December 27, 2016

Hello everyone, 

Christmas was awesome!!    Had the best time, meeting up with all my old friends I met in the mission when I first came in.  All the missionaries met up together and we had our Christmas Conference with our President on Tuesday.  Whats more is that we had some Christmas dinner parties in the branches that we serve in.  But the best is being able to help everyone stay true and faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ by remembering His birth into  the world and remembering and understanding why He came to do it.  My two favorite scriptures with a strong invitation to come unto Him say

 26 "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."   Omni 1:26

32 "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

 33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot."    Moroni 10:32-33

I know that while these are the invitations, we have the choice ALWAYS to accept and follow it or not.  But everyone is able to receive that divine help and healing IF they want it.  Just as any parent gives the blessing promised as well as any consequence should a child choose the other way, so does our Heavenly Father lovingly warn us of what will come as a result of our choices.  I love how clear and simple the gospel is to know that the Savior is the Shepherd to lead us through the darkness, that we wont fall.  

I hope that everyone had an awesome Christmas with their families and friends and remember who it is that created us and our home, this earth.  He should be first and foremost in our lives more than any of our possessions or material things or our jobs.  The reason being that you can go back to your home, your heavenly home, where we once lived, and we can live in His presence.  Living the Gospel of Christ is the way to do this and no other way.  Absolutely no other way exists.  

Last thing is that I am being transferred!  Im leaving to a place called Los Fresnos, close to Brownsville TX   way on the other side of the mission and close to the gulf of Mexico.  Will be very humid.  uh oh. =/  Have a good week everyone.  Love you 

Elder Newman

December 19, 2016

Merry Christmas everyone!1  This week, remember to always think of the Savior, Jesus Christ!  He above all else should be the focus of your attention, not just for during this month, but always.!!  Have a good week with your families and again, Merry Christmas!

Elder Newman

December 12, 2016

Hello everyone!

4 "And after they had been received unto baptism, and wer wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ, and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.

5 "And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.

6 "And the meet together oft to partake of bread and wine(water), in rememberance of the Lord Jesus"

Moroni 6:5-6

In these three verses is how God performs His work and His glory.  Nothing will ever be forced upon us. But I ask you, if there is anyone it applies to, I just wonder this as we go about teaching everyone we can find in any area, why would one not want this?  Why would no one want to be numbered with Christ, and gathering with one another in love and unity, to increase our soul's well being and remembering Him?  I cant fathom a guess, but I love to be here to help those that dont have that, that they may find that happiness.  I love you all and hope you are doing great furthering your learning in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Merry Christmas!

Elder Newman

December 5, 2016

Hello everyone!!

It has been a great week this week.  Went and did service for someone down in Zapata, which is about an hour south of Laredo.  It was pretty great , being able to resemble the Lord and serve others as He served.  I have a testimony that thinking about others first relieves alot of worries and stress.  For this I leave everyone 3 Nephi 13 to read in the Book of Mormon, particularly at the end of the chapter.  Im sorry I dont have much time but I try my best to keep you all in the loop with pictures!  I hope everyone is doing well.  Have a good week everyone!  Miss you all.  

Elder Newman

November 28, 2016

Hello everyone!!  

sorry dont have much time today but I am very grateful for this time that I have been able to have with serving this mission for the Savior Jesus Christ, becoming the man that he wants and needs me to by but moreso through finding, teaching, and inviting those other children of His that are waiting to hear the restored gospel.  Im always so happy when I hear someone in need of help just because it means that the power of God can manifest itself to them.  It is a humbling and holy priviledge and opportunity to represent Him to everyone in search of them.  I love you all.  Thanksgiving was awesome.  We of course ate a ton of food.  but I remembered the things that I am thankful for as I do every day.  I do know that we offend 
God if we dont thank Him or recognize His hand in all things that He gives us.  Always every single day, thank your Heavenly Father for the new day that you have to live and excersise your faith in Him.  Thank Him for your families and their wel being  Thank Him for all that you are.  He is your God and King, but moreso  your Father in Heaven, and He loves you so much.  I know this is true.  Until next week!

Elder Newman

November 14, 2016

Hello everyone!

Transfers again are here and many changes are happening.  Half our zone is going elsewhere but that means we will have new faces around up here in Laredo.  I learned that I am staying again to become a total of 6 months at least BUT as well I will apparently be a Trainer!! I have no idea what I feel right now but what a great opportunity to be humble to depend on the Lord right now even moreso as its Greenie time!  haha   I dont know who he is yet but tomorrow I will meet him down in McAllen, so next week you can all know.

More changes are slowly progressing and happening within the mission but all due to revelation received from President Torres.  We will be teaching in both languages again rather than being assigned to an english area or spanish area.  It will be a great experience since Ive never had English investigators.  

What else is new?  Im not sure but Heavenly Father is very aware of us, His children always.  He always puts certain tests and trials in our path so that we may learn and grow from them, gaining experience that will benefit us greatly in the future and all the while, learning how to have faith and enduring well through them.  

November 21, 2016

Hello everyone

I dont have much time but Im glad to tell you of the first week i had with mijo.  His name is Elder Volcanes and he is awesome, full of readiness to teach the people here with me.  My first time being a trainer too so its a very humbling experience as I have learned and still learning how to depend on the grace of God daily to teach him what I need to.  I love my mission to my Savior.  It has greatly solidified my testimony in Christ and the Restoration of His Church.  This is not a time where one goes to be on a spiritual high, then return to his old habits as if he cared for nothing else except his own interests.  The Atonement is learned here at its highest intensity to fulfill its purpose.  That purpose is change.  What I know and have come to know in these two years, and what I am doing therefore, will have more meaning and significance than anything else I would do in my life, save it be teaching my children of their Savior and His atonement and being sealed in the temple.  Nothing else matters.  But right now it is of the highest because it deals with OTHER peoples salvation that they may be sealed to their families for all eternity.  helping others, serving others, being as selfless as we can with God's help, comes from the Atonement.  THAT is God's love.  The ability to change and excerzising faith unto repentance is what the atonement does.  I know because it happened to me.  And it can happen to anyone.  I love the gospel and I love my mission to my Savior.,  

Elder Newman

November 7, 2016

Hello everyone

I realized I barely took any new pictures this week which is weird     I dont know haha but we had a fun halloween at home.  This week also was awesome because this whole month we have been practicing for a missionary music fireside with choir pieces as well as special numbers to which I was able to sing "Ill find you my friend" with another sister.  It sounded so nice and among all the numbers that went, and the Spirit of the Lord was there.  Music is a powerful frequency to which the gospel can be shared and the hearts of many can be touched by the Spirit.  

I dont have much time today other than to say and testify that I know God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, separate in Person but mighty in glory and He sits on the right hand of God.  I know with full certainty that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is His only true church on the earth today, guided by His prophet.  Prophets and apostles are necessary to His church.  How else will we know where we are going if we cant see through the darkness in front of us.  No matter what happens with the elections tomorrow, it is of no worry to me, for it will simply be another not so righteous human in charge of the fate of this country. Whatever. What I know for sure is that I know that the Lord is my God and King and He will rule on earth one day soon.  That time is coming fast.  Will you be ready?   I give these words of testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

October 31, 2016

Hello everyone!  

Good news!  Juan Olivarez was baptiezed and confirmed last week!  Was super awesome.  Never had any doubts, just walked right into the font himself, accepting God's will without question.  We have found some new children of God to teach and help them to know of His love and Atonement for them.  We hope to help Juany, Felicia and Feliciano, and Melissa to come unto Christ and trust in Him and to be baptized .  Love you all and miss you.  Have a good Halloween with your kids if your parents, or your friends if that part of life hasnt happened yet for you!  

Elder Newman

October 24, 2016

Hello everyone!

Sorry I didnt get something written for all to read last week.  I dont have much time now but I am still healthy and doing my best to do Heavenly Father's sacred work. We're baptizing Juan tomorrow!  He kind of came out of nowhere but he came to the US looking for a better life for his family and is willing to keep all the commandments of God to trust in His promised blessings. He shall have the Spirit of God with him always in return as well as a forgiveness of his sins and mistakes.  A wonderful awesome promise from Heavenly Father.    I hope that everyone is making good decisions and striving to keep the commandments of the Lord.  I promise they make us truly happy.  Only God can give us that happiness rather than anything in the world.  Blessed is he who putteth his trust in God rather than in the arm of flesh.   

It has begun to cool down a bit to the 80's this week.  Such a relief too.  Laredo is known for reaching 110's but thank goodness for the winter months  God sure was merciful in allowing cold to exist.  haha

Hope you all are doing well and wish to hear from you   until next week! 

Elder Newman

October 17, 2016

October 10, 2016

Hey everyone!

I wish you all well in your daily efforts and labors.  The laboring of the Lord has been going well and things are looking up for our little branch here in Laredo.  God's recent convert, Griselda, has received a calling as 1st counselor in the Young Women's!  We were so excited for her, knowing that she has fully committed to do her her best for Heavenly Father, despite the fact that she is very knew to the restored gospel.  However, because of her exceeding faith and determined to show her love for Him by serving without doubt, I know that she will be blessed greatly for her choices.  Remember everyone, we are here to choose good from evil, if we have the desire to live with God again.  God doesnt make mistakes, He is perfect.  He allows trials to pass upon us that we may be tested and trials come either because of our own decisions to disobey, or from the actions of another , or because this world is influenced by the adversary to knock us away from what Heavenly Father wants us to do.  

So, I stayed here in Laredo for a third transfer, but now with a twist.  They have taken out our car which is needed somewhere else, and we have become a bike only area now.  A humbling change as now I must depend more fully on my own health and bodily capabilities as its hitting the bike every day, sometimes biking 10-15 miles a day.   Its awesome and loving the daily excersize.  

This week, Ill be heading up to Corpus with the other missionaries to hear from a seventy talk to the mission, Elder Kopischke  Not sure where he is from but time is going forth, bringing the good tidings of repentance to everyone wherever I go, hoping that they will heed the call from their Savior.  It is sad when someone doesnt want to, but so joyful when they do, and decide to come onto Christ by baptism.  Who wouldnt want to be made perfect through Christ, right?   He invites all men everywhere to repent, that He save them, and be able to more fully abide in His love.  Please continue to try your best to stay close to His commandments, they protect and guide us, they promise us blessings, they give us peace, they keep us safe from the world and from Satan.  

I love you everyone, still healthy and doing Heavenly Father's great work, not my own, nor are they my words, but they are God's.  I tell you again that He makes no mistakes, nor does He make a few exceptions for people.  But NO ONE is ever exempt from His commandments and especially more important is that NO ONE is ever far too far or past the point of forgiveness, if they sincerely repent.  If the prophets and apostles have stressed repentance and the Lord Jesus Christ's power to change and forgive at the recent General Conference, then it must be important and who knows, but the Second Coming may be closer than ever.  Heavenly Father Loves you!  I know this to be true.  I know that His Church is perfect, and the whole earth has the Priesthood restored to the earth.  Stay away from worldliness, that perfection may run its course.  I beg all of you to repel worldliness as a great plague, for that is what it is.  I love the Gospel of Christ and I testify that anyone can be changed.  It comes from God. 

Elder Newman

October 3, 2016

Hello everyone!

Cant talk much.  Still alive and well.  the work here goes forth bringing these blessings to everyone, being the personal representative for the Living Christ.  I love the mission and will keep going at it with my best.  Change is awesome, becoming whwta God wants for me rather than what I want, as my ways are nowhere near what His are.  It is so much easier and smarter to trust in the Lord thann in ourselves.  

Transfers happened, but staying in Laredo again.l.  Love you

!

Elder Newman

September 19, 2016

Hey everyone!! 

Griselda and Naty were baptized!  It was so awesome and special.  We found her the 2nd day I had come to Laredo, about 2 and half months ago.  She had very good feelings about the gospel and had really put the message in a test of her faith, as what Alma directs us to do, to see if this fruit is precious, sweet and desirable.  

While having already approached the time of being able to be baptized any day, we took a leap of faith by going over to her house, reading out of Mosiah 18 to her, seeing how she was doing and we invited the Spirit really strong before asking her is she was ready.  She said she was fully ready and it lit our hearts to help her make that happen.  We put the plans together and held the Baptism 30 min later with as many of the branch that was able to come in the short notice but nevertheless, a happy night on the Lord's Day, being the Holy Sabbath day.  It has been an awesome week of hard work, faith and doing all we can do on our part to ask for miracles from heaven. 

As well, quick because time is running out, is that we also had our Noche Mexicana fiesta with the branch on friday night.  A good night of Mexican culture and singing and eating lots of food.  All around good times spent together in unity of faith and spirit of culture and family.  

Take care everyone!  If any of you would like to write, please do! I really want to hear from you.  Be safe and be smart.  Love you !

Elder Newman

September 12, 2016

Hello everyone!

I am so happy to be here in Laredo!  Hot yes, but humbling and have not had greater reminders of who I am and why I am here serving the Lord than have I had while being here in Laredo.

​​We

 

​are​

 called of God.

​Our​

 authority is above that of kings of the earth.

By revelation 

​we​

 have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is 

​our​

 master and He has chosen 

​us​

 to represent Him--to stand in His place, to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent 

​us​

.

​Our​

 voice is His voice, and 

​our​

 acts are His acts; 

​our​

 doctrine is His doctrine.

​Our​

 Commission is to do what He wants done; To say what He wants said; to be a living modern witness in word and in deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous Latter-day work.

How great is 

​our​

 calling!

​I really know that we are in the last days.  I love my time here serving for my Savior to help Him in His purposes, ones which are not mine to direct.  I love the people we are finding and declaring the truth unto.  Please always remember to stay close to your Heavenly Father, "the alternative being having your houses left unto you desolate."

Ill have a great group letter next week for all of you!  Im sorry I havent written for some time!  I love you all

Elder Newman

  

August 22, 2016

BrandNewMoments

Hello everyone!  

Shoutout to my younger brother Jason for having gotten married and sealed on Saturday!  what an awesome and special time for him to have taken this important step in his life.  It reminds me of our purpose here on earth.  To learn of the Atonement of the Savior, obtain our physical tabernacles, receive ALL of the ordinances for our salvation and exhaltation, provided that we stay true to ALL our covenants and promises, and to multiply and replenish the earth by having children, that they may become like us.  Just as our Heavenly Father had us, His spirit children, with the intent that we are in His family, to grow and learn and become like Him, a perfect, immortal and Eternal being.  We can do this!   It is possible.  We will all live again, That is a free gift from God by way of His grace to send His son, Jesus Christ.  But the thing that most either dont know or still dont understand is that the ordinances are nothing without righteousness, according to God's laws and not those of men, and obedience to ALL of His lows.  

I shall compare this to embarking on a train ride to home.  Im very far away from my home and I must get back.  It is where I grew up.  It is where I was loved.  (still am, as are all of us)   God has already paid our ticket price, meaning the possibility to have one in the first place.  His Son was offered as ransom for us.  And now begins my journey.  I see on my ticket that I ahve certain holes that need to be punched, otherwise I CANNOT return all the way home, to the highest room of the house, where God and Christ live.  The first two holes of destination to be punched are being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost by correct authority and power.  Males must receive the Priesthood (3rd)  We must receive our endowments in the temple and lastly be sealed to our spouses in a temple of God.  

BUT, there are rules to follow while on this train.  He only asks us a FEW things to remember and how to live and obey.  My journey is worthless if I werent to follow God.  Theres a little miserable little man outside watching us go by with smiles on our faces and only wants us to stop going because he cant.  He has the nerve to ask me if I would jump off, at full speed no less!  Now wouldnt that be a dumb thing to do.  Oh, he says we ll be ok, that we can get back on easily.  pfft!  noooppee

Guess what, were all here to decide whether we want to stay on or jump off.  Were all here going back home.  But how do we want to arrive?  Full access, or kept from Gods presence?  I know my answer.  How about all of you?  Food for thought.  For our spirit that is...

Everything else is great.  Transfers happened, Im staying another here in Laredo.  Working still with Griselda and her family.  REally hopoing that her family will want to join her and her little daughter on this train ride.  May the Spirit touch our hearts reading this and that we will make correct decisions and nto make ANY kind of excuse why we couldnt get on.  The Savior eliminated ALL excuses .

I love you all.  Miss you a ton.  Have a good week!

Love

Elder Newman

August 15, 2016

BrandNewMoments

Hello everyone!  

How are you all this week?  I am doing fantastic.  Out and about every single day doing nothing whatsoever except finding and teaching those of God's children who are willing and ready to hear the gospel, accept it by making covenants with Him, and living it daily and faithfully throughout their lives.  We help them to be ready to accept and understand that the Lord's will shall ultimately bless them over them being bythemselves without the help of heaven.  

I am doing well, not sick, not crippled, able to stand still, yeah and just teaching everyone every day correct principles of the gospel and the laws of God, the which will never be changed. Ever.  The laws of God stand and are Eternal.  They are how we should live our lives and govern our time, rather than the feeble wisdom of men.  We will never be able to do things on our own.  We must have the help of our Heavenly Father.  He gave His help freely out of love for us, His children.  Are we always willing to accept His help?  

These are my words for today, feeling inspired to always write to uplift my fellow friends and brothers/sisters.  have to go now but I love you all!

Elder Newman

August 8, 2016