January 8, 2018 ~ Transfer 12 Week 6

Hi all!

So we had transfers today!
My companion Elder Jarvies will be moving down to Parla and I'll be with Elder Kamber from Switzerland.

I'm short on time so here are snippets of the week. The ideas may not follow as well as they should haha.

Monday: And we went to the Pizzaro's for lunch. We ate butillo! It was sooooo sooo good. It may be my new favorite Spanish food. It's a stomach of a pig stuffed with ribs, tail, and other bones/parts and it tastes like chorizo with a little kick of spicy (but it's a Spaniard meal so it's really not THAT spicy). But really really good. The soup that went with it too was really good. I know...it probably sounds terrible or inhumane but it's not haha.

Tuesday: Then we did some Pass bys in the center, not much luck, followed up by some calls. And we also saw Maria again! We ran into her near the bus station. She told us that she had given her number to some of our companions on the bus coming back from Bembibre and we said "you sure it wasn't us?". And she said "no". So we set up a time to visit her. Haha but she didn't remember us at all.

Then we saw the Pizzaro's for the third time today haha. And we met with Jose Mari at his home to bring us to a paper store to print English cards. He knows the owner and used it as a finding opportunity so that the owner would definitely know which church Jose Mari is from (and Jose Mari is also the name of the store owner haha). It was very interesting too because the whole situation worked out really well and we had a super good conversation (although if we hadn't been with the member Jose Mari, I don't think we would have made the friendship with the store owner that we have now). It was pretty interesting seeing that natives are more open to talking to natives and how if you are with a member they can help you out a ton to seem more normal haha.

Wednesday: Then we used some of our lunch time and we went to the Castle here in Ponferrada. It was soo cool! The coolest part was a really skinny spiral staircase that takes you up to the top where you can see all of Ponferrada. It's a beautiful pan-o-rama. And that super beautiful view got me pumped about finding people to teach, it makes Ponferrada look a lot bigger and we can see the places we walk maybe a little too often in the city and analyze better. It was cool.

Friday: At Joaquin's, we shared a quick message and they talked to us for 1.5 hours like normal haha. We sat in the kitchen around the old fashioned stove as Joaquin put coal in it to keep us warm. Great people, Joaquin and Loli.

Saturday: And then we started the fast with Juan Carlos. He didn't quite understand how we were going to do it but he locked himself in the bathroom and I start it and he ended it. And as he was adding to the prayer, he was praying and then one of his sisters asked what he was doing and he yells "I'm on the phone!" and continues as if nothing happened hahaha. It was pretty funny.

And earlier this week the prophet Thomas S. Monson passed away. Super sad but it's great to know that he is with his wife now. He was such a great example of always serving and loving. It's so comforting to know that we have a prophet who receives revelation from God to know how to guide His church. Heavenly Father has always worked through prophets.

In Amos 3:7:
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Luke 1:70

70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

So ever since the world began, Heavenly Father has worked through prophets. And He has given us guidance to know whether or not they are a true prophet. In Matthew it says:

Matthew 7:16-20
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

So by their fruits you will be able to tell whether they are a true prophet or not. Jesus Christ established his church on the earth and gave the authority to Peter and the apostles to carry on his work after his death. But because the wickedness of the people (and as prophesied), all the apostles were killed and the church of Jesus Christ was lost. But because Heavenly Father loves his children so much and when his children were ready to listen, He restored that same church of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is a fruit of the prophet Joseph Smith. I promise you that if you read, ponder on the message contained in it and pray to God to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet and if the Book of Mormon is true, you will receive an answer. Because I have. And I know the Book of Mormon is true. And I know that Jesus Christ guides His church, through prophets in our days. I invite you to read the book of Mormon and pray about it. And I'm you have any questions or concerns or whatever else, I'm happy to answer them :)

Have a great week!

Elder Openshaw