Week 40 - Gian Carlos - A Boy that keeps his word

Buenos Dias,

This has been another awesome week here in El Milagro. In about a weeks time this ward is going to be way different. First thing is that my companion Elder Alcarraz and my best bud and fellow missionary of milagro Elder Maddocks are both finishing their missions. Along with two of the four missionaries here in Milagro heading home, the mission is opening a new area here in El Milagro. There will now be 6 missionaries here. It is going to be awesome. To add to the craziness and changes, this week they are going to begin the remodel of the church here in El Milagro so we will have to attend in another chapel about 15 minutes away. Craziness... sort of... hahahahaha. 

This week we have been working a lot with our best bud Gian Carlos. He is 14 years old and really wants to get baptized. He is awesome and, being our neighbor, always swings by our room. One thing we love about Gian Carlos is that he makes a big effort to be a man of his word, which as missionaries when so many investigators promise things they do not complete, is a really big deal. He has made me think a lot about this idea of being honest, not just completing our promises and telling the truth always with others but also with ourselves. Our savior Jesus Christ suffered, died, and atoned for our sins so that we can receive forgiveness from all of our faults. However to accept our Savior's atoning sacrifice we need to recognize when we have made a mistake and be honest with ourselves, so that we can call upon his help to act and change ourselves to follow him. If we are always honest with ourselves and with our Heavenly Father we will be constantly in the path to follow our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Well some more craziness here in Milagro. Hopefully this week we will be able to see the baptisms of possibly three investigators: Julian, Gian Carlos, and Sarita. Keep these three in your prayers so that they might make this important decision this coming week. Also please keep our mission President, President Marble in your prayers, as he is currently in the United States undergoing a medical treatment.  Along with all of this, on a slightly less spiritual note,  keep the Peruvian national soccer team in your prayers because they have the chance to qualify for the world cup for the first time in 30 something years this Thursday (every house we enter everyone is talking about it).

The mission keeps on being awesome. 

Love,

Elder Jack Vassau