Elder Jared Gonzalez: Happy Mother's Day and Hola (two weeks' worth of emails)

It was a treat yesterday to talk with my family. Wow, the weirdest part about it all was that it felt like I just talked with you last week or something. Time flies by when you are teaching the gospel.

Well today for preparation day we played volleyball in the rain as a district at the church. I destroyed some old garments found in piso by old missionaries and cleaned piso. Today is a festival. The stores are closed so we can´t buy food. It was fun to play something for once and have a change of activity.

Random thoughts:

We had a lesson with a less-active woman and a cat scratched me and jumped onto the computer modem where it´s nice and warm.

I made 2 apple pies last week to hand out to less-actives and have some kind of excuse to pass by. An apple pie is like an atom bomb being dropped in Japan. YUM!

I was eating cereal one morning and blew my milk as if it was hot...awkward.

We were contacting last week and came across a mexican woman who is a Jehovah witness. We did our best to testify of the basic points of the gospel to have the spirit present in the lessons, but some people (not her) like to bash with us with bibles, but we have gotten better at not bashing, just defending the faith and leaving when contention becomes a problem that the spirit is driven away.

Question of the week asked by the people in the streets:

If God exists, why do bad things happen good people? Why is there so much bad in the world?

My answer is that God does exist and that He is our loving Heavenly Father. Also "all things denote that there is a God" (alma 30:44) and so we have to have the faith that He is all knowing (2 nephi 2:24). So why do bad things happen to good people? We read in Alma 14 about how Alma and amulek are tied up and watch as those who believed in their testimonies were thrown into the fire and killed. Alma says this it is to stand as a testimony against the wicked (Alma 14:11). God has also said that we are to be tried and tested of faith in him to see if we truly will walk where His Son Jesus walked and do that which is right in the sight of God and Endure well (Abraham 3:25). Lehi explains it well. without the opposition, there is no growth (2 Nephi 2:11). To summarize everything we live in a fallen world, Adam fell that we might have joy (2 nephi 2:25) but the fall created a way for God´s Children to come to earth, be tested, gain a body and return to his presence. I read last week that Paul stated that Christ died and suffered for the sins of the world and answered the end of the law, we are joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). Why is there so much bad in world? Easy, we live a world where people have received their agency and have been given this chance to prove themselves worthy to enter in God´s presence. Some people have used their choices wrongfully and have in result hurt others. We must remember that life is like a battle ground. Without a firm foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and especially in the plan of salvation, this life in not all. We lived with God before and if we are faithful now we can return to live with him, as "Joint-Heirs with Christ". Elder Duncan said this in this past general conference:

"I am convinced that most of us want to forgive, but we find it very hard to do. When we have experienced an injustice, we may be quick to say, “That person did wrong. They deserve punishment. Where is the justice?” We mistakenly think that if we forgive, somehow justice will not be served and punishments will be avoided.

This simply is not the case. God will mete out a punishment that is fair, for mercy cannot rob justice (see Alma 42:25). God lovingly assures you and me: “Leave judgment alone with me, for it is mine and I will repay. [But let] peace be with you” (D&C 82:23). The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob also promised that God “will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction” (Jacob 3:1).

As victims, if we are faithful, we can take great comfort in knowing that God will compensate us for every injustice we experience. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated: “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. … Every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.”1"

Our life is full of Challenges. We must find what is true to hold on to and endure with faith and hope. I know that this church is true and that God does live. He loves us and wants all of his children to follow the safe road back to his presence.

I love you and hope you have a great week.

con cariño,

Elder Gonzalez

preguntas:

So, next week is Mother's Day. What are the details?: Well our wifi in the chapel is broken so we can´t skype with our ipads, so we are thinking of going to a member’s home like old school times. We are planning on skyping around 7:30-8pm here which is like 11:30-12 in the great state of UTAH. sooo yeah. We had mother’s day yesterday here in spain. the primary sang.

Sooo, tell us about Elder Olaso....details please.: He is from Boise, Idaho. His last name comes from his grandfather who is Basco, yes the north of spain, and he speaks really well in spanish and a little in Basco. He wears glasses... is about 6 foot...is funny, we remember the good old days of Pres. Pace and we feel like old farts sometimes with these whipper snappers running around with them ipads and playing futball. Back in our day was a no no.

How are things going for you today the first day of May?: warming up. it was really cold the past few days with our catalunya cold humid days and now the weather is starting to get better. An investigator of mine got baptized a few weeks ago from Terrassa. We had 2 baptisms of primary children from the ward on Friday.

How is your new area?: Big and boxy. I feel like I´m in Utah, the grid system. The people are the same, but I think a little more open than from the Islands or terrassa. Lots of spanish members. We have a real chapel, haven´t had one since Castellón, but not as big. It is a cookie cutter chapel i have seen it in vitoria, and Palma.

How is your new piso? : Dirty! I spent our preparation day cleaning for 3 hours. I like cleaning because I can put my stress out on a dirty dish or floor. Plus I got to listen to some G.C. CDs I found in piso. I got to listen to the voice of a 10 year younger Pres monson and Hinckley and the rest of the gang from 2005. I think I´ll make a fit for the 2004 CASETTAPES!!! who on earth uses those?! But yes mom...I know what they are. It was interesting what the leaders were saying at that time because I was just 10 at the time not really paying attention to conference, but the leaders gave great advice to the members about missionary work, protecting home, and kindness(elder worthlin).

Do you have anybody in your area preparing to be baptized soon?: not yet, we are working with some people who have some problems that are keeping them from completing some commandments.

or is this a new area you are opening? : no it is not a new area, just new to me.

I noticed that it is not far from Terrassa. are you in the same zone? : yes it is quite weird that I am so close to terrassa. We have stake conf in two weeks and so I´ll get to see some members again. I am in the same zone, Barcelona.

Random thoughts:

A random boy asks us for a piece a paper. I ripped one out and gave it to him.

We saw a father and son playing sword fight in the street.

We were knocking a building and a woman was dumping 2 buckets of water out the window from the first floor. Weird people sometimes.

Gotta love the reaction of people when I stand up from the bus or bench. 😱😨🤔 I´m like a spanish godzila. I eat pan and olivas.

We were having a bench lesson and were ending with a prayer when a woman with her son comes by shouting out that we are false and devils while walking away. gotta love the mission.

We were at church for the baptism of the two primary children and a mom with her 2 year old walked in the woman´s bathroom saying enter and the boy says "okay". Childlike obedience.

We were waiting for a bus for about 25 minutes and we had 2 bench lessons. Miracle.

Mom can you send me a copy, digital or hand copy of my baptism. and other pictures that you would like to send. They make me smile :)

I gave my testimony in a very crowded testimony meeting. I was waiting for the line to thin, but the people just kept on going. A sister got her mission call for July 14 to go to Uruguay. That will be a fun sacrament meeting, me going home and her going.

The primary gave cards and flower to the moms yesterday. Happy mother’s day next week!

We had a weird visit last night with a less active couple who were offended by other members of the church and haven´t returned back since. They know the church is true, temple endowed and everything. We shared the talk from elder duncan from this past GC. Really good. There is no excuse for not going to church.

Well family I have to run. I wish you a very happy week and we shall talk face to face on sunday... I hope. I know that the church is true and God lives.

Con cariño,

Élder Gonzalez