o.O 8/27/12

My dearest Family,

Well, tomorrow, I will finish 11 months since entering the mission field.  This is weird.  Time has flown by and I have the promise from many people that it will only keep going faster.  I'm slightly annoyed by that, but I can get over it I guess.

Something that I want to share with you is that we were able to take an investigator on Thursday to the Temple open house.  It was amazing.  The Temple is divine, and as the building says, it represents and is "Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord."  We've met with several people who have gone and they describe their feelings in many different ways.  Beautiful, marvelous, divine, peaceful, forgiveness, love, tranquility, etc.  The words just kept coming.  The architecture is stunning, but the Spirit that one feels. even in the gardens on the grounds, is something special.  Once I get the chance, I'll send some of the pictures that I took.

In my personal studies this morning, I was reading in the 6th chapter of John and had a "duh/ooohhhhhh/Way-to-go-Idaho" moment.  I made a connection that I have been taught for years, that never sunk in.  After Christ feeds 5,000 (which counts only the men in the crowd) He and His disciples sail to the other side of the Sea of Galilea.  When the crowd wakes up in the morning, they follow Him and find Him in Capernaum (my spelling may be very spanish, because I don't remember how to spell these names in English).  He then goes on to teach a doctrine about the difference between worldy bread and Mana, which feed the natural body, but do not give life, and the Bread of Life.  Fir the first time I really began to understand why it is that we eat bread and drink water when we partake of the Sacrament.  Christ teaches in this chapter that He is the Bread of Life, and that he who goes to Him will never hunger nor thirst.  Then he gives a commandment that up to now has not been taught, as far as I understand it, in the Hebrew/Jewish culture.  In verse 53 is says (quoting from the spanish) "If ye eat not of the flesh of the Son of Man nor drink His blood, ye have not life in you."  He goes on to promise that " he that eats of my flesh and drinks of my blood has eternal life..."  The Joseph Smith translation shed further light by continuing the phrase in this manner "...and I will raise him up in the resurrection of the just in the last day."  From this I finally understood that the Sacrament is just as important as baptism.  Indeed, baptism is required to enter into the way, but it is the renewal of our covenants by partaking of the bread and water each week (which represtent His flesh and blood) that we remain pure and can be raised up in the last day.  This doctrine was so disturbing for some that most of His followers "turned back and walked not with him."  But for those of us who understand, this can be and is the greatest gift that we can receive, the possibility to have eternal life (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). 

If I had more time, I'd continue to share more, but I have run out for the day.  I love you all!!!  Stand firm in the faith.  I pray for you always!

Love,
Elder Dewsnup

-- 

Elder Matthew H. Dewsnup

 

Misión Buenos Aires Norte

Gral. Lavalle 1828

1646 San Fernando

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Apologies 8/20/12

Dear family,

I just finished writing to you the briefest letter I think I have written and right before sending, the entire thing deleted.  Now it really is the shortest letter ever.

I apologize for the brevity of this message, it's not even fit to be a letter.  I commented that we went to the Temple today, which is the main cause of the lack of time.  We are only allowed to go on P-Days.

I studied from the Bible in the testimony of John.  One chapter a day has brought to mind many wonderful blessings of knowledge that I wish I had time to share with you.

I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Dewsnup

Hola! 8/13/12

Okee Dokee,

Well for starters this week, it's been better than I thought it would be.  My new companion is Elder Soelberg from Ogden Utah.  He's awesome and in so many ways like Elder Buxton.  We've hit it off quite well.  I was gonna attach a picture of him ain this email, but I'm still trying to catch up from so much time of not having a card reader, so it'll probably come next week, hopefully with another baptism picture as well.  So, things are moving right along.  Elder Soelberg actually started his mission in Oregon, waiting for his visa to come through.  So when he got here, he'd already had three months field experience.  His Spanish is great, even though he has a Mexican accent, which is which is making it hard for him to understand the Castellano spoken here.  But we keep practicing and we're moving forward.

Our studies have actually been moving us more in the direction of connecting the Doctrine of Christ with Love.  So this next section should be interesting.  We know from the first general epistle of John, chapter 4, that God is Love.  As Dad has taught us, that means that the power of the God, or the priesthood, is the power of Love.  Therefore, the priesthood is the power of love.  Continuing with that thread, we know that all ordinances that are required for the salvation of souls can only be brought to pass by someone who has the proper authority from God to do so, or someone who holds the power of the priesthood (love).

We read in other places in the scriptures that Charity is "the pure love of Christ" and that if a man hath not charity, he is nothing (Moroni 7).  And, we also know that the doctrine of Christ, as explained in 2 Nephi 31 and 3 Nephi 11, include the steps of Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentence, Baptism by immersion, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End.  It is also interesting to note that when Christ came to the Americas, the first thing he did, after inviting all to come unto him, was ordain disciples and give them the power to baptize in His name and explaining how to do so.

So, since we know that the Power of God is Love, which is the priesthood, and that that power is requisite for someone to truly be baptized and receive forgiveness for their sins, we can understand that the doctrine of Christ is also the doctrine of love.  The reason that the doctrine is love is found in a few key experiences recounted in the scriptures.  We know through the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants that one cannot receive the ordinance of baptism validly without that ordinance being performed by someone who holds the priesthood authority from God, not from a diploma given by man. For instance, in Acts, we read of an instance in which many are baptized, but have not yet received the Holy Ghost.  So two of the Apostles go immediately to that city to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them.  Later, Simon sees them doing this and offers to pay the Apostles for the right to have such a power bestowed upon him, and is denied and rebuked by Peter.  Such a power (the power of love) cannot be bought, nor given out freely, rather bestowed through worthiness and calling from God.  We learn further that whoever excercises unrighteous dominion through virtue of the priesthood loses the same (D&C 121).  Thus in order for one to hold and use the power of the priesthood, which is the power of love, he must also understand that that same power required he love others.

Now to really relate the doctrine of Christ to love, knowing that ordinances cannot be received but by the priesthood, given by worthiness and calling from God, we can see that love is required to perform these saving ordinances.  We can further understand through the commandments that God has given us to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost (2 Nephi 31; 3 Nephi 11; and others) that He and His Son love us so much that they demand we receive these ordinances.  They understand and have explained to us that if a man "believeth not in me, and is not baptized, the same shall be damned" (3 Nephi 11:34).  Harsh, maybe.  But it is the Word of God, which cannot be changed, but "must all be fulfilled."  To expound a little, we need to understand that the Greek word for damned literally means stopped.  This applies to the eternal condition of the souls who choose, through our divine gift of agency, not to accept the good news of Christ.  By choosing to reject that message and by not receiving the ordinance of baptism, such persons are refusing eternal progress in the Celestial Kingdom of God.

There's a whole lot more that I could have included in here that I chose not to because of time and lack of space in the letter, but the who point of it is that without being baptized, even though our Father and Elder Brother love us completely, we cannot enter into Their kingdom.  We will be stopped, or damned, never to progress further.  We will not live with Them.  We will not live with our families.  Those wonderful blessings are only possible by following the commandments, and those include Baptism and Confirmation.  "It is written" and it cannot be changed.  Justice must be fulfilled.  Mercy can only be extended to those willing to accept it, in other words, those willing to repent, be baptized, and follow the path Christ has set before us for the remainder of our lives.

I don't have enough time to add it here or I would, but there is a story in the Gospel Principles book in the chapter on Repentence that shares President Packer's parable on Justice and Mercy.  It's a story that I have used several times out here to help people uderstand that principle.  There are some who refuse the gift Christ has given us to pay our debts to the Father.  But we need to make sure that the knowledge of that gift is shared with everyone.

This is just a part of what I have been learning.  There are so many blessings that we know about as Latter-Day Saints.  Our other brothers and sisters don't even know what they're missing.  That is why we have been charged as a people to dedicate time (as I am, and many others as well) to the spreading of this glorious news.  It is a churchwide duty that I did not understand before I got here to the mission field, or even until recently.

I love you all!  I can't say it enough, and these words in an electronically simulated message don't do them justice.  Please know you are in my prayers and that I am also praying for you to have missionary experiences.

Love,
Elder Matthew Dewsnup

P.S. The pics are of Nahuel, Roni, and Alejo's baptisms, then of Eusebio's with his son, who baptised him, and also Juan.  That catches us up to date on the baptisms, other pictures next week

P.S.S Meg and Sarah, say hi to Minion and Sharkbait for me!!  Marvin and Brandon, give 'em a hug from me!!

Extra Extra!! Read All About It!!! 8/6/12

Dear Family,

"Baby Born wit' tree heads!!!"... ... ...  Ok, so not really.  Quick, what's that movie??

Well, I have little time, about 15 minutes to write this letter, but boy do I have some news.  I have been assigned to be a trainer.  This time, it's a for real greenie, and probably a gringo North American.  Things are going to be getting relatively rough here for me.  Very few of our investigators have been progressing and for the moment the work is slow.  I have received many heavy ideas and responsibilities brought to my attention this last week.

Our mission includes about 8 million people of the world's population.  Of those 8 million, there are between 50,000 and 200,000 in my area alone.  I and my green new companion tomorrow are the only two people in the entire world who can preach salvation to those fifty to two hundred thousand souls.  In the pre-existence, he and I were assigned and prepared to be the ones who would bring the wonderful news and plan of salvation to those thousands upon thousands of souls, who were promised by a loving Heavenly Father that one day they would have the opportunity to hear His marvelous plan for them.  In a possible 200,000 people, only we two men, accompanied by the Spirit of God (...we three [men] of orient...), are the only ones who have the authority and power to preach and baptize them.  This is heavy... great Scott!  (movie anyone?)

I'm sorry about the random references.  I am really nervous.  I understand that I have the responsibility to help my new companion to become the missionary the Lord wants him to be and I know I haven't even become the missionary God wants me to be yet.  This is a heavy burden for me to carry.  I wonder a lot now about who he will be, what he'll be like, will we get along (of course we will, but still...), etc.

I know it'll be hard, but I know I can do it with the Lord's help.  The biggest thing I need to remember is to treat him as my equal from the first moment.  In working together to make all decisions we will be able to develop the unity that we need to really help our area grow and flourish.  This is going to be rough, but as Nephi states, "I will go and do the thing which the Lord has commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare the way for them to accomplish the thing which he has commanded them...I know in whom I have put my trust" (1 Nephi 3:7; 2 Nephi 4:19).

I love you all and as I know you pray for me, I pray for you.

¡Que Dios os cuide!
Elder Matthew Dewsnup

Moving on Down the Line 7/30/12

My Dearest Family,

The Peanut Butter is almost gone.  Probably enough now for only two sandwiches.  I guess some things just never change... ;)

Ok, Mom mentioned some things in her email to me that are making me look like o.O  I think I heard that Minion is Megan and Marvin's Junior, so does that make Sharkbait Sarah and Brandon's?  Sincerely, confused Uncle Dweebus.

And in the Argentine news, or at least the news that pertains to...me...the work progresses.  I can't remember what I've been sharing with you all about Belén (different one than from Lopez Camelo), but things progressed there a whole truck load.  Last Sunday, she told us that she didn't want to get baptized but that she wanted to keep talking with us about the church.  On Wednesday we had an appointment with her again.  At first it seemed like everything was going wrong.  We got there and there wasn't any other man there, which means that we can't enter the house, and it was too cold to have a lesson outside.  So rather than just say, "oh, we'll just come back tomorrow," we went a block and a half away and asked a Brother if he could come with us briefly.  He agreed and we returned.  Then just as we were about to start the appointment, the power went out, and Belén had to go buy candles.  We waited and lit the candles when she returned, then started a half hour late.  But the wait was well worth it.  We had I think the most spiritual lesson that I have been in in my mission.  We focussed so much on teaching by the Spirit and shared several scriptures.  We also left room for several pauses to let the Spirit testify of what we were teaching.  It was amazing!!  She felt in the lesson that she needed and wanted to get baptized, to the point that she actually said it outloud to us.  Later I asked her where she felt that impression came from, and she replied that she knew it came from God.  Then when we finished the lesson, she said the prayer, kneeling for the first time, and specifically asked if she should be baptized and if this was the true church.  The Spirit was so strong in that moment that she started crying.  I was close to that point, as were Elder Buxton, the brother with us, and her grandmother (who has refused to accept any invitation on our part other than listen when we teach).  It was just such an amazing experience with the Spirit and has reinforced my testimony so much.  For now she has let some other fears creep back in, but we keep reminding her of that experience and encouraging her.  We hope that she will enter the waters of Baptism this weekend.

In sadder news, one of the investigators we were teaching, Carmen, had a heart attack last Tuesday and passed away.  It was a really rough moment, especially for Clara, Mirta and Yeni.  When we found out, we shared the scripture in Alma 30 that talks about the spirits of the just and how as part of the Plan of Salvation she still has the opportunity to continue learning there and have the work done for her in the Temple.  They were comforted by that, and still are very interested in continuing to listen.  It was an experience that I don't hope to have again soon, but it was a spiritually eye-opening testimony to me again of the beauty of the Gospel and what we enjoy as members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Juan was confirmed a member yesterday and has agreed to accompany us to certain visits this week, so we are now hoping to help him prepare to enter the temple and serve his own mission.  He doesn't understand as much, but as he begins this path, now armed with the constant guidance of the Holy Ghost, he will begin to learn more quickly and readily.  I think it will also help him greatly to teach with us.

We are still having difficulties contacting Ana and Guillermo again, and that is because they live in one of those gated communities.  You need to have documents to get in unless they come get you at the gate, and they haven't answered our calls for the last two weeks.  But we're working on it.

We're also trying to improve our ways to find new investigators, because we're struggling with that.  We've discussed several methods we can use and have decided on a few of them, so I hope that those produce more fruit this week.

Well, I have just been told that the internet café where we are writing from is closing in 5 minutes, so I'm going to have to close here for the week.  Know that I love you all and think about you often.  I pray for you and am looking forward to the experiences that I will hear about you next week.

With Love,
Elder Dewsnup

P.S.  The photos attached are of Maria Saldaña's baptism, Victoria's baptism, Me with Elders Black, Buxton, and Jorquera, and Nahuel's baptism!  

Another Fantastic Week 7/23/12

Dearest Family,

I just enjoyed looking at a whole bunch of pictures of my little Cutest Niece Annie-Bug.  And I got the Birthday package two days before my birthday, along with cards from Grandma and Grandpa R. and Mary.  I've enjoyed immensely the ability to have PB&J sandwiches for the first time in 8 months.  Mom, I've already gone through one and a half jars of jam, the largest still remains unopened.  I'm putting the socks to good use, have already consumed the Butterfingers and Snickers, and am now downloading some pictures to put attach to this email with my new card reader.  Mom mentioned a "few surprises" as well, which included a wonderful picture of two missionaries preparing to leave their appartment, while in the mirror, Christ is placing a helmet on one's head, his Book of Mormon reflects as a sword, and he is wearing armor as well.  It's a pretty sweet picture!!  And speaking of sweet, I highly enjoyed and recommend the new Cheerios flavor "Dulce de Leche."  It does a good job at immitating the flavor, but when I come home, I'm still bringing a few jars of Dulce de Leche.

Moving forward, thanks to you who sent me messages.  It was cool to read 'em!  And a hearty hug to each of you!!  Most people didn't know it was my Birthday, and I preferred it that way.  But at one house we went to, they fed us some sweets and sang the Argentine Birthday song.  I'll try to fit a picture of them in the message, but it may take a week or two (or perhaps more) before I get all the images sent to you that I want to send.

The week was spent in trying to keep in contact daily with all of our investigators, which was a hard task a few of the days (more in a mo').  We have been working really, really hard to get Juan to church again so he can be confirmed, but for the second week in a row, he didn't come.  When we went to visit him yesterday after church, he told us why, after which we talked more about the process of the Gospel and the importance in our lives of receiving the Holy Ghost.  We'll be working with him again all this week to make sure that he can make it this week.  It's been a fight to keep in touch with our other investigators and we've had to begin deciding if we should keep visiting some of them who just aren't progressing for one reason or another.

Two of the four women we contacted the other week came to church on Sunday and said that they really liked the meeting.  They're still not all that sure about the doctrines, but we keep teaching them about the importance of readnig from the Book of Mormon, praying about it's truth, and coming to church.  Clara and Mirta are progressing, and Yeni and Carmen, though they didn't come to church, are sincere in their desire for a change in their lives.  They both expressed to us yesterday that they've passed through some rough moments in their lives that they want to be able to forget; pain felt or dealt, physical infirmities that they are finding dificult to accept, etc.  We listened to their concerns and, through the Spirit, promised them specific blessings if they continue to investigate and progress.

One thing this week that made things difficult to make a contact daily with our investigators had to do with a really special invitation, which was that we had the opportunity to go to the Buenos Aires Temple to help at least a little with the renovations and set up for the Open House in August.  We were mainly in the new MTC buildings--putting things into the appartments, organizing furniture, etc.--but we had the opportunity to go all around the grounds placing locks on the electrical and utility boxes and got some great pictures of the exterior of the Temple.  I've included one with the email.  After we finished the service, we were taken on a tour of the interior and got to see some of the happenings that go into renovating and preparing a Temple for use.  It is GORGEOUS!  They took us into the Celestial room and turned the light on in the chandelier, which had just been hung.  It was one of the most beautiful things I've seen in my life.  Few places or views in this world compare to the beauty and peace of a Temple of God.

Changing topic a little, there is one big theme within all of the things that I've seen this last week that has come to mind, and that is a focus on forgiveness.  When someone hurts us, physically or emotionally, the reprucissions, though sometimes fleeting, are often felt for a long time.  Being able to forgive them is not easy in some cases.  But extending forgiveness is necessary and ultimately more healing personally than if we continually held a grudge or hate against them.  It is a lesson I have learned a few times, and will probably have to learn many more times in my life.  If I had more time, I'd go to a few scriptures, but for now I'll just direct you to the topical guide and Bible Dictionary.  One of my favorite stories is in the New Testament, about the servant who was forgiven a debt of 10,000 talents and wouldn't forgive his fellowservant a debt of 100 pence (the difference between several million dollars in comparison to perhaps $50 dollars or less).  Others are given and I've been reading many of them.

The second is in receiving forgiveness, and this one is perhaps harder to understand and yet covetted so highly.  The scriptures teach us that to be forgiven of sins we must follow the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel (Article of Faith 1:4; 2 Nephi 31).  First we must have faith and believe that we can be forgiven of our wrongdoings, then repent and change our attitudes towards God and the world.  We must be willing to change ourselves to conform and submit to the will of the Father.  Moroni tells us that the "firstfruits of repentance is baptism" (Moroni 8:25) and Nephi explains further that we only recieve a remission of sins through a "baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost" (2 Nephi 31:17).  Later on we are told that in order to remain clean and unspotted from the world, we must endure to the end.  If we endure to the end, we will have eternal life (2 Nephi 31:28?  towards the end).  Those who don't endure to the end wil not receive this precious gift, which Christ Himself decrees is the "greatest of all the gifts of God" (D&C 14:7).  Part of enduring to the end lies in returning weekly to the Lord's church to partake of the Holy Sacrament, which we can only partake of in a Sacrament meeting in the chapel, or as directed by the Bishop.  Elder Oaks in 2008 described Sacrament meeting as the most important meeting of the church.  It is through partaking of the sacrament that we can receive a weekly cleansing from sin in a renewed self-commitment to live the covenants we have made with our Father in Heaven.  I have never been as concious as I am now of how important the Sacrament is.  It is so important that Jesus Christ teaches us that "he who partaketh of my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul" (3 Nephi, not sure which chapter).  At the same time, we are helping those who partake worthily to receive the forgiveness necessary for eternal salvation and exaltation.

My studies of the Doctrine of Christ (as taught in 2 Nephi 31 and 3 Nephi 11) have lead me repeatedly to this theme.  It is a theme that I have seen take effect in the lives of our investigators.  It is a theme I have seen affect entire families and all those who really understand its significance.  Forgiveness is so central to everything that it was the reason Christ suffered for us.  He knew we would sin and that by doing so we could not, by divine law, ever return to live with our Father.  Through His eternal sacrifice, we are able to receive a forgiveness and sanctification that can last forever, as long as we are worthy to receive it.

I hadn't planned to go on for so long about that, but it is something that has been on my mind a lot.  I love you all and sincerely hope that you can forgive me for the things I have done wrong to you.  I also want you all to know that I forgive you of any thing that you desire forgiveness from me for, even though I cannot personally think of a one of you who would have a reason for it.  I love you so much!!!  I miss and pray for you.  I hope that we can all think more carefully on this marvelous gift of forgiveness in our life.  As President Kimball has said, it truly is a miracle.

With love,
Elder Dewsnup

P.S.  The pictures are of Elder Verges and I after the largest rainstorm I've been in in Argentina, we got thouroughy drenched.  Then the baptisms of: 1) Nicolás, Kevin, and Jónatan; 2) Marina Alegre; and 3) Belen and Zulma.  More to come next time!!

From The Field 7/16/12

{Okay okay. I know that I'm way behind in posting Matthew's letters but at least I'm consistently a month behind. I've had a lot going on and now I have no internet for the next month or so, so I'll inevitably be behind again but I hope you enjoy this last months letters. ~Megan}

Dear Family,

I love you all!

Ok, so here's the scoop on some of the happenings with our investigators.

Juan, a Peruvian man we've been teaching for about three months, was baptized last Saturday night.  His biggest problem for a long time was that he just didn't pray on his own.  He prayed when we taught him, but he wouldn't do it on his own.  Now he has already shared his testimony about the Church and prayer with a few of his neighbors, and he hasn't even been confirmed yet!  He was supposed to be confirmed yesterday, but his aunts paid him a surprise visit at 7:00 in the morning and took him out to buy things for an asado (Argentine Barbeque, but better).  But he is now willing to come with us to other citas and things, so we're excited to begin working more with him, and not just teaching him.  Now he gets to teach with us.

Eusebio was confirmed on Sunday by his son.  He's moving along strong and slow.  He likes to understand things, and understand them well, so his reading has been slow, but steady.  He reads from every book we have given him every day (the Book of Mormon, Gospel Principles, and a couple pamphlets).  He lokes coming to church and has been coming on his own, sometimes getting there even before the Bishopric.

The Silva family is doing well, for the most part.  Claudia is still having problems getting to the Capital to have her documents fixed, but she says that they're going for sure this week.

We "found" a new couple this last week too.  Their son is going to (shiver) the University of Utah.  He decided he wanted to study there after having worked at Big Sky Ski Resort in Montana (o.O) for two years.  So he applied and is now rooming with a member.  When this couple went to visit him, the roommate (who served a mission in either Guatemala or Costa Rica) took them on a tour of Temple Square.  They left their information with the offices of the church, who passed their information on to us.  They are of a Catholic background and have a lot of questions, but the woman, Ana, believes strongly that they found out about the church for a reason.  She doesn't believe in coincidences.  Guillermo on the other hand has a few more doubts about the Apostasy thing and the historical background of the Catholic Church in relation to Priesthood authority.  But he is very open and even excited to read the Book of Mormon to see if his doubts are answered in the Book.

We also found a few other new investigators while looking for a reference.  Four women who were selling on the street invited us over to talk to them.  We were with two members at the time and we taught them about the Restoration, following up by giving them all copies of the Book of Mormon with a promise to come to church and a baptismal date.  They are very open to the things here and liked the Spirit they felt around us.  Every time we pass them, they wave to us now.  

I've been enjoying my studies recently in many of the talks of General Conference.  We got a copy of the Liahona from one of the members and I've bene reading mostly from there.  I started with Priesthood session and the last two talks of the Sunday Afternoon session, since those are the ones I missed.  Then I continued from there.  The messages are so inspiring.  This morning I read Elder Baxter and Elder Soares's talks.  Elder Baxter's dealt with a message to single parents which included the experience of a woman recounted by President Hinckley in 2006.  In that experience she recounted how she didn't think she could keep on going and prayed to God for a moment of relief.  His reply to her was that "I can come to you."  I really liked that, in that it is a message we can all apply in our own situations.  I also liked President Eyring's talk about building a foundation of Faith.  From Elder Anderson's talk, I loved how he talked more about how we should ask ourselves how the Lord thinks of us.

I've been pondering a lot lately about humility and pride.  It's something that has been worrying me a little as I have been drawn to my own shortcomings.  I started thinking about the Pride Cycle in the scriptures and how we always need to keep ourselves humble to be able to receive the blessings of the Lord.  It also reminds me of Alma 37:37, in which we are admonished to "counsel with the Lord in all [our] doings, and he shall direct [us] for good."  If we acknowledge Him in all things, we will be directed in the way we need to go.  We've been understanding that a little more as we have found our new investigators.

I'm excited to work even harder this week and I am looking forward to all of the challenges that we have been given by our President to open our mouths a little more (though not wider) and invite the people to the Temple Open House.

I know that the Temple is a sacred place where we can feel closest to God in this world and in which we can feel most strongly His love for each and every one of us.  I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to carry a current Temple Recommend and for all of the strength I receive for honoring the covenants I have made.  Though my temptations have not disappeared, nor really lessened all that much, I have found an additional strength in those covenants to resist that which was harder before.  I know that through keeping those covenants, both from the Temple and my baptismal covenants, I can enjoy more fully the presence of the Spirit in my life.

I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week.  I thank you for all your prayers and love, I feel them.

Love,

Matthew

-- 

Elder Matthew H. Dewsnup

 

Misión Buenos Aires Norte

Gral. Lavalle 1828

1646 San Fernando

Buenos Aires, Argentina