Elder Colton

Elder Colton

Monday, November 26, 2012

Answered Prayers


Hola mi familia y mis amigos,
 
One of two things is happen right now: God is listening to our prayers and helping Karina out, or God is tired of me and my companions taking so long so he is helping out big time.  
 
On Sunday night we went by Karina's to set up a teaching appointment for later in the week.  We decided to sing a Christmas Carol as they answered the door, and so they decided to just invite us in right then.  We asked Karina how we could help her as she progresses towards baptism.  As we began talking, her two boys, Juan Pablo and Brian, began to wrestle and fight, so I decided to start playing with them while my two companions talked with Karina (Pablo wasn't home).  They began to talk with Karina about how we can help but I wasn't paying attention at all.
 
A member of our congregation had given Karina a small statue of Christ and two little children, so I began looking at that and talking with Juan Pablo and Brian about Jesus.  I first asked five year old Brian what he thinks of when he thinks of Jesus.  He said something to the effect of "how he loves me and how I feel happy when I think about him."  Then I asked Juan Pablo.  His response...
 
"I had a dream about Jesus a few nights ago.  He was holding me and making sure my whole family was happy.  I know he loves me and wants me to be happy." 
 
During that same time period, Karina was telling my two companions a dream she had.  She had knelt down a few nights earlier and asked God if he wants her to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and if He did then if He would give her a dream to help her know. 
 
That same night she had a dream about her Aunt who passed away two years ago.  Her Aunt wasn't a very happy person later on in her life, but in the dream, she was happy and smiling.  She helped Karina understand that this is the path God wants for her. 
 
A few seconds after that, we invited Karina to be baptized and she said "Yes." 
 
Pablo is still very hesitant, but he says he will support Karina completely.  On Tuesday we are going to Temple Square with the whole family.  Please pray that the Holy Ghost will touch his heart and help him understand he can change and that this is the change God wants for him.
 
-Elder Colton

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Please Pray for Pablo


Hola mi familia y mis amigos,
 
I don't have much email time this week. 
 
Please pray for Pablo.  He needs it right now.  He and his whole family are so close to being baptized and changing their entire lives.  Pablo just needs to believe he can quit drinking. 
 
Love you all and wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving.
 
-Elder Colton

Monday, November 12, 2012

Elder Colton :)

Changed Lives


Hola mi familia y mis amigos,
 
Well 18 inches of snow in two days definitely puts a fun spin on missionary work.  We've been enjoying ourselves for the last few days (and I've been thanking my mom for forcing me to come out here with a scarf even though I told her I would never wear it). 
 
Everything with Karina and Pablo has been great.  Our Bishop (or leader of our congregation) visited them yesterday afternoon and Pablo and He had a great conversation.  They talked about the blessings that the Gospel brings to families.  When we stopped by for our lesson at 8, we asked Karina and Pablo about the difference they've seen in their family since they started learning about the Restored Gospel.  Here is a little sample of their responses:
 
1. We haven't had a fight in two months (to which little 5 year old Brian said, "which is weird because in California they used fight all the time."  Gotta love kids to be honest about everything).
2. The entire house feels more peaceful (cough cough...the Holy Ghost being there with them)
3. Juan Pablo is behaving much better with his brother Brian
 
Everything has changed about them.  Within the next month they are going to be baptized and will have the goal for going to the Temple to be an eternal family (none of the "til' death do you part") in a year.  Please pray for them that Pablo with accept that he can't "know" everything before his baptism and that faith will be how he receives his answer as to whether God wants him to be baptized.
 
Love ya'll,
-Elder Colton

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Pablo's Miracle

Hola mi familia y mis amigos,

This week marked one of the most exciting weeks of my time here in Millcreek.

Since week one of my time here, we've been teaching a women named Karina and her two sons, Juan Pablo (8) and Brian (5).  She's come to church each week and she knows everything that we've taught is true.  Originally she told us she didn't want to be baptized yet because her mom in Mexico was very Catholic, but a few weeks ago she told us that it was more about her husband.  

Her husband, Pablo, is a great guy.  The problem is that he's been working in Idaho for weeks at a time and can only come home for a day or two before he has to go back.  Not exactly an ideal situation for us to be able to work with him.  

On Friday evening, we decided to stop by their house unannounced to talk with Karina for a few minutes.  She had told us two days earlier that Pablo would either come back on Monday evening for a single day and then leave until Thanksgiving, or that he wouldn't come back until Thanksgiving.  But thankfully Pablo decided to surprise the family and visit for the weekend, so he was home when we stopped by.  To our surprise, Karina had been telling him on the phone nearly everything we had taught her, so he already knew quite a bit about the Gospel.  We cleared up a few other questions he had and then invited him to church.  

Karina told us that he probably wouldn't come, but come Sunday morning he surprised her again and was up and ready to go.  And to top that, on the first Sunday of each month in our church we have what is called a "Testimony Meeting," which means that the entire worship service is comprised of members of the congregation sharing their testimonies at the pulpit.  

This past Sunday's Testimony Meeting was the most powerful that I've experienced in my 19 years.  Nearly 20 people bore their testimonies about their own personal conversions, eternal families, and the importance of the temples. One women in particular shared her conversion story of how odd she thought church was the first time she went because there were no paintings or statues of the Catholic Saints.  It touched Pablo's heart and afterwards he came up to me and put his arm around me, telling me he loved church and wants to come back.  

When we stopped by later that evening, Pablo was sleeping but Karina told us that his boss in Idaho has just called and told him that there was a job they needed done near Karina's house in Utah and that Pablo was being reassigned for a month.  Which means that the entire family will be together for the next month.  Heavenly Father really does know each of us.  

-Elder Colton