July 25, 2017---SERVICE IS THE KEY, TRIAL OF FAITH, KEEP ON CHUGGING, PHOTOS

July 25, 2017

SERVICE IS THE KEY
There are so many miracles when we trust in God.  The hard thing is actually putting our trust in Him and taking that step of faith.  Service is the key, ha, the law of consecration. 

TRIAL OF FAITH
This week was a trial of fe (faith). We worked super hard and were trying to be more obedient, diligent, focused--- everything.  At church we did not see the results of our labors or what we were expecting.  It was a little hard cuz we have been going hard and doing everything to get better, but sometimes the Lord has other plans for us.  Cuz we have the faith sufficient to see miracles but sometimes we don't have the faith to accept God's will.  I read that in a Liahona.  We had some converts come that haven't come in a while, so that was awesome.  Also la familia J. is super pumped and said they want to go visiting with us and share the happiness and spirit they have now, so that really made my week to hear that.  We are in the process of helping Hermano S. get the priesthood, so that's exciting. 

KEEP ON CHUGGING
We just have to keep going.  Sometimes I ask myself if I'm really doing everything right and if I'm really converted, etc.  The thing is, we just need to keep on chugging and going on and keep changing. The gospel is to help people change.  And I'm so grateful that I've seen changes in my life and in others lives through the gospel.  It's a special opportunity.  Anyone that wants to experience joy should go on a mission, and, if you can't, be a missionary where you are cuz that really brings joy to our hearts, but also to our Padre Celestial (Celestial father) .

Hope the fam is great!

Les Amo

Elder Sweat

P.S.  I'm trying to get a little workout routine going on so we will see what happens ha, ha, ha.  

#wordofwisdom

PHOTOS
La zona Villa Nueva #werunthiscity

COME UNTO CHRIST, FUN TIMES, FAVORITE SINS, PRESIDENT CLUFF IS A GREAT GUY, CHANGES IN YOUR OWN LIFE

COME UNTO CHRIST
We have found some other people and we still need to find more so we will see what we can do to help more people come unto Christ. 

FUN TIMES
Ha, dang.  I feel like the ward has changed a lot.  Reminds me when I was the only youth for the sacrament, ha, ha, fun times. 

FAVORITE SINS
I am doing a 40 day purification.  How you do it is you do compromisos (committments) with God.  President Markham always told us to write down your "favorite sins" that and you try to stop them.  It's a little hard, but it really is helping me become a better person and more converted and have the Spirit. 

PRESIDENT CLUFF IS A GREAT GUY
We also had interviews with President Cluff.  That was fun to get to know him a little bit better.  He is a great guy and so is his family.  

CHANGES IN YOUR OWN LIFE
Our plans are to help everybody get to church and find some new people to teach and help all the converts get to church and stuff. The mission really is really hard, but always rewarding to see people changing their lives. It's also rewarding to feel little changes in your own life to become better, too.

Les Amo

Elder Sweat

July 11, 2017---SMILES ON THEIR FACES, KEEP HELPING THEM, FINDING NEW WAYS TO HELP

July 11, 2017

SMILES ON THEIR FACES
We were able to baptize the familia J.!!!  It was so great cuz Satan was trying so hard to not let them get married and baptized.  President and Hermana Cluff came to our baptism and it was super great. President Cluff challenged everyone that wasn't baptized that was were there to prepare to be baptized, haha.  Got to be direct to get success, haha. It was really a special experience and we could all feel the Spirit strongly there.  What I loved was seeing their smiles on their faces, haha.  It was so special.

KEEP HELPING THEM
We still have lots to do, though, which is hard, with missionary work.  Cuz you fight to help someone get baptized and afterwards when it happens you feel like so happy and want to rest but you can't, haha.  Got to keep helping them get more converted and find more people to help.

FINDING NEW WAYS TO HELP
We are doing great.  We are finding new ways to help our Zone become better.

Hope everything is great there.  Everyone looks healthy and fine, haha.

Les Amo
Elder Sweat

July 4, 2017---GREAT BLESSING, ZONE LEADERS, HAPPINESS, FAMILY OF 7, SERVICE IS GREAT! CELEBRATE REPENTANCE

GREAT BLESSING 

"Did you meet your new Mission President, President Cluff?  I think he is from the Nauvoo Ward!  I hope that you will do everything to help him be successful and have a smooth transition from President Markham.  President & Sister Markham seemed so great.  I'm sure they are a great blessing in your life"  Yes, we met our new Mission President and his wife.  He (President Cluff) is definitely very different than President Markham.  Hermana Markham said we just have to keep moving on and working hard to baptize.  They definitely are.

ZONE LEADERS 

"How has your first week been with Elder Griffin?"  Great!  "Is he also a Zone Leader?"   Yes, we are both Zone Leaders.  

HAPPINESS 

We were able to baptize Hermana A. from the G. family.  Super special cuz her husband was able to baptize her and he has just finished a year of being a convert.  I was able to give her the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which was really special, too.  We were so happy for this experience and to see the happiness in the whole family.  The famlia J. are great and are scheduled for this fin de semana (weekend) so we will keep y'all informed and if you guys can keep praying for them and the familias G. and R. still, please.  

FAMILY OF 7 

We have found some cool people.  We prayed in the street cuz we have been struggling to find new people and Elder Griffin prayed that we could find a familia of 7!  Haha.  So we went out trying to follow, the best we could, the Spirit.  We contacted a guy going to his house and we built a puente (bridge) with him real fast and he told us they had 7 people in his family!!!  We put a cita (appointment) with him this week so we will see what happens.  Please pray for the familia L. and familia G. 

SERVICE IS GREAT! 

"I also helped a family move on Friday.  I could have used the Sweat boys' strength and hands, but I think I would have made you all proud.  People were surprised when I lifted up the piano and was basically holding it with one arm--little do they know that I've moved many pianos.  Anyway, I think I have a talent for helping people move.  One thing I notice is that I always feel better after I serve.  I need to do it more."  excerpt from a letter from Terrell, Elder Sweat's dad  I just remember moving the piano to G's house, haha.  That was crazy.  I actually like to help move people, too, lifting hard stuff and whatnot.  Service is great!  It's one of the only ways we can bring the feelings we get in the mission into our lives, from a talk in one of the Liahonas.  

CELEBRATE REPENTANCE 

President Markham told us we should celebrate repentance!  I like that cuz we really do feel happier afterwards.  "To teach us all that we must do, Jesus Christ led the way by giving the perfect example that we must try to emulate. He pleads with us with arms outstretched to come, follow Him. And when we fail, which we all do, He reminds us, “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.”What a wonderful gift! Repentance is not a punishment; it is a privilege. It is a privilege that leads and guides us. No wonder the scriptures declare that we should teach nothing save repentance." -  Elder M. Joseph Brough, April, 2017 General Conference   

Les Amo un Monton

Elder Sweat