Hello family!

We have some really awesome investigators which we are pushing with to see more and teach more often but as of right now they are only able to meet once a week so there isn’t too much progress yet. The hardest thing of this area is it’s FULL of Jehovah Witnesses and Aventistas. I have been studying the bible like none other and I still don’t feel like I know it all that well. One of the members we went to see yesterday was talking to us about his mission in Concepcion Chile and how many baptisms they had. I know the mission isn’t about numbers of baptisms but they had a ton, about 8-13 baptisms every week for companionships. He said that he didn’t waste time with people. If they didn’t want to follow Christ he didn’t want to waste time with them and keep passing wishing and hoping that they would change their minds. He said that if people only want to learn from you for your knowledge or because your friends that he stopped passing because it was wasting the time of the Lord in being there if they are not progressing. I know that seems harsh but it really hit me yesterday. When I got here to this area there are investigators that have been teaching for.... months and they still are not reading or going to church or praying and it’s time to stop passing for them. I think as missionaries we get in this mode of being afraid not to have investigators. We hold onto people hoping that they will change and we keep passing to have a lesson but also because we don’t want to be out in the street all day long without once entering a house to teach. It happens. Sometimes we want that security net of an investigator to pass by when you don’t know what else to do. But I’m in a moment of my mission where I have noticed in this area more than any other that I am to the point of wanting to teach people to get baptized and not just to teach them. There is a purpose and if they are not willing to be baptized and follow Christ then I can not plead and beg them to do it. 

We have this family that we are teaching, they´re Jews and they are sooo awesome. They are not married, just living together and have a kid. But the dad is looking for the way to Christ, we are not pushing him yet because he´s still opening up a bit but the mom is right there. I know that they have an answer but they just have not recognized it yet. They have not come to church yet but we will keep passing for them and I´ll let you know what happens. Ah, its just that there are a few people that are ready to be baptized but it’s problems that make it so they can’t yet. 

This week there was an experience really, really hard that happened to me. We were contacting and we started talking to this guy who started to talk about how religion ruins people and how the people who are in religions are like the worst people in the world. Ya so right there I was wanting to leave but he kept talking and accusing us of not knowing things and would not let us say a word. He then started talking about how Christ was a terrible person. My heart was pounding out of my chest as I testified that Christ lives and that only through Him can we be saved, the man then got upset and started talking again and I cut him off to say bye and we left. We walked 2 steps and I started to cry, my whole body was shaking. It’s not that I was angry, I was hurt that someone could hate my Savior so much that they think He is a horrible person. It pained me to see someone deny the spirit of the truth they know. I think that’s also why parents suffer when their kids do things they should not. It’s because the parents know what they are doing and how great is the sin they are committing but can’t do anything for them, but pray. And that’s what I did. To be able to keep working I prayed for that man that one day he would have the chance to hear the gospel and that he can have a change of heart. 

Yesterday was a special broadcast for only Chile from some of the 70 and Elder Cook. It was about hastening the work and it was amazing. They also talked about the law of chastity. Something one of the 70 said was that in this life we have the power to create. God has given us the power to create life. So the reason we keep the law of chastity? Because we are learning to be obedient. God will give to those who live in the highest part of the celestial kingdom to be able to have children and create worlds. If we are not obedient and don’t learn to use the power of God correctly in this life, how can God TRUST us to use His power correctly?? HE CANT!! I have never heard someone say the law of chastity in that way, of looking at it for the eternities. We always talk about it for just this life, but I know what he said is true. Sometimes the truth cuts and it hurts but I know that if we don’t learn obedience in this life, what privileges will God trust us with? None. Trust is everything. I have finally learned that. If you don’t have the trust of your parents how can you expect to go do things when they don’t trust you? With God and each of us His children, if we don’t keep His commandments He can’t trust us with privileges He wants to give us. I never want to be in a situation where I feel like God does not trust me. I invite you all to ask yourself that question. Does God trust me? Am I being obedient by making good decisions? Is there something I’m doing to make it so God does not trust me? I know that we are all imperfect. I know that I’m not perfect and there are soooooo many things I need to do to better myself but I know that the commandments are there to protect us and so that God can freely bless us with all that He desires. We´re not perfect but if we never do self evaluations, we will never progress and change the things we are doIng wrong. 

I love you all my dear family. I want to be an eternal family but to make that happen everyone needs to put in their part and do their effort. I love you and pray for you each everyday. I testify that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. He lives and is at the head of His church. He guides us today through President Thomas S. Monson, who was called to be a prophet of God. I know the power of the Book of Mormon and what it does to peoples lives when they read it and study it. It’s changed my life personally. I’m a better person each day because of the things I learn in the Book of Mormon and when I try to apply it to my life. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Con amor,

Hermana Tycksen

PS. Guess who I found this weekend?? Hermana Castleton!!!