How are you all doing? Have you been proactive with the Light the World initiative? If not, then fortunately we believe in repentance and forgiveness. So I'll forgive you, you can repent, and I'll invite you to JUST DO IT. This week is "Lighting your Family". Watch the video on lds.org and think of ways to bring light and joy to your family this Christmas season. It doesn't have to be buying their dream guitar (sorry dad), but maybe just making breakfast for your family, or cleaning without being told to (*cough* Paige, Mia *cough*). Haha but in all seriousness, take time to make your family smile AND laugh to show your appreciation for them. Our idea: make Christmas cards and give to members. Maybe throw in some treats too, but a little low on cash so maybe not haha. So yeah, just make it fun and sincere!
***** Update | 업 다이트 *****
So this week Elder Neas and I got to work! So Elder Neas is half Korean from Provo, UT but grew up in FL. He's been out for about 15 months and came from Kellyville. He's the opposite of my previous companion. Comes off as pessimistic to some people, but he's more realistic than anything. He has a sure testimony, and understands the slow work in the northern areas. He's a great worker and we get along. I'm keen of him and his method of working smarter. He's direct, communicates well and I think we'll get some work done. Additionally, he's nearly fluent since he grew up speaking Korean, so this is a huge blessing.
I've been introducing him to the area, coordinating visits with members, potential investigators, etc. It's been a good test to see how well I know the area. I learned that our area has already been knocked several times, so we've been looking through some old teaching files that haven't been updated in the online Area Book (contains all teaching records on our area) and visiting these people. As we visit, we think of how we can strategically use our "Navajo Mow" business to get in contact again. So I feel good about this. We haven't found anyone yet, but we're getting there!
***** Story | 이야기 *****
So I don't know if you remember Jacob, he has been coming to church, been taught a little, then asked about Baptism. For a while this kid was on fire, he came to us one day and said "I talked to my uncle and he said I would just have to ask my mom for permission to get baptized". We were like Whoa! We hadn't even taught him the full Plan of Salvation or asked him to be baptized! So we tried jumping on that, but haven't been able to catch him because he's always been busy with Tafe (community college) and last year of high school exams. Then he went on a trip and fell off the face of the earth... Wouldn't answer our texts, didn't come to church, youth activities or anything. Wasn't home. Nothing... Well he came out of hiding!
He came to church and (I absolutely love this branch) they welcomed him with love and kindness. He sat with us during Sacrament and he seemed happy to be here. Previously, he had asked if he could give a speech like he once saw during Fast & Testimony meeting. We weren't able to find an opportunity for him, and we never found out why. Well, we found out this past Sunday. He asked again and told us that his mother had cancer and was going into surgery in a couple days... He wanted an opportunity to talk to the Branch because he wanted to ask them to pray for his mother.
A little more about him: He lives with his Uncle because his parents split. Dad just got out of jail and mother sick. Lives in a rough, low socioeconomic area. His uncle barely scrapes by. Doesn't have much going on at home, and needs hope and help because he doesn't know what's gonna happen with his mother. He's very attached to his mother because he's always wearing the necklace she gave him. I had asked him how he's doing, he said "oh you know just a couple of breakdowns here and there, but getting by." He's a tough kid and brushes it off with jokes, but you can tell he's struggling. After church, we sent him the Mormon Message - Good Things to Come (https://www.lds.org/study/video/mormon-messages/2010-05-12-good-things-to-come?lang=eng#title1) from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (one of the 12 Apostles), and told him we planned to fast for his mom the day of her surgery and he could join us if he wanted. We hope we can teach him more about the Gospel, which will provide him the hope, peace, and support that he needs. We will be there for him too.
***** Book of Mormon Thought | 몰몬경에 대한 생각 *****
Don't you just love the Book of Mormon?!?! If you're not reading it, repent, and pick up your copy or go to this site (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng) and start STUDYING! So the story that I want to share with you, to show you some of the incredible stories there are, and that it's not a weird book that Jospeh Smith wrote but rather TRANSLATED, or remind you of a fan favorite story, is the story of the Stripling Warriors that took place around 65-64 B.C.
The Stripling Warriors consist of, initially, 2,000 young men who "entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage." (Alma 53:17). At this time, the Nephites (those who kept and honored the Commandments of God) were currently in a massive war with the Lamanites (those who hated the Nephites or sought to do evil). There were parts of the Nephite nation that were struggling against the Lamanites, and heaps of men were being killed on both sides. The Anti-Nephi-Lehis (a group protected by the Nephites because of their covenant to God to never kill a person again) felt guilty that they weren't contributing anything to the war other than supplies and food, and were about to break their covenant and fight UNTIL their sons (who never took the same covenant) volunteered and made the covenant as previously mentioned.
So they move out to support the forces commanded by Antipus in the city of Judea who were being harassed by the Lamanites in the nearby city of Antiparah (who happen to be the strongest army of the Lamanites, the most numerous) and "were depressed in body as well as in spirit... and thus they had suffered great afflictions of every kind". Antipus and his men "were determined to conquer in this place or die; therefore you may well suppose that this little force which I brought with me, yea, those sons of mine, gave them great hopes and much joy." So these men are ready to get back into the fight and reclaim the land they lost to the Lamanites.
They devised a plan in which Helaman (leader of the 2,000) with his 2,000 would bate the Lamanites out of the city, then Antipus with the bulk of the army would come behind to surround the Lamanites. Well, the Lamanites see Antipus behind them and continue to pursue the little group of 2,000 to destroy them first then fight Antipus to keep from being surrounded. Well, it turns into a 2 day chase. Running for 2 full days in battle gear. All exhausted. Antipus doubled their speed during these days to try to catch the Lamanites and prevent them from overtaking the little 2,000, so extra exhausted. Well on the 3rd day, the 2,000 don't see the Lamanites. Helaman (their leader) supposes that it's a trap, but he turns to his 2,000 and asks them... "Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?"
This is it. This is the big moment. This is the biggest, strongest army of the Lamanites. No pushovers. Then these 2,000 are just young men, maybe my age, "never had fought", and were fresh 'greenies'. If they run away, no one would blame them. The odds are just horribly not in their favor. Their leader really isn't too keen on fighting, but he turns to his men. As Helaman is writing this record at a later time, he writes "...never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites. For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." - Alma 56:46-48
What a response! Does this give you the goosebumps? Are you not inspired by their faith and confidence in God? Are you NOT ENTERTAINED!? (Sorry, got carried away). But seriously, moms pat yourself on the back, good job *fist bump*. Let's continue...
They turn back to where the Lamanites were previously, and the scene is horrendous for the Nephites. Antipus (the "general" of this army) killed. Many of the other officers/leaders, killed (sorry West Point). The soldiers are confused and worn out because there's no one to lead them and they basically sprinted for the entire past 2 days. They "began to give way before the Lamanites... the Lamanites were pursuing them with great vigor... were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites..." Well Helaman and his 2,000 Stripling Warrior come charging in from the rear and "began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the WHOLE army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman." Antipus' men see this, they get themselves together and get back into the fight.
Real quick. When life is kicking your butt, and you're just confused out of your mind on what to do, but you get a relief or support. Get back into the fight like Antipus' men! Don't give up and runaway while you can. Finish the job, and come out conqueror. I hope this story is firing you up, it fired me up when I read it and as I'm typing this. Let's continue...
"... the people of Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they were compelled to [surrender]". So what happened to the 2,000, young, fresh, unexperienced outnumbered, fearless young men? Well... "not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war."
What can we take from this story? None of us are fighting in a literal war. Or "I'm just a 1st grader". Well yes, thank you Mia. So I guess... Find out what you can take from this story. What I love about the word of God is that there are messages specifically designed for each of us as we study them. What I get out of this, won't be what you get out of it. So I'll leave it to you to take your own message out of this. I won't tell you what I got out of it. So take some time, enjoy my story telling, and find for yourselves the message that our Heavenly Father intended for you to get out of this story. It was put into the Book of Mormon for a reason. Find out how you can apply the principle you learned into your life and grow from it. Become a better person, brother, daughter, husband, friend as a result from it. I love this story, and am grateful that we have it. So my invitation for you, as you try to become a better person, is not just be a good, better, best husband, friend, daughter, etc, but become a more CHRISTlike husband, friend, son, daughter, etc. Take more time to study the life of Jesus Christ and find out what He would do if He were in your shoes, situation, etc then DO THAT. I love you all. Our Heavenly Father loves us all. Jesus Christ provided us the way to return to live with our Heavenly Father and the opportunity to become like Him. Don't waste the gift of grace by not doing anything with it. Use it to become more like Him. Repent, be baptized/keep your baptismal covenants, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost/live in a way that entices the Holy Ghost into your life, then endure to the end and stay on the path. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Fortunately, if you mess up at any point, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ you can get back on the path, receive forgiveness, peace of mind, and the strength/ determination/ hope to keep pressing forward. Love you all.
Elder Escamilla
Sydney Australia Mission
에스카미야 장로
호주 스다니 선교부
P.S. I hope you can hear my voice in these emails, because I find myself talking or laughing to myself sometimes when typing these up (like with the Mia thing, because I can just hear her saying that), and I just laugh at myself because I probably sound and look crazy. Haha anyways, I guess I need to find someone to teach because I'm over talking to myself most of the time (and my companion too, don't worry. no issues). Have a great week! (Mia & Paige are little sisters)
My desk set up. Koalas love Jesus!
I live in the Garden of Eden of Australia. We were finishing up our day when I saw the sunset and said, "wouldn't it be nice if we could actually see the sunset?" So we both looked at each other and quickly made our way to Soldier's Point, to this beautiful pier to see the sunset. I love these views.
My new companion's first Sunday in PORT STEPHENS!!
POTENTIAL BAPTISM!! He came to church by himself too! Totally GOLDEN! Only problem is... he's a spider (Huntsman)... But hey, D&C112:28 "go ye into all the world, and preach my gospel unto every CREATURE who has not received it." He's a creature, and pretty sure he hasn't received the Gospel, at least not YET.
***** Book of Mormon Thought | 몰몬경에 대한 생각 *****
Don't you just love the Book of Mormon?!?! If you're not reading it, repent, and pick up your copy or go to this site (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng) and start STUDYING! So the story that I want to share with you, to show you some of the incredible stories there are, and that it's not a weird book that Jospeh Smith wrote but rather TRANSLATED, or remind you of a fan favorite story, is the story of the Stripling Warriors that took place around 65-64 B.C.
The Stripling Warriors consist of, initially, 2,000 young men who "entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage." (Alma 53:17). At this time, the Nephites (those who kept and honored the Commandments of God) were currently in a massive war with the Lamanites (those who hated the Nephites or sought to do evil). There were parts of the Nephite nation that were struggling against the Lamanites, and heaps of men were being killed on both sides. The Anti-Nephi-Lehis (a group protected by the Nephites because of their covenant to God to never kill a person again) felt guilty that they weren't contributing anything to the war other than supplies and food, and were about to break their covenant and fight UNTIL their sons (who never took the same covenant) volunteered and made the covenant as previously mentioned.
So they move out to support the forces commanded by Antipus in the city of Judea who were being harassed by the Lamanites in the nearby city of Antiparah (who happen to be the strongest army of the Lamanites, the most numerous) and "were depressed in body as well as in spirit... and thus they had suffered great afflictions of every kind". Antipus and his men "were determined to conquer in this place or die; therefore you may well suppose that this little force which I brought with me, yea, those sons of mine, gave them great hopes and much joy." So these men are ready to get back into the fight and reclaim the land they lost to the Lamanites.
They devised a plan in which Helaman (leader of the 2,000) with his 2,000 would bate the Lamanites out of the city, then Antipus with the bulk of the army would come behind to surround the Lamanites. Well, the Lamanites see Antipus behind them and continue to pursue the little group of 2,000 to destroy them first then fight Antipus to keep from being surrounded. Well, it turns into a 2 day chase. Running for 2 full days in battle gear. All exhausted. Antipus doubled their speed during these days to try to catch the Lamanites and prevent them from overtaking the little 2,000, so extra exhausted. Well on the 3rd day, the 2,000 don't see the Lamanites. Helaman (their leader) supposes that it's a trap, but he turns to his 2,000 and asks them... "Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?"
This is it. This is the big moment. This is the biggest, strongest army of the Lamanites. No pushovers. Then these 2,000 are just young men, maybe my age, "never had fought", and were fresh 'greenies'. If they run away, no one would blame them. The odds are just horribly not in their favor. Their leader really isn't too keen on fighting, but he turns to his men. As Helaman is writing this record at a later time, he writes "...never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites. For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." - Alma 56:46-48
What a response! Does this give you the goosebumps? Are you not inspired by their faith and confidence in God? Are you NOT ENTERTAINED!? (Sorry, got carried away). But seriously, moms pat yourself on the back, good job *fist bump*. Let's continue...
They turn back to where the Lamanites were previously, and the scene is horrendous for the Nephites. Antipus (the "general" of this army) killed. Many of the other officers/leaders, killed (sorry West Point). The soldiers are confused and worn out because there's no one to lead them and they basically sprinted for the entire past 2 days. They "began to give way before the Lamanites... the Lamanites were pursuing them with great vigor... were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites..." Well Helaman and his 2,000 Stripling Warrior come charging in from the rear and "began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the WHOLE army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman." Antipus' men see this, they get themselves together and get back into the fight.
Real quick. When life is kicking your butt, and you're just confused out of your mind on what to do, but you get a relief or support. Get back into the fight like Antipus' men! Don't give up and runaway while you can. Finish the job, and come out conqueror. I hope this story is firing you up, it fired me up when I read it and as I'm typing this. Let's continue...
"... the people of Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they were compelled to [surrender]". So what happened to the 2,000, young, fresh, unexperienced outnumbered, fearless young men? Well... "not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war."
What can we take from this story? None of us are fighting in a literal war. Or "I'm just a 1st grader". Well yes, thank you Mia. So I guess... Find out what you can take from this story. What I love about the word of God is that there are messages specifically designed for each of us as we study them. What I get out of this, won't be what you get out of it. So I'll leave it to you to take your own message out of this. I won't tell you what I got out of it. So take some time, enjoy my story telling, and find for yourselves the message that our Heavenly Father intended for you to get out of this story. It was put into the Book of Mormon for a reason. Find out how you can apply the principle you learned into your life and grow from it. Become a better person, brother, daughter, husband, friend as a result from it. I love this story, and am grateful that we have it. So my invitation for you, as you try to become a better person, is not just be a good, better, best husband, friend, daughter, etc, but become a more CHRISTlike husband, friend, son, daughter, etc. Take more time to study the life of Jesus Christ and find out what He would do if He were in your shoes, situation, etc then DO THAT. I love you all. Our Heavenly Father loves us all. Jesus Christ provided us the way to return to live with our Heavenly Father and the opportunity to become like Him. Don't waste the gift of grace by not doing anything with it. Use it to become more like Him. Repent, be baptized/keep your baptismal covenants, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost/live in a way that entices the Holy Ghost into your life, then endure to the end and stay on the path. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Fortunately, if you mess up at any point, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ you can get back on the path, receive forgiveness, peace of mind, and the strength/ determination/ hope to keep pressing forward. Love you all.
Elder Escamilla
Sydney Australia Mission
에스카미야 장로
호주 스다니 선교부
P.S. I hope you can hear my voice in these emails, because I find myself talking or laughing to myself sometimes when typing these up (like with the Mia thing, because I can just hear her saying that), and I just laugh at myself because I probably sound and look crazy. Haha anyways, I guess I need to find someone to teach because I'm over talking to myself most of the time (and my companion too, don't worry. no issues). Have a great week! (Mia & Paige are little sisters)
My desk set up. Koalas love Jesus!
I live in the Garden of Eden of Australia. We were finishing up our day when I saw the sunset and said, "wouldn't it be nice if we could actually see the sunset?" So we both looked at each other and quickly made our way to Soldier's Point, to this beautiful pier to see the sunset. I love these views.
My new companion's first Sunday in PORT STEPHENS!!
POTENTIAL BAPTISM!! He came to church by himself too! Totally GOLDEN! Only problem is... he's a spider (Huntsman)... But hey, D&C112:28 "go ye into all the world, and preach my gospel unto every CREATURE who has not received it." He's a creature, and pretty sure he hasn't received the Gospel, at least not YET.
