August 25, 2014

Muy buenas tardes a todos en Lago Salado! Hows it all going? You are all falling into the fall and winter season.. as we all here Ecuador are still roasting! It has been a great week.. I dont think I have been asked more times in my life for my hand in marriage.. I thought that it was always the guys that ask but it is different south of the equator ha :) 

This past week was amazing! Finally we are gettting some progress! :) the ward ahd 270 members yesterday in the church which was quite busy... we had 5 investigadors and 14 inactives.. so it went well! Feels good to have progress. We have 3 maybe 4 bautisms this saturday which is a mother that doesnt have a husband so it will be great to see her and her kids take this next step. Me and my companion have been getting along well ha hes a funny little guy, hell say like non suggestive lines that have a hidden suggestive meaning and its actually working ahah people get the message and it gets done! 

It was quite an a typical week.. other than the super complicated doctrina that i have been reading. Crazy to step back and see how big our Heavenlys Fathers creations are and how small we really are, but to see how much love he has for every one of us. He sent his only begotton to atone for our sins and give us the chance to become like him. Sometimes I feel that we get caught up in all the worldly things and they seems so important to us in the moment, but when we step back and look t the big picture, how much value do those things have? Are we willing to sacrifice the chance to become like our Heavenly Father so something small and insignicant? Im not! 

I see people everyday give up the important moments with family kids wife church.. whatever the case may be because they are caught up in somethig else. Well if thats the case maybe we are too busy. I invite us to at least give it a try. See how clam and unstrested the world is when we take it a little less at a time! :) I can testify that stepping back and putting the important things first brings blessings. Many people have asked how we can sit here in the mission when everyone at home is studing in school, and i responded that there is no college in the world that teach the things that a missionary learns in the mission, nor can it every count the blessings that they or the people they have served have recieved. The friendships here will last a life time. I count very few frinedships that I had in high school. 

I know that when we put God first he is always obligated ( D&C 84:10) and that is will bless us. Know that I love you all and so does our Heavenly Father, he has given us so much and ask that we give back just a little! And when we do, the windows of heaven will be opened and blessign will be poured down on us!

Elder Strang