Hola!!!

So another week has come and gone and the work moves on. We are working hard in helping the members fulfill their calling of being missionaries. We have about 20 future references and are looking to turn each one of those into a progressing investigator. The ultimate goal is to help them reach the temple, but they cannot get to the temple if they are not first baptized and remain faithful. Everything has a beginning and for exaltation, it´s baptism. But how do we baptize? We first must find those who are prepared to receive the Gospel. How do we find those prepared to receive the Gospel? How are they prepared? Alma teaches us that: ¨For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.¨ (Alma13:24) Who are these angels, then? The guide to the scriptures lets us know that angels are not just heavenly messangers, but also righteous men and women on earth who follow the impresions of the Spirit. The Lord is sending every member as a ministering angel, not only to serve and help but also to share and testify. They are also the ones who introduce their friends to the authorized representatives who can help them reach baptism. A bishop cannot authorize a baptism of someone older than 8 years old. A stake president cannot authorize a baptism of someone older than 8 years old. The only person with that authority is the mission president over the area. Though many good people have wonderful intentions, their friends will not receive the necessary ordinances, until they are presented to the people with the authority and correct keys. They will not receive exaltation. Who will prepare your loved ones if you don´t do it? The angels on the other side of the veil can only go so far. Another thing that I have come to understand more fully is the importance of commitments and invitations. Our friends and family see how happy we are. They see that we are different. A lot of them want to be truly happy, but believe that it is out of their reach. When they see that we are happy, they still believe that it is something unattainable for them. If we do not invite them, they may never know that they can truly be happy. They don´t know what to do to find faith and increase it. Each person has a divine potential inside waiting to shine and grow, but they do not have direction or nurishment and don´t know where to find it. Out of all the people in the world and in all the history of the world, we are an extremely small percentage of people with the fulness of the Gospel in our lives. Why is that? It is because we promised, we made a covenant with our Heavenly Father, that we would bring the Gospel to those around us. They trusted in us, that we would go and find them and never give up on them. We can´t let them or our Heavenly Father down.

This wednesday, we are planning to talk about the missionary activity and see if it is something that will function in Villa Urquiza. I am very excited and hope to be here if they do it. Hermana Velazquez is a wonderful companion and missionary. She is doing well here and she will help this area flourish even more. We need to get to work now so I will talk with all of you again soon. I love you all to the ends of the earth and beyond.

Love

Hermana Alvey