Tile Floors, The Sacrament And Elder Holland

Chichi

It Could Be Worse

This week we had divisions and it was sweet except when we went to meet up in the area where are comps were at (Cunen, 2 1/2 hours from Chichi); the buses had stopped running and Elder Navarro and I couldn't return to Chichi. So we slept in Cunen in the church on a tile floor. The elders in Cunen live in the church. It is crazy and sweet. It is in Cunen where I heard one of Elder Holland's greatest talks. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2001/03/missionary-work-and-the-atonement?lang=eng

Good Morning Cunen!

Before I share my experience with his talk I want to tell you about Sunday. We had an investigator come to church! And we finally have a date for baptism that I feel way good about. She is very positive and has a twin. Both of them are legit. We are going to challenge the other twin tomorrow. (Their names are Alicia and Silvia.) I gave a talk on Sunday and the subject was on sacred things. I focused on the Sacrament. As I prepared this talk I learned that if we repent sincerely we will feel our burdens lifted and we can feel clean and pure after partaking of the Sacrament. As I partook of the Sacrament on Sunday I truly felt what I had been learning. It was amazing. The Sacrament had a renewed meaning. I realized I had been taking for granted the blessing it is to partake of the Sacrament. The Sacrament is so very important and can provide a sacred moment for us as partake of it with reverence and not as routine. Elder L. Tom Perry said, "The Sacrament is one of the most sacred ordinances in the Church. Partaking of the Sacrament worthily gives us an opportunity for spiritual growth. May we more fully realize the special blessing of being able to partake of the Sacrament and its significance in our lives. May we always remember Him and keep His commandments, which He has given us to fulfill the purpose of life and the hope of the eternities that are to come." I received a tender mercy as I got to pass the Sacrament on Sunday. Passing on Sunday was one of the greatest experiences in my life. The spirit was so strong. As I was passing I couldn't help but think of the deacons back home passing the Sacrament in our ward. I truly do miss those days of passing the Sacrament as a deacon. I wish I could go back and teach myself what a privilege and blessing it was to pass as a representative of Lord. I truly took those Sundays for granted. So to my deacons in the 3rd ward you guys are the best. The Sacrament couldn't take place without you. Once a deacon always a deacon. Be proud of being a deacon. That priesthood responsibility is so very special and sacred. Be proud of what you do. And always remember each Sunday as you pass the Sacrament you carry the emblems of Christ.

I want focus more on what I learned this week by reading and listening to Elder Holland's talk. These words in his talk are beyond true. Elder Holland said, "I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary." Those words have extraordinary meaning. Salvation is not cheap. It isn't enough to firmly believe, salvation requires effort, something of the soul and as Elder Holland says to understand you must, "spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane and have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary." Without those experiences we wouldn't learn, we wouldn't come unto Christ! Elder Holland continues by saying, "Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price. If He could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass, then little wonder that salvation is not a whimsical or easy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life." We need to remember today’s trial is tomorrow’s testimony. Heavenly Father is more interested in our growth than our comfort. Then why should our life be easy when our Savior's life was not easy. When you get tired, frustrated, mad or what ever feeling you have that is not from God say to yourself these motivating words, REMEMBER HIM. The Savior's example gives me and has given me courage to press on. He served so unselfishly with unconditional and so can we. When times get hard point all your feelings toward the Atonement. The Atonement will carry you and your families as it has carried me and my family. The Atonement continues to carry me everyday on my mission. Joseph Smith said these words about Atonement, "all things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to the Atonement of Jesus Christ." Everything points back to the atonement. Our message is simple as spoken by the Jesus Christ himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Trust in God everybody and good things will always come. Families Are Forever. I love all of you so very much.

Loving Some Hammock Time

What I love about Mom is that she made me breakfast everyday. What I love about Dad is that he would help change bike tires.

Better Than The Tile Floor

Ducks Forever-Love,

Elder Mcilmoil

January 27, 2014

Tortilla count for the week: 30

Scripture of the week: Doctrine and Covenants 21:9

"6 Months"

"6 Months Gone"

P-Day Zipline Adventure

Peace Out

Package From Elder Cook And Amazing Experiences

Love From Home And Elder Cook

Saturday was the greatest day!!! Elder Cook came to Xela to talk to our entire mission. It was amazing! Elder Cook gave me the package you sent with Brett, oh man I was shocked. After the conference was over all the missionaries lined up so we could shake Elder Cook's hand. When it was my turn to shake Elder Cook's hand he handed me the package and then he grabbed me and hugged me. He then explained to all the missionaries that they never do this, only under special and unique circumstances and this is one of those circumstances. We had our arms around each other when he was speaking to the missionaries. Everybody was like wow. There was someone taking pics that came with Elder Cook; he took like 20 pics of us. I told him to tell Brett hi for me and he said he would. I was disappointed I didn't get to see Brett but the experience I had with Elder Cook...there are just no words. This is definitely one experience I will never forget. I will share more about the conference at the end of my letter.

Hug From Mom

English class this week had record breaking attendance: 6 people; if you count me, Elder Navarro and the hermanas we had 10 people. It seriously was packed just like Lavell Edwards Stadium. It was a rockin house. With that being said, I am grateful somebody comes. This week was something else. I am learning what it means to work and teach by the spirit and what teaching with power and authority means. I have seen the power of the Lord so much this week. I have seen how much power there is in bearing testimony. I have seen hearts change this week. I have also seen how much confusion the world is in and why we need this gospel so bad and why it must reach all four corners of this earth. 

Chichi

On Thursday we taught the people we live with. We gave an unofficial lesson when we were having lunch with them. I have been praying so hard for an opportunity to teach them. Elder Navarro asked them what the difference was between the Mayan religion and the Catholic religion since all the Mayans go to the Catholic church. They said the reason Mayans go to Catholic church is because where the church is at, it is sacred ground for the Mayans. We then started talking about the Bible and they asked what have we heard about the Catholic religion. They also asked if we believed in being perfect someday and we said we did. My question to them was who is Peter for your church? They said he is the founder of our church, he was the first Pope. The door of opportunity was opened and we stated sharing scriptures from the Bible. We asked what they thought of these scriptures. After much discussion we asked them to read Isaiah 29:13 (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/isa/29.13?lang=eng) The husband, Orlando was like whoa, he was blown away. It was sweet. I than asked them to read John 10:16 (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/10.16?lang=eng) This scripture talks about when Christ says I have other sheep but they are not of this fold. I asked them to explain their understanding of this scripture. They said other sheep means the whole world because He was in Jerusalem, so it must mean the rest of the world. They asked what does the other sheep mean for you two. Prayers answered and I was able respond by asking what they know about the Book Of Mormon. They said they knew very little about this book. I was able to teach them that the other sheep are the people in the Book Of Mormon found in 3 Nephi 15 (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/15?lang=eng) The Book of Mormon was written here by the inhabitants of the ancient Americas and is a story about the Mayans and explains how they got here. I was able to explain that the Book Of Mormon is the record of two groups of people, the Nephites and the Lamanites. I was able to teach them why the Nephites who were once righteous were completely destroyed by the Lamanites because of wickedness. I also explained to them that the Lamanites often rejected the teachings of the gospel but eventually accepted the gospel and became more righteous than the Nephites. We had their attention like none other. I said some people say this book is from the devil, I am here to testify it is not. I had the wife read Moroni 10:32 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10.32?lang=eng) and asked if devil could have written Come Unto Christ and Be Perfected Thru Christ. They both said no. Elder Navarro shared more information with them. We asked Orlando to read Moroni 10:5 (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10.5?lang=eng) He was blown away. He could stop saying and by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. It was amazing. Then I asked have you ever asked yourself who is the other angel in Revelations 14:6-7 is (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/rev/14.6-7?lang=eng) He said no, so we read it to him and I asked now do you have a question about who the other angel is. He said yes but said I suppose it is a prophet in the Book Of Mormon. We said yes. Then we had to go. That unofficial lesson was amazing. The spirit was wow. You could see the spirit work in them and see how the words we said had them just glued to us. It was amazing. The other day we came back and I saw the Book Of Mormon where they keep their Bible. I was like yes! I was so happy! 

Doing Some Laundry

On Wednesday night we had other amazing lesson about the Atonement. And we challenged the nativity family to baptism. The father thought for a minute and said, "ehh no, we want to learn more before we commit because this is something brand new to us since we have been Catholics for 31 years so we want to make sure this is right." The daughter almost said yes but then looked at the dad. It was sad but it was also so sweet because if we would have challenged them when we first started meeting with them it would have been a straight up no. It was still an amazing experience. 

Chillin' With The Zone

This week I have studying about the apostasy. The key thing I learned was that during the apostasy people relied on the wisdom of man to understand the gospel and the scriptures, not the wisdom of God. If they would have had the spirit teaching them the wisdom of God then there would be only one church today; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Traveling To The Mission Conference

CCM Reunion

Saturday we traveled to Xela for a mission conference since Elder Cook was here. A member took our zone in their van to Xela. We ate at McDonald's since we were in Xela. Since it was a mission conference I got to see my CCM group, Elder Bonilla and missionaries that I know that have left the zone. It was great to see everyone. Anyway at the mission conference Elder Duncan, a member of the seventy, and his wife Sister Duncan spoke to us first. Elder Duncan's Spanish is amazing, Sister Duncan didn't speak Spanish. Their talks were good. It is always good to listen to disciples of Christ. Then Sister Cook spoke, I should say Elder Cook told us she was going to speak. It was funny because President Bautista said we are going to skip the intermediate hymn and listen to Elder Cook. Elder Cook stood up and said a few words and said before I speak we are going to have Sister Cook speak and then she is going to lead us in the intermediate hymn. Sister Cook spoke about music and Christlike attributes. She said she loves the attribute activity in Preach My Gospel and matching hymns to all the attributes. It was a great talk. Afterwards we sang the intermediate hymn and then it was time for Elder Cook to speak. Wow was it amazing! He shared that when he was on his mission the church changed the age to 19 to serve missions and told about how excited the members of the church were and how it was a huge boost in missionary numbers. How also shared that Elder Holland was the first 19 year old to serve in the England Mission. He talked about Doctrine and Covenants 112. He then asked what is our duty, what is your job as missionaries? He said I know what Preach My Gospel says but what is your duty. Doctrine and Covenants 112 says your duty is to edify the kingdom of God. How do you edify the kingdom of God or edify His church. Missionaries responded by saying strenghting faith and few other things. He said very good, but this is what I want to get to: bringing souls to Christ whether it is through baptism or reactivating. He said is there a difference between reactivating someone and baptizing some one, none, there is no difference, zero. He said you are successful when you reactivate someone and baptize someone. Those words hit me like none other. I now know that if you reactivate 100 people and another missionary baptizes 100 people both of us have the same success. There is zero difference. I realized that Chichi is a reactivating area, it was taken me 5 months to finally figure that out. Elder Cook then said I want you missionaries to connect with the members of your area like never before and in your morning prayers you should ask Heavenly Father how can you strengthen their faith today. There is so much to think about. He ended with envoking a blessing and sharing his testimony. The blessing he gave was amazing. You could feel it was a blessing directly from heaven, words from our Heavenly Father. He blessed us that we will love everyone and they will be blessed for our choice to serve the Lord; you and the people you love will be blessed in the eternities and that we don't need to worry about a thing. He said we will receive warnings and that when we receive warnings listen to them and those warnings will be a protection to you. He ended with his testimony. His testimony was amazing. It was so powerful. The words he shared with us had so much power and authority. The spirit was so strong when he shared his testimony; he said I know that Christ lives and directs his church, I know his voice, I know that he died for our sins and that He is our Lord and Savior. I know that Heavenly Father lives and that Joseph Smith is a prophet. Wow was it amazing. I didn't want the meeting to end. How grateful I'm for this tremendous blessing to learn from one the Lord's chosen disciples. 

Hangin' With Elder Bonilla

Sunday was also amazing. The District President (Stake President) compared me to a prophet in the Book Of Mormon: Ammon. He started his talk by speaking of Ammon and then said, "You have a missionary among you who is like Ammon, Elder Mcilmoil can you please stand. This man is like angel among you, he has great faith and such a strong spirit." I have never been so humbled. I don't know what to say. This week has taught me so much and I know that there are times when you teach with power and authority you will sometimes offend a lot of people because the wicked take the truth to be hard. I to know that Christ lives, I know that He died for our us, He atoned for our sins, He is our Savior our Redeemer and that there is no other name that can save us, only our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know the church is true. I also know that the Book Of Mormon is true and there is power in it's pages.

Doing Some Cooking

What I love about Mom is that she did my laundry and what I love about Dad is that he would run with me in the mornings.

Ducks Forever, With Love 
Elder Mcilmoil
January 20, 2014

Tortilla count for the week: 30

Scripture of the week: 2 Nephi 9:39 and Isaiah 29:14

What Could Have Been......

Dreaming In Spanish And We Are All Enlised

Sharing The Gospel In A Tut Tut

This Saturday I will be in Xela--Elder Cook will be here!!!! I am so excited! A tender mercy to hear and see a special witness of Christ. The gospel is amazing! I have been so excited to tell you that last night I dreamed in Spanish!!!! I don't remember what was said but I remember understanding all of it. It was nuts because the dream was in English and in Spanish. Crazy. 

Everybody Loves The Tut Tut

This week we contacted a pastor en la calle (in the street). I bore my testimony and said, "la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días es the only true and correct church on the earth today." He said, "muy bien" (OK) and then counter attacked with, "You shall know the false prophets and you shall know the fruits of the true prophets." I wanted him to know that were witnesses of Christ so I ended the conversation with by asking him, "Do you remember the confession of Peter?" He said, "Yes." Then I felt like I should share the story anyway when Christ asks, "Who Am I?" Peter responds with these words, "You are the Son of God, Jesus Christ." And Christ says no man has revealed this to you but my Father through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 16:15-17) http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/16.15-17?lang=eng I said, "You to can know like Peter and I testify though the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ. And I'm here to share with you His message about His plan for each of us." We didn't get an appointment with him but he told Elder Navarro and I that we could come him visit him at his store. We will definitely go by his store, you never know. That definitely was a highlight of my week! 

Where Are We Going?

On Saturday Elder Navarro and I went to two different mountains. Holy cow I was dead. Sometimes somebody will drive by in a truck and we will hop in back. Anyway we met so many people that said they attended this one church because its close. I was like what, seriously come to our church we have the truth, we have what you want; so come. It was crazy that they just go to this one church because it is close. They don't even know what that church teaches. We also met this one guy who is evangélico which is crazy because he told us that we have the power and authority and we are servants of God. I was thinking does he know what he just said to us. He continued to talk about other stuff and rip on himself and his church without knowing it and then he told us we could talk another day. Of course he barley gave us enough time to get his name. I'm telling you that going to the different mountains was sweet, I loved every second of it.

Traveling To The Mountains

This has been another rough week. It has been hard on the body and the soul. Seeing the wickedness in this world and having people say the church is true and the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet and then say no to baptism. That is one of the most frustrating things and is so heart wrenching. Satan works so hard to prevent souls coming unto Christ. This week I truly realized how much pressure missionaries have. The pressure is this; I feel like we have our investigators salvation in our hands, we can't fail or slip, we have to be perfect. But we are not perfect. I'm so grateful for the Atonement to take away our imperfections. We need the Atonement because of this reason. Through the Atonement he extends His hand to us that we may feel a forgiveness in our heart. We need a lot more missionaries to be apart of the rescue and teach about the gift of the Atonement. In the words of Elder Ballard, "We don’t need you to just fill a position; we need your whole heart and soul. We need vibrant, thinking, passionate missionaries who know how to listen to and respond to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. This isn’t a time for spiritual weaklings. We cannot send you on a mission to be reactivated, reformed, or to receive a testimony. We just don’t have time for that. We need you to be filled with “faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God” (D&C 4:5)." We need missionaries prepared and worthy. On this note I want to share the talk I have read to many times to count and it is the Mormon Message I watch every morning. It is Elder Holland's talk, 'We Are All Enlisted' http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/we-are-all-enlisted?lang=eng I have know and have seen we have to many of the youth in the church who play for both teams, God and Satan. Elder Holland said, "This is a life-and-death contest we are in, young men, so I am going to get in your face a little, nose to nose, with just enough fire in my voice to singe your eyebrows a little—the way coaches do when the game is close and victory means everything. And with the game on the line, what this coach is telling you is that to play in this match, some of you have to be more morally clean than you now are. In this battle between good and evil, you cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission time as if nothing has happened. That, my young friends, you cannot do. God will not be mocked. So we need young men already on the team to stay on it and stop dribbling out of bounds just when we need you to get in the game and play your hearts out! In almost all athletic contests of which I know, there are lines drawn on the floor or the field within which every participant must stay in order to compete. The Lord has drawn lines of worthiness for those called to labor with Him in this work." Satan is a real and is set on destroying every single one of us. That is his goal. The master of evil has been here since Adam and Eve. He has so much more experience than us. He knows every trick to use and ways to entice us to love the things of world more than God. He is the opponent that knows everything, when we watch his film and read his stats he seems unbeatable at times. Through his cunning ways the sons of Mosiah became discouraged and depressed for a short time. The good news we have the best, the most powerful and the smartest coach on our side, God the Eternal Father and his beloved Son, Jesus Christ. With them and using their game plan we can and will smash Satan. The game plan is very simple and so easy to understand, Come Unto Christ and feel His love for you. As we do this we experience a change in our heart. We will also have courage and strength to fight against Satan and his team. Heavenly Father and our Savior has provided us with a playbook: the scriptures. We have also been given added strength through power in the priesthood which is power and authority from God. We need play with our heart and receive strength from the Lord through gift of the Atonement when we fall short. The atonement is amazing and it is real. Would you like to have it blazed upon your soul that the Savior descended beneath your sins and that there is no sin, no mortal plight outside the merciful reach of His Atonement—that for each of your struggles He has a remedy of superior healing power? Then read the Book of Mormon, it is our playbook. Heed to the words of Elder Holland, "Every one you can leave behind any transgression with which you may struggle. It is the miracle of forgiveness; it is the miracle of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. But you cannot do it without an active commitment to the gospel, and you cannot do it without repentance where it is needed. I am asking you to be active and be clean. If required, I am asking you to get active and get clean." As Elder Holland asks, "I ask for a stronger and more devoted voice, a voice not only against evil and him who is the personification of it, but a voice for good, a voice for the gospel, a voice for God. Brethren and sisters unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders to help bring the lost sheep unto the good Shepard." Right now I am living the gathering of Israel, it is the most amazing thing in the world. As Joseph Smith said, "After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel" I know that statement is so true. We need to partake of the bread of life and share with our neighbors. Heeding to the words of Christ will lead us to eternal life. As we partake of His words we will always be full. Let each of us be a more devoted voice, a voice for God. God lives and so does his beloved Son, Jesus Christ. This is his work and nothing will stop this work from reaching all ends of the earth. Lets help His work spread more rapidly by willing to share our love for the gospel. Our message is one faith and hope in the Savior of Jesus Christ.

Photo Opp

What I love about Mom and Dad is that they have taken my place and attended farewells for me.

Ducks Forever! With love,
Elder Mcilmoil
January 13, 2014

Tortilla count for the week: 18 (sorry it is a little low) 

Scriptures of week: Omni 1:26 and Alma 29:1-2 

Come On It Is Not What You Think, It Is A Game!

A New Year And Tender Mercies

New Year's Day In Chichi

Happy New Year and 6 months for me! New Year's day is just like Christmas, nobody is to found in the streets. They are all sleeping from fireworks and parties. So where to begin this week. Yesterday the Branch President and I celebrated our birthdays. His birthday was on January 4th. The food was so good and the cake is even better when its up your nose. So After you blow out the candles on your cake, and before you're actually allowed to eat it, you have to let everyone else pick up the cake and smash it into your face. It's tradition, so you're not getting out of it no matter what! Good times in Chichi, I love it.

Happy Birthday To Us!

Loving Some Cake!

Just to let you know I ate liver this week. Not much else to say about that. Also this week I visited two different little towns that I have never been to. The trips were very interesting. I met a service group from Layton Utah; they came up to us. They were all members. They were helping with an orphanage building a school. One of the kids is waiting for his mission call. It was sweet talking to them.

One Of The Kids From Utah

So this week was all about that tiny miracles that are happening here in Chichi; tender Mercies-divine signatures of reassurance. The simple and sweet tender mercies this week have been being able to testify to almost every contact in the street and really understanding the Book of Mormon in español. This may sound crazy but the biggest tender mercy is NOT having a Baptism. This is probably the weirdest thing a servant of God will say. It is a tender mercy for these two reasons. One I want to baptize the people the Lord has prepared because not everybody is ready just yet and I have witnessed that. Number two I want to baptize someone because they truly know the church is true and not being baptized because they like me. I want to baptize someone that will stay active forever, not just baptizing for a number. To me baptism is a tender mercy; it cleanses us from head to toe and allows us the companionship of the Savior through the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is through the Holy Ghost we receive personal inspiration and that is a tender mercy. 

Which Road Should We Take?

I Just Don't Know!

This week has also been a rough one because I have had to face one thing that I truly hate doing-forgiving myself for past wrongs. I have never pleaded to the Lord with so much energy of heart for help to forgive myself and to be an instrument in his hands. Forgiving myself was one of the hardest things I have had to do but each day is easier and easier and I can feel the Atonement working through me. I know the Atonement is real and it is through the Atonement that you can accept the Savior’s forgiveness, and then forgive yourself. We have to always remember that after you have done all that you can do, that’s when the Atonement steps in and takes care of the rest. The Atonement truly shows how much Christ loves us and how much our dear Heavenly Father loves us. I do truly wonder at times how many drops of blood were spilled for me and because of me. 

Always Look Up

Families are Forever. Elder Robert D. Hales said, "The plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into the eternities." We taught a family about that eternal message.  I have never felt the spirit so strong. The lesson was truly amazing. I have never loved a family so much and have never felt such true love which is the pure love of Christ. After that lesson I realized how important it is to me to have a family and how I need a family of my own. I am now more excited for marriage and to have a family. I know it will be my responsibility to raise my family based on the principles of the gospel. I know that families are forever and as The Family: A Proclamation To The World says, "The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children." 

This Is How We Roll/Ride

Yesterday I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting; my testimony has grown so much. Every time I share my testimony I get the biggest smile on my face. This gospel is true and this is the only true church on this earth. The Book Of Mormon is true. And I testify as my own witness that Christ lives and I add my testimony to that of the Prophet Joseph Smith: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!” 

What I love about Mom and Dad is that they ordered the master duck call-Ducks Forever!

Love,

Elder Mcilmoil
January 6, 2014

Tortilla count this week is 35

Scriptures of the week: Doctrine and Covenants: 76:22 and Alma 34:9 

Yep, That's A Firework!

Nineteen And The Atonement

Christmas Day In Chici

Master Birthday Cake Baker

Let's see what happened this week, I'm now 19.....I miss 18, well I miss saying I'm 18 because the look on peoples faces when I say I'm 18 is priceless! They respond, "No way you look 21 or older." I wasn't able to make my birthday cake you sent on Saturday night so I made it today for the district. It was so good!! I loved the Birthday card, that's a fact jack! The people we live with did some stuff to celebrate my Birthday. So many people here have really made my Birthday a great day. I'm humbled by their kindness. By the way Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!! Christmas is nuts here in Chichi. They light off fireworks at midnight on the 24th which is actually the 25th since it is a midnight. The fireworks go on forever, it is so hard to sleep. We finally fell asleep about 3 am. I have to say Christmas has been the easiest day of the mission. It was nice from not getting any asleep on Christmas Eve. Seriously there was nobody in the street, I mean nobody! The best thing about Christmas: Skype, I love technology! It was so amazing chatting with you guys, so much love, families are forever.

Happy Birthday To Me

"19"

The zone had some emergency changes on the 26th. It was crazy! No changes for me and Elder Navarro, which is good.On Friday we got a call telling us we were going to Huehue with the zone on Saturday and to make sure we didn't have or schedule any appointments. We woke up at 4:30 am Saturday morning and traveled to Huehue. The crazy thing is we were only in Huehue for an hour and a half. It was good since I got to see two elders from my CCM group; Elder Corbett and Elder Dickson. I also got to see my old zl and dl and Elder Perry. In the meeting all the companionship's shared there goals for the next 2 weeks then we left. Now I can say I have been to Huehue.

My CCM Comps, Elder Dickson and Elder Corbett

My Former ZL And DL

This week I had a sweet lesson with a family. Well it was with the son and daughter of the family that we helped build their nativity. To start the lesson we showed the dvd, Special Witnesses Of Christ. It is such a great dvd. We talked for a bit when it was over then we showed a dvd about the Atonement. After it was finished we talked about the Atonement and answered questions. This family is amazing. I love them so much. They remembered my birthday was Sunday. They called us Sunday afternoon asking us to come over. As we walked in the Dad shook my hand and then gave my a big hug and said, "Happy Birthday!!!" The rest of the family wished me a Happy Birthday too. I felt so humbled. I felt tears starting to swell but I held them back. We had pasta for dinner. They told me since your family is very far away for your Birthday we wanted to do this for you and because you are a part of our family we wanted to make your Birthday special. This family is so special and has touched my heart. For me to bring this family to our Father in Heaven I have to serve like Ammon building a foundation of trust, always being prepared to teach with inspiration and to teach through my example of the love I have for our Savior and the gospel. I need to teach everybody like that.

Brother de Leon (The Branch President In Chici) Love This Man

The Flour Game, Yep I Lost

This week I have focused on the atonement. I have learned that there are 3 things missionaries must teach: 1. the Restoration, 2. the Book Of Mormon, 3. the Atonement. Those 3 things build a strong foundation for a testimony. We have to understand without the Atonement we cannot return to God. We know "no unclean thing can dwell with God." (1 Nephi 10:21) Without the Atonement none of us would be able to dwell in the kingdom of God. It is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that the mistakes and sins we commit will be washed away but we have to be willing to have a repentant heart. President Packer said, "If you have made no mistakes, then you do not need the Atonement. If you have made mistakes, and all of us have, whether minor or serious, then you have an enormous need to find out how they can be erased so that you are no longer in darkness." He also taught, "There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the Atonement of Christ." We can be clean! The Book Of Mormon has the strongest discourses on the Atonement. Words cannot explain my thankfulness and gratitude for the Atonement. I am beyond grateful for the Savior, my Redeemer and my Brother Jesus Christ. He drank the bitter cup so I wouldn't have to. The atonement is the love of God and Christ. The atonement is the greatest gift in this life.

A Silas Duck D B-Day: Si Duck Call, Si Duck Cup And Si Duck Shirt

What I love about Mom and Dad is that I got to Skype with them, we were able to see each other! Yep Ducks Forever!

Love,
Elder Mcilmoil
December 30, 2013

Tortilla count for the week: 40

Scripture of the week: Moroni 7:41  

P-Day Love!!!

Random Pic In Quiche: Man On A Horse

Sweet Paint Job On The Bus