It is in the refiner’s fire we are purified and prepared to meet God... It was a hard week.

This week I was in the oven.Like it says in the video, "The refiner’s fire is not a comfortable place to be. It involves intense heat and repeated hammering. But it is in the refiner’s fire we are purified and prepared to meet God." It was a hard week. Many doors closed in our faces, many laughed and cursed us, and when it seemed like we didnt have any strength, any motivation to keep on going, we found strength in prayer. I remembered my dream that I and my companion were in an endless hall of houses and he asked, "How are we going to knock all these doors?" and I said "We should put on the armor of God." So we did and kept on going, Now I see that our trials are worth it. He trusts us and His armor is prepared and molded just for us. Even though this week was hard I trust that God is preparing the hearts of many to hear His sweet voice calling them by name..... I love you all, your advice and love keeps me going! 

Sincerely, Elder Blanco
here is a link to the video
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-11-010-the-refiners-fire?lang=eng

Wow being here I totally forgot it was Thanksgiving!

This week was sad. I got transferred from the jungle and away from all my loved ones once more to a farther part in the mountains where it's super cold or super hot depending on the mood of the day. Although its sad, I truly saw the Lord's trust in me and how much He loves His children. I was sent to Tarija to open a new area in this family group that is striving to become a branch. It is truly amazing! I feel like I am in that same place where the church started with only a few members that soon became a blessing to all the earth. I know that with all the help of God, of the members, and through my diligence, these members will gain an answer to all their hard work and prayers. I want them to have their branch and soon there ward so much. I received several impressions that this is truly going to happen for I saw their desire this week and the sun made a circle around the house where the church is... I don't know, it could be a sign! ha ha

I love you all and I will be praying for all of you here.

Wow being here I totally forgot it was Thanksgiving! No turkey here or mashed potatos,  just vegetables and beans!  Hope all of you can enjoy this time together and that you can partake of the greatest thing, which is the love of all the family! I'll surely be praying for all of you!

Elder Blanco

Change is coming and I really don't want to leave my jungle.

This week was a little sad for the time of changes is coming and I really don't want to leave my jungle.  Its amazing how we go from knowing someone, to loving them, to the point that we know when they are happy, when they are sad, and when they are mad. This is how I feel about this area and the beautiful people that have become my family. Although we enjoyed this week as well. We did a missionary activity that consisted of us, the missionaries, planning everything and letting the members and other leaders relax and enjoy the activity.  It was great.  My companion and I did sandwiches and a cake and made small shirts and dresses to decorate the whole event.  It was an amazing activity that we all enjoyed. That someday we celebrated a b-day from a convert we have and made him another cake.  It was truly chaotic but worth it. Sharing all the different moments with every person in my ward made me see that its true, when we help others we are rewarded with smiles and laughs! This area is amazing and I don't want to leave my little companion... he is the best. I'll surely let everyone know if I leave the jungle.

With love,

Elder Blanco

I was blessed this Sunday to be able to name and bless two babies in the ward.

This week was one of the hardest weeks in my mission.  The adversary truly worked hard this week to destroy and lead away many souls, but he forgot that like sons of a God of light, love, and hope that we are, we can seek His guidance.  So this week we fought along and we helped has many people as we could to come to church and to change their lives. To our delight many of those that denied our message came to us after a long time and told us that they did not feel the same way anymore. They felt that when we visited them, their homes were full of light. We told them it wasn't us, but the light of Christ that was in them. Now they are progressing and going to church. It's truly amazing how Christ works through all of us. 

We also went to the zoo this week, but it was pouring so we couldn't see many animals. But it was truly great... we got soaked and this red monkey was playing tricks on us by patting his bottom and laughing at us. I think that was the funniest thing that I saw there. 

Also I was blessed this Sunday to be able to name and bless two babies in the ward. I'm serving on. It was truly different but I have never felt more love from my Savior than having to do this beautiful thing and having His beautiful angels in my hands. All I know is what a blessing it is to be a missionary!!

 

Elder Blanco

Being in this beautiful place has made me truly grateful for the wonders that He has created!

This week was really upside down! Our p-day started on Wednesday and we are suppose to go to the zoo, but to our luck, there is a storm here that might come in the way of it. But other than that my week has been great! I have seen so many people come to the knowledge of God and we have been serving so many people here that my companion and I are exhausted! ha.ha Being in this beautiful place has made me truly grateful for the wonders that He has created!  Like in Psalms 8 when it says..........When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

To me it is truly wonderful. For He has given us so much that sometimes we oversee because we are so busy with life and with work, but being here, focusing on His work, I have learned to stop and see His wonders. He LOVES us, there is no doubt about that, and he wants us to nurture ourselves with the knowledge that one day we walked beside him, we laughed, we rejoiced in being in His presence. Now we have the opportunity to once more show him we are willing to go through this life, fighting through the pains and the troubles, just to be once more walking beside Him.  I can say that if we all just stop and admire what He has created, all the beautiful paintings that He creates for us in this world, we will rejoice in being called His sons and daughters!

Elder Blanco