This week was one for the records.
We started out on wednsday with a district family history meeting..... and with family history not usually being the most blood pumping activity i threw down 15 lbs of chinese food to make it exciting. All in all it went well
After that i had divisions and went out to practically climb and hike the jungle mountains of honduras.
While out and about preachin the evangelio de Jesucristo we had a close call with a bull.... nearly had to lasso him down with my tie, but i held back
and if nearly wrestling a bull to the grown in church slacks isnt manly enough Elder jackson and i Had a axe off as we helped a brother out with his firewood. Sadly the city of arizona where jackson is from has a ratio of axes to people of about 3:1 and due to a lack of warming up my axing skills were no match to his.....
And after a good ol day of divisions i got back to my area to have a few baptisms
we decided to try to make this baptismal service a little more special than the norm so we made these cool little service card things and we got a cake made and pepsi......
In case you wonder where my stickers go...
Here's a copy of something Broderick wrote and email to the mission... if you can read it .. English translation below it.. thanks to Google translate
Elderes y Hermanas en estos dias, presidente nos ha capacitado aun mas sobre la necesidad que tenemos nosotros de aumentar nuestros logros. El Sabe que podemos hacer mas. El conoce cada una de nuestras fuerzas. Por eso, el esta pidiendo mas.
Muchas veces como misioneros, ponemos excusas. Digamos, ´´el barrio no me ayuda´´ o muchas veces ´´mi area esta quemada´´, y pensamos frecuentemente ´´ ya he hecho bastante, no tengo que hacer mas´´. En lugar de salir, y buscar el éxito (porque el éxito no viene a la puerta solo porque hemos ayunado y orado), nos quedamos contentos con lo que tenemos. O sea, no hacemos mas.
Si claro, en muchos casos, esas excusas se pueden aplicar a sus area. Hay muchos dificultades en la obra, y muchas veces esos desafíos existen. Son problemas que todos han pasado en algun tiempo de la mision. Pero usted dejará que esos desafíos detengan su éxito como misionero? Porque Presidente me esta pidiendo mas?
Leamos Mateo 25: 14-30
14 Porque el reino de los cielos es como un hombre que, partiendo lejos, llamó a sus siervos y les encomendó sus bienes.
15 Y a uno dio cinco talentos, y al otro dos, y al otro uno, a cada uno conforme a su capacidad; y luego se fue lejos.
16 Y el que había recibido cinco talentos fue y negoció con ellos, y ganó otros cinco talentos.
17 Asimismo, el que había recibido dos, ganó también otros dos.
18 Pero el que había recibido uno fue y cavó en la tierra, y escondió el dinero de su señor.
19 Y después de mucho tiempo, volvió el señor de aquellos siervos e hizo cuentas con ellos.
20 Y llegando el que había recibido cinco talentos, trajo otros cinco talentos, diciendo: Señor, cinco talentos me encomendaste; he aquí, he ganado otros cinco talentos sobre ellos.
21 Y su señor le dijo: Bien, buen siervo y fiel; sobre poco has sido fiel, sobre mucho te pondré; entra en el gozo de tu señor.
22 Y llegando también el que había recibido dos talentos, dijo: Señor, dos talentos me encomendaste; he aquí, he ganado otros dos talentos sobre ellos.
23 Su señor le dijo: Bien, buen siervo y fiel; sobre poco has sido fiel, sobre mucho te pondré; entra en el gozo de tu señor.
24 Y llegando también el que había recibido un talento, dijo: Señor, te conocía que eres hombre duro, que siegas donde no sembraste y recoges donde no esparciste;
25 y tuve miedo, y fui y escondí tu talento en la tierra; aquí tienes lo que es tuyo.
26 Y respondiendo su señor, le dijo: Siervo malo y negligente, sabías que siego donde no sembré y que recojo donde no esparcí;
27 por tanto, debías haber dado mi dinero a los banqueros y, al venir yo, hubiera recibido lo que es mío con intereses.
28 Quitadle, pues, el talento y dadlo al que tiene diez talentos.
29 Porque al que tiene, le será dado y tendrá más; y al que no tiene, aun lo que tiene le será quitado.
30 Y al siervo inútil echadle en las tinieblas de afuera; allí será el llanto y el crujir de dientes.
Cada uno de ustedes han recibido sus talentos. En mi ejemplo, quisiera explicar que la cantidad de talentos se refiere a sus áreas. Algunos de ustedes han recibido una área de cinco talentos. O sea, tiene el apoyo de los miembros, cena todas las noches, hay muchos investigadores y conversos, y tiene prácticamente la área ´´maciza´´ como decimos nosotros.
A la vez muchos de ustedes han recibido sus dos, o quizás solo un talento. En muchos de sus áreas hay desafiaos, hay problemas, su cocinera cobra mucho, y las única referencia que ha recibido de su barrio ya ha fallecido. Hay MUCHO que hacer en su área.
Me gustaría recordarles de las palabras que se encuentran en Predicad Mi Evangelio, pagina 145.
´´Usted ha sido asignado para efectuar la obra del Señor en un lugar específico y Él desea que se encargue de esa área con gran amor y cuidado. Su objetivo será ayudar a los demás a venir a Él mediante el bautismo y la confirmación.
Haga todo lo que pueda por dejar su área más fuerte de lo que la encontró.´´
Cada uno de nosotros hemos recibido nuestra cantidad de talentos. Sea cinco, dos, o un talento. Pero, tambien sé que con seguridad de que cada uno de nosotros han sido llamados y apartados para ser un siervo provechoso, como dice versículo 21.
Elderes y hermanas, es su trabajo a multiplicar sus talentos. Es su llamamiento a tomar lo que ya tienen, y multiplicarlo. Claro, hay muchos desafios, pero yo sé que podemos lograr mas. No debemos ser el siervo malo y negligente. No podemos tener miedo, y esconder nuestros talentos en la tierra. Tenemos una pequeña porción de la obra del Señor aquí. Como dice en segundo nefi 10:19, ´´el que con diligencia busca, hallará...´´. Es nuestro llamamiento, y deber, de crecer esa pequeña parte, a traer el doble al nuestro Señor.
Queiro terminar con una ultima escritura. Alma 29: 6
´´6 Ahora bien, en vista de que sé estas cosas, ¿por qué he de desear algo más que hacer la obra a la que he sido llamado?
Now in English..
Elders and Sisters these days, President has trained us even more about our need to increase our achievements. He knows we can do more. He knows each of our strengths. That is why he is asking for more. Many times as missionaries, we make excuses. Let's say, "The neighborhood does not help me," or many times "my area is burned," and we often think, "I've done enough, I do not have to do more." Instead of coming out, and looking for success (because success does not come to the door just because we have fasted and prayed), we are happy with what we have. In other words, we do not do more. Of course, in many cases, those excuses can be applied to your area. There are many difficulties in the work, and many times these challenges exist. They are problems that all have happened in some time of the mission. But will you let those challenges stop your success as a missionary? Why is President asking me for more?
Let's read Matthew 25: 14-30 14 For the kingdom of the heavens is like a man who, going afar off, called his servants and entrusted to them his goods. 15 And to one he gave five talents, and to the other two, and to the other one, to each according to his ability; And then went away. 16 And he that had received five talents went and dealt with them, and gained five other talents. 17 And he who had received two also gained two more. 18 But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid the money of his master. 19 And after a long time, the lord of those servants returned and made an account with them. 20 And when he had received five talents, he brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou hast commanded me five talents; Behold, I have gained five other talents upon them. 21 And his lord said unto him, Well, thou good and faithful servant; Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; Enter into the joy of your master. 22 And he that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou hast given me two talents; Behold, I have gained two other talents upon them. 23 His master said to him, "Well, good and faithful servant; Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; Enter into the joy of your master. 24 And he that had received a talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, that thou reapest where thou sowest not, and gatherest where thou hast not scattered; 25 And I was afraid, and I went and hid thy talent in the land; Here is what is yours. 26 And his master answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and careless servant, thou knewest that I reap where I have not sown, and that I gather where I have not scattered; 27 Therefore, you should have given my money to the bankers, and when I came I would have received what is mine with interests. 28 Take away the talent and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to him that hath shall be given, and shall have more; And to him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness; There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Each of you have received your talents.
In my example, I would like to explain that the number of talents refers to their areas. Some of you have received an area of five talents. That is, it has the support of the members, dinner every night, there are many researchers and converts, and it has practically the area '' soft '' as we say. At the same time many of you have received your two, or perhaps just a talent. In many of her areas there are challenges, there are problems, her cook charges a lot, and the only reference she has received from her neighborhood has already passed away. There is MUCH to do in your area.
I would like to remind you of the words found in Preach My Gospel, page 145. "You have been assigned to do the work of the Lord in a specific place and He wants you to take care of that area with great love and care. Your goal will be to help others come to Him through baptism and confirmation. Do your best to leave your area stronger than you found it. "
Each of us has received our many talents. Be five, two, or a talent. But, I also know that with certainty that each of us have been called and set apart to be a profitable servant, as verse 21 says. Elders and sisters, it is your job to multiply your talents. It is their call to take what they already have, and multiply it. Sure, there are many challenges, but I know we can achieve more. We must not be the evil and negligent servant. We can not be afraid, and hide our talents on earth. We have a small portion of the Lord's work here. As it says in second Nephi 10:19, "He that diligently seeks, shall find." It is our call, and duty, to grow that small part, to bring double to our Lord. I want to finish with one last writing. Alma 29: 6 Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire anything more than to do the work to which I have been called?
