July 18, 2016

BrandNewMoments

Hello everyone! 

What a crazy week!  First, finally you all can know wheere i moved to.  I moved way far from the valley, up to a city called Laredo,it is much hotter here than down in the valley.  Not as humid, and easier to be sunburned.  Awesome, I know right?  Really is the greatest. 

Im having the best time, continuing to put into practice the principle of faith every day as my companion and I are doing what is called a "whitewash".  Thats where both the missionaries are taken out of the are and they put two new ones in, not knowing the area or anything of the members and they kind of start over.  A new experience and alot of fun.   

My new companion is Elder Watchorn and he is awesome!  I have so much fun with him.  He has only served his first 7 1/2 months in Laredo already, but on the north side.  And now were both here in an area called Tres Puntos.  So much fun, already have found two new investigators to teach, one being a 19 yr old named Sergio and the other a family of 4, Griselda and her 3 daughters.  We cant wait to teach them more tonight and invite them to be baptized.  

The work and the mission is awesome.  It feels as if one is baptized again unto the Lord because one becomes changed in His service and really applying what we are teaching is the key to really testify to them that they will bless their lives.  Thats why it is so important to actually LIVE the gospel.  Faith is NOT a passive belief.  Faith is ONLY measured on the decisions we make to act on that which we believe, to DO the things we profess to believe will bring blessings.  Only then after, can Heavenly Father give us blessings, that one may stand as a witness and continue to glorify Him by keeping His commandments.  The gospel is true and will stand forever.  

I love you all.  Keep making those good decisions and keep God's commandments.  If you arent, have faith in the Lord, and He will help you to be healed, so that you can have the 
Spirit with you always.  

Elder Newman

July 11, 2016

Transfers!

Hello everyone!

Transfers are happening!!  and I am leaving La Homa after 4 1/2 months of being here.  Onto my third area, which I still dont know yet and not until next week that Ill be able to share it.  We only got a call to know who had to pack all their stuff.  

Anyway, wow.  I thought I was staying because my companion Elder Spencer had been in this area for longer than I have, 6 months thus far.  But Im excited.  Not sure what else to say about it but other than that everything else is going great and awesome!  

sorry I dont have any more time today, tight schedule but I love you all and more for next time!

July 5, 2016

BrandNewMoments

 

Hello everyone!   

Wow, what a week!  Many things have happened to further along this mission and our own specific growth.  

We received the new mission president, Presidente Torres Caballero.  He is very young, at 38, called of God to direct the sacred work of bringing souls unto Christ.  But they are a really young family that have come from Honduras, this being their first time living in the States and he plays soccer like a boss!   It was awesome to be there yesterday at the park for pday with 60 other missionaries from McAllen and Mission zones.  

4th of July was awesome!  the whole stake threw a big breakfast with all the traditional foods plus some breakfast tacos, naturally, in a very decked out stake center. 

Later went to the park to play different sports wiht all thie missionaries and then went back to the stake center to play more basketball and just relaxing with everyone until time to go home.  Went to get some snacks and things before turning in and watching the fireworks and singing the Pday song, then watching church videos and enjoying ourselves in the apartment with Juarez, Moser and Spencer.  We couldnt work yesterday because of certain holidays here where we missionaries need to be in the house at 6 instead of 9 to keep us safe.  Many people here love to party and enjoy the world's ways and, well, you can figure out the rest but its for our safety.  

We had interviews with the new president last wednesday with both zones, 60 missionaries.  many trainings that day and they took all day.  real throwoff but very worth it to hear the revalation meant for us from God speaking through His representative.  A very powerful connection between him and the spirit, it bing necessary to do anything in our lives to feel close to God.  I cant wait to receive more light and instruction from him.  Actually served his mission in Guatemala not even 20 years ago.  

Dont have much more time because pictures are coming your way butI love you all and still urge you to continue to stay close to God.  Be safe, be smart, be knowledgable in what you know you should and need to do vs what you want.  Pray every day, with all the energy of your heart, read the scriptures every day, to be armed with defense and protection, as well as the Sword of the Spirit, and keep the commandments of God, the consequence of not doing so, not being able to move forward in your life and rather, you will go in circles, as a ship without a rudder.  

I love you all and keep moving forward.  The Atonement of Christ is real and powerful, done out of pure love for you.  The church is true and no other is!

Elder Newman