Week #52: El Evangelio vale la pena.

Yoooo everybody! This week was super rainy and freezing cold, but that was very enjoyable. Thankfully today we have a nice sunny day!  This week was great because we had a zone conference with President and Hermana Dunford! It was only the second time we've gotten to see them. It was so awesome getting to know them a lot better and even have my first interview with President Dunford. It's honestly amazing just the love that you feel immediately for them. It's very clear to anyone, that they are called by God to lead this mission here in Uruguay. For so many reasons we will never understand, they are here to help the missionaries teach the Gospel. 

This week was also a little tough though, because we had started teaching an awesome family a little bit ago, and they were super excited to get baptized and join the church. Things were going great and they knew the church was true. Well, Saturday we get a call and all of a sudden they don't want anything to do with the church. The father didn't want to get baptized so he dragged the rest of the family with him and now none of them want anything to do with us. It was a very sad moment for us as missionaries. 

We sent a text to them with the scripture Matthew 10:37-39. "He that loveth father or mother than me, is not worthy of me. He that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. He that does not take his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me. He that loves his life, shall find it. And he that finds his life shall lose it." While the father did not have the desire to be baptized, it doesn't have to effect the choices of his family. Yes, I understand that it wouldn't be easy to join a church and change your life, if your father was against it, and if it were MY church, I'd probably let someone like that slide, and give them a "freebie" because I understand how hard that`would be...but this isn't my church. This is the church of Jesus Christ himself, and He doesn't not give another option in His gospel. 

At the end of the day, we will always have the option to follow Christ, or take another path. While it will never be easy, and never be without hardships, afflictions, trials, and problems, we must choose the path that leads to the presence of God and His son Jesus Christ. I can testify as a missionary that has left behind his family friends and home for two years to simply follow Christ, that its always worth it. There is no other source of comfort in this life than in the Gospel.

Week #51: La diferencia entre la felicidad y el gozo

Howdy howdy everyone!! How's everyone's summer going?! My winter here is going fantastically cold to be honest..although we did have a few nice sunny days this week, which was nice!  The work here is also going great. We have some good people who are starting to show good signs of progression and we're so excited for them.

 Although I don't have a specific story to share about one of the people we're teaching, I want to share something quick with you all that my companion, Elder Monge, has helped me understand this week. We were planning a little lesson to share with the zone here in Salto, and we began to talk about the joy and happiness we are promised as missionaries, if we are obedient and do all that were asked to do. 

We both quickly agreed that we both have experienced a lot of happiness as missionaries. Throughout our service here in Uruguay we have been happy, but my companion really helped me understand that that is only temporal. Happiness is not a bad thing, but there's something better that we can achieve that is more lasting. Joy is the next level of happiness. 

Joy is when we are truly a happy person and have complete confidence in God. Yes there are rainy and tough days still, but that never pulls a joyful person down. They keep their confidence in God that no matter what happens, it's always the will of Him. The only possible way to honestly gain this joy as a missionary, is doing everything at 100%. 

There truly are no short cuts to having joy, I have learned. Joy is simply a gift from God to those who deserve it. It is easy to have happiness without the blessings of God in our lives. We can always find temporal happiness in just about anything, even if its a temporal happiness that lasts years. But it always comes to an end and we always find ourselves looking for what's missing in our lives. 

The only way to find this joy and to have it at all times, is through the obedience of the teachings of Jesus Christ. It really is that easy, but the world will tell us that happiness is much simpler than joy. I can promise that we can find what we are all looking for, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Hay que confiar en El no más.

Elder Shoemaker 

Week #50: ¡Salto es el SION!

Holaaaaa todos!! Como andan?! Fwah, it's been an insane week honestly. Leaving TBO was tough, but man Im happy to be here in Salto! I traveled all day Wednesday and literally didn't get to rest until 2am that night, then had to wake up really early to help some missionaries get their luggage. So...we've been running on low energy, and also a nasty cold. But, Man we're doing great here!

Elder Monge is a great guy and a convert of only 3 years. He's already taught me so much in our few days together. This ward and area here is also so great. Our area is huge and we're taking advantage of it by talking to everybody! My first Sunday here was great getting to meet all the members and seeing what it's like here.

A sister from the ward gave a talk in sacrament meeting that really left me thinking. She just talked about the difference of living the gospel willing and those who live the gospel because they're just going through the motions. A lot of us seem to have forgotten why we even go to church, or why we pray. Satan has taken our minds, at times, from the true purpose of all this, and has got us just going to church for the heck of it. Every single thing we do in our lives, should bring us closer to Jesus Christ.

We are teaching a grandma and her granddaughter and they are so ready for baptism. But..they want to feel more comfortable with the members before they get baptized. While its a decent excuse, we are trying to help them understand the reason we are baptized. We get baptized because we know Jesus Christ was baptized to set the example, and this life is simply a test of who follows the example of Christ the best. I think when we understand that concept, all other things of the world all of sudden lose importance.

I know as we just strive to follow Christ, and focus ourselves on the purpose of it all, we will reach a new understanding of the gospel. God will open our minds to things we had never understood before. And, we will find the joy that God has in store for us. Que recordemos que este evangelio es para ayudarnos entender la vida de nuestro salvador mejor. Y no es simplemente otra cosa que tenemos que hacer durante el dia.

Braxton and his new companion Elder Monge in Salto.  

                                   

               

Week #49: Cambios!

What is up everyone?! Wow it was an eventful week! We met our new mission president, President Dunford and he is awesome!!! Gonna be so awesome getting to know him over this next year. Then we celebrated a great 4th of July just like all of you guys back home.. although mine was something very different. I celebrated it without seeing another american the whole week... kinda sad, but the Uruguayos and my Mexicano companion are pretty great too.! 

This week we also received our transfers! Ill be leaving Tacuarembo after 6 months here! Man, I loved this area so much. It is a special place for me, a holy ground. I saw the hand of God every day of my life here while Ive been in TBO. But, I'll be leaving my greenie missionary, and will let him go flourish as a missionary! Ill be going on with an Elder Monge! I don't know him at all yet, but he is from Peru and and I cant wait to meet him!
I'll be going to a place called Salto. I've heard great things about this area! Another thing that happened this week (which was the best thing) was Nahielys baptism!!! Nahielys brother, Marcos, baptized her. Wow it was a special experience. Nahiely was truly prepared by God to be baptized in this exact moment of her life. Theres no doubt in my mind about it. Just a few months ago she had no desire to talk to us or go to church, and now she's been counting down the days until she got baptized, and she's even getting to go to the temple this weekend! She's been even more excited for the temple. 

It was a special experience to end my time here in TBO with her baptism. Ive been able to witness a complete change in her, and her family. They are some special people that I'll truly never forget. One thing I have truly learned while Ive been here in this area is just the fact that coincidences don't just happen...not even little ones. Every single thing that happens to us, is for a reason. God doesn't leave even the smallest thing up to chance. 
We don't always recognize Gods hand in our lives in every moment, but He is there. He will never abandon us, and will always be ready to accept us, if we just listen to His guidance. Just about every day that Ive been here in this area, multiple times a day, Ive asked myself, "Okay why am I here in this exact moment, what is it that I need to do?" That is something that has changed my perspective on everything honestly. 

God is always preparing you, and the people around you, to be blessed. He will give us every opportunity in this world to receive His love. The Lord says "Who am I, to promise, and not fulfill?" -D&C 58:31. God has truly promised us all the happiness and love this world has to offer, if we just listen to His counsel and do His will. I know this gospel is true for everyone, and will bless the life of anyone willing to give up their own will. 

Perfect way to end his time in TBO ~
 Nahielys baptism this past Saturday! 

Beautiful scenery from Braxton's last week in Tacuarembo.

Elder Cruz and Braxton at Nahielys Baptism.

Saying goodbye to some of the members in TBO! 

Hamburgers they made for the 4th of July! 

                  

                            

                         

                                      

Week #49: Cambios!

What is up everyone?! Wow it was an eventful week! We met our new mission president, President Dunford and he is awesome!!! Gonna be so awesome getting to know him over this next year. Then we celebrated a great 4th of July just like all of you guys back home.. although mine was something very different. I celebrated it without seeing another american the whole week... kinda sad, but the Uruguayos and my Mexicano companion are pretty great too.! 

This week we also received our transfers! Ill be leaving Tacuarembo after 6 months here! Man, I loved this area so much. It is a special place for me, a holy ground. I saw the hand of God every day of my life here while Ive been in TBO. But, I'll be leaving my greenie missionary, and will let him go flourish as a missionary! Ill be going on with an Elder Monge! I don't know him at all yet, but he is from Peru and and I cant wait to meet him!

I'll be going to a place called Salto. I've heard great things about this area! Another thing that happened this week (which was the best thing) was Nahielys baptism!!! Nahielys brother, Marcos, baptized her. Wow it was a special experience. Nahiely was truly prepared by God to be baptized in this exact moment of her life. Theres no doubt in my mind about it. Just a few months ago she had no desire to talk to us or go to church, and now she's been counting down the days until she got baptized, and she's even getting to go to the temple this weekend! She's been even more excited for the temple. 

It was a special experience to end my time here in TBO with her baptism. Ive been able to witness a complete change in her, and her family. They are some special people that I'll truly never forget. One thing I have truly learned while Ive been here in this area is just the fact that coincidences don't just happen...not even little ones. Every single thing that happens to us, is for a reason. God doesn't leave even the smallest thing up to chance. 

We don't always recognize Gods hand in our lives in every moment, but He is there. He will never abandon us, and will always be ready to accept us, if we just listen to His guidance. Just about every day that Ive been here in this area, multiple times a day, Ive asked myself, "Okay why am I here in this exact moment, what is it that I need to do?" That is something that has changed my perspective on everything honestly. God is always preparing you, and the people around you, to be blessed. He will give us every opportunity in this world to receive His love. The Lord says "Who am I, to promise, and not fulfill?" -D&C 58:31. God has truly promised us all the happiness and love this world has to offer, if we just listen to His counsel and do His will. I know this gospel is true for everyone, and will bless the life of anyone willing to give up their own will. 

Perfect way to end his time in TBO ~
 Nahielys baptism this past Saturday! 

Beautiful scenery from Braxton's last week in Tacuarembo.

Elder Cruz and Braxton at Nahielys Baptism.

Saying goodbye to some of the members in TBO! 

Hamburgers they made for the 4th of July!