Week 72

Happy Fathers Day Dad!  I was thinking about you yesterday.  We had a great day and it made it even better to be able think about all the great times that we had together before the mission and think about how great it going to be after!  I love you so much and can't express the gratitude that I feel for what you have done for me.  For being by my side physically and spiritually and in the good times and the hard times.  What a blessing you have been for me!  hope you had a great day I hope you could feel my love from here in Mexico!

Dad I can't believe you!  you were pulling for Lebron?  thats messed up!  steph curry is the best..

I am very suprised today.  Elder Aguila told us that I have transfers!  I was not expecting this,  I thought that my companion was going to be transferred because he has more time in the area then I do, but the Lord has his plans!  This is going to be my 4th area and 6th companion!  But enough about that!  I trust in the Lord and am willing to go where he wants me to go!  It is interesting that you mention the sabbath day Mom, although the Leaders here are not focusing on this (hahah, Mexico is a little lost when it comes to the sabbath day. ELder Juarez and I have been focusing on keeping the sabbath day holy with exactness. I have really seen a difference,  I have had more peace and have accepted the will of the Lord with more faith then ever.  As we have done this he as revealed more eternal truths in these 3 weeks, than for 18 years of my life I did not pay attention to because I was distracted!  

Yesterday we knocked on the door of a lady that looked tired physically and spiritually.  During an un-expected short conversation it became clear to ELder Juarez and I why.  Her husband and mother recently died within the same 10 month period!  She told us that she couldn't see a purpose of living anymore and had lost all hope. This poor lady thought it would be easier to just quit living.  In the sincerest way possible we tried to tell he how much God loves her and that there is always a purpose to keep living. It was hard for her to take, which is understandable ¿ how are the words, at least at first, of a 20 year old stranger from a differnt country  going to change a heart shaped by countless days of suffering and lonliness? It just isn't that easy. As we kept talking the spirit guided our converstation to the subject of faith.  I asked her the simple question " do you have fatih?" to which she responded " life has taught me that I don't need faith!" Looking her directly in the eyes I said " Maybe life has taught you that you don't need fatih but God teaches that faith is life!"  she paused for a moment and said "Maybe you are right" I saw a womans heart be softened by the words of the spirit. Maybe the words of a 20 year old from California can't change a heart but I am 100% sure that the words of the spirit are without limits!  Let us be intruments in the hands of the Lord!

Love you so much family!  I will let you know next week where I went in tranfers!

Elder Quist

Week 71

The time is going by so fast!  We ar eapproaching transfers again!  I can not believe it!  I think that this is the last week for my companion and I!  It has been a great 2 transfers and I feel very blessed!  We are seeing miracles!  I think that Elder Juarez is the companion that I have gotten along best with!  

We are teaching many families that are having problems.  For Example, hermana Rosa and her kids.  She is struggling a lot with her husband and money.  It has been really hard for her.  On wednesday we went to visit her and she was struggling more then ever!  It was so sad to see!  When we got there she was acting different, she told us a little bit latter that she was thinking about asking us to stop teaching her so she could fix all of he problems and then after they were all fix then she would go to church and prepare to be baptized!  We had a powerful lesson in wich we taught about the importance of trusting the Lord during our problems!  She understood, after the lesson we asked her and her family to kneel and pray with us!  She said the prayer and in her pray thanked the Lord sending us, the missionaries, she said that we are angels for her!  The power of the holy spirit to change peoples hearts is un-real!  

One thing that I learned this week is the importance of being obedient to the commandments.  In the mission people are very open and honest with us about their problems.  I have seen families being destroyed and hearts being broken and  every time it is for disobeience to the commandments! EVERY TIME!  Although most for the time we don't realize that the problems that we have are direct results of the disobedience to the commandments, THEY ARE!  It is so sad!  The Lord tells us in almost every chapter of the book of mormon  "if you keep my commandment you will prosper in the Land"  and may I add " and in your lives and in you familys and in you work and in you relationships and forever!  I know this is true

Love you family! You are the best!  Give a hug to Abby for me!

Love ELder Quist

Week 70

 This Tuesday we were walking to the stake center for the district meeting and we passed a friend that we have from the street.  Enrique was involved in some really bad things a few years ago, I will explain more when I get home. but we met him in the street because he always is walk around our area selling churiso.  He was trapped in his problems before he learned about Christ and became Christain but hasn't joined a church yet.  He always asks us to pray for him, but we have never been able to go to his house because he lives with his aunt and uncle and they does let us go there .  So we passed by and he asked us where we were going!  We explained that we were going to a meeting with other missionaries in the Church.  Once again he asked us to pray for him in our meeting!  We told him for sure and the thought came to my mind "Invite him to come to the district meeting"  so I did. He came in and all the missionaries gave us a strange look.  We divided into districts and we asked our district leader if we could say a prayer for Enrique.  We started the meeting with a hymn, as we are singing , I looked over at Enrique and he had his eyes closed, as tears dripped slowly down his face.  The spirit was so strong and the whole district could feel it.  It was a great experince because sometimes as missionaries and members of the Church we fall into a routine and stop feeling the spirit.  If a simple hymn can touch a random person from the streets heart, ¿why can we not feel it sometimes?  It is a lack of humility!  On this tuesday morning we were all humbled and able to feel!  Enrique chose to stay for the rest of the time.  After the meeting he approached me with a simple question that will stay with me forever.  He asked "¿how can I become a missionary like you?"  before I could respond he said the following "  Well I think the first step to to repent and be baptized!"  I re-assured him that he was right, testifying that he could change his life.  The power of a humble heart makes everything possible!  

Last night I was praying and I got a strong impression that I should ask my companion for a blessing of comfort and counsel.  I wasn't completely sure why, but I did it.  He asked me why, and what came to my mind in that moment is what I told him.  As he placed his hands on my head and began to speak, I knew why I asked for the blessing.  The Lord told me exactly what I needed to hear, although I had no idea what I needed!  The Lord spoke to me through my companion.  I learned the power of faith, priesthood and prayer.  But more specifically, I learned that sometime we are not aware that we need help, but the Lord is.  We must listen to the still small voice to follow impressions as simple as what the spirit told me to do.  

Thanks for being the best family ever!  Say hi to Nicole Green for me! 

Love you Mom and Dad.

Alex, you are the best!  you should do the summer seminary thing!  Invite the people to the house in the morning and make breakfast for them! That would be sweet!

Love Elder Quist  

Week 69

This Tuesday we were walking to the stake center for the district meeting and we passed a friend that we have from the street.  Enrique was involved in some really bad things a few years ago, I will explain more when I get home, but we meet him in the street because he always is walking around our area selling churiso.  When he was trapped in his problems before he learned about Christ and became Christain but hasn't join a church yet.  He always asked us to pray for him and we have, but we have never been able to go to his house because he lives with his aunt and uncle and they don't let us go there .  So we passed by and he asked us where we were going!.......I have to go I will finish the next week!

Love you mom and dad!  Thanks for all of you support. 

Elder Quist

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