Tranqueras Uruguay - March 26 2012

Hi All,

Things are going well. It's a bit rainy but it really stopped raining this morning at about 9 am. I woke up at 6:25 am and could hear the rain on the roof, not the worst ever though. I have no idea when it started because I've gotten pretty good at sleeping through noise. I sleep on buses all the time now, and fall asleep to the sounds of dogs howling and motos screaming past. You get used to it.

Silvana Camila and Keila are doing fine. They sent us a text at 7:00 am in the morning on Sunday saying that they couldn't come, probably because it was a little brisk. Okay it was cold but still. We passed by and they came out ready to go which was an absolute miracle. So we had 3 in church again and they went to the full three hours this time. They branch was really nice because we've been really working to get some members involved with this family so everyone was talking to them. Hopefully we can get them to General Conference. The branch takes a bus that the church pays for so really we just need someone to go get them and they'll be there for both sessions of conference on Sunday. As for other lessons, we have two other very promising investigators named Paloma and Yaneli. Yes, that does say paloma. I just think it's easy to remember but she doesn't seem to fond of it. Means dove. Nice girl really. Yaneli is about 25 and has three kids and her oldest daughter Belen, 10, is a recent convert. Hopefully we can get her and Silvana married to the guys they're living with.

...Also, Yaneli fed us Molito. Or.....better known as armadillo. It was interesting......nuff said.

Thursday we had interviews with president at the stake center in Rivera. He's really excited for us and has a lot of confidience in this area. It's really starting to turn around so I hope we can see some success soon. I love meeting with president. I can feel his love as soon as I see him and I know he's called of god to guide and direct us as the missionaries in the Lords work.

Friday, I had my best door contact ever. I understood everything the lady said, made a nice connection with her and we left her happier than when we'd knocked. I was rather pleased. On Saturday we were at a members house and they brought out 2 glasses of coke. They went back inside to grab summat and elder Larson says, elder Simpson I hate coke. So....I pounded mine and then swapped him glasses just as the member came back out. I then had the problem of finishing off what looked like my untouched glass of coke. Bottoms up hey?

We went to a widows house and weeded her garden for about an hour and a half which was fun. I realized I miss growing type things. I really miss good grass that actually looks like a lawn not crab grass that gets cut with a weed wacker. It's been pleasent this last week weather wise. Not too bloody hot during the days and brisk at night and in the mornings. Looks like winter is coming. Then I can tell you which I hate worse. Sweating to death or freezing to death. In relation to the month of march, I think I could probably tell you that it was hot....and rained a couple times....that's about all I can remember.

Elder Andy

Tranqueras Uruguay - March 19th 2012

Elder Larson is from Bullhead City, Arizona. We are doing great together, partially owing to the fact that we were in the same classroom together 9 hours a day for 9 weeks in the MTC. We've been doing a lot of teaching, a lot of cleaning, a lot of walking and a lot of sleeping.  I let you know about the Hand of God in my life in a little bit.

Elder Larson and I are rockin the St patties ties.

I'll refrain from telling you anything too gross but I'm almost positive I've grown alien life forms in some dishes in this house....and the missionaries there have a CAR?!? What on earth is that?? I only see motos and cheap excuses for cars most times down here although I did see a very nice BMW the other day. It sent me into cardiac arrest. We don't even have bikes, which would be very very nice in this area... Oh well. They probably couldn't handle it down here. They send the hardend criminals to south america and africa. We need to be broken and shattered so that we can become good people again. But they'll never break me. Never.

Things are never too difficult with the Lord on our side. Or rather with us on the Lords side. I love the work and I love every single person I see. I knelt in prayer the other day and i was praying about the area. I remembered that quote you sent about the Lord not tolerating us but rather loving us unconditionally. I'm not here to tolerate the people of Uruguay nor these two years. Rather I'm here to love every one and use my time as the Savior would.

Changes were really hard.  I really love Elder V like a brother. I miss him a ton and i struggled the first few days of this last week. That said, through prayer and turning to the scriptures, I'm doing much better now. I know that this is the Lord's will for me and even though I'll probably never have a companion like him again, I'm doing what I need to be doing. I can help each of my companions and learn from each of them. I just have to keep my eyes open, as well as my heart.

We sent Elder V off at 4 in the morning, not my favorite thing in the world. Elder Larson came in at 10 from artigas and he and i went to the terminal and talked about the area for a couple hours til the bus came. After that it was pretty routine. Friday we  had dinner with a member and got out at 9:20 pm. It was a 15 minute walk home. SO we ran. and got chased by dogs. But out ran them. and made it home at 9:29 pm. I don't think we'll be doing that again. I don't know why but the dogs here really don't like Elder Larson because we never had problems with dogs before....I hope they don't eat him....

The branch had about 18 members this last sunday, yesterday, and we had 3 investigators come to church. That's the first time I've ever had that in my mission. I'm a little bit excited about this. The spanish is good. He speaks really well and we do our studies in spanish and speak a fair amount of it in the streets so hopefully I'll see a deal of improvement soon.

Alright, so like I said, we had three in church on sunday! It's a mom named Silvana and her daughters Camila and Keila. I was super excited that they came. We went to go look for them at about 10:30 and the mom wasn't home so we waited for a couple minutes and she came home and said she wanted to come! So we all went to church. Well on the way there, we saw a dead cat...that was rotting...and half eaten... and then Camila's front tire on her bike blew out. I'm really glad they're not too superstitious. We missed the sacrament because we showed up 10 minutes late and it was the loudest roudiest sacrament meeting I've ever sat through. Afterward, Silvana said she really liked it and that she could feel something very powerful during it. Hopefully we can get them to the full block next time. They have fecha for abril 7. I'm praying for a miracle...

Todays metal scripture, Luke 24:5, Why seek ye the living among the dead? (Followed by screaming guitar solo and ridiculously fast drumming.)

I see more than I like to of people refusing to let the Savior in. As representatives of Jesus Christ we knock. They turn us away and instead of being mad or irrate, I feel terrible that this might have been their shot at eternal salvation and they're too busy watchin tv to let the Lord into their lives. I too am thankful for the knowledge of the eternities that i have. Jesus Christ is the guiding star for us the wayward travelers on this bleak and restless ocean. If we neglect the guiding light in our life we too may follow the fate of the sailors in the peom by Robert Louis Stevenson. "With a sudden plunge on the sullen swell, three fathoms deep on the road to hell." That sudden plunge may come at any moment but if we are following the guiding star in our life, the deck will be illuminated and we will be able to cling to the iron rod and life giving salvation.

Until Next week
Elder Andrew

Tranqueras Uruguay - March 12th 2012

So right off the bat, I'll fill you in on my changes. Elder V is heading out to Salto to be with Elder Minter, who is one change below me. I knew him in the MTC. He's good peoples. I'm staying here in Tranqueras and Elder Larson from my MTC group is coming to join me. We're going to be proselyting companions which means that neither one of is senior companion nor junior companion.

Weather wise, it's been HOT this last week. The locals say it's not natural for it to stay hot this long. This week has been a rough one with the heat and humidity. A good week though. It hasn't rained since I last emailed but it looks like it's going to try and rain again today. The coolest thing i saw this week.... A sheep answered a door we answered. We figured the person was a bit sheepish and decided to transfigure before answering the door. My favorite thing about my companion is that he is my best friend, because we are both focused on this work, we receive a great love for one another.

This is my week. Monday this last week, The barber used a straight razor to shave the edges of my hair. So cool! I'm going to learn how to shave with a straight razor when I get home. Tuesday I went on divisions with the companion of our district leader, Elder Peterson. Elder Shaw went with elder V back to our area. Elder Peterson has been out for the same time as elder V but his Spanish isn't quite as good.

Elder Peterson and I visited a lot of people while I was there. That said, I did a fair amount of the teaching. He didn't really seem to take the lead in some of the lessons and so i just decided to even though I didn't know the people or the area. He's a really good missionary and I really enjoyed my time with him. I spent tuesday afternoon in his area, all of Wednesday as well and we got up at 5:30 pm to catch the 6:30 pm bus home so he could grab his companion and head back.

While I was there, we got caught in this freak rain storm. Funny thing is, we had just knocked a door with a overhang above the porch. The lady completely shut us down and we turned around and it started to pour. Soooooo we did what any good missionary would do. We camped out on her porch for the next 40 minutes because we didn't have umbrellas and we didn't have a fix lesson until 50 minutes later. So, we camped out and made it to the next lesson on time, and dry.

While we were there this little chubby kid was running and strutting around trying to impress this girl who had to be 11. He comes up shirtless, jumps across the 2 foot ditch in front of us, lands like spider man and asks if we're from the states. We tell him yes and he says that his older brother studies english. "I don't study though. I go to the gym. That's why my arms are so huge. Are you guys Jesus men? I know God is a fountain of power. Wanna know how? I read the Bible." He did stuff like this for the entire time we were there. I couldn't stop laughing for the next hour. Check it out. I work out. BAHAHAHA

Wednesday we climbed up this hill that overlooks all of rivera. Half of it is in brazil and there is a marker at the top.  Thursday was my 6 MONTH MARK!!! I cannot believe I've already been gone that long. I feel like I just left for the MTC... To celebrate, I ate the snickers bar and opened my peanut butter. For lunch we had chicken fried steaks, I made french fries and we drank pepsi. It was wonderful. I burned a tie.

That night we went out to go have a lesson. We got there and their front door was open and the house was empty. Guess they just didn't like the missionaries. :) We have no idea where they moved to. Hopefully some other missionaries can find them some day.

Sunday, Elder V's fan cord exploded. I borrowed some electrical tape from a member and put it back together because the last tape had just gotten old and the cords touched and shorted. That was fun. I used real electrical tape this time instead of plumbing tape which is what was used last time. Some peoples kids....

After church we took the sacrament around to a widow who cannot make the walk to church. She says we can bring it if we like but she doesn't want to distract from the work of the Lord. Silly lady. I don't think she recognizes that she's part of the flock that we tend. :) Well... That's about all for what happened this week. I hope that's a better description of what my life is like. We walk a ton. A ton a ton a ton.

Ya know...We're starting to have a lot of people ask us if the world is really going to end. We tell them that not even the angels know. Yet, with a lot of the members out here struggling, Elder Velazquez helped me realize something. He said, "Our world ends when we break our covenants with God." The gravity of that sentence is staggering. I would that no man would ever be a covenant breaker but rather that we all be covenant keepers. I'm sure there is some general conference talk or other that speaks of this. I would only say, let us not end the world early. Let us live worthy to the end.

Elder Andrew

Tranqueras Uruguay - March 5th 2012

Time moves far too quickly out here. I try and do everything that I can each day so that I can go to bed without regrets. I think that's about how it should be. 

There was a road bike race out here sunday morning. Elder V didn't know a lot of what was going on so I explained as best as I could from what I could tell. That mostly consisted of the fact that they were warming up by going up and down the main street at a fairly relaxed pace and I also explained the chase vehicle. Other than that I don't know what happened because we went inside and started church. 

One of the funniest things I saw this week was a bunch of little kids pulling up clumps of weeds and throwing them at each other for fun. They actually get flying pretty far. I had the farthest throw. :D It rained most of this last week as well and so things were pretty damp until midafternoon yesterday. Since then, it's back to absurd heat. No humidity though, thankfully.

Hey sewing stuff is becoming one of my specialties! I mended a sock last week as well as a shirt. I've already mended a couple buttons on pants and so i'm doing pretty well. I can also tie a tie 3 different ways. Hay que aprender.

The family of 11 dropped us. They were doing great. Then Sunday rolled around, and 9 was just too darn early for them. They went out dancing the night before. Yet, she still wanted to attend a church and they went to Dios Es Amor (God is Love) that night. She liked their animation and it's a lot closer than our church. She, the mom being the she I'm referring to, said that they're happy with this for now and we're welcome to pass by whenever we like but they're going to stick with this church for now. Bit of a crushing blow really. We must stride on, for we never plod. 

Cynthia is your average 18 year old mom really. She stood us up on Sunday as well, both for chuch and for a lesson later. We'll see what happens with her. We've not yet had the chance to meet with Guarasilva as of late but we're supposed to be meeting again with her soon. 

Now, when it comes to finding someone new, the Lord gave us a tender mercy today. We're having a bit of a rough go with the area, and we put up really bad numbers last week. That said, we decided to go out and do things differently this morning. This last week in the mornings, we'd been trying to get in touch with old investigators or good contacts but nothing good really came of it. So we decided to burn the area this week, because it's possible that E'V leaves this next Tuesday. We have transfers on the 13th and we want to make sure that whoever stays here has a pool of investigators to draw from. So we went out knocking and street contacting. Lo and behold, at 11:15, 15 minutes before quitting time, we found Marta. She's currently visiting from Florida, a department in the eastern half of the country, because her mom is in critical condition.   She says every day is tense and she's not sure if she's atheist or not. She has trouble believing there is a God when she see's all that's going on in her life. We had a wonderful discussion with her about how her Father in Heaven loves her and wants to hear from her. She's never prayed before and so we taught her about that and carried on our way. With a step much lighter than before, the work carries on.

My advice for today comes from E'V. We have to seek the beauty in the fire. Though it burns at times, there is constant motion and absolutely so much energy transfer in a single flame. The transformation may be like that of lighting, roaring and instant. It brings us to a screaming realization of our standing with the God of the Eternities. Perhaps the trial may be that of a slow burn, much like a luau, except we're the ones that are on the spit. God turns and turns and turns the spit until we're just the way he wants us to be. Granted, we can chose to accept these changes. Also, we're not a bunch of pigs that are about to be eaten....Also, in the mornings, I like to think of who got me here. It helps me stumble out of bed. So many people gave so much to make it possible for me to preach the gospel. Both in recent family and friends and in ancestors can I find my motivation. Most of all, Jesus Christ made it possible for me to be here. Let us not waste this time.

Elder Ender 

"I am the Revenger of Blood." (Numbers 35)

Is that too much epicness or what?!?! 

Tranqueras Uruguay - February 27th 2012

Hey All,

I'm doing well. I'm still living and breathing and nothing is broken so that's great. Right? :) I'm certainly happy and it's certainly an adventure.

Let's see.... Monday was pretty tranquilo (peaceful). We went to go visit an investigator that we'd not been in contact with for almost a month because we could never find them. We got there at 830 am and it's a 20 minute walk home and so we just wanted to set up another day that we could come back and talk to them. Well Justo, her nephew died that morning and I think she was a little surprised to see us, but was okay with us coming back another day so we set up our next appointment. Tuesday, we got up and were very happy to be heading into Rivera. Well turns out Monday and Tuesday are holidays because of carnaval. so the buses don't run. So we got to stay in our area and didn't get any mail this week. Joyful experience really...

That said we've now had 3 lessons with silvana and her family which are the family we found last week. 4 of their 6 children are of baptismal age and the mother and father both listen to us with their family and the last time we went, Hno Suarez's grandson came. Then the next time, the grandson and his brother came and a neighbor came. We taught 11 people the last time we were there and on top of that, the mother, Silvana, has been fighting migranes as of late. We talked to her of the spirit and the priesthood and under the direction of the holy ghost offered a blessing of health. She tells us that every time we come over, her head stops hurting, which I know is not a coincidence. They are such a wonderful family and we are already very attached to them. I hope only the best comes for them in this life and that they can know that what we are teaching them isn't just a good story told by some funny north americans.

The rest of the week was pretty average. We just struggle to find members that are willing to come out and work with us. The Zone Leaders really push that and our branch is shriveling up and dying little by little. Our branch president isn't willing to come out with us to visit menos activos (less actives) and it's really quite frustrating. The stake president told us a couple weeks back that we just have to be patient with the people in our area because the gospel is relatively new. Not only that, but they have their own lives so they're never going to be as focused on the work of salvation as we are. Needless to say, the christ like attribute we selected for this week was charity ;) As such, for the first time in three weeks, we've got them set to do a ward council and come out on divisions with us.

We pray every day that the Lord give us the strength to do his will in this area. I hope I can do what the Lord would have me do and that I'm never so prideful as to impose my will upon this work. Who are we to be so careless as to impede this work through our own short sightedness. We are nothing and we cannot stop this work. We can impede it, slow it and hinder it, but we will never stop it. I pray daily that I can only augment and support this joyful labor. I hope I never lose sight of this.

 We met with guarasilva again this week. She enjoys our lessons but she said that she doesn't really want to commit to any one church because there is only one God and a bajillion churches. Not quite a direct translation but you get the gyst of it. We committed her once more to read and she said she will. She said she'd take it with her to compaña where she works for the next 15 days straight. We'll meet with her when she gets back and see how it goes. We recently met with an old investigator named Cynthia. We like to take members to these lessons. She had her birthday this last week with her daughter and sister in law. She's 18. She really likes to read at night because her husband is only at home on Saturdays and Sundays and so she reads or cleans when her baby girl is sleeping and so she's been reading the Book of Mormon and the folletos (Pamplets). She wasn't able to make it to church this last sunday because her baby is sick and Silvana and her family couldn't make it either because they were sleeping.

Every night this week there were dances that started at about 9 or 10 and ended at about 4 or 5 in the morning. Carnaval kills this place. The streets were so dead everyday until about 7 which is when people are getting up from their extra long siestas because they're extra tired because they've been partying extra. :D

On Sunday's in the branch we usually pass the Sacrament and 2 members of the branch presidency bless it or we mix it up a little with the same people. Elder Velazquez and I were the speakers this last week and the branch presidency speaks as well and sometimes one or two of the members do as well. If we have enough people for the gospel principles class elder V teaches it and I run support. If we don't, we go look for people. There is indeed a primary class and i'm not really sure what they do....i think mostly just color pictures and listen to music. There really aren't enough youth for a program. Walter is 18 but he's the 2nd counselor in the presidency and then there are like 3 young woment so I think they just go to relief society. Elder V says they don't have a YW program.
The work.....is slow. It's hard. It's frustrating. Its sad. But I love every minute of it. We see so much potential in this area but we really don't get the support that we need from the members for it to be effective. Elder V describes it as this. Baptism is the gate, the members are the key. All we can do is bring the investigators to the door. If we don't have the key.... all we're doing is knock knock knockin on heavens door. XD We have progressing investigators but they drop off because it's only the missionaries talking to them, we don't have members that come out with us, and they ususally don't make it to church. That said, we're finding out a lot of good ways not to get this all to work. Each day is a learning experience and Elder V and I learn from each expercience what works and what doesn't.

Acts 7:55-56. Will we testify to the point of sealing our demise? Will we shout the triumphant message until our dark and bitter end? Will we raise our voice with that of all the witnesses of Jesus Christ and testify of his divinity? I pray that we all do. Never question your testimony, never doubt your power as a witness of his work.

Chau,

Elder Andy

Tranqueras Uruguay - February 20th 2012

Hi again from Tranqueras,

We did not get a chance to teach Guarasilva again, but we do have water. It ended up coming on at 7 that night, right when we were leaving.  They were redoing the pipes in the road, but they stopped and took siesta! Curse siesta! I hate it! So frustrating. It kills hours of our work.

Well., my week has been rough. We're still really struggling with the branch and it's heart breaking to watch it slowly die before our eyes. I hope that we can do what the Lord wants us to and possibly resurrect this area. Zone Conference was on Thursday so we bused into Rivera on Wednesday night and stayed with two other elders at their house. It was HOT and they only had  two fans which means no one slept. At 4 am we got up and got ready and were out the door by 5:30 am. On the bus by 6:30 am and two hours later arrived in Tacuarembo.

That night at 4 pm we got back on the bus and arrived in Rivera at 6:30 pm. Ate something, caught the 8 pm  bus and made it home at 9 pm. Planned for the next day and crashed for the first time in 48 hours. Sleep!

This week was ZONE CONFERENCE and you know what that means! Lots of sitting and lots of very spiritual enlightenment. The focus of the zone conference was The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Just saying that it was a special zone conference does not suffice. President Heaton gave a wonderful lesson on the importance of the Book of Mormon in conversion, as described in Preach My Gospel chapter 5. He shared with us the importance of sharing the Book of Mormon in every lesson and making sure that our investigators are actually drinking from its pages and praying to know if it is true. President Heaton then shared a powerful testimony of his love for the Book of Mormon and of its importance to all the world as a testament of Jesus the Christ. We then we taught by the Assistants to the President who taught us how we should go about introducing the Book of Mormon.  . Finally we were taught by our zone leaders on the importance of using members when we are teaching lessons and they encouraged us that we should have mebmers at every single lesson that we teach and that we should really learn to bring members that might be able to relate to our investigators, so now we have some nice challenges to complete.

The strongest phrase I pulled from Zone Conference is The Book of Mormon saves lives as it is studied with real intent. We focused on the Book of Mormon for the duration of the conference. I too testify of the divinity of the Book of Mormon! I love reading from it's pages each day and I feel the spirit of the lord envelope me. It is in this time that I learn so very much, very quickly.

This week we received a tender mercy of the Lord while we were tracting. We clapped the door of a family and two small girls one about 9 and the other about 7 went running to find their mom, who soon after seeing us thought she wanted no more. We talked to her about her family and explained that we werent abnormal beings from another planet just gringos from another country, she laughed and invited us to come back when her husband was home on sunday. We did. They loved the message of the restoration and had a lots of questios for us! We answered to the best of our ablilities and language capabilities and we left them with a book of mormon and a baptismal invitation both of which they accepted =). We are coming back soon with a member family to have another lesson and check up on their commitment to read the book of Mormon

I don't have a whole lot else to share this week. Here's a thought. Numbers 23:19. Don't even consider doubting God. It's just not a good idea. Also, Mark 2:4 and 5. Often times we focus on what the scribes said after this miracle and Christ's rebuke to them. I would focus on verse 4. These men had to lift their sick friend and his litter up a 1 story building. Then, they broke apart the roof, most likely with whatever they could find. I'm sure they didn't wake up that morning with the thought of putting in an inpromptu skylight in someones house so I feel safe in the conjecture that they didn't bring power tools with them. After that, they had to go find rope or cloth and lower their friend and his bed, without mechanical advantage nor assistance, through the large whole they'd just made with their bare hands. That's faith.

I testify of Jesus Christ. He Lives. He gives me strength when so often I falter along the way. Without Him, I am nothing. In His strength, I am all things. We will not falter. We will not fail. Let the dead bury the dead for I have come to save the living. I invite you to Christ. That is my task. The choice to listen is yours. Come to Christ, with each vibrant breath of your lungs. He is the Way. Remember the blood that spilled so long ago. Count the drops that were spilled for you and kneel in your shame. I will be there beside you, kneeling in absolute supplication to God the Almighty. As you pray, remember the Sacrifice of He Who Loves Perfectly. Then, let him take your shame, sorrow, pain and despair. Rise again a new creature in Christ and go forward in faith.

 Until next week,
Elder Andy

Tranqueras Uruguay - February 13th 2012

Hi All,

We went back today and had a great lesson with  Guarasilva Pina Suarez about the restoration. She's very receptive and we think she's genuinely interested. We're going to see if we can get a member over next time or if she can go to a members house for the next lesson. Also, she has a pet deer. I'll try to get a picture sometime.

The most exciting thing that's happened lately is the watermelon festival that was Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Basically it was just a carnival/concert but it started at 8:00 pm each night and ended at 3:30 am.  As a result the town has been especially dead this last weekend. Also, two recent converts have decided to go inactive until the local leadership is changed out. That put church attendance this last week at 9. As for service, we've yet to be able to find any to do. It's not requisite but we're always asking people if we can come help and telling them that we do service for free.... we'll see what happens.

I've really been very tired this week. We taught something around 30 lessons total this last week. Acceptable, but we really had so much fall through which is so frustrating. The branch shrivels a little more each day. After talking with President Heaton and the Stake President, we know we just have to learn to be patient with the souls of this area. We have to learn charity, and fast. If we are charitable, we will be able to help the branch grow and blossom. As servants of the vineyard, that is our responsibility to the master.

We were sitting in the house on friday and planning for the week. Elder, I says. It sounds like there is someone out front. I went and checked and this is what I saw.

 I'm really struggling to think of anything else that happened this week. We've just really been working with the members trying to keep them going and animated. It's very frustrating yet you just feel sad after someone tells you that they're going to stop coming. I love these people so dearly and I just want for them to be happy. During the lesson we had this morning, i taught about half of the lesson. I remember half way through feeling the Holy Ghost so strongly. It swelled within my chest and reconfirmed for me that I really do know that these things are true. I just want people to have that same happiness. It just makes me sad when they close the door, go to a different church after being baptized or tell us that they got offended and are going to wait until the leadership is changed. There is no reason to deny yourself the renewal of your sacred covenants with God the Eternal Father! Let no man stand in your path to salvation! I do not receive my Eternal Reward through a branch president, or my mission president or even the prophet! They are only servants, humans all the same, relaying the will of the Father. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ and the fact that some would put that at risk because of the actions of another man is truly heart breaking.

Well, I don't have a lot more to say. Like I said. Tranquilo week.  We cannot do this on our own. Look to the skies and remember your infinite and eternal Redeemer. As a member of the 70 who's name i cannot remember quoted president Monson this last conference said, it is better to look up! And it is! Why would you look at the dirt and mud when you can ponder the endless reaches of creation that the Lord so willingly granted us??,

We focus on a living savior. Two words encompass the scope of our message. He lives. We proclaim the salvation that comes from a resurrected Savior. I find great joy in this knowledge. 2 simple words summarize the truths of the eternal gospel. He lives. Because of that, all things are possible. We can be saved and redeemed and live for eternity with all those that we love because of this. It's one of my favorite things to tell people when we speak of the gospel and testify of it's truths. 

Yours Always
Elder Simpson