Buenas!
Que tal familia?
This weeks letter will be short, but don't worry it is longer than last week's! We have had some wonderful things happen here in the Aurora Ward recently and we feel like the work is really progressing. I am still getting along with my companion, he is a great man. The zone is putting in work, and the Lord is preparing the hearts of the people to hear the Gospel! What more could I ask for?
So really quickly because honestly I have like zero time this week, I'll talk about my subject title. Honestly, it is probably one of my favorite quotes of my whole mission.
A family in our area just had a son come home from his mission in Mexico. He is a good man, and a fantastic teacher. I swear there is something about being mexican that helps you relate to other mexicans, it is frustrating and I wish I had brown skin. But anyways, Gabriel (return missionary) came to a lesson with us the other day where we taught a man that is being pretty stuborn about some of the things we are teaching him. Let's just say that we work with lots of different classes of religious people, and sometimes they place a lens of tradition over everything that they see and it can make the process of accepting new truth difficult. Anyways, this man was having a hard time understand some of the truths that can be found in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. He really is a great man that is trying to look for truth. So Gabriel started to teach and asked him a question, "Who wrote the Bible?" (trying to make the point that men inspired of God, called prophets, wrote the Old and New Testaments) The man's reply was, "Dios." or "God." and Grabriel response was ""A poco bajo Dios y escribio la Biblia!" hahahahaha Unfortunately that sentence can't really translate prefectly into English so it can't be nearly as funny, but it basically means: "You seriously believe that God came down and wrote the Bible." but that sounds harsher the real translation. Still it was hilarious.
Okay the next part of the email is taken from other emails I wrote recently: (this time I wrote them and not my companion)
This is from a friend who asked about how I keep my desire to give it my all in the mission field, I thought it could be helpful to those still serving:
You asked me a wonderfully dificult question, so I will try my best to answer it!
First off, as I am sure you are aware, there isn't really one answer that works for everyone in the world, however, there is one thing that I think helps me significantly:
"renew my decision to serve"
This basically means that I remind myself why I chose to come out in the first place.
There are alot of different reasons why I chose to come out, and I am sure that there are many reasons for you as well!
Here is a example of the things that I think of:
-I want to grow and progress! I don't want to sit at home and not take advantage of the opportunities the Lord can give me to become stronger and better
-I want to be an example for my siblings and family. I love them, and I know that a mission is an unforgettable experience. So I want to show them that I know it is important.
LASTLY, and most importantly, I chose to be out here because I love the Savior Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be anywhere or anyone without Him. I will do anything to prove to Him that I love him and I appreciated the things He did for me.
So once I have thought about all of those things, I get down on my knees and thank the Lord for being patient with me and then I go and do!
I am not perfect, I never will be perfect. In fact, I wish I was better than I am. but the Lord doesn't ask for that. He wants me as I am. He wants me to give. So here I am!
I hope this helps! Just remeber, you are doing more than you think you are! Everytime you smile, wave, and say hello you are representing the love of the only Perfect Being who ever lived. You are called by priesthood authority to represent Him.
Make it a wonderful week!
Lots of love,
Elder Stewart-Chester
1319 Butterfield Rd Ste 522
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Que tal familia?
This weeks letter will be short, but don't worry it is longer than last week's! We have had some wonderful things happen here in the Aurora Ward recently and we feel like the work is really progressing. I am still getting along with my companion, he is a great man. The zone is putting in work, and the Lord is preparing the hearts of the people to hear the Gospel! What more could I ask for?
So really quickly because honestly I have like zero time this week, I'll talk about my subject title. Honestly, it is probably one of my favorite quotes of my whole mission.
A family in our area just had a son come home from his mission in Mexico. He is a good man, and a fantastic teacher. I swear there is something about being mexican that helps you relate to other mexicans, it is frustrating and I wish I had brown skin. But anyways, Gabriel (return missionary) came to a lesson with us the other day where we taught a man that is being pretty stuborn about some of the things we are teaching him. Let's just say that we work with lots of different classes of religious people, and sometimes they place a lens of tradition over everything that they see and it can make the process of accepting new truth difficult. Anyways, this man was having a hard time understand some of the truths that can be found in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. He really is a great man that is trying to look for truth. So Gabriel started to teach and asked him a question, "Who wrote the Bible?" (trying to make the point that men inspired of God, called prophets, wrote the Old and New Testaments) The man's reply was, "Dios." or "God." and Grabriel response was ""A poco bajo Dios y escribio la Biblia!" hahahahaha Unfortunately that sentence can't really translate prefectly into English so it can't be nearly as funny, but it basically means: "You seriously believe that God came down and wrote the Bible." but that sounds harsher the real translation. Still it was hilarious.
Okay the next part of the email is taken from other emails I wrote recently: (this time I wrote them and not my companion)
This is from a friend who asked about how I keep my desire to give it my all in the mission field, I thought it could be helpful to those still serving:
You asked me a wonderfully dificult question, so I will try my best to answer it!
First off, as I am sure you are aware, there isn't really one answer that works for everyone in the world, however, there is one thing that I think helps me significantly:
"renew my decision to serve"
This basically means that I remind myself why I chose to come out in the first place.
There are alot of different reasons why I chose to come out, and I am sure that there are many reasons for you as well!
Here is a example of the things that I think of:
-I want to grow and progress! I don't want to sit at home and not take advantage of the opportunities the Lord can give me to become stronger and better
-I want to be an example for my siblings and family. I love them, and I know that a mission is an unforgettable experience. So I want to show them that I know it is important.
LASTLY, and most importantly, I chose to be out here because I love the Savior Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be anywhere or anyone without Him. I will do anything to prove to Him that I love him and I appreciated the things He did for me.
So once I have thought about all of those things, I get down on my knees and thank the Lord for being patient with me and then I go and do!
I am not perfect, I never will be perfect. In fact, I wish I was better than I am. but the Lord doesn't ask for that. He wants me as I am. He wants me to give. So here I am!
I hope this helps! Just remeber, you are doing more than you think you are! Everytime you smile, wave, and say hello you are representing the love of the only Perfect Being who ever lived. You are called by priesthood authority to represent Him.
Make it a wonderful week!
Lots of love,
Elder Stewart-Chester
1319 Butterfield Rd Ste 522
Downers Grove, IL 60515