A Baptism!

July 29, 2013

 

Hey hey!!

So we got some transfer news. Here we go! Elder G-- is leaving to go to Corona, (I'll miss the fellow) and one of the other Spanish Elders, Elder P--, is going to Hemet, and two Sister missionaries are coming into our ward. Elder M-- and I are staying in mine and Elder G-- old area, while the sisters take over Elder P-- and M-- old area. So we will be biking still. Whoo!! But I'm excited to be with Elder M--, we already know each other really well. He is from Minnesota, and is really cool. He is one transfer younger than me in the mission. So we are a pretty young duo. It will be a good learning experience.

This week Elder G-- and I saw some miracles. We met a lot of new people. We finally got La Familia A-- to come to church, a family we have taught off and on for a while, and the mother absolutely loved it. She was in tears. I know she felt the spirit there. We actually had a break through with them a week or two ago. We didn't see much progress in them because they weren't keeping any commitments,  but we were teaching about some of the commandments one day, and they didn't look like they were paying much attention. I mentioned how keeping the commandments and having an eternal perspective would help them live a happier life, and then I felt impressed to bear my testimony about the afterlife, and the reality of it. (which was completely off topic) But the Hermana started to cry. From then on we knew what some of her questions were, and we learned a lot about the passing of her mom. The next time we came we taught a little bit of the plan of salvation, and she agreed to come to church and loved it. Pretty cool!

Other than that, Everyone is doing pretty good. The T-- family went to church two times in a row now. That was pretty sweet! We are making some progress with some people, but we still need to find a lot more.  I want to find that Family that needs, and wants the Gospel! But it was a good week this week. We had 7 investigators at church which was sweet! We went around last night and said good by to some people last night. The end of the transfer always means an endless amount of food. They just won't let you refuse to eat more. I think it's a sign of love in the Spanish culture. We ate soo much last night!

I love you guys. You are my eternal family. How cool is that? :) Thanks for all you do for me, and the encouragement, and love. You guys rule.

Love Elder Higgins.

"The fact is, that by the power of God I translated the Book of Mormon from hieroglyphics, the knowledge of which was lost to the world, in which wonderful event I stood alone, an unlearned youth, to combat the worldly wisdom and multiplied ignorance of eighteen centuries, with a new revelation, which (if they would receive the everlasting Gospel,) would open the eyes of the world, and make 'plain the old paths,' wherein if a man walk in all the ordinances of God blameless, he shall inherit eternal life." - Joseph Smith Jr

 

July 22, 2013

 

Hey!!

 

...Yeah we have been able to see some smoke from the nearby fires. We don't hear much about them, but we could see some smoke in the distance. Hey and thanks for the article about Murrieta and Neon Trees, and your lessons. Fun Fact: I knocked on the door of the house that Tyler Glenn (the lead singer) grew up in. His parents were in some other Elder's ward, and when I went on exchanges with them we tried to visit them. They weren't home, sadly. But apparently they have some of the awards that he has won in their home, and he actually came back and DJ'ed for his sisters birthday party while we were there, and the Smedleys had pictures with him and everything. Pretty exciting!

Hey so my week was pretty great! J-- was baptized yesterday! It was pretty special. I finally got to get my white clothes a little wet, and was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to baptize him. It was pretty neat. He's kind of a more timid quite guy, and he was nervous coming into it, but afterwards he was smiling, and I know he was feeling the spirit. So I am grateful for that experience. I'll send you pictures in a little bit.

We also taught a lot of the same people that we have been working with, I think we are going to go to finding mode this week, and try to find some new people. Hopefully we can find a family that is being prepared to accept the Gospel. I know they are out there.

Other than than that there hasn't been too much else to report. This is the last week of the transfer. It went by quick! I don't know what will happen, if I will leave or not, but it's always an exciting time at the end of the transfers. We met a guy, Brian as we were walking down the road.  He had some things to say about the Book of Mormon, trying to tell us it is wrong...... in the words of Joseph Smith, "The Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book." It is a divine piece of work. It is the words of Christ that will lead anyone that reads it prayerfully to eternal life. I always think of the last chapter of 2nd Nephi, which, by the way, might be my favorite chapter. But anyway, Brian has just made me think a lot about stuff like that....

I love you all, and I'm proud to be serving my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for all the things I've learned.

Love, Elder Higgins

Fishing....

July 15, 2013

 

Hey!

 

I spent some money at walmart for a Fishing License. That's right! Some members took all the missionaries out to Lake Perris today, and they said if we wanted to fish we could buy a license for the day. Is that even a question!? So Elder M and I bought a license and spent a few hours on the lake fishing today! It was great! We didn't catch anything, but it was still pretty great!

This week was pretty good. We had a really good Multi-Zone conference this week, and it was pretty cool. They talked a lot about the power of testimony. I always love those conferences because they amplify my desire to serve. I also had some few crazy events this week. One day Elder G and I somehow ended up in a house with a lady from Iraq who spoke very little English. She did understand a little bit of what we said, like "Jesus", and "pray", and she had a strong faith in Jesus so she let us come in so we could pray with her, and leave a blessing on her house. Her husband was sleeping when we first came in, but eventually woke up and began screaming something in Arab (It didn't sound nice). Then her son (who spoke English) came downstairs and told us we need to leave. The mother was yelling at the son and the father and them back at her while we just sat there. It was pretty awkward. We eventually left without leaving the blessing, because the son was getting pretty vulgar. The next day I was on exchanges with Elder C. I was in his area, and we had just got done teaching a pretty spiritual lesson. We put the people we were teaching on date to be baptized, and they agreed without hesitation, because the Spirit was present, but literally two minutes after this one of the sons walks through the door, and from the second he saw us, he started yelling at us. Very profane, and absurd things, calling us blue eyed devils, and all sorts of other stuff. Again the Mother of the family began defending us, and we were just sitting there. awkwardly. It was all very random and I'm still amazed at it all because I don't know what we did to deserve all that. We just like praying with people. If anything I gained a testimony of Satan stirring up the hearts of men against us.

But yeah those were the highlights of the week. Sadly.. This week should be good though. We have a baptism scheduled.

Anyway, that's about all I got time to say. Sorry it isn't a super happy report. But I'm still happy to be out here, and I know this work is hastening, and that God's hand is in it. I love you guys, and Thanks for all you do! You're the best!!

Love Elder Higgins :)

Zone Conference - July 11, 2013

Moreno Valley Zone

I'm Amazed!!

July 8, 2013

So I'll cut to the chase. I love America! We had a good time on the 4th of July. We had an activity as a zone and played volleyball. It was a good ol' American time. We had a good week teaching as well. I've been stressing my teaching skills lately because I need to learn how to teach more clearly and effectively, and I was able to feel the Lord's hand in my life this week helping me teach, and being more bold in teaching as well. I think it is because I've put more trust in my Savior, and I've tried to forget myself, and my weaknesses. We've seen progress in a lot of our investigators. We only had 2 come to church ( We had over ten committed), but nevertheless we are seeing improvement. We had two, what I call, "breakthrough" lessons with two families because we were able to identify what they need, and now when we visit them this week we can teach them more effectively. Another investigator is still doing well, and is searching for an answer, but said she doesn't know how to recognize it. I've tried to put myself in an investigators shoes, and understand how we can help them receive an answer, and recognize it, and I think sometimes it requires patience. All we can do is help them by inviting them to do the simple things like praying, and reading, and coming to church, and if they do those things they are promised an answer. ... 

Anyway, I love being out here! I'm amazed at how far I've come, and how much I've learned. I'm still amazed sometimes as I walk away from a lesson and look back and realize I just taught someone, in Spanish, the gospel. In Spanish! And they understood me!! I know it's because I have the help of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I've also come to a greater understanding of the Gospel which is a great blessing!

So I love you guys. That hasn't changed! Thanks for all you do, and have done for me!

You guys rule!!  Love, Elder Higgins

 

An Exciting Time to Be a Missionary!

June 27, 2013

 

Hey hey!

This week was good. It's getting hot! I'm sweating a lot these days. We visited a lot of people this week. We also found quite a few new families. We ran into a nice lady when we had a few minutes to spare and knocked a few doors. She let us in without hesitation when we offered to leave a blessing with her. We learned that her son just passed away about 4 months ago due to cancer, and that he was actually meeting with missionaries before then. I'm sure she recognized us, and I'm positive that has helped prepare her to receive the Gospel. We left the blessing and I could tell she felt the spirit. We haven't been able to find her again though. Other than that we have been working with J--, who we met quite some time ago. He is a very quick learner, and likes what we are teaching. We are kind of just hitting road bumps with all of our investigators. We invite them to do stuff like read and pray and come to church, and they commit to do them but then they don't. We had like 7 or 8 people committed to come to church, and guess how many came? 0. zero came. I understand that it is hard to wake up and get to church by 9, because I had a hard time doing it growing up, but it's not that hard. We remind everyone Saturday nights as well, but still no one comes. But other than that I can't complain much. We made some progress with another investigator, and we've addressed some concerns she has had. We have some pretty good ideas for lessons we can teach with the T-- family. So I'm excited for all of that.

 

I loved the little conference we had yesterday. It was so good! It got me excited to work harder, and smarter, and just be a better missionary. I hope it got all the members excited as well, because like they mentioned we need help. When we have a "fellow shipper" everything works out so smoothly. It definitely is an exciting time to be a missionary though!

 

A scripture for the day. John 17:3 "And this is ^alife ^beternal, that they might ^cknow thee the only true ^dGod, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast ^esent"

 

To know God (The only true God I might add), and Jesus Christ. I've thought a lot about this scripture. I could ask a room full of people "who is God?" and all of them would have a different answer. Each answer would be defined by the experiences they have had with God, and a lot (All of them, even mine) of the answers would be conformed to who they would like to think God is.  The scripture says we can know him, the only true God, but like each relationship we must open our lines of communication, and our hearts, and sincerely seek him out. That means sincere prayers, that means reading the scriptures, and that means opening our hearts to God's will. We expect answers, and miracles from God, and He expects us to live according to His will. We conform to Him. He blesses us. To know Him is Eternal Life, which I believe we can have a taste of here on earth as we grow to know Him.

Anyway, I have to go. My hour is up. Much Love :)

Love, Elder Higgins :)

 

July 1, 2013

Hey!

We have a zone meeting on the 4th of July, and then we have weekly planning, and we also have to be in by 6 O'clock. So we won't be out visiting people for very long. I think we are going to have an activity with the zone at 6 actually, which will be fun!

So I can't believe how fast June went by. It zoomed by! I can't believe how hot it is either. Holy Moly it's hot! I've never sweat more in my life than I did this week.. It was wild! But don't worry I've been using sun screen, and the people we visit keep us pretty hydrated.

This week has been pretty good. We've been teaching some of the same people, and we've presented a baptismal date to many of them, and many of them are praying about them. I have felt the spirit work with me more in the lessons, and that's because I've been trying to think about them and their needs while I'm in the lessons, and not worry about what I'm going to say, or my lack of Spanish. (which is still coming along pretty well I might add.) We had a lesson this week and we taught about how to recognize the spirit, and to receive revelation, and then we taught about Joseph Smith and The Restoration a little, and explained what one needs to do to gain a testimony of the restored gospel. As we were committing our investigator to pray and read and finishing up the lesson she asked us if she could get baptized on Saturday. This lesson was on Thursday and she wanted to be baptized two days later! It was a miracle moment. We told her yes, and the next day we went to work planning her baptism only to get a call that afternoon saying she couldn't. It was pretty devastating. We visited her on Saturday though to figure out what happened, and it turns out there is some family opposition, she said she still wants to be baptized, but doesn't want to do it while there is opposition. We shared 1 Nephi 3:7, and explained there is always a way.

We also had a spiritual lesson with the investigator who just had a son pass away due to cancer. We taught the plan of salvation. She had a lot of questions, and seemed very interested in Temples. Near the end of the lesson she mentioned remembering the Elders that visited her son before he passed away had given him blessings, and asked if we could give her one, and of course we did. I thought that was cool she remembered that.

And then we have another who is pretty stubborn in his beliefs. He is reading though, and has come to church so we will still be working with Him. We promised him an answer if he read and prayed. We'll see if he does!!

Oh and one more of the highlights of the week. Somehow in one lesson I brought up five guys and how I'm craving it, and hno sterling (a returned missionary from Argentina that visits people with us sometimes) was with us. Well, apparently he took notes and kindly took us to five guys this week. Hoorah! It was super delicious!!

So that was my week. Loved it.

Love you guys too. Hope you have a good 4th of July! Home of the Brave! That's Right!!

Love Elder Higgins :)