Monday, 25 June 2018 ~ Week # 48

Hola, mis amigos! Que tal, como estan? Espero que tuvieron una buena semana.

This week we had the chance to hear counsel from our mission president as well as some other Church authorities, and to apply it, as well as go to the temple. I was impressed very much this past week by the experiences which I have had. I am coming to realize what real faith in Christ is and how it affects the way I live. This is something that I realize is of great importance, and I feel a need to share it.

Have we realized how much our Heavenly Father has blessed us throughout the week? Do we remember the plan that He has for us -- that even if we forget, or if we don't want, He wants us to come back home and strive to become more like Him? Do we look at the things that we have, including the families we have, the talents we have, the home, etc., and give Him credit and thank Him? What or where would we be without these things? He loves us, and He wants to inspire us to love Him in return.

I can't write much, but I would just say, if we realize our need for Him, and feel a sincere desire to develop a relationship with Him -- that is, if you in this moment could feel that desire right now, to come to know Him more as your Father -- I would ask, what are you willing to do to strengthen the relationship you have with Him? Are your prayers sincere to Him, expressing to Him the things that you need and want? Are you studying the Scriptures with the desire to understand His will more and receive revelation from Him? Are you keeping the commandments with sincere intention? Have you been baptized? and if so, are you striving to keep the covenant you made with Him and the Savior upon being baptized? And is the life that you life day by day, week by week, a reflection of the desire that you have to repent, and become more like Him? And are the thoughts and feelings that you have, even down to your very intentions, sincere, reflecting upon that desire?

We do not need to be perfect in this life. What our Heavenly Father hopes is that we take advantage of the great gift He has given us -- His Son and His sacrifice -- and repent, with not the intention to become the person we ourselves want to be, unless that is exactly the kind of person our Heavenly Father wants us to be. And He is the one who can help us. Our Savior is our helper in the whole process, and He is anxious every day to do so. We can become a little bit more like our Savior every day, and we can rely on Him. And I testify that He lives. He has helped me through many particularly dark moments where I couldn't even focus, where I was depressed, where I was self-critical, and He was there to comfort me through every temptation. Through the tender reminders of His Holy Spirit, He has inspired me to be more like Him and to use the strength that I have to dedicate it to Him. I know that Christ is our Savior. And I know that if we strive with sincere intention to serve Him, He will help us to do so. I say these things in His sacred name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have a wonderful week, my friends! Enjoy it, and never cease to count the blessings in the process. The Lord does not need to be thanked, but how much we need to be thankful!

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Saying adios to some of the people from Pinares 1

Monday, 18 June 2018 ~ Week #47

Hey folks!  

How has your week been? Did you have a goat interrupt your conversation with a drunk man this week? If so, I'm impressed, but let me ask, did another drunk man come in and get sent out by the first drunk man's wife? If so, you must have had a pretty wild week, but allow me to ask again, did you happen to see the first drunk man's son perfectly sober one day, and the next day drooling on the grass? I think you might take the card. Let me know if you have seen the following step, I have yet to see more myself.

This week has been more interesting, at least according to the things that we have seen, but nonetheless we have been maintaining an attitude of not making anything a routine. Yes, there are a lot of things that missionaries do that we do everyday. The missionary life is actually quite routinely if you take a look at our schedule. And it can be if you let it. But nothing needs to be a routine.

And allow me to share an experience why we need not let things be a routine. We visited a young mother this past week, having helped out with a move with a neighbor of hers, and we visited later on and we were inspired to share a scripture, 3 Nephi 13:25-34 (Jesus Christ sharing the Sermon on the Mount with those of God's children who lived in the Americas). We read up to the following.

25 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen, and said unto them: Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people. Therefore I say unto you, takeno thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

We asked her to read the following verse, but she asked us to wait, because she needed a moment. She was weeping. We sat in silence, feeling the Spirit very strongly. She shared with us her experience of separating from her husband and starting to work and to study to provide for her children and care for them and the struggle she's been having with the transition. And she told us that even up to that point, she had received an answer to her prayers, because she herself had cried out in the week before, "What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" We helped her apply the verse, listening intently and encouraging her to have faith. We continued to read the following, and I ask that whoever reads or listens to these verses think and ponder intently on them, asking yourself how you say the same things, or how you have said the same things this past week.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

I strongly encourage you all to think about the things you do in life, and continue to do them, but take a moment to consider how it is all part of the big picture. Think about your relationship with God, your relationship with your family, and the relationship with your fellowmen. These, after all, are things which are most important, and are indeed the things which stay for all eternity. Do not forget to acquire wisdom and Christlike attributes, but nonetheless these things come as you develop your relationship with you Heavenly Father. I encourage you to focus on those things. Everything else is just stuff when you look at the big picture. So look at it all from a Gospel perspective. In your work, how are you developing your relationships with others and-or serving them? In your studies, how are you developing your relationship with God, and investing in other relationships? In your past times, how are you developing your relationship with your family? These are the things which matter the most. I have learned for myself that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is centered on these things and how our Savior can help us have more joy in these things. And I have learned for myself that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and that it is the one and only true source of pure joy. I invite you all to learn it and live it. I know that these things are true. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a wonderful week, my friends. Don't forget to count your blessings. Those are special ways in which the Lord blesses your life every day.

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Monday, 11 June 2018 ~ Week #46

Hey Folks!

How was your week? This one went by strangely fast for me. There has still been some commotion with the volcanoes, but don't worry about me in terms of that. We only received ash for two days. But we have been offering lots of service to the folks over there in Esquintla. The members of the Church over here have been helping out a lot in shipping materials, packages and clothes to our brothers and sisters over there. We as the missionaries just helped pack. But I am thankful to be a member of a Church that cares for itself and cares for the poor and afflicted.

This week was hard, and very testing on our faith. We are falling a bit into a routine and we are in need of changing it, and receiving revelation more. So I just want to share a thought on faith. Let us remember that faith is not just belief, but is action. If I believe I can lift that pencil on the desk, I will do it, and that is by the faith that I had to lift the pencil. But faith in Christ is different. If I believe I can push a mountain, and I push it, I might not get so far. But if I believe Christ can, then I can do my part to push that mountain. Though I can't push that mountain, God can. That is faith in Christ. I would invite you all to reflect on how we can be more faithful followers of Jesus Christ, believing in His divine mission and our ability to follow Him. I know that Christ lives. He has given me more strength than my own to bring to pass His purposes. I have seen it in the walking and the talking of my companion and I, nevertheless more importantly in the changes of the lives of the folks we talk to. That isn't by us. The people don't change their lives for the missionaries. They change their lives for Christ. It is slow many times the progress on that hill of these people we teach, but they are climbing it. I know that this is Christ's work, the work that I have been privileged to take on. I know that He died for us, and helps us every day to become more like Him. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a wonderful week, everyone! Count your blessings always, in good times and bad times, please!

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

This the northern part of their area of Zone 18

Monday, 4 June 2018 ~ Week #45

Hey yall! I don't have much time to write this week because we received a call just now to do something but what I can tell you right now is the following. I didn't get burned by the volcano, thank goodness, only received some ash rain, but please pray for the folks over there in the southern mission of Guatemala. We have been struggling to find people to teach, a lot of people have been working and have not been able to reach. But we are continuing with faith.

My invitation to you, as to those whom I am teaching, is to remember to focus on the kingdom of God. You may have many things to do, many temporal things, and perhaps many spiritual responsabilities as well, but remember the purpose. Remember why you do it. And if you see why you do it, take time to think about how it is part of the Lord's plan. Think about how your time spent in work is time spent serving your fellow men, and seek to serve them. Think about your family. Think about your relationship with God in all that you do. After all, all that we do is for Him, our Savior and our Redeemer. We are children of a loving Heavenly Father, and He loves us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a wonderful week! And always count your blessings!

Your friend,

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission