March 17, 2014

I totally forgot to wear green haaha. Good think I have a green thing on my bag or else the other American Elders in my Zone would have punched me today.  I don't need to wear it though because it's part of me :) haha. 

Our investigators continue to be happy and excited about the missionary lessons. There's been some neat miracles happening here - small and simple, but those are the best ones. They may go unnoticed if we aren't watching for them. Unfortunately I won't be here to see their wedding and baptism, but It is a privilege to teach them. It is a privlilege to teach everyone! 

My favorite lesson of the week was yesterday as we visited with Tatay Ramos. Wow, he's changed. He has been taking the lessons with his wife (who is a member). Their family had been praying for a long time that he would become a member, and he has been receptive but they continued to have familial challenges the whole time. When we began teaching him, he and his wife would always sit with a space in between them, like brothers forced to live together. But now, that he has been living the gospel, they sit close to each other and call each other darling haha. The part of the first message that we as missionaries share has held true, "The Gospel Blesses Families". He's been to church 6 times since I've been here.  Just this last week he has completed the time of change needed overcome his problems with the word of wisdom and be baptized.  He told us yesterday that he is so happy that he was taught the word of wisdom because he feels happier and it has lead to a happier relationship with his asawa (wife). He will be baptized on March 29!

Our Baptisms went through yesterday! It was neat because the father of one of them hadn't been inside of an LDS church his whole life, but came in to see his child be baptized. His mother hadn't been to church in 13 years, but came to see his baptism. They didn't come to church on Sunday, but little by little I know that the Lord is planting seeds in them.  We had to actually go pick the parents up for the baptism.  They originally weren't going to come. But in our mission, because their children are under 16 and are youth, they can't be baptized without the parents. We had told them all week that they couldn't be baptized if the parents didn't come. The parents wanted their child to be baptized but didn't originally want to come into the church to watch. We visited the parents along with the Ward Mission Leader at the time when the baptism was supposed to start, and they ended up coming. It turned out a success, and I'll never forget the smile that the mother had as she watched her son be baptized.  I'm grateful that the Lord has ways that He wants his work to be done. 

Love,

Elder Blackham 

March 10, 2014

Elder Potestad and I had a good week. We are always so exhausted, but I wouldn't have it any other way. There's always ups and downs; the Power of the Atonement always takes me up and higher. 

I'm always so excited when we get to teach Mark and Meddielyn. Sister Meddielyn, since the time that we gave her the book of Mormon two months ago, has now almost finished it. Her husband, Brother Mark doesn't have as much time to read because he works, but does when he can.  They didn't come to church last week, and they mentioned to us how they felt such a difference in their lives the days that they go to church and that they don't want to miss again. It confirms what I've been studying about light. I'm grateful that they recognized it, and feel a light in their relationship and in their home. It all is because of Jesus Christ. Oh the beauty of His gospel and plan for us all. Their experience testifies yet again to me that this church is so true!!! I know that this is His church.

That is an inspiring message about gaining understanding, thank you for sharing your testimony with me about it. I love that you said that we can gain an understanding heart.  The heart is where the Holy Ghost is felt, and gives warmth to the whole body, which also gives understanding. I wonder why we say that we feel it in our heart, why do we love with our heart? Is there a connection between that and our spirit? Anyways, sorry random thinking. I keep asking myself pondering questions lately, haha. 

Thank you for telling me that my service is not ending. I never ever want it to end. Ever, Ever Ever. I know this church is true inside and out and I would take that truth to the grave if I were asked to. 

Love

Elder Blackham

March 3, 2014

Have you heard of something called "fourth-watch faith"? It's a principle of faith that says that the evidence doesn't come until you thought there was no more hope. Like Christ and his apostles on the stormy sea, it wasn't until the fourth watch that he came and calmed the storm, not the 1st, 2nd or 3rd watch, but he does come. 

I flipping love my mission! 

This last weekend we had MLC, which stands for Mission Leadership Council. It's my favorite meeting that happens every other month, where all of the zone leaders and sister training leaders get trained. At the end, there was a testimony meeting and the spirit was so strong.  The feeling that I feel at that  testimony meeting is a testimony builder in and of itself. I learned a truth this weekend  that I hadn't fully understood before. When pure truth is being taught, it is more powerfully conveyed through those who are as pure as the truth itself. I learned that because of the power that I felt at the testimony meeting at MLC, where a group of the most righteous of the missionaries meet together to share truth. I saw the light, and felt the light. There is a literal and different feeling when truth comes from a pure source. It's a calming and strengthening force, a force that I also feel when I read and learn from the scriptures or from the apostles and prophets.

As we continue to work with our investigators and recent converts, I've realized the narrowness of the way. There is a less active that we have been working with who just doesn't have a desire to do the right. We've been teaching him and his wife. The wife is almost completely willing. However, the husband expressed to us that he is "happy in the ways that he sins". It broke my heart to hear that. We've taught them the atonement, obedience, the gospel, everything. We fast and pray for them. I know that the atonement covers all, and it is in His power that I realize I have to trust now. 

We are so ecstatic that tatay Ramos continues to come to church for all three hours. He walks shyly through it all, but is slowly warming up to fellowship. 

Love,

Elder Blackham

February 24, 2014

(This paragraph is Elder Blackham's reaction to the news of the missionary callings of two more of his cousins)

Wow! That's huge news! That's awesome news! That's SAWEEET News! Happy Birthday to me! :) Whoa! Way to go Jared! GRABE! please give them my love! that makes me so proud. Them serving a mission symbolizes the success of the sacrifices of those who love them  I'm so stoked for them! It'll be sweet when we finally get to have a reunion and we're all returned.

There's no time to rest! The Lord is Hastening his work! I'm almost excited to come home and serve and see and be apart of the magnificent things that are happening in our ward with missionary work! I can't wait to share the gospel with my friends. I know that most probably won't notice me, but I hope that I can share this great gospel with them as well, and with everyone! I'm excited to go home-teaching. Me and my companion were asked to give training in the stake where we serve on how members can work with missionaries, which went well. We had a fireside last Saturday. Sharing the gospel is the opportunity of an eternity.

That's so exciting about the Gilbert Temple being opened up :) I'm stoked to see it and to visit it with you! I'm also excited to work for the Buell's again. I want to be the best employee they've ever had because they helped me be here. I can't express my love in words for those that have helped me be on my mission.

The work continues to be great for us here! Tatay Ramos came to church yesterday! He stayed for all three hours. He's the father of a family full of members.  Slowly but surely he is coming to understand and love the gospel as well.  He never really took coming to church seriously until we taught him about the atonement.  That's my favorite lesson to teach, because when the atonement is understood, conversion happens. When we taught him last week, we extended a Baptismal goal date and explained to him the steps that he must take in order to become worthy for it. He seemed hesitant, but committed and kept to it. We are excited and so hopeful for him. He's making a lot of changes in his life, and it's affecting his whole family.

If there is anything I've learned here in San Jose, it is that the gospel was made for families. Our returning/investigating family still comes to church. Yesterday, we were sitting in Sacrament meeting next to them, and brother Mark turned to me with a tithing slip in his hand and said, "Elder, how do I do this?" We hadn't taught them the principle of tithing yet. They only heard the testimonies of a family in our ward last fast Sunday and wanted to pay their tithing. I was so humbled.

I've fallen in love with the work mom, I love these people and I love the Savior.

Love,
Elder Blackham