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

When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.

This week was amazing! I got to learn so much about faith and about how we rely so much on it and on Gods will to keep us on His path. In Moses 6 it says: 33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you. This made me think of how sometimes we choose to serve the Lord when the time to act approaches but like the president says “When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past."....... Let us not wait to visit that family in need, or to help someone. Let this day be the day that you serve God with all your love and strength and the reward will be seen not through your mortal eyes but through a sincere heart willing to see beyond.

35 And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so.

36 And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye.

Like Enoch we all have the privilege of anointing ourselves, maybe not with clay, but with continual prayer and service to all those around us. I can testify that through service, our own understanding of the eternal joy that God promises is opened unto us.


Elder Blanco

My choices brought me to this point and I don't regret anything.

This week was all about going back in time to the origins of what I was before when I learned about the gospel. I can say that I don't regret anything. My choices brought me to this point, and while thinking about it, I found my first testimony that I wrote down! haha How nervous I was that day, but that same day I could feel the love of my Savior, of all of you and of every single member of my family that day by day fought with me! I love you all. All I can say is that sometimes I want to go to the day that I knew so little, that my testimony was simple yet it was the greatest piece of evidence that Christ really lives and that He forgives and that He heals even the hearts that are completely broken. I testify that there is no mountain we cant climb, no person we cannot uplift with out Heavenly Father with us. Go back the origins to when that seed was planted within you and remember that first testimony that you all got of the Savior... I am sure your faith will rekindle moments of pure joy!

Elder Blanco

Someone needs to please save me a shirt of this next church service!

The fire in me is growing so much!

This week was amazing! The seeds we have planted are starting to grow! The fire in me is growing so much that it reminded me of the talk by President Uchtdorf,   "Finish with Your Torch Still Lit". It got me thinking and it gave me a hard lesson that I need to keep on going. I need to keep on having the light of Christ shining my way. I wont lie, there are times of doubts of what I can do here but the doubt that never comes is that I know I was sent here to serve my Master, to be His tool. Even though I'm a little rusty and worn out, He still is determined on molding me and I'm determined on going through the fire for Him. Like Uchtdorf says, "How often do we make resolutions in January and pursue them with red-hot determination for a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months only to find that by October, the flame of our commitment is little more than cold ash?"

Brothers and Sisters, Let us make commitments that we will keep. Let us show the world who our loyalty, our trust, our love belongs to and I know that we will not be confused by today's hard times. I love you all and as saints, I know that like they said in conference, we will remain happy and certain even in these last days!

Elder Blanco

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2015/10/finish-with-your-torch-still-lit?lang=eng

"LET US WORK FOR OUR MASTER "

HELLLOOOO ALL MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY

This week was wonderful! I never felt so burned, so tired, and at the same time, so full of the spirit. As we prepared for conference something amazing happened. We got to teach this amazing family. It was hard at first. We contacted the house but the person there said to come another day and as persistent as missionaries are, we did go another day, only to find a different lady. She said come another day, and we did.  Finally persevering one day we went determined to teach them and we did. This led to them wanting the gospel in their lives and to another miracle, which was going to the Sunday morning session. They invited their friends and I know they all rejoiced in the spirit. It was a miracle that I cant deny.  It changed the way I saw myself and how I know that the promises in D&C are real.

2 Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church

3 Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation.

4 You shall declare the things which have been revealed to my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun. You shall begin to preach from this time forth, yea, to reap in the field which is white already to be burned.

5 Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live.

6 Behold, verily I say unto you, go from them only for a little time, and declare my word, and I will prepare a place for them.

7 Yea, I will open the hearts of the people, and they will receive you. And I will establish a church by your hand;

8 And you shall strengthen them and prepare them against the time when they shall be gathered.

9 Be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile. Govern your house in meekness, and be steadfast.

10 Behold, I say unto you that you shall be a physician unto the church, but not unto the world, for they will not receive you.

11 Go your way whithersoever I will, and it shall be given you by the Comforter what you shall do and whither you shall go.

12 Pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward.

13 Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you. These words are not of man nor of men, but of me, even Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, by the will of the Father. Amen.

I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT I AM HERE FOR HIM TO SERVE ALONG AN ARMY OF SOLDIERS AND IF I TRUST IN HIM MY FAMILY, ALL OF YOU, WILL BE OK AND ONE DAY WE WILL ALL REJOICE TOGETHER IN HIS CHURCH. I LOVE YOU ALL! NEVER GIVE UP ON THOSE THAT ARE WONDERING AWAY FROM GOD BUT HELP THEM FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO HIS HOME . LIKE THEY SAID YESTERDAY "LET US WORK FOR OUR MASTER "

Elder Blanco