This week has been pretty crazy, you know as far as the MTC goes!
So I have been pretty sick for about a week and a half now! My throat mainly has been hurting a lot! I went into the doctor on Monday and they were completely booked up so I didn’t really end up going until Tuesday… They tested me for strep throat which is what I thought it was, but the test was negative! Initially I thought that was a good thing, but then the doctor says oh, you may have Mono then! Hurray! So I did a blood test and it took all day to get the results so the whole day everyone thought I had Mono and I was having fun with everyone in the whole zone pretty much! That was kinda fun! Then later we went back, and I tested negative for Mono and Bronchitis ! The doctor says he really doesn’t know whats wrong, so he told me to take 16 Ibuprofen every day and hopefully I’d get better! Now I’m definately better than I was, but there’s not really been a drastic change, so I may have to go back in, but we will see!
On Wednesday our district was assigned to host again! Hosting is where we get to steal the new missionaries from there families and help them to their rooms and classrooms! 730 missionaries came in this week! There are about 2400 missionaries here now and everything is packed 24/7! Anyway, I hosted two missionaries who were super cool and they both were going to Ecuador as well! They are going to a different mission though! They both actually ended up being companions! That’s so crazy! What are the odds of that! They were super cool and I took pics with them, but I probably won’t get them until whenever their P-day is! That was fun!
On Thursday we taught our TRC amigo, Hermano Britos! Every lesson kept getting better and better! He has been reading the Book of Mormon, he’s prayed about it, and he believes it is the word of God! He also has talked to some friends and has made arrangements to go to church this week! He is amazing and such a great example! Anyway we were told that Friday would be our last lesson with him! That makes us so sad! We love him so much! Anyway my companion and I decided to ask him the big question since it would be our last time teaching him! I was searching around for so long looking for the right scripture where Christ asks us to follow in his example and I found one that was perfect! 3 Nephi 27:21-22 says ” 21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; 22 therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” We had Hermano Britos read these scriptures, then I asked him. I asked Hermano Britos, do you have the desire to follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, in your life? He said yes. I asked are you willing to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and be baptized by someone who holds the Priesthood? He said Yes!! We have set a date for him for the end of the month! Unfortunately, we will already be in Ecuador by that point, but he is making all the necessary steps to follow through, and we are staying in contact through email! After he said yes, I shared my testimony, in Spanish, and the words definitely were not my own. The Spanish flowed out of my mouth. I have never felt the Spirit so strongly! We all had tears in our eyes and no words can express the feeling that was in that room! We have been so blessed to have the opportunity to teach Hermano Britos! He has been able to understand each lesson, and I know that his testimony is real! He believes that we do have a true Prophet on the Earth today, and that the Book of Mormon is true! I will never forget this experience!
I got a lot of packages on Friday! I have more food and games than anyone in the whole zone! Everyone flocks to our room during free time to hang out! I love everyone in our district and zone! They are like family! Everyone has been helping me eat all my food because I have two full boxes! I’m so grateful for all the support I get from you all! It really does make a huge difference!
Alright, so I was reading in Mormon earlier this week for my personal study… After the Nephites are destroyed by the Lamanites because they rejected Christ over and over again, Moroni, calls the remainder of the people to repentance and gives them council. In Mormon 9:21 it says,”21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, DOUBTING NOTHING, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise in unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.” When you really examine this passage of scripture, you can see that one phrase that makes all the difference, which is: doubting nothing. I have learned in the past few weeks a lot about faith. I truly believe that faith is not a noun, it is a verb. Having faith in something requires you to actually live what you believe. That means striving to get better every day! Everyone has room to improve, no one is perfect! Any blessing can be granted unto us if we have faith, doubting nothing! We see an example of this a little bit further in the Book of Mormon in the story of the Brother of Jared, which I love! I’ll make this part short but after doing all this work and suffering for four years in the wilderness and melting the rock to make the 16 stones, the Brother of Jared asks if the Lord will touch each to make them have light, so they will not be in darkness on their long journey to the promised land. Because he had faith, doubting nothing, he sees the hand of the Lord! He was so frightened that he falls to the ground in fear! The Lord asked him why he was frightened, and after conversing for a bit the Lord shows himself unto the Brother of Jared! Ether 3:19-20,” 19 And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, NOTHING DOUBTING. 20 Wherefore having this perfect knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw Jesus; and he did minister unto him.” I will leave it at that… Everyone, I want to invite you to immerse yourself in the scriptures. Increase your faith. Build your testimony. Work on doubting nothing. I know all things are possible through the Lord. You will begin to see greater blessings that the Lord has in store for you! I love all of you! I hope you have a great week!
Love,
Elder Curtis!