Long and rough week.

Somewhat of a long and rough week this week.  I'm struggling with my companion.  I'm trying to teach him what I need to teach him as a trainer but he doesn't want to learn anything.  It's just really frustrating.  And he's just  rude with people to the point where Dianna (my mom in the mission) isn't going to cook lunch for us anymore and where a lot of members have stopped working with us. 

Another tough thing was we had planned this big ward activity to do family trees for their family history and about 30 people had commited for sure to come but not a single soul came.  After paying like 60 quetz of my own money for supplies and planning a ton that was really super rough. 

As well as basically the ward here… I miss the leaders I had in my ward at home!  They are loving and supportive and sometimes it's very different here.  Ughhh its hard not to be negative but it's frustrating.  

But I read an article my mom had sent me a while ago that reads basically that the church is lead by all volunteers (we don't have a paid minister or anything… all the leaders volunteer their time).  They are imperfect men and women. Except His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, God only has imperfect people to work with.  It must be frustrating but He deals with it.  Therefore, so should we....

I really took that to heart and am really trying to apply it.  I feel like I've thought of some good ideas and revelation to start this week to help this ward.  Trying to stay positive this week so it can all work out!  

On a better note, I was able to baptize M on Saturday.  He has made a complete 180 degree turn in his life.  It's amazing to see how the gospel is changing him.  

Love you all

Elder Gurksnis

 Notice the difference in M's countenance!  This is before.

This is at his baptism.  So amazing how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes people.  Sometimes you can see it just by looking in their eyes.

 MTC district reunion at Elder Anderson's conference.

Missionary food.  Don't be jealous.

God Never Let's Go

Welp, a decent week.  We had the chance to baptize Armando who is the son of Paty and brother of Dalia and Aura who were baptized with Elder F and I.  He's really really autistic and has a lot of problems so we didn't know if he really needed to be baptized.  But we realized he knows the difference between good and bad so he was baptized Saturday.  

This coming Saturday, we have the baptism of M!  He's an ex alcoholic who drank every single day but since the very first day we visited him he hasn't had a single drink.  Truly a miracle.  We also have some solid other investigators who we've been teaching but M this week!

This week on Wednesday we'll get the chance to hear from the apostle Neil L. Anderson in a conference for just our mission.  I'm pretty excited!  This morning we were in a meeting for all the newbies and so I had to go with my comp.  It was something with signing a visa or something. A man walked in and told us that Elder Anderson had just arrived and it was pretty funny to watch everyones eyes and how fast their hands opened their backpacks to get their scriptures out lol.  

Ive been reading a lot about the atonement of Jesus Christ lately.  Something I read in a talk from David A. Bednar is that sometimes we make the mistake of thinking the atonement is only used to make bad people good.  But just as equally it's used to make good men, better.  Although a huge crucial role of the atonement is to help people really turn their lives around, those already walking in a fairly straight path need it just as equally to progress and learn to become more like Christ.  I encourage all of you to learn and take advantage of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ has made for each of us.  Hope you all have a great week!

Elder Gurksnis

p.s. Read this great story.

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.  In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door and flew into the water not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.  His mother was looking out the window and saw the two as they swam closer and closer together.  In utter fear she ran toward the water yelling to her son as loudly as she could.  

Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother.  It was too late.  Just as he reached the dock, the alligator reached him.  The mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs.  An incredible tug-of-war began between the two.  The alligator was much stronger than the mother but the mother was much too passionate to let go.  A farmer happened to drive by and, hearing her screams, grabbed his gun, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.  

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived.  His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal.  On his arms were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.  The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma asked if he would show him his scars.  The little boy lifted his pant legs.  And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms.  I have great scars on my arms too.  I have them because my mom wouldn’t let go”.

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars too.  No, not from an alligator or anything quite so dramatic, but perhaps the scars of a painful past.   Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret.  But some wounds are because God has refused to let go.  In the midst of your struggle, He’s been there holding on to you.  He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way.  Sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations.  The swimming hole of life is filled with peril and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.  That’s when the tug-of-war begins.  If you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful.

Tradition - Burning a tie at 6 months

Austin Family!  The ties are gorgeous and I've already eaten all the trail mix!  You guys are awesome!

6 Months

Cha boi is at 6 months today!  I'll be sure to send some pictures of me burning the tie tonight.  Fastest 6 months of my life that's for sure!  I can't imagine how everyone says it goes by faster after a year because this time has gone by unexplainably fast.

Welp we had a really solid week this week!  Mariela was an investigator who will be baptized this coming Saturday and was really struggling. Long story short she is going to be baptized although her mom is going to kick her out of the house and she has no job or no money and a 6 year old to take care of.  Imagine the faith that she has in order to move forward and get baptized.  That's pretty incredible.  She now has something lined up but regardless she's an incredible person.  

We also put baptismal dates with others this week including M.  M was an alcoholic who drank all day every day.  Since the first day we met with him he has completely left alcohol.  He's having many health problems right now but he's overcoming it and hasn't had a drink in 13 days.   

I kept this week short because of some other people I want to write but i continue to see miracles in this area because of the faith of some amazing people.  

Have a great week!

Elder Gurksnis