The Lord can depend on Me!

I am staying here in Bethlehem for another 6 weeks! So excited right
now. There are so many things happening in our area right now. I'm
happy The Lord is allowing me to stay with Elder Winegardner for
another 6 weeks (at least!).

We have found that when we leave commitments to read in the Book of
Mormon, most of the investigators don't even read, and when they do,
they don't know "how" to read the scriptures. They read it sometimes
like a novel, not applying it unto ourselves, identifying
similarities, or seeing patterns. Doing this makes the scriptures just
paper and ink. But as we seek the Spirit, liken the scriptures unto
ourselves, we gain power, revelation, and spiritual protection. This
is what we are trying to help people to do. Receive the witness from
the Spirit. We are trying to do all that we can to help people learn
HOW to read the Book of Mormon.

We went and saw a less active named Hipólito on Thursday. He is a cool
guy. When I first came, he was confrontational, would disagree, and
lots of other things. His countenance has completely changed. We had
an awesome lesson with him. First we showed him how to use his new
tablet. He is funny. Super old and couldn't really figure out how to
use it, but luckily we were there to help him. Downloaded the
scriptures and whatnot and made the text incredibly large so that he
could actually read it. We then read Ether 3 with him. We all learned
a lot. We explained that Jesus Christ is the Jehovah of the Old
Testament and the Savior of the New Testament. We got talking, and we
had a super revelatory experience. He asked us, "Why did Abram and
Jacob receive a new name in the bible?" Without missing a beat I said
the thoughts that The Lord put into my head. They received a new name
to symbolize their leaving behind an old life and beginning a new life
as a devoted disciple of The Lord. It's just like when we are
baptized. Who's name do we take upon us? The name of Christ. In
talking to a Elder Winegardner afterward, he said that he had the
exact same impression from the Spirit, even though I was the one that
said the words. I had never given the matter deep thought. It was
interesting because the question came out of nowhere, and the answer
came right out of my mouth with seemingly no effort on my part. It
made me think of what President Marion G. Romney said, “I always know
when I am speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost because I
always learn something from what I’ve said.” It was an awesome
experience, and I am thankful to God that He saw fit to bless me with
it.

We had a crazy super strong storm here. Hail the size of marbles was
falling here, and in other cities hail the size of oranges was
falling. A huge branch was ripped off a tree right outside our house,
and I shall enclose a pic. Crazy stuff. But now, this week, we got
some AWESOME weather coming up. Summer is setting in!

Ok, two solid new investigators. Coralie and Fabian. Coralie is a
daughter of one of our investigators, and Fabian is her boyfriend. We
did some service for them, then ate some food. It was about 8:30, and
we weren't sure if we could teach like we had planned, so we sang I am
a child of God for them. It was awesome. It gave way for the Spirit to
come in the room and for me to testify boldly. I left them with a
commitment to read in the Book of Mormon and to come prepared to he
lesson tomorrow. Every single person there felt the Spirit. We asked
each one of them. It was awesome! The lesson we had the next day was
awesome. They are really desirous to know if the Gospel is true. They
read in the pamphlets that we asked them to read the day before, and
came very prepared to the lesson.They were both attentive, interested,
and engaged, which is not something you see in an 18 year old couple.
They both committed to read, pray, and even to come to church
tomorrow. Man we are excited. After the lesson, Coralie offered one of
the most sincere prayers I have ever heard. She was really talking to
God, not just saying a prayer. I asked myself, "Do I really speak to
my Father in Heaven, or do I just routinely say prayers?" Good
question to ask ourselves very often.

We also had a good lesson with a man named Benny. A very good song
should come into your minds as you read that name. He is a swell guy.
Knows the bible very well, but he said that he has fallen into the
world, but we are going to try our best to help him out. He is always
wearing a du rag and then two hats. Kind of interesting, but more
power to him. But even more important than his hats was the Spirit
that we felt in his home as we taught him about the restoration of the
Gospel. He understood it perfectly. He asked some good questions about
the Book of Mormon, and upon further inquiry on his part, and strong
testimony on our part, he committed to read it and to pray about it.
It is going to be awesome to see him progress. Super chill guy.

MIRACLE TIME!!!!!!! We have been stopping by this less active, Hermano
Santana. The first time we met him, he told us glumly, "I WAS a member
of your church years ago in Jersey." Basically he has been inactive
for years. Well, over the last few weeks and months we have always
stopped in just to say hi. I have never entered into his home. I have
never shared a Gospel message with him. I have simply stopped by his
house whenever I was in the area, just because I loved him. Not to
pressure him into coming to church, reading the Book of Mormon, or
anything like that. Our only motive was our love for him as our
brother. I have never spoken to him for more than about five minutes,
but today, he told us that just because of our stopping by and saying
hi to him, he wanted to come to church. It taught me a great lesson.
It reaffirmed that people don't care how much you know until they know
how much you care. We should love him and show him that we love him
even if we knew for certain that he would never return ever to the
church. Our love shouldn't be conditional upon religion, gender, race,
culture, or anything. We are all children of our Heavenly Father, and
we should treat all as such.

Good stuff. Love life. Happy birthday to the best sisters in the whole
wide world. Love y'all. This gospel is super true

Elder Dial

What Do We Do When Temptation Pulls Up Next To Us? Run!‏

What up familia?

 Some pretty crazy stuff going on over here in
Bethlehem. Doin our best to be obedient and diligent so that The Lord
will give us a greater portion of His Spirit. Sometimes it isn't the
easiest thing to do and it seems that we can justify ourselves in
breaking a "small" mission rule or a "lesser" commandment, and say,
"Well at least I'm keeping the bigger ones," but the sacrifice to be
exactly obedient DEFINITELY is worth it. We must be doing something
right because this week he has blessed us with several of His children
to teach that seem vey prepared to receive His restored Gospel. Let me
share with you a couple of them.

This past Tuesday we went over to Joanna's house (daughter of Luis and
Aida) we have been trying to teach them for forever. We taught them
the restoration a while back,  just had a whole lot of trouble finding
them home and interested in having another lesson. We went over and
found their oldest daughter home. Her name is Coralie, and she is
super nice. She's about eighteen and we are gonna involve her in the
teaching as well. I really do hope and pray that she can be some fire
to get her family stoked on the Gospel. Why can't people see how
important it is??? We tell them and tell them and testify and teach
and invite and follow up and a thousand other things, but why can't
they realize how much God wants them to accept His Gospel? Why can't
they realize how inexcusable their excuses really are and how
eternally futile virtually everything they do in their life is? Ugh.
Makes my brain hurt. But at least I know it. At least I can raise a
warning voice and invite and help them come unto Christ.

We got two solid new investigators named Brenda and Geraldo. The
English Sisters tracted into Brenda and then told us to stop by, which
we did. We taught her and her husband about the restoration, and the
Spirit was super strong during the lesson. We told them what we
expected from our lessons and what we expected them to do. Brenda
asked why there is so much confusion about religions in the world, and
we told her that she had to go to God and ask him which of all the
religions is true. We invited them to read in the Book of Mormon and
to pray about it. They accepted the invitation to be baptized when
they receive a confirmation from the Spirit that these things are
true.

We saw Brenda again on Sunday. She's pretty prepared. We met another
one of her daughters and a son of hers. He daughter is Jaylene and her
son is Leny. Lenny's kind of strange. We're pretty sure he was super
high during our lesson with his family today, but hey, he is a trooper
and was our male present, so we ain't complaining. He was saying how
he just got done seeing God right before our lesson. Personally, I
think it's just the hallucinogens, but we are gonna help him to stop
that stuff. Anyway, we have been finding some super prepared people
this week. Like Jaylene, Brenda's daughter, is just as prepared as her
mom is. The Restoration answered a bunch of questions that she had,
and she is willing to act. After lots of patience and inviting and
demonstrating on our part, she said a prayer to finish the lesson. I
think what I don't realize sometimes is that this might be the first
time that these people are legitimately praying in their lives, so I
should be more patient and loving with the way I invite them to do so.

We saw Teodoro and read with him Sunday. He's a champ. His family
situation still sucks a ton, but he is doing his best for his
daughter, and I commend him for wanting to grow spiritually. We
stopped by and read 1 Nephi 2 with him just to get him going reading.
I love that guy. He also made us some super good food. I think we got
fed three times today. So pretty much like a normal day.
#SpanishElderProbs

On May 15 this past week, I thought about the priesthood, because in
1829 it was restored on that day. I thought about the blessings of the
priesthood in my life. It has blessed my life in countless ways that
cannot be measured, so my gratitude for it should be endless as well.
I am so thankful I have been sent to preach the Gospel by that
authority, have that authority conferred upon me to act in the name of
The Lord, and to be sealed to my family for time and all eternity!

Holy fetch time is flying. Love you all. Thanks for the endless love
and support y'all always send me. I'm thankful for it. I have a
testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is at the head of
this work, and has chosen me to be in this place at this time to be a
missionary. I stopped having questions about that a long time ago.
Transfers are this next week. I'll let you know what happens! Love ya!


Elder Mike Dial

My sideburns are even this week!

Your's truly showing some Dominicans how to grill up some burgers.

On Tuesday, we met up with Hector. Hermano Villafañe came with us.  Hector is an awesome guy, but he always says that he isn't ready to come to church or praying front of us, etc. we are trying to do our best to show him that it is going to be through his own efforts that he is going to know that the Gospel is true. I asked him what he thought his next step was to come closer to Christ. He said, "just
keep learning..." I said that was good, but that his action is required. He must really desire to know that these things are true and act according to that desire. He committed to read, pray, but didn't
commit to come to church. We taught him how to pray though. We had done it before but we retaught him.

We also taught Teodoro, Frances, and Andrea all together Tuesday! It was awesome. They are the ones that have been having some serious marital problems, and we are trying our best to help. Frances goes out with friends more than she stays home with her husband and daughter, so we are trying to help them to do things together and feel love for each other. You could tell that there was tension between Teodoro and Frances, but they were together. We introduced them the Noche De Hogar.  (FHE) We sang "Soy un Hijo de Dios"(I am a Child of God) and taught out of the Book of Mormon stories book 3 Nephi 11. We helped Frances and Teodoro recognize that they can come to know of these things and their truthfulness directly from God only by their reading and praying to know. It is up to them. We have taught clear and direct doctrine and have extended the invitation. It is up to them. We invited them to a Mother's Day activity the branch is having on Saturday, and we will do some serious follow up to make sure they can come. It's gonna be awesome.

We had an awesome Zone Conference on Wednesday. It was all about faith. Faith first, in The Lord Jesus Christ. We also must have faith in ourselves and that we are able to do the work the  Lord has called us to do. I took down some notes and had some impressions of what I need to do to continue onward and progress as a missionary and as a person as well. We talked about the parable of the talents and how we can develop our talents. It isn't about how many we have or comparing ourselves with others. It is developing and progressing. It is quality, not quantity. The Lord wants us to develop the skills, talents, and knowledge that He gives us; no matter how much more or less of it our neighbors have. I got some super cool impressions from the Zone Conference. Let's not be wicked and unprofitable servants. Don't compare yourself to others. The Lord made you to be you, not to
be me, your sibling, or anyone else. Sure someone may be bigger stronger, prettier, whatever. Worry about what The Lord has entrusted to YOU. If we do what He expects of us, He will reward us with more than we ever dreamed of having before.

We visited Carlos and Yajaira on Sunday. They both have read in the Book of Mormon! Wow. This never happens. Yajaira loves it. She says it answers her questions and has read all of the introduction material and is now in 1 Nefi. Carlos is chugging along behind her. She is going to be the driving force in this one haha. I am stoked. I really think they are going to be baptized. They are showing effort. We didn't have a sit down lesson with them today, just a conversation at their doorstep. Turns out she has met a member family in our branch, so hopefully we can get some fellowship going on there. It is going to be awesome. I can't wait to see them progress. Finally, we have found some of the elect!! We have been praying and looking and finally, The Lord has seen fit to lead us right to some of His prepared children that are ready to receive and accept the Gospel!

Well this is a good time. Love being a missionary. Stoked to tear it up for the time I have left. Love you all. It was super exciting talking to you yesterday. This work is true. I said that like seven thousand times, but if haven't said it quite enough. I don't think I ever will.
 Love y'all.


Elder Dial

May the 5th be with you!

Wednesday we taught Juanita, the cousin of a member, Hermano Villafañe. Good lesson. Watched the restoration DVD. Her son walked in afterwards, and we started talking, answered his question about how God came down to earth, and got a return appointment. We are incredibly excited about teaching the Gospel. It rained buckets today. Kind of messed up our plans, but we don't complain much. It was a good day.

It has been raining like crazy around here. One or two days it was insane how hard it was coming down. Like the rain was coming down at a 45 degree angle. Crazy stuff, but that's just what springs are like on the east coast. At least it is finally getting warm though. We got some rain coming up this week but the whole week is supposed to be in the high 60s and 70s. We're stoked.

Teodoro basically poured his heart out to us this week. He has been meeting with missionaries for a while and just recently we have been trying to meet with him, his wife, Frances, and his daughter, Andrea. When we stopped by Frances wasn't there and Andrea was asleep upstairs. He is having a bunch of problems with his wife. She goes out all the time with friends just to hang out and doesn't really spend time at home. Their communication is super bad. Conclusions are drawn. Walls go up. He talked to us for a good while about it. I am sure we are only hearing one side of the story, but at any rate, things aren't looking too good. We testified of the healing power of the Gospel, went over the family proclamation, and testified how it can help his family. I left him with a commitment though. I told him that when his wife got home, or the next day, no later, to grab his daughter, go to Frances, and just ask if they can have a prayer together. A family that prays together stays together. We will see what happens. I am eternally grateful that I was raised in a family like that. I have no doubt that my parents love each other and that they love me. I know that their priorities are straight. Thanks mom and dad for doing that. I have met hundreds of people who would have given anything to be raised in a family like mine. Makes me super grateful. 

Super big miracle happened Saturday. So we talked to this guy Carlos a while back on the street. Super Dominican. Normal street approach, doesn't seem very interested, so we leave him alone. Like two weeks later, today, we are walking by and he honks his car at us, we didn't think he was talking to us, and we walked away. As we walk by again, he tells us to go inside and that he and his "pareja" want to hear our message. He and (get excited for this name) Yajaira, (juh-hi-ruh for you gringos. Don't worry, it took me like twelve tries with that name, then finally just asking her how it was spelled.) so in any case, they are super elect and prepared. The Spirit was there. Super strong. You could have cut the Spirit with a knife. We identified it. Yajaira gets it. She recognized the Spirit. She said that tons of her own questions were answered. She agreed with what we taught. Same with Carlos. They have been prepared by the hand of the Lord to be taught the Gospel in this time. They said that when they receive that answer that these things are true that they will be baptized. They get it. They are sensitive to the Spirit and committed to doing God's will so it shouldn't take that long. They willingly accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and understand why they should read it and how to recognize that the Spirit is testifying to them. I am super excited for them. Elder Winegardner had a random thought to go visit a family and by so doing we walked by Carlos, and now we have a whole family to teach. Send some prayers their way. Awesome things happening!  They weren't there for their return appointment yesterday, but that's ok. We are planning to do some serious follow-up to make sure that they get a chance to experience the light that the Gospel can bring into their lives. 

Well, I think that pretty much covers it for us here. We have Zone Conference this Wednesday, so I'm excited for that. I get a temple recommend interview because mine expires this month. Has it already been that long? I know this is The Lord's work! The priesthood is real. Blessings really do come to those who believe and obey!

Love to all,

Elder Mike Dial