Elder Hilton June 7, 2016-2018 : Week 62: IF IT DOESN'T CHALLENGE YOU, IT WON'T CHANGE YOU

Good morning everyone!

Well my week was very interesting and intense in a way, many things happened, and many challenges were opposed against us

Monday: On Monday I did one of the hardest things as a secretary I sent another missionary home early. This has happened before, but this time it was a little worse, because the missionary we had to send home was my friend. Elder Costa e Silva had a more difficult time because he was with that Elder in the MTC and they were really close. He was traveling down an emotionally rough path throughout this week. I had the privilege of giving him a few blessings during the course of the week to help him out.

Tuesday: On Tuesday we had a fast-pace day in the office solving other problems that had risen, helping to maintain peace and order in the mission. During work hours in the field I did a division with my buddy Elder Da Silva. My companion went with our district leader to my area to work. All our commitments fell, except one. We taught one man who just needs to get married to progress more. Then I met again with my companion after the division at night and we had to go back to the office to print some more things that the President would need for the zone conference the next day.

Wednesday: On Wednesday we had a great zone conference After the conference we had to run because of an emergency transfer that would happen, many missionaries would be moved and some other areas would be closed because we had to send more missionaries home. Some because of health problems and others for reasons we do not know. Then we went back to the office and we worked. We are like SHIELD. Nobody knows what we do or how we do it, they only know that we do it. We spent the remainder of the day getting tickets for both buses and planes. Although all the rush, I read some articles and also saw some videos, and during this study something I learned touched me very strongly in my heart. What I learned was: "In our mind as perfectionists we think of a mathematical equation that is US + MORE = CHRIST we think, that if am more humble, fervent, charitable, etc., then I will be like Christ, but this is a wrong equation , Satan uses this perfect lie to bind us and pull us down. He says: You have to be like Christ, you have to be just like Him, but without Him. Alone. Gradually he excludes Christ from the equation, and substitutes for superficial things, such as: If I had more followers on social networks, then I would have friends, if I had a girlfriend, then I would be loved. This is the perfect lie. Jesus Christ certainly said that we have to be perfect as He is, but He never said that we have to be perfect now or tomorrow or in this life. He never said that we have to be perfect without Him. He always said: Come to me and I will make you more, come to me and I will make more than you can see or imagine.

The right equation would be US + CHRIST = MORE. When Christ multiplied the loaves he had only 5 loaves and 2 fish; He said it was enough because it was all they had and then of 5 loaves and 2 fish he made more and fed a crowd of over 5000 men and their families. When Christ was at the wedding and the wine was over and they came to talk to Him, He did not say that it was an unpleasant situation or that they were a failure because they had no more wine, He simply said, okay, you have a problem? -We have water. Then He commanded them to fill the barrels and the water turned into more wine. It was not any wine, but the best wine of the night! He has the same power with us, his grace is more, his atonement is more than for sins. And the same way he did with the loaves and wine he can do to me, I am not perfect, but I can trust his grace.

Thursday: We moved the missionaries who were being transferred and in the morning we had to take some of them to the president's house. My companion ended up talking to President about his current struggles of perfectionism and his other stresses. He talked for him for an hour! I just stayed in the living room and played the piano. It was pretty fun.

Friday: Yesterday was a more common day in the office, we are looking for a house to move us and yesterday we found one that is good and we are almost certain we will go there in the coming weeks. Last night we also found a new investigator who is very sincere. He accepted to be baptized on September 9th, so we will help him progress to baptism.

Today we have an activity night and a baptism of the other elders, which is going to be very good. I realized that we are not so far behind, we have 5 baptisms scheduled for the next 3 weeks and I know that, with trust in God, they will happen We just have to be diligent and obedient. This week I was able to learn more about how the Lord is willing to help us and how he expects us to be perfected in Christ and not Christ himself. ME + CHRIST = MORE. I feel his love, his power empowers me and I feel his Spirit at my side. I am his son and that is what makes me perfect for him, he created me and he does not make mistakes. I know that even if I have faults and holes he can fill me in and he fills with his atonement and his grace. I love my Heavenly Father, I love my Savior Jesus Christ and without doubt the Savior's love is my greatest blessing. God lives and will guide us and completes us if we draw close to Him, and turn our weaknesses into strengths.