Adventures of Tarija

Hello family and friends,

Wow, it's crazy to think that another week has passed by in these 2 short years.  I love my mission so much and it's pretty cool to be in an area that's like a little Utah....speaking Spanish.  It's kind of funny because in the little house chapel that we go to, the leader of the house chapel asks us 2 minutes before church if my companion and i can give a talk.  This week I shared about the word covenant.

I wanted to share something that I was reading this week in Mosiah 21:15 that says:

 35 They were desirous to be baptized as a witness and a testimony that they were 

willing to serve God with all their hearts; nevertheless they did prolong the time; 

and an account of their baptism shall be given hereafter.

I love this scripture because it explains very well the desires that these people had to go and be baptized, to show our Heavenly Father that they wanted to take upon the name of His son forever.  That is the covenant that we have made when we were baptized in his church.  There are so many promised blessings from making this covenant, but the one that is the most rewarding, is eternal life.  I know that these blessings are real and that we will be blessed when we fulfill our part of the promise.  A covenant is a two-way promise between God and ourselves.  And the only one who doesn't fulfill their part in this promise is us, at times.  But God is always willing to work with us and to redo the promise.  As we do our best, we will be blessed.

I love you all so much and I'm so grateful for all of the support that you give me every week.  You're all in my prayers.

--

-Elder Cheshire

WHAT A WEEK!

Hello family and friends, first off I just want to say that today I only have a 1/2 hour on the internet because we switched our P-Day for this week to Wednesday.  So I will talk to everyone on Wednesday.  

  But this week has been pretty crazy.  I got transferred to an area called Tarija here in the mission.  It is literally like a mini Utah here.  There's big mountains, the weather is a little cooler and it's not humid.  So I'm basically loving it here.  It was so hard leaving my first area after spending 6 months with all of those people, but I know that I'm here now in Tarija by revelation.  Tarija is about 50 minutes in plane from Santa Cruz.  But I have a new companion from Lima, Peru again and he's awesome.  He's hilarious and really fun to be around.  When I got to this area, they didn't have anybody with baptismal dates because they had just recently baptized 6 in this last transfer.  I made it a goal for us to have more with baptismal dates this week and now we have 4 that should be baptized this next month.  My companion is killin' it here.

  I don't have tons of time, but I wanted to share what I was reading this morning.  It's in Alma 7: 11-13  In this chapter it talks a lot about the Savior's atonement.  I like the part in verse 13 when it says that he will erase away our transgressions (or at least that's what it says in Spanish).  But I loved that part because at times we make a wrong decision and the burden still hangs around.  But through Jesus Christ, our sins are erased.  I'm so grateful to be a missionary and to teach repentance and to baptize converts.  The mission has blessed my life forever.  I love you all and hope you have an awesome week!

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-Elder Cheshire

Mi Últimos Días Como Entrenador

Well, this is my last P-Day with my "son" of the mission they call it.  He's about to finish his training and start the best part of his mission.  I feel like I've been able to learn just as much as he has while we've been together.  It's great to build great relationships with other companions, and even better when they live an hour away from you in Utah.  I feel like we've built a friendship that'll last for long after these two years.

  Time is flying by down here in Bolivia.  It's starting to get a little bit cooler in the mornings as the days go on.  I've been waiting for the cooler weather for quite some time.  

  This email isn't very long, but something I heard this transfer that I wrote down in my agenda that I loved, says: 

"Knowledge by faith produces a pure testimony, and a pure testimony has the power to change lives."

  I know that this is true.  We first have to study our scriptures, obtain an understaing of what we are reading, and after comes the testimony when it is put to the test of our faith.  I hope that each and every one of you can develop a testimony of our Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus Christ.  If we can first obtain a testimony and then share it, we have the power to change lives.  Ourselves included.  I love you all and I'm so grateful for all the support that I receive from each and every one of you.

Pics:  Us as a district eating "salteñas" my favorite Bolivian food/snack.

Elder Wilson (one of my favorite gringos I've met here that is going to finish his mission this next transfer) and I , and others miscellaneous.

--

-Elder Cheshire

"Elder Wilson (one of my favorite gringos that I have met here.  He will be finishing his mission this next transfer) and I."

"Us as a district eating "saltenas" which is my favorite Bolivian food/snack"

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.

--

-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.

--

-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