Becoming

Hello! This week was quite the week. We have been trying to get out every day to knock on a few doors while we can. It’s only about 1.5 hours per day so not too much time but twice this week we were driving and we saw a dude walking alone so we pulled up next to him and said, “hey do you believe in Jesus?” Both times we did it, we ended up pulling over and talking with them and now we’re teaching both of them! Haha, pretty fun, huh? It doesn’t usually go that way, People usually like to call us funny names and are always busy doing stuff.

Anyway, on Wednesday we did an exchange and I spent the day with an Elder on the Penn State campus. It was fun. then on Thursday we went to a town called Johnstown to do a baptismal interview but also worked with the elders there. Johnstown is a pretty sketchy place, you can look it up sometime if you want. Pretty much everyone in Altoona bags on Johnstown. But our zone is doing really well and our mission as a whole is doing awesome. We are finding as a mission, about 120 new people to teach each week now which isn’t a whole lot compared to some other missions but it’s the best our mission has done in the last 2 years. Yesterday we had the amazing opportunity to give a man a blessing in the hospital in Altoona. When we got there they said only one of us could go up because of covid, no exceptions. So we got permission from our mission pres. to split up. About 10 mins later the lady we talked to downstairs got a phone call and said that I could go up. It was a cool miracle and Elder Knight and I were able to minister to him together.
Also, I hit 18 months last friday! It is crazy to think I made it this far. It’s been quite the ride and like nothing I could’ve ever imagined. I’ve learned so much about so many things and I am super grateful for the opportunities and experiences I have had here.

I want to share a quote: “The Gospel of Jesus Christ is specific because God cares specifically for each of us…A vague creed is fitted only for a vague God. We have a Father who loves us specifically and gives us things to do and, because he loves us, will cause us, at times, to have our souls stretched and to be fitted for a better world by coping with life in this world.” – Neal A. Maxwell

I think one of the most important things to me that I have learned is what this quote talks about. The first and most important is that God is the loving Heavenly Father of all of us. He knows perfectly of what we can become. Because of his love, like the quote says, he has given us things to do to help us become what it is we have the capacity to become. That “becoming” is not always easy or fun. It takes effort and work and sacrifice. But it’s worth it. That becoming brings joy. It brings light into your life. It brings an increased understanding of why we are here and where we are going. That becoming has the power to change our nature. It is only possible because of Jesus Christ. He is the only way to lasting joy and peace. I promise you that, there is no other way whether you think there is or not, they will all fail. It is not in Christ’s nature to fail, we will always be supported when we follow him and walk in his way. He has the power to heal and to change lives. But all this doesn’t just come by sitting still and waiting for something to happen. We have to act. Faith is a principle of power and of action! President Nelson says that everything good in life of eternal significance begins with faith. And that faith unlocks the power of God in our lives. You don’t need perfect faith, you just need to believe. Christ and His Church will never fail us. I invite you to think of something you can do to increase your faith this week and to do it. I promise the Lord will bless you! I still have much to learn but I know I am not alone and I have time! I know who I am and I know God and his Son Jesus Christ love us. You can know for yourself if you don’t already. Its starts with one act of faith and eventually that witness will come. Have a great week! Read the Book of Mormon. Have fun. Love, Elder Souza