Hello everyone!
So just in case anyone missed it, and now that I have more information after being in my new area for a week, I am now living in Los Fresnos, TX which is just about 25 min north of Brownsville. I love it here. Very similar to my first area in Donna where it is very spaced out compared to Laredo. More in the country and very quiet and peaceful here. Church was awesome this week as I got to meet all the members here and do my best to get myself up to speed with everything that I need to know. As well, Brownsville is the most coveted zone to be in in the mission. I cant wait to see why, but I already feel comfortable and excited here. But the fun part is the same thing I have been doing for the last 18 months: that is to preach the gospel. That is to teach everyone that they can have something better than what the have right now. To teach them that if they put forth a little faith and a little work on their part, then God will fulfill the things that we always ask Him for.
I have a new companion whose name is Elder Porter. He was companions with my last comp, mijo, Elder Volcanes. So I am still training, but now I am a stepfather too. haha We have already had fun adventures together as we are both learning the area, as he has only been here for 7 weeks in the mission.
I hope that everyone had a great New Year and a safe one too. I am aware that most of the world had a "fun" New Year, as if people needed an excuse to engage in the world, when I think it is interesting that they do it anyways every day of the year. Of course, nothing will stop us from choosing what we want to do. My words are not directed to those that are trapped in the vices of the world that try to get away, but rather to those that purposely choose to ignore, and seek after their own desires. The thing that still baffles me is why they would choose the world and its master, who is Satan vs. God, who is our Master and Maker. Why? Why do people not follow our Heavenly Father and our shepherd, who is the Lord Christ. And I came to remember counsel given from a general authority of the Church which in essence says that they who love to be of the world, drinking, partying unrighteously, having children outside of marriage, ignoring God and His commandments, and as the scriptures say that "they set at naught the counsels of God...that they trample under their feet, who is the Holy One of Israel.." these children of God who love to do these things serve sin and love sin, more than they love God. It is a very sad and unfortunate choice they are making to "waste the days of their probation" and they "willingly" choose "captivity and death" rather than freeing themselves from these evils and choosing life.
I want to share a favorite story of mine from the Book of Mormon, it is very simple and I wont comment on it much, but Ill let you discern the message for yourselves ..
"8 Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom. 9 And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas.
10 And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him.
11 And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.
12 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him.
13 And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army.
14 And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti.
15 And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they pled with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired.
16 And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.
17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.
18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died."
Oops. Because Lehonti stepped off the mountain, he allowed evil to get him and take him down. In our days, Satan sneaks up to us, with his chains ready to lash on us, just as an alligator in the water, waiting carefully. He will snatch you, and take you down to hell, preventing you from being able to be blessed by your Heavenly Father.
I know that these same kinds of words come all the time but they are important. As I have said before, the way to escape the world and its master is through your Savior, Jesus Christ. And not only to confess Him, but you need to repent, change and come unto Him, follow Him, follow what He commands. Please, come to Him, He will literally save you from falling off the deep end forever. I beg all of you to stay close to the Savior, both in your mind AND in your heart. And I know that deep down, you want to live forever, with your family. This is the only way that you can have that. There is no other, no matter what opinions are. Do not allow yourselves to be acted upon in any way. Remain agents unto yourselves before Satan takes it away from you. I love you all to keep inviting you to make those changes in your lives and awake to the reality that is around you.
Elder Newman
