could put my self in her shoes and she was saying how before she was close to God but now she's not. She feels really happy that we are visiting her. I was sharing my testimony with her and almost started crying because it made me think of all the blessings the gospel has brought to my life. I was telling her how amazing the gospel was and about the blessings and wow that part was so awesome she was like crying too. We also found a family way awesome of 7 and I think they are going to be really good. I have not baptized a family since my first area and I have been praying a lot to find a full family husband and wife and kids which is really hard here in Colombia but we found one and we are going to work really hard with them to help them become eternal. 

 Do you remember Javier, the one that helped me a lot, that I have been studying for? Well he's doing really good honestly. Going to church every Sunday, but he just does not want to get baptized. He says he does not feel it. He knows it's true but something holds him back so that's frustrating but all good all good ha-ha.

This has been my week pretty much. I would like to share with you guys a scripture in Alma 4 19 and it talks about how big a testimony can be, Read it, I love how it talks about how Alma wants to preach the gospel to a pueblo de sinners (a town of sinners) but did not know how to do it. It says only with a pure testimony can they be changed. I love that we should share our testimony always in cada momento (every moment) because it's the only force we have in this world that is greater than any other so why not use it? I hope everyone in the family this week has the opportunity to share their testimony with someone or each other maybe in a family home evening!!! 

 
Well I love you guys till next time!!! 
Elder Gomez

Pictures from the field in Tulua, Colombia

With Elder Garcia current companion

With elder Munar and his comp elder Sheehan from Dallas, TX.

Our baptism it was amazing. He's the one teaching me magic!

We went bowling it was a ton of fun and it's so funny because it is way different than the states. In the States there's machines that do everything here there's a kid that sets up the pins every time they fall down ha-ha. It's so funny I recorded it because I could not believe it.

My amazing Zone, they are all awesome!

Seeing people coming to Christ and changing makes the whole mission worth it!

Hi Mom,

I hope you start feeling better soon I'll be praying for you. It's so awesome that you and dad are teaching Karo's class ha-ha, im sure you guys will really enjoy it!!! :). It's so crazy that Suzana Zubeldia already finished her mission. The time flies by so fast I can't even believe I have been out for 9 months before I know it I'm going to be finishing the mission too that scares me ha-ha.

My favorite companion is now in my district, elder Munar the one from bogota and today we got to pass p day together it was super fun just like old times.

 I will call the office tonight to see if the package arrived. It's weird because this week they sent all the presents to the zone and I was expecting my present but she must have sent it after but I go to Cali the 15 of this month so I'll pick it up then. Thanks again. 

 This week was good but it was another week were the work was hard because of all the parties going on. I have a funny story, on the 31 we got home and went to sleep but at midnight everyone and their dog lit fireworks but it sounded like bombs. I heard it and woke up and almost peed my pants ha-ha because I thought it was like bombs or something until I got into my senses ha-ha that was pretty funny. 

We also have an investigator his name is Javier and he's really cool. He's passing through a lot of problems and is trying to find of God. We have been helping him a lot and its been really good. He has changed so much. I love seeing that change it's what makes the whole mission worth it when just one person changes for the better through Christ. I have learned so much from him because my studies have been focused on him and how I can help him. I found a scripture that I love a lot. Now and anytime you guys are going through problems you guys can read it D&C 58: 3-4. Please read it as it has helped me a lot and will help me a lot when I'm down. That's been our week today, we went to a hike with all the zone. There's like 20 missionaries and it was way fun. I got to catch up with elder Munar. I will send the pictures please say hi to everyone for me and I love you guys. . 

 Elder Gomez