This Week!!!

I guess the Jays just weren't meant to go all the way this year. I thinks it's because I'm supposed to be in the stands when they win the championship. I'm also glad that you guys aren't sick anymore! When the typhoon rolled in we got only strong winds, but not enough to stop the work. If dad does film Beth after her wisdom teeth surgery he's gotta send it to me so I can watch it. 

This week was pretty awesome as per usual. We taught awesome lessons. But unfortunately I got sick too. But even though I was sick, I took my Advil and it worked. When we were working I realized something. When we were teaching lessons I didn't feel sick. I felt good. I could teach, speak even though I had a sore throat, I could answer questions, and I could feel the spirit work through me. It was a pretty cool experience! 

We are teaching a lot of people mostly part member families. That is actually our mission focus right now. The part member families have a pre-planted idea of what the gospel is and what it means to become a member. I love teaching the Magallanes family is really fun to teach and we actually have FHE at their house later. I'm super excited!

The one picture of the baptism are the children of record we baptized. I know it doesn't count in means of investigators being baptized but I was really happy that I was able to be a part of their baptisms. The other one is of me and Remart drinking some nice cold mountain Dews. He is so funny!

I love you

Elder Rivera

Awesome

Sorry this email is late. Yesterday we had to go Bacolod and I didn't have enough time to email. So I'm emailing quickly now. I hope you get better mom! Cold season is here too in the Philippines, one of our housemates has had a cold for like 3 weeks now.

Our investigators

So this past week has been awesome. The Lord is truly blessing us through our efforts. A couple of weeks ago we had to drop a few of our investigators because sadly they had lost interest in the message we were sharing. So we have been working diligently to find others to teach in order to really help our area. We have found so many investigators. There is one family that just keeps giving. Every time we go to visit them there is a new investigator to teach! Also we were truly blessed with a miracle. After 3 weeks of NO investigators at church we had 6 all at once! Truly a miracle! 

I love teaching the gospel so much. It is not easy at all but it is so worth every minute of struggle and trial for all the blessings and gifts the Lord gives to us!

I really miss you all! Don't worry about me here I'll be fine! (in response to the question as to whether his area was affected by the Typhoon that just passed, and also about the new storm coming in behind this storm that just passed?)

Elder Rivera

Time is Flying By!!!

Time is really flying by. I can't believe I've been here for so long. I've become so used to missionary life it's hard to think about going home. Have a nice and peaceful Thanksgiving. I haven't had turkey in almost 2 years but that's OK because I have the rest of my life to eat all the turkey I want. Don't stress to much about me I'm doing super fine, even tho the work is hard I love it!

This week has honestly been so awesome. So many miracles have happened to us here in Cadiz. One was when we were about to go home we decided to go to a members house. They weren't even in our plan. When we got there they told us they had been praying for us to visit them in order to bring the spirit back into their home. The Lord worked through us to bless that family!

I have also come to the realization that through  our efforts the Lord will bless us. We have been struggling lately with finding new investigators. So we asked for referrals and contacted part member families. We ended up finding 3 girls who have truly been prepared by the Lord for us to teach them! Their question are amazing, they truly have a desire to know the truth like Joseph Smith did.

I have really felt the spirit so strong this week especially while we teach!

Mission life is the best!

Elder Rivera

My Week in Cadiz 2nd Ward

That's 2 times you have gone apple picking without me! Thats ok because by the time I get home we can go again. I guess we kinda made it a family tradition going apple picking every season! I also saw the Blue Jays picture post season finally and all it took was for me to go on a mission! 

I wish I could spend more time here!!!

This week we spent a lot of time finding. We unfortunately realized that a lot of investigators stopped progressing. We are still visiting them but we are also spending a lot of our time looking for those who are looking for us. We had some miracles because of our efforts too. We contacted this one referral, she is truly searching for the truth and we are excited to give it to her! She would have come to church but her son had a really high fever! it was also true because we saw the kid when we visited her.

Some times I catch myself worrying about the numbers, like our numbers are too low or maybe we aren't doing enough, but then I think about the people we did teach and the lessons we had and the spirit they hopefully felt from the message of the restoration. I'm excited to contact and to teach all the people we found. I'm super excited to be able to share what I know to be true!

Being a missionary isn't easy but it is super worth it!

Elder Rivera