An Instrument in the Hands of the Lord - Un instrumento en las Manos del Señor

Once again, Elder Read says they've had a really good week.  The other day he had a workover with Élder McConnaghey.  See the photos below.  And they had the Harvest for which they've been preparing for the last few weeks.  The result of that was that in just 2 hours they made 32 good contacts and one immediate investigator.

A dinner appointment

He doesn't know what else to say!  They had their regular interview with the mission president, President Deere, which brought home to Elder Read that he's got little over six months remaining.  So time is running out and he's really learnt this week what it is to be an instrument in the Lord's hands.

We are - or should be - no more than instruments in His hands.

Elder Read says he's excited to see what will transpire this transfer.  They have to invite all, that is ALL, to come unto Christ.

Elder Read dice:
Jo, pues esta semana a sido buenísima.


Hice intercambios el otro día con mi 'sobrino Élder McConnaghey, les estoy mandando fotos.

También tuvimos una cosecha esta semana. 8 misioneros vinieron a nuestra área, estuvimos con miembros también y salimos a contactar por 2 horas, encontramos 32 futuros investigadores y una nueva! :)

jaja no ´se que mas decirles. También tuvimos entrevistas con presidente Deere también :) Me recordó que me faltaba poco jaja. 6 meses y algo... Vaya.

Pues se me está acabando el tiempo

Esta semana he aprendido lo que realmente es ser un instrumento en las manos del señor. Somos nada mas que instrumentos. ¡NADA MÁS!


Estoy muy animado para ver lo que va a traer este traslado. Tenemos que invitar a TODOS a venir a cristo, TODOS!!!

Miracles - Milagros

What one of the missionaries here calls trophy shoes

Elder Read says that last week was a week of miracles.  They found 5 new investigators and 6 attended Church on Sunday.  The partner of Olga, an investigator, was at Church with her, so  that makes the 6th.  He knew nothing about the Church beforehand - but he came!!!  They are sure they're going to baptise!

As Elder Read has mentioned before, they are going to have a "Harvest"  - and it's going to be on Saturday.  It's where they go with the members of the branch to do contacting and visiting less actives.  They're really excited and are looking forward to having a lot of success. Elder Read understands just what he has to do in this area.  In other areas it has been to help the ward: the less actives, the members who aren't so strong and to plant seeds. And to hope that the Lord will permit them to have at least one baptism. However, in this area it is to BAPTISE.  There haven't been any for almost two years.  The President has told them that that is their function - to BAPTISE.  There are no less-actives to reactivate and no new converts so their mission is clear.

So they're really excited and Elder Read says that he's gaining more and more confidence in the Lord.  Although his strength is waning and he's always tired, he can trust the Lord to give him the strength he needs to complete his mission.

Un dibujo excelente

An excellent sketch

Elder Read dice:

¡Pues esta semana a sido una semana milagrosa! Tuvimos 5 nuevos investigadores y 6 en la capilla, Vamos a bautizar aquí ¡estoy seguro! 

El enamorado de Olga (una investigadora) vino a la capilla ayer. Él no quizo saber nada antes pero ¡VINO! 

Este sábado vamos a hacer una cosecha (o sea los misioneros se van a juntar con los miembros de la rama y vamos a salir a hacer contactos, tocar puertas etc.) Estamos super animados, vamos a ver mucho éxito aquí. Por fin entiendo mi propósito aquí en esta área. En otras áreas a sido ayudar al barrio, los menos activos, miembros que no son tan fuertes y plantar semillas, y luego el señor me da por lo menos un bautismo. Pero aquí es ¡BAUTIZAR! No han visto bautismos por casi 2 años. Presidente nos dijo que nos a mandado aquí con el fin de bautizar. Casi no hay menos activos que hay que reactivar y no hay ningún converso reciente. Entonces, "¡a por ellos!" 

Estamos super animados de verdad. Me estoy dando cuenta que tengo que confiar en el señor más y más. Mis fuerzas se están acabando y SIEMPRE estoy cansado. Pero confio que el señor  me va a ayudar para que puedo seguir adelante físicamente el resto de la misión. 

Que otro sitio que España?

Where else but Spain? 

Skype for Mothers' Day - Skype por Día de la Madre

Elder Read Skyped us on Sunday evening for a whole hour, which was absolutely fantastic.   There are more pictures below.  His knee is no longer causing any problems!  We also spoke to his companion Elder Crandall and the family who were feeding them that evening and making their computer available for the wonderful Skype session.  We are really, really grateful.

It's very clear just how well the two elders get on together!

Elder Read's accent in Spanish has reverted to Latin American as there are so many Latinos in Huércal Overa, and it's easy to see why he has been sent there.  His mother is, of course, Peruvian.

Needless to say, much of the hour was spent discussing family matters, which you don't need to be bored with.

We still wrote our e-mail as usual that evening and the next day Elder Read replied as usual but, needless to say, the e-mails consisted mainly of photos, so here are the ones he sent.

Domingo por la noche hablamos con Elder Read por Skype durante una hora.  Que alegría! (Ver fotos) Nos dijo que su rodillo no es ya un problema, que es una bendición.Hablamos también con su compañero, Elder Crandall.  Ademas a la familia de quien computadora estaban usando y con quien cenaron.  Estamos muy agradacidos a ellos.  

Es muy evidente que los Elderes se entienden muy bien.  

El acento de Elder Read ha vuelto a latino americano porque hay muchos latinos en Huércal Overa, y es fácil a entender porque fue mandado ahí. Su mama es peruana! 

Naturalmente pasamos casi toda la hora hablando sobre cosas familiares y ademas en nuestros emails lunes. Sin embargo Elder Read nos envió fotos y aquí están:  

El Perro de en miembro

A member's dog

In Elder Read's e-mail he said he is always hungry - so see the photos below - and he went on to say how wonderful it was to see us yesterday.  He says they are working and hoping the miracles will come.  This week a new Elder is going to arrive in the District, but they are unlikely to get to know him very well as they are such a long way from the other missionaries:  a village "in the middle of nowhere"  ha ha!!

Always hungry!!

Mothers' Day Present from Elder Read - opened below

Regalo por Día de la Madre - abierto abajo

The name tag fridge magnet in use

Elder Read dice:

Tengo hambre. Un montón jaja, como siempre. ¡Que alegría de verles ayer de verdad! 

Pues aquí estamos jaja :P Trabajando y esperando que los milagros vengan :) 

Pues esta semana vamos a recibir un nuevo Élder en el Distrito. Pero no nos enteramos de mucho porque quedamos tan lejos de todos los demás misioneros jaja :P Un pueblecito "In the middle of nowhere" jaja :P 

Elders Read and Crandall

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “in obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, unalloyed; and as God has designed our happiness … he never has—He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his law and ordinances” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 256–57).

Un Pavo Real

Real Madrid 

A Missionary Harvest to Come - Una Cosecha Misional

These boots are made for walking

Estas botas están hechas para caminar,

Sorry it's so late but here at last is the report of last week's doings of Elder Read.

They are about to have a Missionary Harvest in Huércal Overa. All the missionaries in the district are going to go contacting with members over a number of hours, and will also visit less active members.  There'll be six missionaries and at least six members; so 12 or more in total.

Elder Read is interested to know what the missionaries here do.  In wards I've been in they tend to use ward missionaries. 

Last Monday Elder Read completed 17 months in the mission field.  How crazy, he says.

They were expecting to have an excellent week last week.

To end this report: A Miracle!!

On Sunday of last week three investigators were at church.  One was only 10 years of age but went up to the stand and bore her testimony.  She simply said: "I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that this is the true Church."  She'll surely be baptised! And her parents too!

Que lindo!

How beautiful!

Elder Read dice

En algunas semanas vamos a tener una actividad misional. Se llama una cosecha, O sea todos los misioneros del distrito se van a juntar con los miembros a vamos a ir a contactar por algunas horas. Sería, contactar, y también visitar los miembros menos activos etc. Vamos a ser 6 misioneros y por lo menos 6 miembros, o sea 12 o mas en total :)
¿Que hacen los misioneros allá para trabajar con los miembros y encontrar personas?
Hoy cumplo 17 meses en la misión. ¡Que loco! ¿verdad?
Pues vamos a tener una semana muy buena.
Ah! Un milagro antes que termino. Ayer vino a la capilla 3 investigadoras. Y una que solo tiene 10 años subió al púlpito para conpartir su testimonio. Simplemente dijo "Yo sé que el libro de mormón es verdadero y que esta es la iglesia verdadera" Se bautizará seguro!!! :) Y sus padres también!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Estamos super animados de verdad :)

Así??? Normalmente seria mas o menos 30C

Really???

 Huércal Overa es lindo, no?

Huércal Overa is lovely, isn''t it?