A True Testimony

Happy Mother’s Day my dearest Mama!! You could say I’m pretty sad that I didn’t get the memo about Mother’s Day not being the same here as in the USA, but at least we will get to chat tomorrow. Who knows how we got it all right last year, but whatever! We will be able to talk some about my week but just wanted to let you know of a few things that happened...

So the first and best thing of the week was that the Miracle Man got baptized! It was my comp’s very first baptism so that was awesome! Francisco Paniagua is one super chosen man! The baptismal service was great and really spiritual. He doesn’t like to talk a whole lot but he always has a huge smile, which says a lot! He’s almost on page 200 of his BofM as well, so he’s doing amazing. So glad that we could help him change his life and start living the gospel.

This week I was studying some about our testimony and how it is that we can get a testimony. As PMG says, we get a testimony by the spirit and the BofM. So I was studying the history of Alma and how is conversion took place. So we know he saw an angel that told him to stop destroying the church, and that helped him in his conversion. But later on, in Alma 5 I was reading and noticed how he tells the people that he has his testimony by the confirming spirit of the Holy Ghost. Interesting that he doesn’t mention the fact that he saw an angel. Amulek, his mission buddy in later chapters testifies to people that he knows the truth of things because an angel told him…why? Because he was just starting out with his testimony, it wasn’t rock solid because he was just beginning. Laman and Lemuel saw angels and still continued being the same people. Moral of the story, seeing an angel is nothing compared to the powerful witness we can have by the Holy Ghost touching our heart. I love a quote by Joseph Fielding Smith, “When a man has the manifestation from the Holy Ghost, it leaves an indelible impression on his soul, one that is not easily erased. It is Spirit speaking to spirit, and it comes with convincing force. A manifestation of an angel, or even of the Son of God himself would impress the eye and mind, and eventually become dimmed, but the impressions of the Holy Ghost sink deeper into the soul and are more difficult to erase.” 

So that’s what I learned this week. We needed that manifestation of the Holy Ghost!! I invite you guys to look for those experiences in your life!

Love you all and we will talk tomorrow! 

Elder Crump

Matthew didn't Skype on Sunday because he thought our Mother's Day was the same as El Salvador's, which is Tuesday.  To his defense, last year they were on the same day.  But we will have the chance to Skype tomorrow, so I'll post pictures next week.

Lunch with Angel Hernandez and his family.
Matthew taught Angel a year ago and he is still a
strong member who has received the Melchizedek Priesthood.

With a tiny pineapple plant.

Baptism of the Miracle Man,
Francisco Paniagua.