¡Hola mis amigos! How's your week been?
This week was a cool one, I must admit. Elder Martinez and I are continuing to "wrestles against principalities and powers" and we are very much beginning to see some progress where we are. We are getting a lot of help from the members of our ward to seek those who have fallen from the faith in one way or another and trying to bring them back to the fold along with the rest of their families.
And overall, we are much happier where we are. The headaches are going away, the depression is vanishing, the sky is clearing up, the enthusiasm to work where we are is real, our prayers are being answered, and we are becoming more converted. We are sharing our testimony more, feeling more of the Spirit, and we are smiling much more.
And I just want to say a word about being happy. If you are reading this, smile. Give me a nice grin, at least. C'mon, not a fake one. I hope you're smiling right now, because now I must ask, why are you smiling? If you're thinking, just because, and it's a nice and real smile, well, stay that way! And if you don't know, well, begin to count your blessings. Think about your life. Think about a buddy of yours that always checks up on you. Think about your family, and think about how each member individually has blessed your life.
My dad gave me a blessing one time, entering third grade I believe, and in his blessing for me, reminded me to always smile, and remember the reason for why I am smiling. And I think upon this today with much gratitude. I just want to share with you why I am happy. (If you ceased to smile, smile for me just one more minute).
I am happy because I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, and knows me perfectly. He has known me even before the 18, almost 19, years that I have lived in this beautiful world. I am happy to know that He has given me a family with whom I could live for all eternity. I am happy to know that Jesus loves me, and that He is patient for me. I am so grateful for the hope that I have in knowing that He is the literal Master of the elements, that no matter how crazy this life gets, how difficult the challenges are, how unable or inadequate I feel in the situation in which I find myself, He will provide if I remember to rely on Him. I am happy to know that I can always pray to my literal Father of my Spirit, and express the deepest feelings of my heart, freely and sincerely. I am happy to be on this Earth with hundreds, thousands of my dear brothers and sisters from the life before, and to be able to share my testimony with them, and with you. I feel peace in my soul to know that Christ is in control, and that I can rely on Him. I am happy to know that I can see the hand of God in my life, that I can see things that otherwise would not happen if it weren't for His grace. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and all of its wonderful teachings and examples of fine men who were disciples of Christ as well, and I am thankful for their testimonies, which help to build mine own. I am happy to be serving a mission at this time in my life, and I am thankful for everything that has happened before, and I am thankful that I still have plenty of time left to enjoy the blessings of this wonderful life.
I hope that as you read these things, that you were able to keep on smiling. And I hope that when you discontinue reading these short message, that you can continue to think on these things, and continue to smile. We have too many blessings to not be smiling. We are all children of God, indeed, every single one of us. Even remembering this is powerful. I would exhort you all to remember these things, and continue to smile. And when someone asks you why you smile so much, and why you are so happy, just as my Dad prayed for me, tell them, "I am happy, because I am a child of God, and He loves me dearly."
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Elder Dredge
Elder Braden K. Dredge
Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission
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| Zone Conference -- CCM reunion |
Hair cut from a member
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