Merry Christmas from Guate!

Merry Christmas yall!

Hope everyone had an incredible Christmas as I did. Talking to my family for the first time in 5 months was amazing and a special experience for me.

It´s hard! Serving a mission and spending Christmas away from your family twice in a foreign country is hard! Lemme tell ya. But its worth it. This Christmas I wont ever forget. Im unbelievably lucky to be where I am, doing what Im doing. 5 months have already passed by since I left last and its blown by. 

We have changes tomorrow. My companion is leaving the area and Ill be getting another new companion. Kinda nervous, but Im going to work harder to make sure our future companionship gets along and works better together. 

This was my toughest change. But I know we have to pass through difficult times to appreciate the great times. And I know the Lord will help me if I continue to try to work hard and be obedient. 

A short letter, but I hope all of yall had a great Christmas! I love you all. Take care and have a happy new year as well!

Love,

Elder Gurksnis

Teaching Athiests

Howdy USA!

I hope everyone is enjoying this awesome Christmas season back home. Really.

Christmas season is definitely different here, but I still feel the spirit and presence of Heavenly Father even stronger around this time of year. 

Its been hard these past couple of weeks with my companion and our area. It hasnt really been the same here as it was in my old area. Changes are 2 days after Christmas but Im pretty sure we´ll both be staying here together for another change. 

One thing I have learned is how to really depend on Heavenly Father in times of difficulty through fervent prayer. It has sincerely helped me especially when I feel alone. I dont know if yall have seen this video but it is truly remarkable. Its a song by David Archuletta that just came out recently. But here is the link....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrPPJCu22ZI

What an amazing song! I have saved and watched that video probably 10 times this week. Every time I feel the spirit and know that He knows me. He knows my trials and fears and is ready to listen to me and help me. 

I know He is there. Im 100% sure. 

I feel like I am constantly thinking about my faith. I know I have faith in Christ and in Heavenly Father, but I sometimes get upset because I feel like I dont have the same faith that others in the church have had in the past, or the faith that the apostles had to heal and perform miracles. Ive been trying and trying to study faith and let it grow but it sometimes is dissapointing! I know others have felt the same. But I had an incredible experience this week. 

We had a lesson with an athiest this week and one thing I said to him I didnt know where the words came from but it was one of those moments where i felt i just opened my mouth and the Lord gave me the words to say. We were talking about faith and believing in things we can not see. He doesnt believe in God because he said theres no way for Him to show Himself to him. 

I told him that if he knelt down that night I knew that God would make Himself known unto him by the power of the Holy Spirit. I said he didnt need to know for a surety but if he placed a tiny seed of faith in his heart, with just the hope that some supreme being could answer that He would do so. 

He then said to me, someone annoyed, ¨If you have such great faith, do you have the faith to say unto God right now ´show yourself unto me´? Do you have the faith to say that and know that He will appear right now? Do you have faith to show me a miracle?!¨

I sat there thinking, and doubting myself. But the Lord blessed me so greatly in that moment.

¨No. I dont have that faith in this moment,¨ I said. ¨I dont have the faith to know if I say to Heavenly Father show yourself to this man right now that He will do so. But I have 100% faith and a surety that if you kneel down and pray to Him tonight, that by the Holy Ghost you will know that He is there and He is listening. Because I have placed that seed of faith in my heart many years ago and have let it grow. So I may not have the faith to know that God will appear from heaven and show Himself to you right now, but that seed is still growing. And what I do know is that He is there and answers our prayers. Pray to Him, and He will answer.¨ 

We left and a few days later we passed by him in the street. We asked him if he prayed that night and then if he believes if God exists. He said with a funny smirk, ¨Maybe.¨ Hahaha it was really funny actually. But I knew that God had answered him. 

I know that although I may be having a tough time right now, that thats part of the mission first off, and second I know that God knows my problems and that He listens to me. And I have faith that problems will fade away in time. 

The Lord loves you! I hope all of you can remember Him even more this Christmas. I hope you all have an amazing Christmas with your families! 

Love, Elder Gurksnis

A Missionary's Christmas

This week rather than sharing experiences I just wanted to share this poem I wrote last night. It is without a name so far, but I hope you can feel the spirit as you read it. Merry Christmas family and friends!

Yes, how can I help you sir?

Hello, its me! Do you not recognize me?

The one they once brought Frankincense, Gold, and Myrrh.

Well, I am not Him, but Him I represent.

It was for Him, and by Him I was sent!

I know ye not, leave my house stranger.

You are not He who once lay in a manger.

No! Forgive me for you misunderstand!

I am just a messenger of He who was born in Bethlehem.

How may I know that what you say is true?

I have not once spoken, nor seen, nor ever heard of you.

I understand. Don't worry! It is for that very reason

That we knock your door in suit and tie this very Christmas season.

For although He was born, suffered and died,

He lives! He lives! He lives, I testify!

Though born a humble birth He is our King!

For He reigneth today for that grave had no sting!

We declare He is risen and guides us today

Through living apostles and prophets who show us the way.

These are the tidings of great joy that we bring

That He will come again, that great and glorified Being!

Our God loves us and you are His child.

When you do good He looks down on you and smiles.

He knows your troubles, sorrows and fears.

He knows when you are lonely, distraught and when you shed tears.

He knew we would sin, so He sent us his Son.

Another name by which we can be saved, sir there is none.

That great example and teacher born of Mary

We can one day live with, rejoice and tarry.

Although a cold night, I feel warmth as you speak.

I would like to know more of the things that you teach.

A hot fire I can offer you if you will please come in.

For this Christmas there shall be room, room at the inn. 

Testifying of the Plan of Salvation

This week I learned maybe more than any other time in my life about the Plan of Salvation.

First I had divisions with Elder Guerrero, an Elder in our zone. We had a few lessons and I could just see how grand his testimony and his spirit were after just a few minutes. He's fairly new to the mission but his testimony is incredible. After having a few killer lessons we were talking that night and he told me about his story that he hasn't told anyone in the mission before. 

He's 21 years old and first sent his mission papers in at 18. For one reason or the other, it took him 3 mission calls to finally leave. The first two were because of random small things. But about a year and a half ago, he was living in Chile while his parents were living back home in Peru. His family went on a vacation while he was studying, and as they were driving up a third level parking garage, the car took a turn over the edge and fell three stories upside down to the first floor. The car exploded, leaving 8 family members dead. His parents, brothers and sisters, and two aunts and uncles all died in the accident. The story was on the news the following day.

We taught the plan of salvation to a new family, and listening to him bare his testimony about how he knows without a doubt that families can be together forever was incredible. Such a strong spirit. 

I used to think that I had been through a lot in order to be here, but that put things in perspective. I couldn't have done what he did. He told me he wishes the mission was longer and how two years is just not enough time. 

I'm truly grateful for Elder Guerrero and how his testimony strengthened mine. 

The Plan of Salvation is the plan that God has prepared for us since the beginning of time. We know we lived with God as spirits before we came into this world and we followed Jesus' plan to come to this world to receive a body and pass through difficulties and trials as well as times of happiness and joy; To decide if we will follow Christ and take advantage of His sacrifice and repent and be baptized for the cleansing of our sins and endure to the end, or no. We aren't expected to be perfect, but if we try we know we can have eternal life and life with our father in heaven WITH our families together for the eternity.

I used to think that this was common knowledge, but as President Uchtdorf taught in the last general conference, sometimes we don't realize how lucky we are to have that simple knowledge! 

I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation and I know its true. I hope we can all reflect on how lucky we are to have this perfect plan!

Love,

Elder Gurksnis

Don't my arms look "yuuuuuge!"

Eggs and bread for Thanksgiving! Yum!

Howdy everyone hope you all had a great thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving here was a normal day I literally ate eggs and bread for dinner but I didn't think about home too much so it wasn't awful hahaha

Just dying every time I here how amazing my Cowboys are playing and how once playoffs role around I'm probably going to have to call my Mission President to get him to talk some sense into me when I want to go watch the game. I cant even think about the superbowl cause I would seriously DIE! You can all go to my house and look at my old door that has holes in it from cowboys games from like 5 years ago (something to do with a last second loss from a Romo interception sound familiar?). 

Anyways it was a normal week. Struggling with my companion a little bit just because he has a very different way of doing everything and he doesn't want to work super hard. But I'm trying to be patient. 

We were fortunate to have 2 awesome baptisms on Saturday! Gabriela and Aurora. I sang a hymn in Spanish that I thought went really well and the spirit was very strong. 

I also saw someone from my first area in Limon that was a great member there in the streets! We talked for a while and she told me how the family Elder Funes and I had baptized went inactive for a bit after I came home, but they've been back in church super strong for the last 6 months or so. That was super comforting. She also told me Fredick (my favorite convert) is now married to a less active we were teaching there as well and are working on being sealed! Trying to get details on that because I will be able to go to their sealing if that happens while I'm here! 

I finished half way through the New Testament this week and particularly love the book of Romans, written by Paul! In Romans 5:19-20 ¨For as by one man´s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover... where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.¨ 

Here it is talking about the Fall of Adam and the relationship with the Atonement of Christ. By the fall of Adam we became sinners, but by the Atonement of Christ we may have eternal life and be forgiven of our sins! Where sin once abounded, the grace of the Savior superseded! I love this scripture. It teaches us that we are not born in the sin of Adam, thanks to the sacrifice of Christ. Read the whole chapter for a better understanding (Romans 5).

I know of the importance of the Atonement and that it is real. I know my Savior lives!

With love always,
Elder Gurksnis

Ch ch ch ch Changes...

Well it was a good ride in Tierra Nueva (New Land). It feels short though. Ive got changes tomorrow and still dont know where ill be headed. I only had two changes here and im pretty bummed because i have some great friends in this ward and will miss our converts and people were currently teaching.

I didnt think I would have changes, but yesterday in sacrament meeting i was pondering about it and thinking how i would feel if i did. Looking around and seeing 8 investigators in church and 6 of 7 converts all there. A total of 14 people that were in the church of God listening to His word because we were able to teach them and through us the Spirit and Heavenly were able to change their lives. Of 140 people in sacrament meeting 10% of them were there because we were obedient and hard working missionaries.

That was an incredible blessing and feeling. So although Ill miss it here, Im happy with the work that we did to grow the Kingdom of God here in a small town in Guatemala. 

I remember my feelings of inadequacy I had when first being called as a District Leader and Trainer in a new area with my short time. I studied about it the other day and found the story of Moses in the Old Testament when he was first called as a prophet. He told God, I dont speak well and essentially Im not fit to do this. He later became maybe the most famous prophet to have ever lived. 

I know God gives us great callings because he knows we are capable of completing them. I do not fear where Ill be going or what ill be doing because i know the Lord has in store something special for me, just as He has something planned for each of us. Im not scared to take on great challenges because I know Heavenly Father is with me although I may sometimes feel inadequate for the task.

I testify that this is the church of God. The bible and the Book of Mormon are true and are both testaments that Jesus is the Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Thomas Monson is a living prophet today and his 12 apostles are true apostles of the Lord.

Have a fantastic week! With love always

Elder Gurksnis

3 Months Down

3 months down shawty 9 to go what it do whas hatnin. 

I also heard my Boys have won 6 in a row. Apparently the cowboys only win when i leave the friggin country because last time i left they went 13 and 3 and now theyre rolling again so ill just stay here if thats what it takes for them to get a ring!

Great week of work. For whatever reason in Guatemala its just really hard to teach full complete families cause normally one is interested and another not so much or whatever the case may be. But this week for the first time we had an entire family of 5 in sacrament meeting (La Familia Argeta). Theyre honestly progressing amazingly and theyre kids are awesome as well. That was an amazing blessing. 

We also taught the Gomez family this week. I wrote about them a while back but we had a lesson with them with my old companion that didnt go so great and so we hadnt visited them for a while. They were more or less contending a bit with us and it just wasnt our best lesson. We had a lesson with them Friday... all week I had been thinking about what we were going to teach them. They basically struggle with the Book of Mormon and that we claim to have the priesthood so i was just thinking what chapter can we read with them or what can we teach to help them with the Book of Mormon. But I just had a strong spiritual prompting every day that we needed to teach them about Sealings in the temple and how families can be forever even though wed already mentioned it. I kept it in the back of my head until Friday morning I finally accepted the prompting. 

The lesson was maybe the best lesson Ive had in my mission. The spirit was so strong I can truly say my skin was like hot and had goosebumps the entire time. Their attitude toward the church had completely changed. Their walls were let down and they finally accepted that this could actually be the truth! They committed to finally pray about what we had taught them, for they have read a few parts of the Book of Mormon but have never prayed about it. 

My first day in this second mission i made a few goals and my first goal was to baptise an entire family that I can come back to Guatemala to see them sealed in the temple. After their first lesson about 7 weeks ago I had a dream where I saw that page I had written on and a picture of them next to the writing. I was sure it was Heavenly Father trying to tell me to not give up on this family even though they seemed somewhat rough at first for lack of a better word. I had forgotten about it honestly until that lesson. 

Im so grateful that I have the knowledge that my family is forever and I can live with them for eternity. It is one of the greatest blessings of the gospel. I know it is true and how important it is to live worthily to be able to enter into the temple to complete that sacred ordinance.

Love you alll and have a wonderful week!

Elder Gurksnis