Que Pasa!

First off, I got my first battle wound!! Woohoo!!! I was ironing and I made the mistake of putting my arm around the iron. Oops! The photo is just a depiction of my rage. The Iron and I are still not speaking

All jokes aside, this week has been cansador! The longer I serve in this ward, the more clearly I see how much we still have to do. It’s such an awesome challenge! One of the key lessons I´m learning right now is patience. No matter how much I want it, many things just can´t be resolved quickly. You have to keep working hard and put in the grind, because its the only way. If life weren´t that way, everyone would already have everything! It´s really interesting to note all the opposition that comes our way. One of our less actives that we are helping really felt it yesterday. The poor woman fought basically every obstacle to come to church with her little girls, and ended up in the parking lot outside the church, and was unable to get into the sacrament meeting because her car battery was dying and she couldn´t leave it alone. I feel like Satan is just throwing absolutely everything he has at us, but it just makes us that much more determined. Elder Astete and I were fasting that day, and after a long day of visiting the members who didn´t go to church for one reason or another, we ended up at the house of a family of future investigators. Guys, I promise fasting works. This family is a family of GOLD!!!  The father was a security guard at a bank, but was stabbed in the back and left in a wheelchair. Before, he didn’t believe at all in God, but this trial has really, really softened his heart. We showed him the Churches Christmas video he is the gift (absolutely fantastic. if you haven’t seen it, go to christmas.lds.org and check it out!) and started talking about the role of Christ in our lives. I could see in his eyes how deeply he was pondering the message we have, and is absolutely committed to learn more. He wants so badly that his family grow closer to God that it makes me smile from ear to ear!! We´re going to visit again Wednesday, so hopefully everything stays well. Please pray for the Donoso family!! 

Here’s the spiritual thought of the week:

 "Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.

He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen." (Doctrine and Covenants 107:99-100)

We really have so much still to do. Diligence and consistency in our calling to serve the Lord is one of the hardest attributes to develop in our lives. We need to learn our duty through prayer, scripture study, attending church, listening to our leaders. If we do not take our duty seriously, it will be a huge stumbling block in our lives. But we´re all human. The Lord in his infinite mercy gives us 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th chances, but we have to be bold enough to tell ourselves that the buck stops here, and from now on we will be diligent. as we seek the Lord, he will help us.

Love you all, and catch you next week!

Elder Pomar