Elder Colton

Elder Colton

Monday, February 25, 2013

Lacrosse and Missionary Work


Hola mi familia y mis amigos,
 
Well this has absolutely nothing to do with missionary work....BUT NORTHVIEW BEAT LAMBERT. WOOOHOOO.  They haven't lost a game in two years since we last beat them (back when Kevin and I were on the same team) but Northview won this past week.  Kevin scored a behind-the-back goal and schooled Lambert.  They've been one of the top teams in the country.  (Sorry Lambert...it's just really cool that we beat you). 
 
Anyways...back to the spiritual aspect. 
 
I'm still here in Layton, but with a twist.  I have a new companion who has been out for more than a year and has never spoken spanish his entire mission.  His name is Elder Endicott and he's from Missouri.  We've had such a fun past week.  Our Bishop changed our areas so are in a completely new area of Layton which makes life interesting, but we're having success.  We met a man name Jose Luis who wants to be baptized on Saturday.  Please pray for him.  He needs to quit drinking coffee before then but is on the right track.
 
Other good news, the Camachos are still in my area so I still get to keep working with them.  This past week we had a wonderful lesson with Katia.  We focused on agency and that we all have the choice to choose our path, no one can choose it for us.  Hermana Camacho shared her testimony and brought us all to tears.  At the end we asked Katia if she felt this was the path God has for her and she said yes.  She explained that she just doesn't feel ready to commit right now but that she knows it is right.  She was so sincere about it and all she needs now is some more time.
 
Love ya'll,
-Elder Colton

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

General Conference 101


Hola mi familia y mis amigos,
 
Greetings from Layton, Utah for perhaps the last time.  On Wednesday we have transfers so I'll find out soon if I am staying or leaving.
 
Thank you all for your prayers for the Camachos.  Its been the slowest process on the planet but we finally we able to have a lesson with nearly the entire family.  All of them participate and we all felt the Spirit strongly.  It's hard to remember sometimes that everything happens in God's time, which has an eternal perspective and not just a two year missionary perspective. 
 
And just another little remember- If you can get any General Conference tickets you'll be my favorite person ever.  Sound out to Uncle Brad who is sending us 8 tickets. 
 
For anyone reading who is wondering what General Conference....here is your answer.  It is a semi-anual broadcast from our Church that is held here in Utah (it is convinient serving a mission in Mormon-Mecca).  The Prophet who guides our Church (yes...we have a living Prophet just like Moses or Abraham), the Apostles (yes...we have 12 Apostles just like Christ did), and other leaders of the Church speak to the world.  Here is a video that has highlights from this past General Conference: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2012/10?lang=eng&vid=1897003909001.  There are two days of General Conference, each with two two-hour sessions.  The first day is April 6 and the second is April 7.  It is broadcasted on the BYU channel and through the internet.  Feel free to ask my family or anyone else you know who is Mormon and they can answer questions about General Conference. 
 
Love ya'll,
-Elder Colton

Monday, February 11, 2013

Forgiveness


Hola mi familia y mis amigos,
 
So we've been doing our best to work with Adrian and Katia but it's been rough lately.  This week's letter has a similiar ring to it from last weeks.  We havne't been able to sit down with any of them for nearly a week. 
 
But there is good news coming up.  We've been praying and doing everything we can to help them without actually being able to talk with them.  And we finally thought of something that will help them.  Basically a lot of stuff has happened that requires a lot of forgiveness in their family.  There is a special video about a father who lost his wife, two children, and one un-born child in car crash with a young man who was drunk.  The Father decides to forgive the young man immediately. He not only forgives him, but helps him rebuild his life.
 
It reminds me of a conversation I had a few nights ago.  I was sick and was staying with Hermano Dazza, a member of our ward, for a few hours while my companion went to a few lessons. Hermano Dazza shared with me a story from his childhood. 
 
He grew up in Mexico in a small town.  When he was 12, a driver accidently hit his 7 year old brother and killed him.  The driver stopped and tried to help the little boy but it was too late.  When the police arrived they took the man to jail.  Hermano Dazza's father happened to be best friends with the Chief of the Police in the city nearby where they took the man. 
 
The Police Chief told Hermano Dazza's father that they could keep the man in jail for 10 years because of what he had done.
 
But Hermano Dazza's father left a family get-together a few days later and went to visit the man in the police station.  He told the Police Chief that he wanted the man to go free and that the family would not be pressing charges.  The Police Chief did all he could to change his mind, but to no avail. 
 
When Hermano Dazza's father returned home, he told the family what he had down.  All 7 remaining children grew very angry and yelled at their Dad quite a bit.  They simply couldn't fathom why he would let the man go free who had killed their baby brother.  He simple told them it was his decision, he had made it, and now they would have to deal with and hopefully one day would understand. 
 
As they grew up, their father would see the man in the street often and would wave and greet him without any malice.  Their father had completely forgiven the man. 
 
Hermano Dazza explained to me that now he understands.  People make mistakes.  It's part of being human.  But we need to forgive those mistakes and allow the Atonement of Christ to fix the rest. 
 
Please pray that we can help Adrian and Katia understand that type of forgiveness.
 
-Elder Colton 

Monday, February 4, 2013

Close to a Miracle


Hola mi familia y mis amigos,
 
On Sunday afternoon we went by the Camacho's home to talk with Hermana Camacho and give her a blessing for a medical problem.   We were able to talk with Adriann (the middle son) for a few minutes about his life but nothing concrete.  The best part came just as we were about to leave.  Hermana Camacho turned to me and thanked me for the prayers that she has felt.  What she doesn't understand is that it is so much more than me and my companion.  It's the prayers that have come from all of you.  So on behalf of Hermana Camacho, I want to thank all of you for your prayers for her, Adrian, and Katia.  Even if we (as missionaries) haven't seen any direct change in Adriann and Katia yet, Hermana Camacho has seen it, and she can feel the power of the prayers.  Keep praying for them. 
 
So much has happened in the past few months and weeks that it is very clear how close they are to having a miracle happen in the family.  Please keep praying for Katia and Adriann to have a change of heart.  They are great people who need this so badly. 
 
-Elder Colton