Holy cow, so it´s been awhile since I´ve written! It´s been
pretty crazy in Lascano! Elder Rosales and I and trying to help the
branch presidency function, and the missionary work. We are seeing such
miracles! Elmer helped me bless the sacrament- he´s such a stud. Hahaha
He has a deep catholic backround, so he was sure to throw in some
"Father, son and Holy Ghost" cross actions with his hands, and he would
look up to heaven every once and awile, but he did such a good job! I
love that guy so much!
So, the mission is
changing a few things. The area presidency here in Uruguay felt inspired
to make some changes, and they´re calling it, the New initiative. Every
week, the only things that we are reporting to our leaders is the Total
church attendance, and baptisms. The past couple years in Uruguay,
we´ve been baptizing A TON! But we having been retaining these baptisms.
So we have a LOT of Less actives. This New Initiative is to Work with
the Menos Activos, and Members, to increase church attendance, and find
people to teach Through the members\less actives and recent converts. At
first, I didn´t know what to think! But now, I have SUCH A STRONG
TESTIMONY that the work is hastening, and this is the way to do it. The
members are the new missionaries, and the Missionaries are only the
guides and teachers. I heard a scripture the other day in Doctrine and
Covenants, 101:55, and it says that in the last days, the Lord will
gather THE REST of his servants, the old, the young, the children, and
the parents to bring to pass the work. That means the members! It hit me
hard! The work is hastening, and gone are the days that missionaries
are finding, tracting, and baptizing. It´s up to the members to find,
fellowship, share, and prepare non members to hear the missionaries. We
still are finding by our own efforts, but it´s part of the hastening of
the work, and I know this New Initiative is going to work! It´s
inspired!
We are really trying to make that transition in the
mission, and with the members, and I know it´ll take time. But it´s the
way to do the work!
And we have found a few
families to teach! Artigas and Gabriela, and their son Sergio, want
to be baptized! But, they have to get married first. In Montevideo, it
takes a little bit of time to get married, but in Lascano, we found out,
that it doesn´t take as long! We are figuring out the arrangements so
that they can do it, but they are so willing! I´m so excited for
them! Also, Artigas´s sister, Blanca, and her daughter Ana are ALSO
listening to the charlas, and want to be baptized! It is so cool to see
the simple faith that they have, they know that the family is important,
and that baptism will help them be more united as a family here, and in
the next life. I love them so much- We´ll keep you posted! We also
have found, through Camila and Lucas, (STUDS!) Romina and Antonela. They
both want to get baptized, but their dad won´t let them! AHHHH! But
I feel really calm. They are going to talk to their parents today, and
then we´ll see what happens! Keep them in your prayers, they need the
happiness that the gospel brings!
The church is
true! I know that God lives, and loves us! The coming of the Savior is
so close, and we need to be ready. I´m so humbled and grateful to be
apart of the preparation of the second coming, and the millennium. It´s
true!
I love you all, have an awesome week!
Elder Carroll
