The Silversmith...

"Feliz Navidad y Ano Nuevo"

 Hna Daines y Hna Contreras

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The following  two stories are some favorites of President's which he shared in his letters the last two weeks.  Each giving the theme of the week for his weekly letters to the missionaries. We thought you would enjoy the stories as well. Most of us here in the mission and many of you at home are experiencing the "refiners fire" or the "Rock" at the front door. If we could alter our perspective just a tad we may endure to the end in better shape... may you know that the outcome of that daily "push" or fiery furnace will be for our own personal growth to reach the potential we are so capable of becoming.

The Rock- P U S H

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the non-moving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the devil decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." This gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough." And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord" he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?

Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.... By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains. You just P.U.S.H.!

When everything seems to go wrong,... P.U.S.H.!

When the job gets you down,... P.U.S.H.!

When people don't react the way you think they should,... P.U.S.H.!

When your money is short and the bills are due,... P.U.S.H.!

When you want to curse them out for whatever the reason,... P.U.S.H.!

When people just don't understand you,... P.U.S.H.!

P.U.S.H. = Pray Until Something Happens!

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THE SILVERSMITH

Some time ago, a few ladies met to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver” (Malachi 3:3)

One lady decided to visit a silversmith, and report to the others on what he said about the subject. She went accordingly, and without telling him the reason for her visit, begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver, After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes ma'am, replied the silversmith; "I must sit and watch the furnace constantly, for, if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured,"

The lady at once saw the beauty and comfort of the expression, He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver” God sees it necessary to put his children into the furnace; but His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure. Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "How do you know when the process is complete?" “That's quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished."

-  Author Unknown

We have had this sweet investigator for a very long time. She has been wanting to get baptized but hasn't had enough money to get married. But with miracles and patience they finally got enough money. She got married on Wednesday and baptized on Saturday by her husband. What an amazing day. Elder Katich/Elder Cachique

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hola presidente

muy buenas tardes,esta semana nos fue muy muy bien,tuvimos 2 bautismo,esas son experiencias muy especiales,una que se bautizo,pues su mama se bautizo hace como 2 meses,pero segun ella era atea y siempre decia yo nunca me voy a bautizar,y el dia que se bautizo invito a todos sus amigo y familiares estaba bien animada,y la bautizo converso que se bautizo hace unos 3 meses,y la otra joven que se bautizo,su mama igual se bautizo hace como unos,5 meses,la verdad estoy muy contento dure algo de tiempo aqui,pero di todo de mi,aprendi muchas cosas,auqnue ya me voy voy con mas animo de trabajar en mi siguiente area,vi la mano del señor mucho en esta area,personas testigo de jehova se bautizaron,3 personas que no crei segun en dios tambien se bautizaron,una familia que llebaban 3 años escuchando a los misioneros,tambien se casaron y se bautizaron,etc etc etc,las personas pueden cambiar,solo necesitan a alguien que le ayude y le diga que es lo que deben hacer,y si ellos lo hacen dios tocara sus corazones,y los cambiara,se que son verdaderas,ayer domingo nos toco discursar,y cantamos un numero especial,2 conversos recibieron el sacerdocio de aaron y uno recibio el sacerdocio de melquisec,otro converso bautizo a otra conversa,y unas conversa recibieron llamamiento,,senti que el señor me dijo con todo eso que paso,siento que el me dijo,;fuiste un buen instrumento en mis manos,ahora sigue trabajando y lo seguire haciendo,saludos presidente les amo mucho bye 

Elder A

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Fotos de actividad misional en barrio Real de Minas-

 Elder Niro y Elder Zepeda

Llegaron muchas personas y muchos investigadores tambien, todo el barrio apoyò (hasta los niños,. miren la foto de la limpieza,.) y se animaron mucho, hemos aprendido a trabajar con el consejo de barrio mejor, y a que comprendan que es responsabilidad de todos esta obra de Salvaciòn,!!! xD 

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Photo of Pradera District before "transfers"

ESTA FOTO ES DEL DISTRITO PRADERA, CADA FIN DEL CICLO NOS TOMAMOS UN FOTO EN EL ARBOL SIN HOJAS :)

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President Egbert,

I cant ever come to explain how blessed and grateful I am. The Lord has blessed me with so many great blessings in my life and here in the mission. Its amazing to me to realize how much our Heavenly Father loves each one of us! These last couple of weeks my companion Elder _______ and I have been so blessed! We have been able to see and be apart of many miracles and been able to see the change in peoples life just to follow the Lord. It brings me great joy to know that i was an instrument in the Lords hands to bring to past a lost lamb and help them return in the strait and narrow path that our Heavenly Father has planned for them! I love my Savor. Hes done so so much for me and I'm so very grateful for the example that he is for me! He truly is my role model, and I know I'm not perfect but i sure want to give it my all to become like him and follow his example. This Christmas has already been one of the greatest Christmases that I had. I have been able to understand the true meaning of why we celebrate his birth and why its so important. I thought lot about it and it was a little hard for me because it was always about the gifts and i always left out the real meaning and Christ. I'm so very grateful for the knowledge that I've received this holiday season and the things I've learned. Thanks so much for all that you do for the mission, you and your wife had truly made an impact on my life; and these couple of months that we have been here in the mission Pachuca i will always be able to remember and be able to share the experiences that I've had and the people that I've meet and the things i have learned. Merry Christmas:) Elder H

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Last district meeting in Tecamac 2 before "transfers" .

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President I just want to thank you again for this opportunity to serve as a zone leader. while i cant say that it is what i wanted i can truly testify and say that it is what i needed. this has been the hardest cycle in my mission up to this point it has stretched me in every-way it could have but i have learned so much. one of my friends asked me about the experience i was having as a zone leader and i would like to share my response to her with you 

 "i dont know i guess this really has been the hardest cycle of my life. in three ways. firstly physically the bike thing is still killing me, i thought it would be better after a week but alas after 4 it still hurts and i just want to die in the night time, im just exhausted physically and ive not really had that problem until now. spiritually this cycle has been hard spiritually, with the companionship differences i have slipped into alot of pride and temptation from the devil and it takes alot of energy for me to keep the spirit. ive been every night writing three things i liked, learned or just something positive about my companion to help combat these feelings and ive really seen the blessing from it but it takes alot of spiritually energy and it has stretched me. mentally just trying to find creative ways to work around the other two creative ways to work with my companion and compromise. this cycle has been a real trial of my faith but i have grown so much and i am glad it happened which is what i want to share with you. The mission is not easy it kicks your bum in every way it can, and we then have the choice of what we do with that. we can take the positive road and learn and progress or we can take the negative and just stay stagnant or even retrograde. i have seen the difference i have taken both roads in my mission and let me just share with you if you strive to always take the positive road it will not be anything you regret it is hard and it takes energy but i promise you with all my heart and as a representative of Jesus Christ that you will never regret taking it and that it will change your life and mold it into the life that He wants and has prepared for you. when we take the negative side it seems easier at first but you will always repent of that action it is never what we actually want and is in fact harder than taking the positive side."

its what i have been able to learn from this cycle to truly humble myself and work through problems thank you for giving me the chance to learn these things much love and gratitude. 

Elder M. 

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These two cute missionaries spent almost two weeks together because of special changes until transfers... yep they had a good time together... which they both totally deserved!

No worries these two are on Santa's "Nice" list.

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SPECIAL DELIVERY

Elder Bickley with the special blanket his mother sent for Christmas made out of old T-shirts from his high school days. It was delivered to the Mission home on Christmas Eve. Talk about perfect timing! 

I think his eyes were a little misty... and look at that smile!

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President and I stopped at one district on Christmas morning for several interviews and then we continued on to Elder Stephens District (below) for their district meeting. It was excellent and we were able to finish up Christmas Day participating in their Service Project. There is nothing like serving others to get the real meaning of CHRISTmas in your heart. We so enjoyed working side by side with our missionaries. I will have more pictures next week of various missionaries "Christmas Day Service"...

Service is always in "Season"

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Hola Presidente,

This week was a pretty good week. We didnt have the sucess that we wanted but we are going to get there. It was a little rough with all the Holiday action around. We had many investigadors that turned us down this week and didnt receive us due to family in town and vacations. That part was a little sad but we move on and press forward. I really enjoyed the Christmas Devotional this week. It was awesome and I really loved it when you and your wife spoke. All of the talks were good but I especially liked Sister Egberts testimony, and your experience from your mission. I really felt your love for us as President and more than that as our own parents. I about lost it when you were translating for Sister Egbert and she told us that you love us like your own kids and that your lives would never be the same. Thanks President for the Christmas Devotional. It was an awesome experience.

That same night when we went to the Hospital for the little girl was an experience that I will never forget. We raced over to the house to pick up the girl and everything started to become really real as the mother of this child ran out the door with her daughter in her arms. We finally realized why we were there and what was going on. We got in the car and headed to the hospital and thats when I called you to tell you what was going on. After the call, we stopped the car to give her a blessing. When we said amen, the girl became still and calm. She was just sleeping. She slept the whole rest of the way to the hospital, and thats when I lost the fear of not knowing what could happen. I knew that the power of the Priesthood had come upon her and Heavenly Father was blessing this child. I was glad to be a Priesthood Holder. Glad to be worthy of such power, to help as Christ once did, and as he still does. It was an amazing experience.

Things are going well for us as companions. No complaints. I really have a strong desire to work hard and to help the area. I know that I need to do more, and I am going to give my all. That is my Chirstmas gift to the Lord this Holiday. Thanks Presidente. I forgot to tell you guys that we did our service project last week as a district. We helped clean up a house and get it ready for a wedding! it was fun and I took pictures. I´ll have to send them to you or Sister Egbert. Thanks for everything Prersident!

Elder J

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President and I wanted to share our youngest daughters wedding in the Salt Lake City, Utah temple on Saturday December 28th 2013. She looked absolutely radiant and so happy. We are happy for you Tahlia Mae and wish you an eternity of happiness.

Steve and Tahlia Mae Egbert Randall