El Poder de La Oración

  This week was the best because we had the opportunity to meet Elder Quentin L. Cook and his wife.  He visited our mission and the North mission.  It was such a blessing to hear from one of the apostles of the Lord, to receive his counsel, and to listen to his powerful testimony.  I'll never forget that experience.  He also took the time to shake each and every one of our hands.  It was the best!

  But this week I wanted to share an experience that we had yesterday.  My companion Elder Stewart and I were at the church later in the day when we received a call from a recent convert named Ronald.  He's been having some rough experiences in his life, being separated from his wife, not having a job, struggling to find food, and only having one T-Shirt to wear, even to church.  But he has told us that he is trying to change so that he can have more blessings in his life.  Anyway, he called me yesterday crying very hard saying "Elder, elder, I lost my son, I lost him!"  and so my first reaction was asking him what we could do to help him.  He said he didn't know, but that he needed someone to talk to.  I told him that when he got home to call us and we would go to his house.  He agreed and as we were trying to find someone in the bishopric to go visit him with us, he called again.  He was still crying and said, "I'm not going to make it home.  I need to go look for him."  I was a little relieved because I had thought before that his son had passed away, but he then asked for one thing, he asked that we would say a prayer for him to find his son.  I told Elder Stewart and we decided to say a prayer right then and there, in the street.  After the prayer, we went to drop off a Liahona to one of our investigators.  5 minutes after, we got another call from Ronald.  "Elders, thank you for your prayers.  I found my son!  Thank you!  Thank you!"

  I feel like this experience that he had was for him to build his testimony.  But I also think my Heavenly Father wanted to prove to me for good, that He is all powerful and that He does in fact answer our prayers.  Friends and family, I want to let you know that with whatever trials you might have.  Our Father is waiting to help you.  We have to reach for Him because He is already waiting with His arm extended.  I love being an Elder and the testimony I am receiving.  I love you all so much and thank you for the love and prayers I receive every day.  Talk to you all soon.  Les amo mucho.

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-Elder Cheshire

"I went to get my toe checked out at the hospital this week.  To get it CHECKED OUT.  And the guy said "oh yeah no problem.  We'll just have to take out a small part of your nail."  Next thing I know he's giving me shots in my toe and took out HALF of my toenail.  I watched the whole thing and it was pretty cool but now I'm walking through the streets of Bolivia with one dress shoe and one sandal.  Classy right?"  

¡¡¡BAUTISMOS!!!

  This week was a great one because we had two baptisms.  It's always a better week when you can help other people make a covenant with our Heavenly Father.  I'm so grateful that I can be a part of this work and meet all of these people and help them come to know their true spiritual selves.  
   At times there are people in this world that feel like it's too late to change.  And if this is how you feel, it means that right now is when you should.  It's never too late to change ourselves and become better people.  I was reading in the Liahona and found a quote I really loved.  It says:
    "Start now.  Live an intentional life, understanding why you do what you do and where it will lead.  As you do these things, you will discover  that the most important ´why´ being everything you do is that you love the Lord and recognize His perfect love for you.  May you find great joy in your search for perfection and in understanding  and doing His will."
  Start now.  Change now.  Become better now.  It's never too late to turn to our Father in Heaven and plead for His help.  He will give it to you in one way or another.  And when we doubt ourselves, ask him.  When you don't know what to do, ask him.  Another quote in the same Liahona says, "Was I going to do what I wanted to do, or was I going to do the will of the Lord?   That is a question we would all do well to ask ourselves often."
   I love you all so much and I'm so grateful for all of you and the support that I receive every week from all of you.  Have a good week and always turn to the Lord.

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-Elder Cheshire

Una Semana Llena de la Obra

First off, I want to explain the doll thing that is in my pictures.  One of our investigators game me a graduation doll because that's what she does for her work.  I wasn't really on the search for a graduation toy, but she gave it to me kindly so of course I accepted it.  When we got to the house, I changed it into something a little bit more like my life now.
This week was pretty cool because our recent convert, Blanca Corrales has been doing some missionary work this week.  She's been inviting her neighbor to go to church with her, her sister, and now her nieces (age 12 and 14) go to church with her frequently.  One of them has started her Personal Progress already.  We're teaching them frequently but their mom doesn't want them to be baptized.  At least not yet.  So we're praying really hard for her to accept and we have a Family Home Evening with them on Tuesday.  AND Blanca is preparing to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead in April.  She's what we call "Investigador de oro"  or "Golden Investigator"  but now she's a "Golden convert".  It's very comforting to think about the day that Elder Talaverano and I contacted her and the many blessings that she is receiving, the ward is receiving, her family, her neighbors.  And it all started with the decision to say "yes"  when the spirit told us to knock on her door.

I love this work and I know with all my heart that this gospel changes lives.  I've had a front row seat and I can testify of the truth of the message we all share as Elderes y Hermanas.  I love you all and I'm so grateful for all of the support.  You're in my prayers and I love hearing from you.  Have a great week!

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-Elder Cheshire

Well, this week has been pretty awesome to say the least.  There wasn't anything really miracle-like besides the fact that we finally got lots of help from the members in our visits which is a miracle to me for sure.  But we also have two solid baptismal dates for the 21 of January.  One is for the wife of a Returned Missionary that has been less-active and has had some problems but now he has been going to church with her because she now wants to be baptized.  He has actually helped a lot in the process and I'm grateful that I can help participate in helping him return back to the church and stay active.  

This week I have been thinking a lot about the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.  There have been a lot of people that we have taught don't like to share personal feelings because they feel like nobody can help them.  Which at times, is partially true.  Some people have experiences that no other normal human has felt.  But EVERYTHING that we feel, at least one man we know has felt it. Our Savior AND Redeemer.  Like it says in Alma 7: 11-13: 

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

I know with all my heart that our Heavenly Father wants to help us.  And he can because his Only Begotten Son has felt everything that we experience.  I hope you can all remember our Lord Jesus Christ and that He is always waiting to help you.  I love you guys so much and I'm so grateful for all you do for me and for all the support.  I really can feel your prayers.  

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-Elder Cheshire

Mi Año Nuevo

Well, if you're expecting a cool experience for my first New Year here in Bolivia, I'm sorry because there's not many... On New Years Eve we went to bed at 10:30 and I woke up to TONS of fireworks at 11:59 and I thought my ears were going to be ringing for the whole next day.  They like fireworks here...but not the ones with lights.  Just the ones that make your head buzz.  Which I didn't even know existed.  But we went outside, took a video and went back to bed.:)

  But I was thinking a lot this week about the people here this week.  We have a recent convert that is a convert of some of the missionaries that were here right before my first companion.  Anyways, we were visiting him and at times it's really hard to see how little some people have.  My mission here and the people that I have visited here really has switched my perspective of so many things.  I've become so grateful for some things that I never thought I would be grateful for.  But the people are always so positive.

  It makes it a lot easier to focus on the real reason of Christmas and the holidays.

  Anyways, this week, I didn't have many cool experiences going on, but I do feel like I will have so many changes in this next year and I can't wait to see what I become.  In Alma 7 it talks about the Atonement and if you can read it, I promise that it will help you to have a better focus on letting the Lord shape who you will become this year.  I love you all so much and hope you had a wonderful New Years.  Much Love

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-Elder Cheshire