Wow, two years have come and gone. I honestly can´t express
in an email what this time here in the mission has meant to me and how it´s
changed me. This time that i´ve had to serve the people of Argentina has been
absolutely incredible, and I wouldn´t trade these two years for anything.
My plane sets off this next Monday, so this will be the last
email that I send from Argentina. Well, to give a little update on last week,
we did splits with the José León Suárez Elders, had Interviews with the mission
President, and just worked as usual. Also, on Saturday we had a very
special baptism. I´ve mentioned Sofia before, she´s a young woman who´s been
trying to get baptized for quite a while now, but her Mom never gave her
permission. Well, with the support of our Bishop, we decided to proceed with
faith, we set up her baptismal interview and made invitations for the baptism,
and pretty much planned it for Saturday. Thursday night, we were there for like
an hour trying to convince her mother that she (Sofia) was ready for baptism.
We just testified and testified. We didn´t get the permission that night, but
the next day, when we showed them the invitations that we´d made, something
clicked in her head, and she gave the permission (She even came to the
baptismal service the day after!). I still don´t know what happened, but it was
a miracle. It was another lesson to me about how we need to charge forward with
faith.
My beloved brothers and sisters, I just want to exhort you
with all the energy of my soul to press forward and exercise your faith daily.
Do this so that you´ll be able to look back at the end of your life to see the
effects that your faith has had. We don´t have much time, for as said Jacob:
"26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old... wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream"
I have a testimony of the importance of action, for as we
read also in the book of Jacob, respecting the allegory of the vineyard:
"35 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: The tree profiteth me nothing, and the roots thereof profit me nothing so long as it shall bring forth evil fruit."
We can have wonderful and grand desires (belief), but if we
don´t put these feelings into action, as James taught, our faith is dead.
I beg you to use your talents and gifts in the edification of the kingdom of
Heaven here in the earth, there is no better work to be consecrated in.
Once more, I just want to leave with you my testimony. I
know without a doubt that Jesus Christ lives and that he is our Saviour and
Redeemer. He is the source of our salvation, for he has paid the price of our
sins with his atoning blood. He is the only way to receive reconciliation with
the Father. I love the Lord, and in him I find my hope. I know that this is his
church. The Book of Mormon is true, as are the other standard works. I know
that Joseph Smith was a Prophet as well. I testify of the veridity and power of
fast and prayer. Also, I testify of the importance of missionary work, for I
know that the Lord works alongside his servants. Once more I testify: Jesus is
the Christ! This I leave in his name, yea, even in the sacred name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.
--
-Elder Holtry
Sofia's Baptism
Splits with Elders Ryan and Smith
Street graffiti of Jesus saying "And that´s
how I saved the world"
Sofia's Baptism Invitation
Sunday Morning
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