A Visit from the AP

November 9, 2015

Hey Everyone,

I hope that you all had a great week. I certainly have. Just to get started, I would like to note that today marks 16 whole months since I left sunny Las Vegas to come to boiling Honduras. Two thirds down, one to go. It's kinda crazy.

This Tuesday, I got a surprise visit from the APs. They did divisions with the ZLs, and that means that they spend a day in a trio with the ZLs, and one other companionship in the zone. They picked me, and I do not know why. I happened to be in my own divisions with another companionship from the district, so we hung out in a trio, and I was the only one that was really supposed to be there. It was fun. Elder Hodson (AP) is from Las Vegas. He went to Bonanza High School. I've known him since the beginning of my mission, so it was fun to kinda catch up and talk for a bit. It was even more funny because we only had two lessons for the whole day. WE worked hard, got some references, contacted, everything, but we only had two lessons. I think I am the only missionary that can work with an AP and only have two lessons hahaha.

This week we placed another baptismal date for the 28th. That will make two for the same day. I am really excited. Both of the investigators attended church, which means they only have to go once more before they will have completed all of the requirements. The only down side is that transfers are going to be next week, and I most likely will be transferred and miss it. But that is nothing new. It happened in Olanchito, it happened in La Ceiba, and it is going to happen here. I guess it just means that I am doing what I am supposed to. You have to work hard, even when you won't see the results and the numbers don't count for you. You have to do it because you love the people, or it would be way harder.

I love being a missionary. I love helping people understand the importance of baptism and repentance. The Book of Mormon and the Bible have become real treasures that I can always go to when I need help. I love Mosiah 3:19 that says:

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."

Sometimes people think that in order to be baptized you have to be perfect. I love this scripture because King Benjamin reminds us that we won't be perfect because the natural man is an enemy to God, but then he reminds us of what we have to do in order to be made perfect. You have to be humble. You have to be willing to do what God asks of us, even if you don't like it. It is a scripture that I have used many times this week while preparing people for baptism. King Benjamin is the man. I love his speech in Mosiah. Read it.

Have a great week. Thanks so much for all the letters and support.

Elder Aldrich.