August 27, 2012
Hey Brendaen,
How are you friend? It has been 10 months so far that I was with you giving you a bear hug before I left. hahaha well, my friend I would like to share something with you and with the YSA...
First, "BE STILL, AND FEAR NOT" as a missionary and even before you are a missionary. Brendaen, my mission so far has been the most joyful experience I've had in my life so far. Meeting a lot of families and people contacting, church, and neighbors have truly made me feel like I have a purpose here. What brings much joy and happiness is to have that opportunity to spread the gospel, I should have done this along time ago...
DO NOT PROCRASTINATE (YM, YW, YSA): Don't you dare think you will put your mission on hold for school or for anything. I say this with love and with real concern. What I want you to think right now is how this gospel has helped you out in your life. Ponder and pray to Heavenly Father how He helped you. Once you find that warm feeling of goodness, let that grow and grow your testimony that you can give that feeling to those who are hungry for that happiness. Nothing is more important to serve the Lord then right now!! FEAR NOT, Isaiah 41:10...your families will be in God's hand, D&C 100: 1,2. Most of you may say you may want to stay with your families to take care of them, trust me, I know how you feel. I left my family being the man of the house taking care of everything and leaving everything behind, its tough but YOU CAN DO IT!
Right now, I'm serving in Palmdale and there is a member name Cindy who is a great member. She loves missionary work but she had a plan to go to school, get married, and have a family...well the one thing that was stopping her plan was her mother. Her mother is in a critical state of her life. Health problems that she has to go to 2 appointments a week for the rest of her life...sad but true. Cindy is the oldest of 4 and she put her plans aside to help her mom since the father is working slave hours to support his family.
We had an investigator who recently got baptized, Alba, and Cindy was our prime member to come out with us. She wanted to help her out because Alba lost her husband in June. I was there when he was dying and I was there to hear him saw, "I want to be baptized because I know I have faith in Jesus Christ!! My Savior loves me!" (in Spanish) with all he had, all his strength to let us know how important the gospel is to him. Brothers and Sisters, he had cancer that spread his whole entire body which doctors say he couldn't move so much but seeing him raise his arms to me and my companion and with a voice of a trumpet letting us know that was when I knew how important it is to be there. Cindy was there as well and saw every moment we was with Alba and her husband. When he passed away, Cindy went out to visit Alba without us and that showed us a great love. Before Alba's baptism, we talked to Cindy about going on a mission but she said she couldn't due to her mother. But deep down my companion and I knew that her mother will be fine with hands of God. He both bore our deepest feelings and testimony on how Heavenly Father WILL be there for our families as we go and do His work here on earth. I have prayed every single night for Cindy to find that peace in heart to God to know that she would be a great missionary.
The day of Alba's baptism, Cindy told me the news that she is going to serve a mission. So much excitement and joy came out of me to hear those great news. She told me that she prayed, read her patriarchal blessing, scripture study and all those things reflected on missionary work and she said she stopped fight with God and knew God wanted her to go on a mission. She was so excited to tell me and her eyes just shine with the love of God. That brought me so much joy and happiness, and it is for the fact that I changed my ways before the mission and to witness myself the beauty of this gospel. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE...if I never decided to go on a mission, I would never feel this close to our Savior. YOU CANNOT GO ON WITH LIFE IF YOU DON'T GO ON A MISSION. I can't tell you how your mission is going to be like but what I can say – you will never regret that decision. Please, brothers and sisters, this mission is once in a life time and put all your trust in God (Proverbs 3: 5,6) He will protect your family and friends, your plans are nothing compared to God's plan which bring happiness and a smile. We are the clay and he is the potter who molds us to become strong, only if we let Him, and I testify to you, let him. Your family on the mission is waiting for your testimony, your love, your personality, your experience, and your smile. Your smile will show them the love you have to Heavenly Father and to your Savior Jesus Christ. I pray every day for you all to ponder and accept the call to serve with all your heart and have that burning desire. I love you with all my heart and I wouldn't tell you these things if it weren't true, if it weren't for two strong missionaries helping me, I wouldn't be here now serving a mission and wanting to help everyone I can here and to help you. Lean to Him and let Him comfort you.
Mucho Amor, Elder Raices
Oh do we miss Elder Raices -- a great man!
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