Baptism:):):):):):)

 This week had to have been the most stressful yet the most rewarding week of my life.  But I loved it.  First off, THE HERRERA FAMILY GOT BAPTIZED.  There was also another investigator that lives in our area but was getting taught by the sister missionaries that asked me to baptize her.  So that's who is in the other picture.  Her baptism was later so I had to use my same baptismal clothes that were still damp and it was freezing outside.  But the feeling of that night is something that you can't really explain.  It's that spiritual.

   Normally we pick up our investigators that are about to be baptized to go to the baptism together.  But they had to pick up their kids 30 minutes before it had to start so they told us that they would go on their own but that they would be there at 5 o'clock.  I wasn´t sure that would happen exactly like that becuase if you know anything about Bolivians, you'd find out that the word "punctual" does not exist in their vocabulary, hahah.  But at 5 o'clock, they weren't there.  The whole time I was thinking, "I knew it, I knew it".  We called them and they were still getting ready and hadn't even picked up their kids yet.  "I knew it"  A member offered to drive us to their house to pick them up and we got to the church at about 6 o'clock and we still had to change.  I was a little frustrated, but I saw that Gloria (the mom) was limping a little bit.  She didn't say anything and we continued with the baptism and after that, I felt more calm because it all had worked out.  After the baptism, Gloria and Alberto (the parents) shared their testimony.  Gloria said that during the day, something happened to her leg unexpectedly.  She had some sort of pain that she couldn't even walk.  She was sitting in her bed crying because she knew she wouldn't be able to go to her own baptism.  Her husband was about to call us to tell us that they weren't going to be able to make it.  In this moment, she said, she got a feeling that she had to go.  At this moment, part of the pain went away, she stood up and started to get ready.  They went to the baptism and she said that after she was baptized, she hardly had any sort of pain in her leg at all.

   At this moment, I felt a little bit guilty because I had put the blame on God with my thoughts of "I knew it" because after all, I didn't know it.  I know now that from one side at times it feels like nothing is going right, but on the other side, he is preparing and helping people to do the right.  I'm so thankful for this family and for the help of our Heavenly Father and this gospel in their conversion.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to do what I'm doing.  

   I hope you all have a wonderful week.  Thanks so much for all of the support!

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-Elder Cheshire

Family and Friends

Wow.  It's crazy how fast a week goes by in the mission.  When I wanted it to go by fast when I was in school, it never seemed to happen.  And now that I'm here in the mission and I DON'T want it to go by fast, it doesn't seem to slow down.

   This week we've been preparing the Herrera family for their baptism this Saturday.  I'm hoping that everything goes well with them and their desires to make this covenant with our Heavenly Father.  This family is so special to me and my companion and it really feels like I'm here where I'm supposed to be because they feel like our family.  The love that we have for them and the love that they have for us is somehting so special.  It's so amazing to be able to prepare a family for baptism and following the baptism, sooo much more.  I can't help but picture in my mind, this family making it to the temple to make even more covenants with God.  

   It's helped so much explaining eternal families with the experience that I had when I was 8 years old, getting sealed to my family in the Bountiful, UT temple.  If someone asked me what happened, what I remember, how it all went, I wouldn't be able to tell them, because I was just 8 years old.  But something that I DO remember and that I'll never forget is how I felt when I was there.  The goal of ours as missionaries, is to help others feel the same.  I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

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-Elder Cheshire

Another great week!

4/10/2017  Another great week!!

This week wasn't full of anything too exciting, except for the fact that the Herrera family is still progressing very well.  They came to church with us for the 3 hours and after we went to visit them at their house to see how everything went.  They said that they felt really good and that they enjoyed it.  They also said that their youngest girl, who is 3 years old, didn't want to leave her class and when her mom went to pick her up, she said she didn't want to go and walked back into her class hahaha.  They are the best and I see a huge change in them every time we visit them.  Marcos, their oldest son said, "Ever since you guys have came to visit us, my dad has smiled and laughed more than he ever has before."  The dad then said, "I know, right?!" hahah.  They really are so special and are preparing for the 22 of April.  They will be the first family that I've baptized since I've been here and the feeling of baptizing a family is a feeling that I cannot describe.  The thought of them going through the temple in just over a year is one of the happiest feelings that I've ever had.

  I know that this email isn't too long, but I do love what I'm doing here.  I know that there are people waiting for the missionaries and also other members to help out.  This work is extraordinary and the blessings we receive when we invite others to this happiness is beyond explanation.  

P.S.  I won't be able to email until next Wednesday.  That's when we will have our P-Day.

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-Elder Cheshire

4/3/2017  Conference week

Hello family and friends, so this week was pretty stinkin' awesome.  I'm hoping you all had a great week as well.

I can't remember if I talked about the Herrera family last week, but it is a very special family of 6 and they have been progressing but this week was something very very special.  The first time we tried to commit them to baptism, the mother said yes, that she wanted to be baptized but he said that he would like to get to know the church before making such a big commitment.  But we've been praying really hard for them and trying to help him with any doubts that he might have.  But this Friday, we went to visit them and we shared with them the chapter 11 of 3 Nephi that talks about Jesus when he came to the Americas, but it also talks a lot about baptism.  When we got to the part that talked about baptism, I told Alberto to imagine as if he was there and that Jesus was talking to HIM.  We read the rest of the chapter and we asked them again if they would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized.  His wife, Gloria, said "You already know my answer, YES!"  We asked Alberto again, and after about 30 seconds of silence, he said, "I need to be baptized.  Yes."  They are now preparing for their baptism along with two of their kids for the 22 of April.  Another elder had given me a white shirt but it was too big for me.  I gave the shirt to Alberto along with 2 ties that I had.  My companion and I taught him how to tie it and yesterday, him and his wife went to General Conference with us.

The Lord has blessed us with a miracle with this family.  And I want to ask for your prayers to help this family progress and make this special covenant with our Heavenly Father.  I'm so happy here in Bolivia.  I love you all so much.  Thank you for everything.

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-Elder Cheshire