Week 25 - Belisario, car racing, and June 24th preparations!

Biuenos Dias!!!!!

(OK - I wasn't really with Tucker at his wedding but at least they were thinking of me )

Another awesome week here in el Milagro, and to make it that much better, all four of us missionaries here in El Milagro survived transfers and we will all be staying at least one more transfer here!  

This week we have been working hard to contact some of the referrals we had from our Capilla Abierta (Open House Tour) last week. We were able to contact a couple of people who are interested but one in particular was really cool. His name is Belisario. He is in his late 50s/early 60s and is basically retired. What he now devotes most of his time to is racing rally cars. He was telling us all about some of his races here in Peru and how one day he wants to make it to the U.S.A. to have the chance to test out the pavement there which apparently is "Legendary". I guess nice paved roads are something you take for granted until you are trying to race cars. Well he is super cool and he is also super excited to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was really surprised when we were explaining to him exactly what missionaries do and how we sacrifice two years of our lives to serve our Heavenly Father. What really impressed him was that two young men are taking the time in their life to slow down and focus on some things that are really important, service and our Heavenly Father. Talking in terms of racing cars and in terms of life Belisario explain that in this life, a lot of things happen at a really fast pace and often because of all the fast paced exciting distractions we do not take time to slow down and focus on the things that really matter. Things such as our families and our Heavenly Father, two areas of his life that he knows the Gospel of Jesus Christ will help him refocus on. 

When we learn of Christ we begin to remember what actually matters in this life. Although there is time for other things as well, we always need to take time to remember and focus on the things that really matter and that really bring eternal happiness to us here on Earth and in the life to come. Belisario is awesome and I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will help him focus on what really matters in this life, with maybe a little bit of extra time for him to race cars as well.  

Well big things are happening here in El Milagro. Yoland Rodriguez, Rosabel Aranda, and Paolo Carrera all have baptismal dates for the 24th of June as well as 6 other people from the missionaries in the other half of Milagro. That means we are going to have a possibility of having 9 baptisms on the 24th of June. That is a lot of people that are making the decision to follow the example of Jesus Christ. It is awesome! We just need a little bit of help so please keep this date the 24th of June in your prayers so that we can help all of these people prepare for this date. It really is a privilege to help people to come unto Christ as a missionary. 

In other news my big brother Tucker got married to Caitlin this past week. Big congratulations guys! Love you both so much and I am super excited to have a sister in the family. I guess it was about time that a sister came into the picture to mix things up with these 4 brothers. You guys are awesome and meant to be!

Things are still going great here in El Milagro and looks like I am going to be here in El Milagro with Elder Bedregal for at least another 6 weeks and maybe more.  Only the Lord knows J  Well until next week. 

Also,  today I completed my goal for the past two transfers to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish. WOOOOOOOOOOH. The Book of Mormon is another set of scriptures that we use side by side with the bible. Basically it is another testament that talks of Jesus Christ but from the perspective of prophets here in the Americas instead of the Middle East. Here are two scriptures that really stood out to me this morning during my power reading. Both of which talk about what we are capable of if we have faith and come unto Christ. 

Ether 12:27

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humblethemselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weakthings become strong unto them.

Moroni 10:23

23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.

Love,

Elder Vassau