Monday, 29 October 2018 ~ Week #66

(Today I wanted to make sure I took my time to write you guys, so because of that this week 

I didn't write something in particular for my weekly letter, nor was I able to put photos, but 

here are the lyrics to a hymn I love that I would like to share.)

I Stand All Amazed

1. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

2. I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

3. I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Monday, 22 October 2018 ~ Week #65

Why, hello there! If it isn't my friends and folks from Gringolandia!

This week honestly has been a bit more routinely, I have to say, but that's okay. Little by little we are seeing more miracles in Gualan. We are working more closely with members, and we are seeing very subtle but sure changes. What we have been seeing as a high priority is making sure that the members are animated and living the Gospel.

And there have just been some life lessons that I have been learning. Truly, it is a lot easier to forget about one's own problems when you go out and fix those of a brother. I have noticed that even just talking with people on the street has not been so much of a stress, but rather a relief! I would just like to share this scripture related to this concept. (Luke 17:33)

33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 

I have found that this scripture is a basis for true Gospel living. And it needs not be difficult either. When we choose to focus on others and seek to be a light in their lives, and allow ourselves to be ourselves so that others can be themselves too, we experience more of the joy that even the Savior has, and we feel more of the love that He has for us. Let us remember what a day in the life of our Savior must be like, fully dedicated to the Lord and to service to us. We can be a little bit more like Him through our own acts of service. And with every act of service, His Spirit blesses us to be capable of doing even more, so that we become more like our Heavenly Father, and develop more of His attributes, while enjoying the process as well. It is a wonderful Gospel, and is truly a message of peace and a joyful way of living. I pray that we might all enjoy that gift of the presence of the Spirit as we seek to follow the Savior's example. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a wonderful week, and remember to always count your blessings!

Your friend, and servant, and missionary among the Mayan people,

Elder "Dreadhey" Dredge

Monday, 15 October 2018 ~ #64

Hey everybody!

How is everything going in the cool, windy, perhaps rainy States? As one calling out from the 

rainy heat and sticky clothes, I say, You better enjoy it while you have it!! Hahaha.

As I write, I'm scribbling fast because we came back from a very far part to spend time with 

our zone, so I won't say much, but I must say that this week has been truly a challenge. The 

people we are teaching have almost never been able to receive us again. It's been tough. 

Nonetheless, I am doing fine, and as I think about my calling, well, honestly, I am a happy 

person.

Something that has been helping me a lot through the trials this week has been the power of 

prayer. It is not the first time I have experienced its power, but I definitely saw how prayer has 

actually helped me become more patient. I would be less than honest to say that I did not get 

frustrated even in the process of praying, even just as I was talking about the day. And I would 

be lying if I said I never had gotten frustrated on my mission. But I definitely experienced peace 

after each time I prayed. As I pray, I receive a stronger witness every time that He listens. The 

problem might remain, but that means I need to be patient. Truly, the solution is the love of 

God. And that is a result of living His Gospel, and trusting Him. I know that His Gospel is true, 

and that He is patient with His servants. I think that if God is kind with those who are sincerely 

trying to follow him, then we need to be kind and patient with ourselves, and not listen to the 

adversary who seeks to depress us and discourage us in our efforts to come closer to Him. I 

know that the Savior lives, and that He continually helps us as God's children to come unto 

Him. I know that these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a wonderful week! And remember to count the blessings you see as you offer your prayers 

during the day.

Your friend and servant,

Elder Dredge

Monday, 8 October 2018 ~ Week #63

Hey folks! I don't have lots of time, but I just want to share something with you all. We are starting to see more miracles in our work, and in a manner quite gradual and step by step, but the miracles are there. Here was an experience that I shared with my mission president.

"As we were contacting one day in a portion of our area called La Cienaga, where the chapel sits, we suddenly received a call from an unknown number. The voices on the phones introduced themselves, and apparently were sister missionaries who work in a mission in Mexico Mexico City. Needless to say, we were quite surprised. They told us about an investigator of the Church who received the missionaries in Puerto Barrios and moved to a different place, having lost communication with any missionaries since then. Then some things happened in his life, and he decided to talk to the missionaries again. He found an online program on which he could receive the missionary discussions via video chat; and so he came to know these selfsame sister missionaries. He told them that he lives in Gualan and works in La Cienaga on a ranch. (We were super spooked, because we were contacting right there, on a ranch, when they called, so we were convinced this was no coincidence.) And so they called us! And they told us that they would give us information on his address and when he's available when they could, and already helped him commit to watch general conference. This was very exciting, and my companion and I offered a prayer of gratitude.

Now, the next day was even more astounding. We were walking on a street there in La Cienaga again, and all of a sudden a man walking in our direction calls out to us from a distance saying, "Elderes! Yo necesito un Libro de Mormon!" (Elders! I need a Book of Mormon!) We thought to ourselves, How could this not be this man? We introduced ourselves and he said that his name was Jose Amilcar Luis Guerra... exactly the name we received on phone. He told us about his situation and all about how he encountered the missionaries and the friendship he had with them, and the jab life gave him at one point, and his alcoholism and his separation from God. And he recounted to us his finding that online program on which he could talk with missionaries. This was the most spectacular thing. The Lord truly directs His work, and His plan is perfect. I still marvel at this amazing encounter. We offered yet another prayer of gratitude. We hope to talk with him again!"  

I really am amazed at how the Lord guides His week. I am humbled to be an average 19 year old young man called as His servant. I am far from perfect, and I think I often forget the talents which He has given me which He desires that I use, but I know that He is able to use me as an instrument in His hands. And I know that those who actively take upon the name of Jesus Christ experience this blessing, even without knowing. Truly, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are all shepherds if we follow the example of the Good Shepherd, our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He is guiding His work, and that by way of His glorious plan of redemption He is allowing us to repent and come unto Him, and inspiring us to call others to repent, and in this process gathering His sheep. Truly, everything that is good is of God. I know that these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a wonderful week! And continue to notice the little things that the Lord does in your life by counting your blessings!

Elder Dredge

P.S. We got some really good views of our area, Gualan, my companion and I. We climbed a hill today and we were able to see everything from a hundred foot view. I hope we all get the opportunity to do that every once in a while so that we know what things we need to change to put our life in order and in consistency with our eternal perspective (paraphrasing from General Conference).

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

Gualan, Guatemala

Elder Dredge looking over his area and loving it!

Elders Dredge and Antunez

Monday, 1 October 2018 ~ Week #62

Buenas tardes, mis amigos y mis seres queridos! I'd just like to share some stuff with you guys from this last week.

There is less active member of the church in our area who has been struggling a bit with his identity as well as worthiness, but who wants to come back to church and make it a part of his life again. And what we shared with him is what I will share with you.

What is your relationship with Jesus Christ right now? In any point, did you feel like you have disappointed him? Do you feel like you have weaknesses, and errors which you make constantly, even after repenting many times? Do you feel like you have exhausted His patience? Allow me to share a passage in the Book of Mormon, which can remind us of what He thinks of us. In 3 Nephi 11, the resurrected Christ comes and appears to the Nephites, the inhabitants of the Americas, and says the following.

8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descendingout of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.
9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.
13 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

Imagine the hands and feet of the Savior, in that moment, right before your eyes. Imagine what He suffered... He bled from every pore and died so that we might not have to suffer in that way for our own transgressions and sins. All that He asks is to come unto Him, repent of our sins, and have faith in Him, being baptized by water and by fire and by the Holy Ghost. He offered His body and His blood, and asks in return our sins, our fears, our pride, and our hearts. It is gentle but bold invitation, to come unto Him, and to follow Him.

I have never seen a painting so beautifully and clearly painted of my own weaknesses and my fears in any other part of my life than the mission. I recognize all the things I lack. I want to be a better son and brother and friend, and I want to make sure that in the future I can be the best father and spouse and leader that I can. Nonetheless, it is all in vain if I don't do it for Christ. I realize that when I begin to fear and worry in my personal improvement, I begin to have low self esteem, and I grow tense, and I make excuses, and I stop trying, and I don't feel happy in the end. But when I pray, and I bring these things to my Heavenly Father, recognizing that I am in a fallen state, and remembering the divine mission of the Savior which He committed to accomplish since the beginning--to save us from our fallen state, I gain hope, and I don't lose self esteem, but rather I humble myself, and it is all put in perspective. In the end, I am happier when the things I am trying to do is dedicated to the Savior, and no one else.

Is this something I remember constantly? No. I am still very human. I might even almost be the same person I was before the mission. But I now know what it means to make it all about Christ.

Now, I hope that this reaches you, whoever it is that reads this, whether you are a member of the Church or not. I hope that what I write helps you in your own personal conversion to Christ. It is personal, and it is between you and Him. And when you pray, it is between you and Him. When you do service, it is between you and Him. When you have fears and personal struggles, make it between you and Him. When you have anger towards another person, or pride, or any sort of feeling which would not be pleasing unto Him, make it between you and Him. After all, and when we are presented before our Father to be judged of our deeds, it is He who will be our judge. I know that He is the Savior, and I know that His Gospel is true. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a wonderful week!

Your friend,

Elder Dredge

Elder Braden K. Dredge

Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission