Week #59: Dios lo permite, por el amor que tiene para nosotros

Hola gente! Hope everyone is doing good and enjoying the start of a new football season! I'd be lying if I didn't say I miss it a ton haha...but either way, I'm loving my life here just fine. This week was really good. The wheather is starting to get a little hot and super humid again already. Getting to that time of year again where we just suffer outside and get burned to death hahaha. 

This week my house mate, Elder Ross, and I, sang the national anthem for our two latino companions on September 11. They had heard the jist of what happened on 9/11, but didn't know too much, so we got to explain everything that happened. I think remembering  9/11 this year was a little more impactful for me than normal. While thinking about how close to 3 thousand people died that day, we contacted a woman outside of her house and began to chat with her. She quickly got very angry and was shouting about how God didn't exist and then calmed down and explained to us that as a 4 year old, she was sexually abused by her father and had a horrible up-bringing. She said she had never once been happy in her life for all the trials shes faced. She asked us many times, "Where was God in that moment?" We tried to explain to her why God doesn't interfere in those moments, and why bad things happen to good people, even children, at times, but she didn't want to accept our answers. 

She simply was angry and confused with God, rather than not actually believing in Him. After a nice conversation of 15 minutes or so, we realized there was no way of giving her an answer that would suffice. She left us with the comment, "Until God comes down and stands before me and tells me that He exists, and is all powerful, I will not believe in Him" We left her with the wise invitation to begin believing in Him before she stands before Him. But after this experience with this woman, and also the remembrance of 9/11, I thought of a scripture that has had a big impact on me.

      

"For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that His justice and judgement may come upon the wicked; Therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost, but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God." Alma 60:13.

What happened to this woman as a child, and what happened to the people in the Twin Towers was injust, and the people had no control over what happened to them. God loves us so much that He will never interfere with our agency. Even if it means a horrible outcome for an innocent person, He knows that this life is temporary, and that we will all return to live with Him. We will all stand before Him at the last judgement to give count of what we've accomplished with the free agency that He has given us, and He will give unto us a perfect judgement. I know these things to be true, and I would invite everyone to know for themselves, that God really is all-powerful, but also all-loving in every way possible. 

Week #58: ¡¡Los cambios son inspirados!!

Hola hola todos!! Como estamos?! Man this week was awesome! Lots of awesome things happened. I want to mention two of them. First off, Rodrigo Benitez is a beast. He is 18 years old and recently moved in with his aunt and uncle who are members, but inactive, in the church. We found them contacting houses a while ago and the aunt and uncle were super receptive and wanted to come back to church. 

Their nephew, Rodrigo, wanted to hear our message as well. He has been to every church you can imagine and has studied tons of different religions and none of them ever stuck with him. He said he was always just searching for a church that just seemed to call to him. He came to church one time last week and now he has received his answer from God, multiple times, that this church is the true church and it is this church that he needs to join. 

His aunt and uncle are coming to church again now, and Rodrigo is coming with them and is preparing for baptism the 28th of this month. He got so excited when we invited him to be baptized. He understands the gospel so well already and knows the Book of Mormon to be true. I know without a doubt, that God prepared him so well to recieve the gospel right in this moment of his life and to be baptized this month. There isn't one person in this world that God isn't constantly worrying about. Every second of every day, he is trying to bring us closer to Him, to help us taste of this happiness that He has in store for us.  Even when He's miles away from our thoughts and hearts, He never leaves us and never abandons us. 

Second thing I want to mention....All the leaders in this church are inspired and called of God. For so many reasons we could never understand, they are in the position to lead and direct Christs church. He knows who he wants to guide His people. We had a conference this past week with Pres. Dunford, and he introduced some big changes and focuses of our mission. It is very different than what we focused on with Pres. Olsen...but I know it is what God wants for the people of this country now. 

Every leader is inspired in his own unique way, but it all comes from God, if the leader is seeking the guidance of the Spirit. Its really something so special for me and a testimony builder that God calls the weak of us to be His leaders. He has a plan to gather Israel again and Hes gonna do it by working through imperfect people. Si ponemos toda la confiaza en los lideres de esta iglesia, llegaremos mucho mas lejos. ¡El profeta es llamado por Dios, y nos guiará para el bien en todas las cosas! 

Week #57: ¡¡¡Bautismo!!!

Como anda buena gente!! How is everyone doing? This week was fantastic, to say the least. Im gonna get right to it...we had Paulinas baptism!!! It was a very special day for sure. Paulina is a 9 year old girl and her mom is a member of the church already. Her mom had been inactive for a long time, but just started participating again in the ward and her daughter, Paulina, immediately wanted to get baptized when she came for the first time to church! 

We started teaching Paulina a month or so ago, and this past weekend we had her baptism and confirmation. Her baptismal day was crazy, but ended great. We ran into some problems (including not having hot water) but everything turned out perfectly. She couldn't have been happier. I was just so happy to see her and her mom with the biggest smiles on their faces that day. It is a day I wont forget for a long time. 

I began thinking a little more about baptism in general. I was thinking, 'how is it that we are saved through baptism?'  We all know that through baptism we can enter the kingdom of God, but how is it possible? No unpure thing can enter the presence of our Heavenly Father...but somehow getting into the water and then coming out makes it possible that we can become clean from our sins...? I quickly came to the conclusion and the reminder, that it is only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that baptism makes it possible to be forgiven of our sins. 

The Atonement is easily the most important doctrine that we have in the Restored Gospel, but also probably the least understood doctrine as well. Because Christ felt our sins, our weakness, our sickness and our afflictions, He can forgive us of what we have done. He understands us and our trials. He cries for us, when we cry and he rejoices with us, when we rejoice. He knows that only by and through His Atonement for us, can we be saved and live with Him and God again. 

If it weren't for His sacrifice for us, there would be no hope for a better world. There would be no meaning to this life and it would be filled with a temporary happiness bound to end when we die. But thanks to Him, there is hope. We can live with our familes again, and we can be forgiven of our mistakes through baptism and repentence. The whole gospel of Jesus Christ is centered on the atoning sacrifice of our Savior. 

I promise as we increase our understanding and testimony of the Atonement, everything will become clearer, and the complicated subjects will become easy. Se que mi Salvador vive, y que El expio todos de nuestros pecados. Gracias a La Expiacion, disfrutaremos las bendiciones de Salvacion para la eternidad con nuestras familias y nuestro Padre Celestial en un estado de gozo y paz. No hay otro camino ni nombre dado para recibir todas de estas cosas. 

Week #56: La voluntad del Señor

Howdy everybody! Hows it going? This week was crazy and one without much sleep. We welcomed in two new elders into our ward and house and it's been great! Elder Prado and Elder Ross are some awesome guys! 

Elder Ross is just starting his mission and it has reminded me a whole lot of my first little bit in the mission field. Sometimes I amaze myself and am a bit surprised that I'm still alive after this past year. But the Lords tender mercies are everywhere to be found, and its a straight miracle I haven't just passed out and died yet! As I was thinking a lot about Elder Ross and my past year, I started thinking about all the times I was really hoping for something and didn't get it. That happens a lot to us missionaries. We're constantly hoping for the best companion, in the best area, with the best members, with the best people to teach, and just the perfect situation to have a lot of success on our missions. But...we almost never get any of that. I jokingly thought to myself the other day "Man I'm gonna just have to change my desires if I wanna get what I want". I didn't really think about it, but then it hit me that that's exactly what I have to do to get what I want. I've learned that as we give up our own will, we all of a sudden become happier. Life starts working out in our favor, and we see the Lords hand in every step of the way. Our own desire will soon become equal to the desire of God, and then we "magically" start to get the things we want in our lives. We dont worry for ourselves, and for the things of the world, and for things that don't matter in the eternal perspective. We simply worry for the well-being of others and hope to help and serve those around us.

 It really is a simple formula to become happy and have joy during this life; forget ourselves and focus on God and Jesus Christ, and what they want. I can truly testify, from experience, that these blessings are promised to us when we obey God and do His work. 

"Quien soy yo, dice el Señor, para prometer y no cumplir" -DyC 58:31

Classic Braxton Style ~ with a Uruguayan spin

The new House Mates!
 Elder Prado, Elder Ross & his companion Elder Monge! 

Week 55: ¡La capilla!

¡Y! ¿Cómo estamos? Hope everyone is doing great! Another transfer down here in Salto. I'll be staying with my comp Elder Monge for another 6 weeks at least, but we'll be receiving two more elders in our ward...so Ill get to share our area and our house with another companionship! That will make for some great memories for sure!

This week was great! On Sunday we had great success with the people that we are teaching, because we had a lot who showed up to church! Ive been thinking about the importance of the members when we bring new people to church for their first time. As missionaries that is the only thing we want...members to help the people that wer ae teaching feel comfortable. As Im sure we've all experienced, sometimes you just can't feel the Spirit much in the sacrament meeting. Distractions from phones, chatting, people going in and out, and just lack of attention, can really ruin someones first experience with the church. Im finally understanding that we don't just simply "go to church"...we gather as a group of people once a week, to worship our Heavenly Father. Sometimes we get too comfortable with going to church and we forget that we are there to worship our Heavenly Father. Worshipping is the purpose of why we go to church, not just to see our neighbors and friends and chat a little with them and then to maybe plan a ward activity together. We meet at church to worship and praise God. When the members of a ward forget the reason of why we go to church, it creates a pretty bad first impression for the pèople that the missionaries work so hard to bring. If these people go to church with the desire to worship, and then show up to find something other than that, they leave and don't come back. Then the fault will fall upon the us, the members, for why that person didn't receive the gospel in that moment of their life. 

"And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility... otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day." We have a responsibility as members of this church. To invite all to come to church to worship our Heavenly Father, and then to help them feel comfortable while doing it. I know that if we recognize the true reasons why we go to sacrament meeting every Sunday, it will become something far more meaningful and something impactful in our lives. We will not see it as just "going to church" rather, going to worship and give thanks to our God who loves us more than we could ever know. 

Week #54: No me importan los numeros

¡Hola hola todos! ¿Como andan buena gente? Man these weeks are flying by here! Feels like every other day Im in here writing an emails to you guys. This week was super fun! We went up to an area called Bella Union to work with the elders out there. They're from our zone, but about a 2 hour bus ride away. It's an area right on the border of Brazil and Argentina. It was awesome to go up there and we even got to go into Brazil for lunch. We ate at this little restaurant that was just like a Rodizio or Tucanos back home in Utah, except we were in Brazil and they were talking to us in Portuguese. It was some of the greatest food of my mission though, so I was pretty dang happy! 

This week I began to study a little bit more about Abinadi. I was studying how he spoke with such boldness and authority to King Noah and his servants and that he truly feared no man other than God. I was in the middle of reading in Mosiah about him when I realized something... Abinadi only had one convert when he completed his mission, Alma. I started to really realize, as missionaries, it doesn't matter how many people we baptize, the "numbers" we often talk about in the church, really don't matter much at all. What matters is the effort and desire we put in, doing the will of God. 

Abinadi did absouletly everything he was asked to do, and by doing that, he converted King Noahs servant, Alma. Alma went on to baptize a multitude of people and became a prophet. He organized the true church of Jesus Christ again in the land. Abinadi feared nothing and was able to convert just one person by doing that. By small and simple means,the Lord will bring about his great and grand purposes. I know when we just do our part to help the work of God progress around us, God will provide the means for miracles to happen.

 Hay que hacer nuestra parte no mas y veremos todos las bendiciones del mundo. Confiemos en Dios pues, y Èl nos ayudarà a superar todos los obstaculos de la vida para realizar esta gran obra. Sè que esta Iglesia es verdadera con todo mi corazon, y que cuando traemos almas a Cristo, hallaremos gozo y paz en la vida. Amo a cado uno de ustedes, tengan una buena semana. 

Week #53: El precio del gozo

Wow these weeks are flying by lately. Can't believe I'm writing another letter to y'all again. This past week was really good, but also full of challenges. Another investigator who was ready for baptism, dropped us. That wasn't fun at all. Honestly, just sad more than anything. 

We also had a conference down in Montevideo with President Dunford again, that was honestly so great! He talked strictly about the concept of joy. The difference between joy and happiness, and why as missionaries we're promised joy, but only based on our desires and actions to serve others.

 I was thinking a little bit about the past year of my life as a missionary. Its been the most impactful year of my life by a mile, but I asked myself if I've really been joyful. I began to think about all the experiences Ive had. For the past year, I've been living in a third world country, where I kill cockroaches ever night in my house for a solid ten minutes until we can't find anymore. I've used a bucket to go to the bathroom everyday. I've gone through trial after trial...learning a new language and trying to understand the people, and not to mention all the people who have no shame in making fun of me when I don't speak the language perfectly. I've had reject after reject from people who can't tolerate to talk to me for 10 minutes. Ive been sick, tired, worn down, and many times, my body literally just breaks down and I crash on my bed at night and immediately fall asleep. And somehow after all that, I love it all!! I don't want to go home and I wouldn't trade the past year of my life for anything in this world. It is a sacred two years for any missionary who serves with all his might, mind, and strength.

 I know that joy only comes through our Heavenly Father, and no where else. As we leave behind our own desires, we find something greater. It is a leap of faith for sure, but it's always worth it, and God will never forget the sacrifices we make for Him. "The greatest decision I ever made, was giving something up that I so dearly loved, for the God I loved even more." Joy is real and is obtainable for anyone in this world!

Birthday party for Elder Fernandez from Portugal! 

All the Zone Leaders at a conference this week.

Cutting some firewood...Uruguayo Style! 

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.