Elder Acor: 2/19/24

 Running to Christ's Light y ¡Vamos Santiago!

¡Hola, hola, hola a todos!

I hope you all have had a fantastic week. I know I sure have. This week was full of miracles and I could see God's hand in my life everyday!

Last P-Day we had zone P-Day so that was such a blast. I got to see tons of mission friends! We got to play some sports too. Just a bit of soccer because it was 110 degrees outside so it was super sucky to play outside. It was a really good P-Day.

Tuesday was such a good day because we got to teach our friends Mirian, Rodney, and Adriana. Mirian is who we started teaching first and she came to church with her daughter Adriana. Rodney is also her son. We got to teach them and put them all on baptismal date for March 2nd. They are super awesome and really want to turn their lives around! Then we had an awesome lesson at night about tithing and fast offerings with Santiago!

Wednesday we were able to teach the Correa Caceres family again and teach then a bit about The Plan of Salvation. They have lots of faith and want to change they just never come to church! Then we could pass by and teach Mirian and Rodney about The Plan of Salvation too! Mirian doesn't know how to read so we are getting creative with ways how we can help her exercise her faith.

Thursday was a slower day but we were able to find some members that want to come back to church. So hopefully we can help them to come back. Thursday night we did have a lesson with Thiago. This kid is so awesome he's already gone to the temple twice since his baptism! We talked about how he can get his patriarcal blessing. Hey if you haven't read your blessing in a long time read it. If you don't have it yet start the process to receive it.

Friday was a crazy day. Definitely not a normal day of missionary work. In the morning we were able to teach the Correa Caceres family again. We finished teaching The Plan of Salvation and the importance of doing our part in the plan. Then after lunch we got to go to the chapel to fill up the font for a baptism of our branch president's daughter, Aylen. The water started to come out all yellow so we had to empty it and fill it up again. We cut it really close. It was a super awesome baptism! Also it was her birthday so it was a very big celebration. After the baptism we cleaned up. Then we had a meeting with our Elders Quorum president about an awesome activity he's planning. Then we had our branch night which was a big soccer tournament. There was maybe 60 to 70 people there it was awesome. So the whole day we ended up just being in the chapel.

Saturday was an amazing day because Santiago got baptized! In the morning we got to visit one of our recent converts, Samuel. He's fifteen and doesn't work anymore so hopefully he can come to church! Before Santiago's Baptism we were able to teach Rodney. He's super awesome and even read the whole chapter we assigned him to read! Literally such a big miracle! Then we had Santiago's baptism! It was such an amazing experience and he was so happy. His mom was so happy for the decision he was making. Our branch secretary was able to baptize him because Santiago is basically apart of that family. Such an amazing miracle.

Sunday was an amazing day too. Not only because we got to take the sacrament, and because it was Santiago's confirmation, but because we also had Mirian, Adriana, and Rodney come to church! I was so happy! They all seemed to enjoy it too! Also Thiago blessed the sacrament for the first time! He's just so awesome! Santiago's mom was also able to come for his confirmation. I was able to do his confirmation. Not that I was planning on doing it though. I walk up to get in the circle and our secretary is like "He wants you to do it" I just said "oh, uh, ok that's fine!" It was honestly such an amazing experience and I am so happy for Santiago! Sooooo many miracles.

What a full week, right? God is so good and truly is guiding us. It's so amazing being an instrument in his hands. Something I'm realizing while writing this email is the importance of focusing on the positive. I read an email last week of another missionary and something they said really stood out to me and I'm going to steal it. We should be running towards the light and looking for the light in our lives. When life gets hard or we feel sad we are running towards the shadows and focusing on the dark spots in our lives. Being on the mission it's hard not to compare yourself. I realized that when I was comparing myself I was just running from shadow to shadow instead of running from light to light. When I'm looking for the positive and seeing how God has blessed me I feel so much better and really just happier. So the invitation to all of you is to stop running to the darkness and the shadows but run towards the light always and forever. What better light to run to then The Light of the World, Jesus Christ.

That's everything for this super full week! I hope you guys enjoyed reading this email! I love you all and I hope and pray you have an amazing week and can feel God's light in your life!

¡Chaucito!

Love, Elder Acor