Quitting Smoking

Hola mi familia y mis amigos,

 

Obviously my younger brother is my favorite sibling because he gets the most shout-outs: CONGRATS TO HIM FOR SCORING HIS 300TH CAREER POINT IN LACROSSE.

 

Two weeks ago as we were visiting the Camacho's, we met a women named Susana.  The majority of her family are members of the Church but she has never been baptized because for 40 years she smoked half a pack each and every day.  The other times she has tried quiting she has either failed terrible or nearly died (her body had a melt-down from the lack of nicotine mixed with the drug the doctor had given her and she was rushed to the hospital).  But as we were talking with her we shared this scriptures from the Book of Mormon (Ether 12:27)

 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I makeweak things become strong unto them."

 

As we did it touched her and we began to explain about a one week stop-smoking program that we teach as missionaries.  Though doubtful at first, she explained that she truly did want to quit and that she had no better time than now because she had just resigned because of a surgery gone wrong that prevented her from working.  We began the program last Friday and as of now, Susana is still completely smoke free.  Her entire life has changed because of it.  She's preparing to be baptized sometimes soon (an opportunity she never thought she would have).  After 40 years of chain smoking she is not completely smoke free. 

 

If you know anyone who smokes who wants to quit, let me know or talk with the missionaries near you.  They will help. 

 

Love ya'll,

-Elder Colton

"So It's Against Church Insurance Policy to Allow Women to Drive?"

Hola mi famila y mis amigos,

Unfortunately we don't have a lot of time today because we're going on a tour of the air force base (yes...even missionaries can have fun every once in a while).

So a few days ago we (my two companions and I, along with a few sister missionaries) were sitting in a meeting with our stake president, President Bitton (in a second I'll explain the organization of our church so you know who he is).  He was trying to guilt us into giving our car to the sister missionaries because two of them are riding bikes now.  We, of course, would have graciously and gratefully given it to them with no hesitation whatsoever, except that our mission president assigned it to us and it would be against church policy to allow the sisters to drive it.  As we explained that to him he remarked, "so it's against church insurance policy to allow women to drive?" 

Anyways.  A single congregation in the Church is called a "ward."  Each ward, which has between 100 and 400 members, is headed by a "Bishop," who is a member of the congregation who serves for a few years in a non-paid position.  They still have their normal jobs and families but sacrifice an incredible amount of time for those years as a Bishop.  Somewhere between 6 to 10 "wards" make up a "stake."  Each stake is headed by a "stake president," who serves without being paid just like a "bishop."  For example, anyone from back home who knows the Ernst Family might know that the husband is a stake president right now.  Each stake president is supervised by a member of the "Quorum of the Seventy."  They are overseen by Apostles and Prophet. 

Hope you have a good week. 

Love ya'll,

-Elder Colton

That College Thing...

Hola mi familia y mis amigos,

 

MY BROTHER'S GOING TO WEST POINT.  Isn't he going to look dashing in his new uniform.  Maybe he'll actually learn some discipline and get good at something while he's there.  (And remember ladies, he is still serving a mission, he just needs to wait the two years required by West Point before they will let him go, so hands off or I'll hunt you down personally). 

 

And speaking of college, one of the people who Elder Rasmussen and I taught and baptized about six months ago is debating on whether or not to transfer to BYU.  That would be legit having someone I taught at college with me. 

 

Love ya'll,

-Elder Colton

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Hola mi familia y mis amigos,

And this is a continuation from my letter a few weeks ago.  This is another little exert from mormon.org about the Book of Mormon (my time is limited so this makes explaining it easier).  

Since its publication in 1830, the Book of Mormon has blessed the lives of millions through its powerful message about Jesus Christ and His gospel.

The Book of Mormon testifies that Jesus Christ did indeed live on the earth and still lives today as our divine Savior. It’s a second witness affirming the existence of Jesus Christ and the truth of the Bible. The account of its origin is as miraculous as the other events surrounding the restoration of the Church.

In 1823 Joseph Smith was visited by a heavenly messenger named Moroni just as angels often appeared to Apostles in the New Testament. Moroni told Joseph about a record of the ancient inhabitants of the American continent that was buried in a nearby hill. He said it contained the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was written on thin metal sheets of gold. Joseph translated the book into English. The book was named the Book of Mormon after Mormon, the ancient prophet who compiled it.

Translated and written in the same scriptural style of the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon tells us about the struggles of the righteous people of that time who were trying to live God’s commandments. Just as sometimes happens today, they were often made fun of and persecuted for their beliefs. A particularly inspiring section of the book recounts Christ’s visit to the American continent soon after His resurrection. He invited the people to feel the wound marks in his hands, feet and side. He blessed and healed them, performed miracles, and gave twelve men the same authority as His twelve apostles whose works are recorded in the Bible. The effect of His visit was so profound that for nearly 170 years the people lived in peace and righteousness.

The reason the Book of Mormon is so important to us and to me is because it brings me closer to Christ.  It is also the proof that everything you've read in these letters are true.  It shows that this really is the Church of Jesus Christ, not just "the Mormon Church."  I know it's true and I'm so grateful for it.  

Love ya'll,
-Elder Colton

The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways

Hola mi familia y mis amigos, 

Greetings from Layton, UT for another six weeks.  The Lord kept me here in Layton for this coming transfer again.  And how grateful I am He did.  Only Saturday afternoon we were visiting the Lopez Family (who were baptized in December) but they weren't home.  I figured we might as well visit their family who lives in the same trailer part so we walked in their direction.  A white guy stopped us and explained that he has just moved in and wanted to start going back to church, so we gave him the information for the English missionaries (when your area covers 10 english chapels and nearly 10 wards, its hard to know when and where the english congregations meet).  We asked if he had any hispanic neighbors and he directed us to a trailer with a red car out front.  When we knocked and began talking with the lady who answered, a small white dog walked out.  It looked exactly identical to the blind dog that Hermana Camacho has, so I mentioned that to the lady.  She said "Oh...you must know my sister."  We had just knocked on Hermana Camacho's sister's house.  You can imagine my excitement.  Her name is Efigenia and she wants to go to General Conference with us this weekend with her sister.  For the four years since Hermana Camacho was baptized she has never been interested.  But now something is different.  

My companions now are Elder Pratt from Sacramento, California and still Elder Endicott (who is from Joplin, Missouri).  We're having a great time. 

Sorry but we have almost no time this week so I'll wait til next week to continue last week's letter.  

-Elder Colton