Monday, 25 December 2017 ~ Week # 22

Hey everyone! ¡Feliz Navidad, mis amigos!

I hope everyone has had a lovely Christmastime. This is a wonderful day to celebrate as families. What a wonderful day it is, the day on which our Savior was born.

Mis hermanos y hermanas, I would like to express with you all that this was an event that we don't just know happened by reading history books and reading prophecies fulfilled in the Scriptures. This was, indeed, an event that we saw with our own eyes! We have a loving Heavenly Father who loves us and knew us perfectly even before being born (Jeremiah 1:5). We knew Jesus Christ as our elder brother, and knew His plan for us, and what He was willing to do for us, that we might return home. How sweet it is, that because of this, we had the pleasure, while we still lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father, to watch the life of Christ, even from the beginning, as an infant born in a manger to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem. This is an event of which we have direct spiritual witness. And how great must have been the excitement in the heavens as we watched together this beautiful moment! How sweet must have been the feeling in our hearts to bear witness of this baby Jesus, and seeing the humble shepherds walk to His manger and share this feeling too! How joyful must have been our singing in the choirs above!

And let us continue to remember that because of Christ, we may be saved, and we may changed, by the power of his infinite and universal Atonement. Without Christ's birth would there be no mortal life of Christ. And without His life, would there be no Atonement made. Without an Atonement, we would have no way to return, neither path to follow, neither pardon for sins, nor strength to improve. And now, because of Him, all of these things we have. He devoted His life that we might have a Way back home, for indeed His mission was "to do the will of the Father." What a grand mission thus did He start this day, more than 2000 years ago. Let us thus be reverent toward Him, and continue to be reverent toward Him. Let us keep Him in our thoughts this day, and continue on to reflect on Him. Let us think on His example in humility and ponder how we can imitate it in our own situations. Let us continue to admire Him, worship Him, and serve Him through our service to our friends and family (Mosiah 2:17).

This is my Christmas message to all of you, and I hope that it does not run dry on Christmas 26th. A new year will be coming, and I would that we begin with big goals and small goals within those big goals. Allow me to be a friend of yours to keep you updated on your New Years' resolutions if no one else will. I'm happy to say that I have seen my own personal progress in being a more happy and outgoing person this year, the which was my goal for 2017. Let's all strive to be a little bit more like what we want to be, 2018!

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Not the best picture, but love it!

Christmas Morning!

Elder Dredge and Elder Martinez taking a break!

Monday, December 18, 2017 ~ Week #21

Hey all! This has been quite an awesome week, I must be honest. In terms of teaching and baptizing, it was not good at all. But in terms of working hard and experiencing personal conversion to Christ, it was amazing. If I were to come back home right now, I can confidently say that I have changed. But I am only just about to complete my fifth month in my mission, so I can't wait to see how much I have changed.

I don't think I could express how much better I feel about working than what I felt anxious to tell my mission president, President Christensen. I started a little practice each day this past Wednesday which is included in this passage from my letter to him:

"In terms of the work, it has been quite the same this week. All the investigators we meet with, or almost all, are not in their houses. We have met with a few members and less actives at least, which is good. And so we have been working with our Simi.

"In terms of attitude, we have improved quite a bit. I have been studying examples of love in the Book of Mormon every day since Wednesday ... The reason why I began the practice was because I was lacking in morale and I had already taken notes of the thoughts that I have had during the day which cause me to doubt and not act, and thoughts paired aside that would cause me to act in spite. And what I realized was that if talking with the people was something I woke up every morning wanting to do, to make a ton of new friends and invite them to hear more of what we testify in our encounters--indeed, if talking with the people was something I absolutely loved doing, I would not need to give myself a mental push to do so. I would simply be excited to talk with the someone upon seeing them in my path. This is the kind of love that I want to have in my heart every day, President.

"And so the first day I began this practice, I was very happy, and I was working hard, getting up quickly, walking fast, being a friend to every stranger and member I saw, and I hardly said a word about home, and I was not discouraged. The days following were quite similar to this pattern. I will have to admit, it is hard to keep the attitude strong and constant every day. But with a fervent prayer in expressing my personal conviction to love the people I encounter like Nephi loved his brethren, and Lehi his family, and Captain Moroni his country, and Alma his sons, I feel spiritually prepared for talking with whatever person might be in my way. I felt so much more converted to Christ overall this week."

I realized this week that if I could love talking with the people basically as much as I loved to play the piano, it would not matter to me what results we have at the end of the day. I have felt good about the work I've done at the end of each day because of this.

And so I would encourage you all to do the same, and apply it to your personal circumstances. What is that which impedes you? What is that which prevents you from experiencing true happiness and peace as made possible by the Gospel of Jesus Christ? I believe that by the divine grace of our Savior, we can not only be improved, but be changed completely. I firmly believe in not just the cleansing power of the Atonement, but also the strengthening power of the Atonement--that wonderful sacrifice that was in the process in the Garden of Gethsemane, finished on the cross, begun in service to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and continued after His Resurrection. I believe that repentance is more than putting in mental effort to change our thoughts and actions, but begging for a change of heart, for I know that if there is no disposition in the heart to do wrong, the mind nor the flesh will do any wrong, but rather bring to pass many good acts that would please our Heavenly Father. I know that there is power in the words of prophets, given by the gift of prophecy as well as by the gift of charity, insomuch that if we study and pray their words, we can experience the change of hearts as did the original listeners of their words.

I would encourage all who are willing to experience a change of heart, to study these scriptures, and analyze them in a notebook, with the question above, How is this an example of love? How was what so-and-so did for so-and-so an evidence of his love for them?

1 Nephi 3:7 (Nephi for his father and his God)

1 Nephi 7:6-22, 16:14-27 (Nephi for his family)

1 Nephi 8:2-38 (Lehi for his wife and children)

2 Npehi 4:15-35 (Nephi for his God)

Jacob 4:2-4 (Jacob for his brethren, children and grandchildren)

Enos 1:7-19 (Enos for his brethren the Nephites and the Lamanites)

Alma 39:1-14 (Alma the Younger to his son Corianton)

Alma 48:11-17 (Captain Moroni for his people and his country)

Alma 56:47-48 (The two thousand stripling warriors for the mothers)

As you study these scriptures, I hope that each of you have a look at mormon.org for some suggestions on how to Light the World. Let this be a season not just of receiving, but as of giving! I hope everyone has a wonderful one more week before Christmas! 7 more days!!!

Love you all,

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

 Just another day of tracting and hanging with the goats

Me and Elder Martinez outside our abode

Monday, 11 December 2017 ~ Week #20

Well, this has been quite a week. I must say, I started the week high in spirits, ended in low spirits, but though the work is hard, I am learning a lot. In terms of the missionary work alone, I realize That the success is a lot in what we do, not in what happens. Missionary success, because of this, can be visible when there are baptisms and people taught, but the missionary success is really in going out and being a friend and helping people to grow their relationship with their Savior Jesus Christ.

A missionary's purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them to receive the restored Gospel throught faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

Success is based upon how well one completes his purpose. If one knows his purpose, he can determine what he needs to do to meet that purpose. And thus, if he doesn't do what he needs to do to achieve that purpose, he does not reach that purpose. And the success overall is according the efforts, not to the results.

I have been thinking a lot of what kind of missionary I want to be, as I have been confronting with many challenges in my area. Then I was inspired to look in Alma 48:11-17. This speaks of the example of Captain Moroni, the most notable war general in the Book of Mormon, and perhaps in all of American History. It reads as follows.

11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;

12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.

13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.

14 Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives.

15 And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;

16 And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them; and this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity.

17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.

How much do I love the people around me, that I would be willing to serve them? How many times do I ignore the needs of those around, the needs of my brothers and sisters whom I have bypassed? How grateful am I to my Heavenly Father, knowing that He has blessed me without ceasing? How firm am I in my faith in Christ? How willing am I to obey His commandments, that I might show my love for Him as His humble servant? How perfect is my understanding? How much of a grasp does Satan have on my mind and my soul? What am I willing to change in my thoughts and actions that I might overcome my flesh and act in service of God?

Our Lord Heavenly Father loves us very much. I know that He wants to gain a relationship with all of us. He wants to reach out to us, and help us overcome our trials. And our Savior Jesus Christ wants us to become strengthened, and learn from our suffering, as He had already suffered the same. I know that true peace, true joy, true happiness, true strength, all of these things, only come by living the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, exercising the principles of faith, repentance, keeping covenants, following the Spirit, and persevering to the end daily. We may be weak, maybe even in our faith in Him, and because of this we may stray away and rather become discouraged. But I know that our Lord is pleased with our efforts to try, every day. I know He has a plan for us all.

Overall, this week in the process, I realize that I've become a good pal of many of the members here. Piano lessons have been going super well; we had 14 students in the first lesson, in the which I taught fingering, rhythm and a few hymns from this. Everyone was learning, and using their mental piano when they were not playing. It was incredibly cool, and it went better than I thought. This was much cooler than what I was doing in Ermita, haha.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful week, and that we can all be a better person each day. If you have not checked it out, look up mormon.org and get started on the Light the World iniative. There are two more weeks until Christmas. Our Heavenly Father's best gift for us was His Son. And His Son's very best gift was providing us a way back to the Father. Let us think of ways of how we can give back to Him. When we serve our neighbors, we serve our God. (Mosiah 2:17) Do not get too busy this season, and enjoy the company of your friends and family.

I love you all.

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Monday, 4 Deccember 2017 ~ Week #19

Hey all! I hope everyone has had a nice week this week.

This one has been quite tiring for me I have to admit. I came into a new area, Area Las Ilusiones, Zona La Laguna, and there aren't many investigators at the moment. We are contacting everyday, striving to bring more souls to Christ. It is quite a hilly area too so I have been quite tired at the end of the day each day. But we are working hard. And I am enjoying the company of my new companion Elder Martinez. He is 22, has been out for 14 months, baptized when he was 20, and is a super chill guy overall. He is super mature and has skills in leadership. He is also quite smart and is a very good listener.

(The leg is doing fine by the way, I will add that as a side note. It is still closing up but I am caring for it on a consistent basis.)

And while we have been working much in Las Ilusiones, we had the awesome opportunity to go back to Ermita and visit the baptism of our converts Mario hijo and Mario padre. They are super pilas and I am super excited that they are now members. They have been friends of ours from the beginning and it has been an honor to know such a lovely family as they. And I had the wonderful honor to baptize little Marito, 10 years old this 27 november. It was quite cold in the font so he struggled to be physically calm in the ordinance but while he was struggling to not shiver, he had full confidence in me that I wouldn't drop him. This baptism was overall incredibly cool for me personally because it was the first time that I had every baptized. It was such a cool feeling. I know that the Priesthood is real. The power of God is restored to earth, and the principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are again on the earth today. It was an honor in that moment to baptize my little buddy Marito, knowing that I am one of many that have that restored authority, and that Marito because of this can enjoy the blessings that I have enjoyed all my life for the rest of his own.

I just want to talk on the hope made possible through the Atonement. Everyday I feel like I could do better. I feel like I could be a better friend to those I meet with. I feel like I could have more faith, less fear, to talk to people. I feel like I could be more patient and longsuffering with the conditions of my area. I feel like I could love everyone more. I feel like I could think about my Savior more throughout the day to be focused. And how heavy it is to think every day that I could do better.

But this is why we have the Atonement. Jesus Christ made the difference of all of our efforts, having suffered all the consequences for things which we have done in the which we have fallen short. And having suffered all these things, he turns around, and he extends his hand back to us, encouraging us to do better to carry the burden that he carried for us. Our elder brother Jesus Christ is the most righteous, the most charitable, the most diligent, the most humble, the most selfless, the most holy, and yet the most joyful, the most peaceful, and the most happy that has ever placed foot on this Earth, and He had to go through His Gethsemane. Though we will never experience the same as He has, He, as His disciples, extends His hand to us that we might follow Him, bearing His suffering, therewith bearing witness of Him. In our lives we have trials, but He suffered them too that he might be able to succor us. And we have yet to gain His attributes, but nevertheless this is why we have our trials.

So as we think on our Savior this month, think about your own lives as well, what you have had to go through or what you are going through right now and think to yourself, How great it is that I have challenges in my life, because I have a Redeemer that has suffered the same and lives today, and helps me through these challenges that I might be able to come home to Him one day. How great it is! Let us remember Him in our trials, and thank Him for them, because of the blessings that they yield once they are gone.

To end this letter, I will attach the lyrics to Be Still My Soul, one of my favorite hymns.

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Be safe, and remember your Redeemer. I love you all!

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Baptism of Mario by Elder Dredge ~ 27 November 2017

New Companion ~ Elder Martinez (Honduras)