Monday, March 28, 2016
Milk and Honey me Elevator Problems
This week was rather well, interesting to say the least. As far as
investigators, everyone seems to be on a little vacation from the
gospel which sometimes happens... But out here, we do our best to focus
on the positive. For example, I could say I'm frustrated, but I have
to recognize that this week Franco read all of first Nephi finally in
the Book of Mormon, and Carlos came to church again, so those are the
things I will focus on as far as positives with them. We are going to
be a little more, well fuerte with our investigators in telling them
the importance of their commitments in the week that come and also be
running around like crazy finding the next person to be baptized here
in Vecindario.
The title is the way it is because this week I drank the water
here.... So people haven't really been feeding us this month so we may
or may not have run out of money to buy food and water.... But the APs
came and stayed with us again because we had Zone conference and they
decided we could always boil the water and that should be good right?
WRONG! I had a mad sore throat the next day and lost my voice for two
days after that. The only thing I could do was talk in my batman
voice and drink hot milk and honey (Surprisingly good by the way)
until it went away. The Elevator is there because I tried to open an
elevator door to early yesterday and we got stuck in the elevator. It
started moving again but got stuck again. We opened the door and we
were trapped... But miraculously it went up again close to this floor
and when we opened the door again we were able to get out. We called
the number and asked them to fix it though, so hopefully they did that
today.
I'm trying to read the Book of Mormon super super slow right now in my
studies and writing down my promptings in a journal as I read now.
Its such an amazing blessing to have that sacred time to study every
morning, and the Book of Mormon becomes more and more of a blessing in
my life as I find more and more to apply to myself and to my teachings
here. One of my favorite things that I read this morning was from
Mormon 8. The whole Book of Mormon towards the end is just straight
fire. He talks about how these words are an undeniable testimony of
Christ, he prophesies of the marvelous work and a wonder that will be
done by the prophet Joseph Smith, and talks bout the coming forth of
many great and abominable churches in our day that will give you
remission of your sins for your money. To sum up why I love his words
so much though, I love one thing that he says.
22 For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his
promises shall be fulfilled.
The Lords words never cease. Like Isaiah professes, the words of the
Book of Mormon have come forth out of the dust to testify to us of
Christ, and to use the Book of Mormon and the bible to lay hold on the
gospel of Christ, persevering to the end to sing praises with God
forever. We are members of the Living Church of Christ here on the
earth. The fruits of the restored gospel are eternal! If we stay
faithful, we will be happy forever!
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Have a fantastic week!
Elder Baron
Monday, March 21, 2016
Hey all
Dear Erybody
This week we got murdered by the numbers, but we aren't here to count
numbers, so we will live on!
Some of the cool and fun things that have happened recently here is we
had another super rad p day here with all the missionaries from all
the islands in preparation for zone conference here tomorrow. We went
to Roque Nublo again which is like the highest point on the island.
The other funny thing that happened last week that was monumentally
memorable was our investigator randomly had all these roosters in the
middle of her apartment. She told us they were pets of this kid that
she looks after. It was all fun and games till she told us she killed
four of them already to eat, and then it got a little sad. Other than
that, there is another Elder from Orange County here in the islands,
so it's been sweet talking to him about home a little bit. His name
is Elder Brady and he's from Laguna Nigel if you know him.
One of the best moments from this week actually happened last Monday
night. We were having a family home evening with our bishop and our
investigator came with his wife. We took advantage of that opportunity
to teach a lesson to our investigator with a member present. As we
walked up to the door, we were wondering what would be the best thing
to teach to them. We planned the night before to teach Eternal
marriage along with temples, but as we walked up to the door, we
questioned our plan. We were about to go in there and teach the
restoration to his wife, because that's the first lesson, but we were
prompted to stick with Temple marriage and temples at the last minute.
So that's what we did. As we went in there, we began to teach that
lesson. As we began to bear our testimony about the temple and as the
bishop and his wife shared why they were grateful for temples, the
investigators wife began to cry. We kinda kept sharing and teaching
for a little bit, and we asked her how she felt. She told us that her
mom had died three months ago. I know that she felt a lot of peace as
we shared with her that families could be together forever through
ordinances in the temple. I know also that she was feeling love from
the other side of the the veil as well. It was a super powerful and
spiritual experience. I'm so grateful that the spirit prompted us to
stick to our guns with that lesson, and that we were able to be the
instruments in the hands of the Lord to help her feel the spirit.
This week we got murdered by the numbers, but we aren't here to count
numbers, so we will live on!
Some of the cool and fun things that have happened recently here is we
had another super rad p day here with all the missionaries from all
the islands in preparation for zone conference here tomorrow. We went
to Roque Nublo again which is like the highest point on the island.
The other funny thing that happened last week that was monumentally
memorable was our investigator randomly had all these roosters in the
middle of her apartment. She told us they were pets of this kid that
she looks after. It was all fun and games till she told us she killed
four of them already to eat, and then it got a little sad. Other than
that, there is another Elder from Orange County here in the islands,
so it's been sweet talking to him about home a little bit. His name
is Elder Brady and he's from Laguna Nigel if you know him.
One of the best moments from this week actually happened last Monday
night. We were having a family home evening with our bishop and our
investigator came with his wife. We took advantage of that opportunity
to teach a lesson to our investigator with a member present. As we
walked up to the door, we were wondering what would be the best thing
to teach to them. We planned the night before to teach Eternal
marriage along with temples, but as we walked up to the door, we
questioned our plan. We were about to go in there and teach the
restoration to his wife, because that's the first lesson, but we were
prompted to stick with Temple marriage and temples at the last minute.
So that's what we did. As we went in there, we began to teach that
lesson. As we began to bear our testimony about the temple and as the
bishop and his wife shared why they were grateful for temples, the
investigators wife began to cry. We kinda kept sharing and teaching
for a little bit, and we asked her how she felt. She told us that her
mom had died three months ago. I know that she felt a lot of peace as
we shared with her that families could be together forever through
ordinances in the temple. I know also that she was feeling love from
the other side of the the veil as well. It was a super powerful and
spiritual experience. I'm so grateful that the spirit prompted us to
stick to our guns with that lesson, and that we were able to be the
instruments in the hands of the Lord to help her feel the spirit.
One more experience I wanted to add from this week.
So we have been having some pretty well, intense lessons with these
bible bashers from the Iglesia Evangelista where everything we try to
teach about the gospel seems to be wrong to them in accordance with
their interpretations of the bible. This week they read me Hebrews
1:1, about how God talked to us through prophets in the old days, and
now he talks to us through his son. To them, this means that God does
not call prophets now in our day. Yup that's it, we are on our own
with the bible that's been translated tons of times to interpret the
words of Christ and go off that, despite the lack of doctrine. But I
support the bible, and I prayed to know why this verse was necessary.
Well, the Lord answered my prayers in a manner pretty fuerte. We had
stake conference this weekend with Elder Homer from the seventy. As he
talked, he focused his message on the Savior. He shared an incredible
story about a man who recently was released from prison. The story
tells of what happened on the mans train ride home. The man's family
didn't really write him any letters in prison, and he did not know if
he would be welcomed back after all he had done. Just before leaving
prison, he wrote his family and asked them to put a ribbon on a low
hanging Apple on an apple tree right next to the train station to give
him a sign that he would be welcome in the house again. The story
goes that the man was incredibly nervous to look out the window at the
apple tree, and he asked the man next to him if he would look for him.
As the train rounded the corner and the apple tree came into view, the
petrified man turned his face away out of the fear of rejection, and
asked the man next to him if the sign was there, telling him he would
be welcomed home. The man next to him replied that there was not just
one ribbon, but a ton of ribbons surrounding the apples on the apple
tree. The former prisoner was relieved in a manner beyond description
to be welcomed home.
Although my recount isn't perfect, this story had a really powerful
impact on me, and answered my question. This story compares a real
life situation to the grace that Jesus Christ has for us in always
welcoming us home no matter what we have done. He always loves us,
and if we come unto him with desires to change our lives and be
different people, he will always welcome us. I felt the spirit so
strong as this comparison was presented and realized something at that
moment.
We need prophets, and representatives in the church today because they
speak to us by testifying of Jesus Christ. They are hear to
strengthen us, to guide us, and to help us know how to come unto
Christ in our lives. As Jeffrey R Holland once said, the words of God
never cease. Every time that I listen to the words of the prophets and
apostles, I feel something, I feel a love that I've never felt before.
I feel the love that's behind the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know
that the Lords servants today testify of Him and He is behind every
word that they say. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ
amen
Elder Baron
So we have been having some pretty well, intense lessons with these
bible bashers from the Iglesia Evangelista where everything we try to
teach about the gospel seems to be wrong to them in accordance with
their interpretations of the bible. This week they read me Hebrews
1:1, about how God talked to us through prophets in the old days, and
now he talks to us through his son. To them, this means that God does
not call prophets now in our day. Yup that's it, we are on our own
with the bible that's been translated tons of times to interpret the
words of Christ and go off that, despite the lack of doctrine. But I
support the bible, and I prayed to know why this verse was necessary.
Well, the Lord answered my prayers in a manner pretty fuerte. We had
stake conference this weekend with Elder Homer from the seventy. As he
talked, he focused his message on the Savior. He shared an incredible
story about a man who recently was released from prison. The story
tells of what happened on the mans train ride home. The man's family
didn't really write him any letters in prison, and he did not know if
he would be welcomed back after all he had done. Just before leaving
prison, he wrote his family and asked them to put a ribbon on a low
hanging Apple on an apple tree right next to the train station to give
him a sign that he would be welcome in the house again. The story
goes that the man was incredibly nervous to look out the window at the
apple tree, and he asked the man next to him if he would look for him.
As the train rounded the corner and the apple tree came into view, the
petrified man turned his face away out of the fear of rejection, and
asked the man next to him if the sign was there, telling him he would
be welcomed home. The man next to him replied that there was not just
one ribbon, but a ton of ribbons surrounding the apples on the apple
tree. The former prisoner was relieved in a manner beyond description
to be welcomed home.
Although my recount isn't perfect, this story had a really powerful
impact on me, and answered my question. This story compares a real
life situation to the grace that Jesus Christ has for us in always
welcoming us home no matter what we have done. He always loves us,
and if we come unto him with desires to change our lives and be
different people, he will always welcome us. I felt the spirit so
strong as this comparison was presented and realized something at that
moment.
We need prophets, and representatives in the church today because they
speak to us by testifying of Jesus Christ. They are hear to
strengthen us, to guide us, and to help us know how to come unto
Christ in our lives. As Jeffrey R Holland once said, the words of God
never cease. Every time that I listen to the words of the prophets and
apostles, I feel something, I feel a love that I've never felt before.
I feel the love that's behind the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know
that the Lords servants today testify of Him and He is behind every
word that they say. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ
amen
Elder Baron
Monday, March 14, 2016
My daughter will not be baptized in anything but a onesie
HOLA AMERICANOS,
This week was an interesting week to say the least. From walking to
this pueblo super far away to try and find an investigator who didn't
This week was an interesting week to say the least. From walking to
this pueblo super far away to try and find an investigator who didn't
live there, to having the opportunity to baptize the kid of our menos
activo and investigators daughter, to carnabal, this week
was another one for the books in the Canary Islands.
As far as the baptism, I got to baptize the smallest 8 year old girl
ever. I mean she is just super super tiny. She had on this dress
that was 80 sizes too big and man was I in for one. Every time I
would dunk her she would kick her feet up, wouldn't plug her nose at
all, and the dress would come up to the surface. It was one of those
hold er down until she absolutely needs to breathe ones. Three times
later we finally got it done though hahaha. At the same time, it was
a very good experience of course, and I'm grateful for it.
This week we also got a reference from some missionaries with an
address. Turns out there were 6 different streets with the same name
in our area, and we had already tried the other ones, so we walked
super far to this pueblo to try and find this man and to contact the
people there. Turns out the people don't really leave their house
there, and the investigator didn't live there, but we still got to
talk to some cool people, and hey it was quite the experience.
This week we also had carnabal here in vecindario. Carnabal is
basically an excuse for Spanish kids to party 6 months out of the year
in all the different cities on the island. It's basically the closest
thing to the great and spacious building that I have ever seen in my
life. We literally saw these kids hanging out of this building with
their arms in the air and my companion just looks at me and is like,
the great and spacious building actually exists. Everyone dresses up
here for it and the girls, well, they don't.... So we stayed far away.
Even from where we were though, people kept telling us they liked our
costumes. Oh Spaniards....
This week I am reading about the ministry of the Savior in the
Americas in the Book of Mormon. It is such a blessing to have that
account in our lives and no man can honestly read those chapters and
just say that Joseph Smith Just made that up. I know that if you read it with
a heart open for the spirit to enter, it's incredible how the truth is
manifested to you, and you don't have doubts. I'm so grateful to be
here to testify of the Savior, and to invite others to come unto
Christ by reading the Book of Mormon and being baptized in the only
true and living church of Christ here on the face of the Earth.
Have the week you have, but make the most of it!
Elder Baron
activo and investigators daughter, to carnabal, this week
was another one for the books in the Canary Islands.
As far as the baptism, I got to baptize the smallest 8 year old girl
ever. I mean she is just super super tiny. She had on this dress
that was 80 sizes too big and man was I in for one. Every time I
would dunk her she would kick her feet up, wouldn't plug her nose at
all, and the dress would come up to the surface. It was one of those
hold er down until she absolutely needs to breathe ones. Three times
later we finally got it done though hahaha. At the same time, it was
a very good experience of course, and I'm grateful for it.
address. Turns out there were 6 different streets with the same name
in our area, and we had already tried the other ones, so we walked
super far to this pueblo to try and find this man and to contact the
people there. Turns out the people don't really leave their house
there, and the investigator didn't live there, but we still got to
talk to some cool people, and hey it was quite the experience.
This week we also had carnabal here in vecindario. Carnabal is
basically an excuse for Spanish kids to party 6 months out of the year
in all the different cities on the island. It's basically the closest
thing to the great and spacious building that I have ever seen in my
life. We literally saw these kids hanging out of this building with
their arms in the air and my companion just looks at me and is like,
the great and spacious building actually exists. Everyone dresses up
here for it and the girls, well, they don't.... So we stayed far away.
Even from where we were though, people kept telling us they liked our
costumes. Oh Spaniards....
This week I am reading about the ministry of the Savior in the
Americas in the Book of Mormon. It is such a blessing to have that
account in our lives and no man can honestly read those chapters and
just say that Joseph Smith Just made that up. I know that if you read it with
a heart open for the spirit to enter, it's incredible how the truth is
manifested to you, and you don't have doubts. I'm so grateful to be
here to testify of the Savior, and to invite others to come unto
Christ by reading the Book of Mormon and being baptized in the only
true and living church of Christ here on the face of the Earth.
Have the week you have, but make the most of it!
Elder Baron
Monday, March 7, 2016
HALO
HALO TODOS
AMAZING GRACE! I'm staying in the Canary Islands for at least one
transfer. Gotta make the most out of it though, we shall see.
Things here are so up and down and all over the place. One week they
are reading with a head lamp in their bead every night in the Book of
Mormon and the next week their family comes into town and you can't
meet with them for two weeks. This week was kinda one of those weeks
where everyone has stuff going on and your dead every day because
you've walked to a ton to
less actives houses and contacting everyone you met every day. But there are always good experiences mixed in
with the hard days. Often times we will walk around all day with every
lesson we have planned fail us, but the last lesson of the day is just
golden. It's all just part of the mission life. But the harder the
work, the happier we are each and every day.
I don't know why but this has happened to me multiple times lately.
This past Sunday, the meeting started, and zero of our investigators
were there. I was so bummed and my heart sinks every time they don't
come to church. I was especially sorrowful this week as I sat there
with just my companion. Yet, about 10 minutes after the meeting
started, in walked one of our investigators. This is something that
maybe to the average day situation isn't all that great, but when you
are here doing the Lord's work and inviting people to come closer unto
him, any little effort the investigators make, and every little
commitment they keep makes you so incredibly happy. It gave me the
animo I needed to carry me into this week after a rather difficult
week before.
I Love my mission, I love the Lord, and I love you all
Elder Baron
AMAZING GRACE! I'm staying in the Canary Islands for at least one
transfer. Gotta make the most out of it though, we shall see.
Things here are so up and down and all over the place. One week they
are reading with a head lamp in their bead every night in the Book of
Mormon and the next week their family comes into town and you can't
meet with them for two weeks. This week was kinda one of those weeks
where everyone has stuff going on and your dead every day because
you've walked to a ton to
less actives houses and contacting everyone you met every day. But there are always good experiences mixed in
with the hard days. Often times we will walk around all day with every
lesson we have planned fail us, but the last lesson of the day is just
golden. It's all just part of the mission life. But the harder the
work, the happier we are each and every day.
I don't know why but this has happened to me multiple times lately.
This past Sunday, the meeting started, and zero of our investigators
were there. I was so bummed and my heart sinks every time they don't
come to church. I was especially sorrowful this week as I sat there
with just my companion. Yet, about 10 minutes after the meeting
started, in walked one of our investigators. This is something that
maybe to the average day situation isn't all that great, but when you
are here doing the Lord's work and inviting people to come closer unto
him, any little effort the investigators make, and every little
commitment they keep makes you so incredibly happy. It gave me the
animo I needed to carry me into this week after a rather difficult
week before.
I Love my mission, I love the Lord, and I love you all
Elder Baron
Just in case you don't have it, here is Elder Baron's address for sending letters and packages!
Elder Colby Craig Baron
Spain Madrid Mission
Calle Fuerteventura 4, 2, Office 8B
28703 San Sebastián de los Reyes
Madrid
Spain
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