Letter #51

This week we didn't have splits. The district meeting was about lesson plans. It went well. I focused on the doctrine of the Atonement to help them to have the motivation to really plan for their lessons instead of winging it. In District meeting we have a devotional, we share how we applied the last meeting and the results we saw, then I teach them something, then we do a demo practice in front of everyone and then the others do a practice with another companionship. That part is an hour and a half ish. Then I interview them all to see how they are doing. We have a zone meeting this week.

My favorite thing to teach is the Atonement of Christ. When you feel the power of the Atonement in your life you want to share it with everyone. I love to testify about how Christ can strengthen people and how they can be forgiven of their sins if they act with faith and repent.

Viridiana and her boyfriend were going to go and see about marriage, but now they are having a lot of problems with each other and they don't know what they are going to do... Viridiana didn't go to church because nobody would go with her from her less active family. Guadalupe didn't go either because she had to drop off her son to take a school test on Sunday morning. Only Justino, Rosa, and Shari went to church, but they are still waiting on their divorce and can't be baptized even though they are more active than almost every member in the ward. 

This week was interesting. I went to the DF (its like the DC of Mexico) to sign my visa. While there I saw my first companion from the MTC (the one that faked a hernia and went home) he came back out aparently. Then we also had a ward talent night. The 6 missionaries did a theater describing a normal day in the life of a missionary. Elder Hansen and I were the main characters/actors. The others were in the background doing things or were investigators that we taught, etc. It went well. 

This week we were able to have 6 lessons where members acompanied us. That is a ton, especially when Xahuento only had 17 members at church on Sunday. It is super hard here, but we are doing everything possible and trying to do the impossible to work here. I can tell you that the members are the key to mission work. In preach my gospel it says that the success of the missionaries depends a lot on the work of the members. 

I would like to invite you to read a talk from Elder David A. Bednar called something like "And there is no offense for them". Then share it with some less actives. 

Love you,

Elder Finlinson