"With all that is going on in the world, with the lowering of moral standards, you young people are being raised in enemy territory."- pres packer.

Sometimes when I wake up and go to preach the gospel I feel I have gone back in time and I'm in the 1940s during world war 2.  I am in enemy territory on my little island with spiritual land mines and traps to ensnare young missionaries.  Those who live outside of the commandments of God are living on a sinking ship.  We cry to them to jump into the lifeboats but they would rather dance the night away.  It is hard sometimes to help someone who doesn't want you, someone who wants to live life on the edge, without restrictions, without God. However, Moroni 7 says we should pray with all our hearts to be filled with this charity which is the greatest of all.  We went shopping this morning for preparation day and we walked by some shops that could use a good reading from the " For the Strength of Youth" ( by the way I bought these awesome shoes).  If I am to walk away from my mission having only gained a stronger testimony of this church, I would be a "rich" man.

Random thoughts:
We set a fecha with our investigator Gustavo, but he lost it because he didn't show up to church.  Inv

estigators have to go to church at least twice before they can get baptized and we have district conference this week, because we live in a district and not a stake. He is a great man though.  He says he wants to change his life and come closer to God, plus he had really good questions and a hunger to learn more.

A member named Ana went to Nigeria for six months and we had a farewell snack with her at the church on Monday night.

We saw some kids playing in a pond last week with a fishing net trying to catch fish.

We went contacting for 15 minutes before our district meeting via Skype and we met a man named Cesilio from Paraguay.  His girlfriend is a member and he was very interested to learn more about the church. We met with him the other day and had a good first visit with him.

While on a bus I talked to a Pamplomian!  I talked with a woman who was staring at my chopa.  She got very interested in what we taught but got off the bus before we could get her number. I think her name was Camilla?

We taught a French couple this week while on an intercombio.  It was all in English.  They were visiting and we got them to think about the church and met them again in the streets the other day.  I hope they visit with the missionaries.

We met a 98 year old ibizinco man who turns 99 this month.  He was deaf and was super Catholic.  Bless his soul for keeping on moving because he was like a 45 degree angle almost with his Spanish cane.  I felt bad because we had to practically yell at him to communicate.

We have this apartment building in Sant Antonio that we found that is just a Gold mine.  We spent 2 1/2 hours just knocking this building and finding golden people.  We met a woman named Maria and her husband who are old Spanish folk from the peninsula ( that is what they say if you are from off the island.  And we gave her a Book of Mormon to add to her three bibles collection.  As we were knocking the next door, we heard the daughter who is like in her 40s was reading the book out loud starting from the introduction and it was a miracle to me to hear someone actually read the Book of Mormon and not just place it on their shelf and let it sit there for years.  We also met a terrific family from Colombia.  We accidentally left our phone in piso and they tried calling us to cancel but we went by anyway.  We had a quick first
lesson with them talking about the Book of Mormon and they loved it.  It just complements the bible.  But the daughter was in the shower because this family lives in a one room apartment, and in the middle of our lesson she walks out and with only a towel on walking and grabs some clothes and walks back into the bathroom, super awkward.  Luckily our backs were towards her, but as soon as we turned we quickly went back to the lesson.

It was Élder Saunder’s birthday, he turned 19... He's young.

We went to an evangelical church this last week because we were contacting in the street and a man walked up to us and wanted to listen.  He invited us to his church which was across the street and so we went for a few minutes.  They rented out an old theater and had drums and sound systems and it was just a different environment.  We were respectful.  Élder Merrill put, our district leader, it like alma in alma 30 and the apostate zoramites. They were really nice though. It gave me a new perspective of what an investigator feels like going to church.

We were protected this past week as we made some attempts to go tracting near the castle because it is filled with gypsies.  We go in during the daytime and knock some doors.  We found some success though.

Only the humble are converted.  Those we teach become converted with true intentions and with humility.  Those that believe listen.

We helped a French member couple, different French couple, find a hotel.  They call them hostels here.  They are going to be sealed in the London temple.  He served his mission in Switzerland.

We were in Sant Antonio doing some tracting and some Michael Jackson music was playing from a soccer stadium.

Fast Sunday.  We had visitors this week from France and Germany.  The German member gave his testimony in really good Spanish saying that he was met by the missionaries 33 years ago and got s Book of Mormon and read it and got an answer.

I hit my head on a lamp while exiting an elevator.  The plastic bulb fell off and I thought it was glass, but luckily it was plastic because it hit hard.

Well family I come to know in real sense that this work we are engaged is the work of the Lord.  He is at the head of this church.  I know that we must follow His commandments to find true happiness and peace in this life.  "We have weaknesses, as everyone does. We may not
speak the language very well or be able to answer every question you have, but we have been called by a prophet of God to share what we know. We know that our message is true."-pmg ch.10. I know God lives.

I know He answered our prayers.  I know this church is true. I love you all and hope you have a great week.

De un misionero de España,

Élder Gonzalez


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