I'm Not Here To Rob You

I gave a last-minute talk this week in sacrament meeting about the October 2020 general conference message "The Culture of Christ" by William K. Jackson. I was given no time to prepare, yet Elder Jackson’s talk inspired me so much.

Something that I love about the Church of Jesus Christ is that because we have a living prophet, we are a worldwide church. No matter the country, city, or language, every Sunday in our chapels, we learn of the same principles and teachings of the gospel.

As members of the church, we love and cherish each unique culture; however, the greatest culture we can be a part of is that of Christ (3 Nephi 3:24).

"Christ's culture is the greatest of all cultures and comes from the great plan of happiness, authored by God and championed by Christ. It unites rather than divides. It heals rather than harms." -Elder William K. Jackson

The culture of Christ defines the way we think and live. It is our rock. Being part of His culture comes by applying His doctrine in our everyday lives (Faith, Repentance, Baptism/Sacrament, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and persevering to the end).

3 Nephi 11:39

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

When we are a part of Christ's culture, He promises us that "the gates of hell (temptation, sadness, confusion, insecurities, etc.) shall not prevail against [us]."

HOLY SOLID BLESSING!!!!!

Learning and experiencing all different types of cultures is my passion. For the rest of my life, I want to travel and live in all different parts of the world. However, the greatest of all cultures is that of our Savior, Jesus Christ. His teachings will forever be the rock and influence of the way I live.

Highs:

-Pepe Pig (Isaac) asked us for a Book of Mormon so he could practice his reading

-Steffen loved church!!!

-Cristobal (baptized last week) is the new ward piano player AHHH and bore his testimony in church and told us he stayed up till 2:30 in the morning to practice and study.

-Held back tears secretly listening to Pedro (pray he will be baptized this week 🥺 ) explain the difference between our church and others to a new friend at church. He even explained the four pillars!!! (Prophets, Apostles, Revelation, Priesthood power)

-Pedro started reading Saints this week

-Screamed at how pretty the mountains looked after it rained. AHHH FALL!!!

-Forcing my comp to give me words of affirmation every night hehe

-It rained

-On Thursday, every single house we entered gave us mint herbal tea 

-New jacket that doesn't look like I am attending a funeral #bestmamitaever

-My study journal is fire

-"The Blessed and Happy State" -David A. Bednar changed my life FOREVER. I love the commandments!!!!

-Zone conference and being with my favorite companionship ever #hermanasArneyVasquez

-I was ill after I got a vaccine, and my comp made me eggs and tea 

-Dancing in the street last night with Hermana Gonzaga

-Noche de Hogar with Vicente, Renato, Felipe, Cristobal, and Pedro

-There is a part-member family we are teaching, and they are so incredible, but they can't come to church because their mom's job schedule conflicts with church. We fasted last week so that she could find a job that allows her to attend church, AND THIS WEEK a new slot opened up with a perfect schedule in this cute café; however, she didn't get the job. BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP!!!! So I was planning to try and find the boss and talk to him (seems like a stretch, but whatever it takes to get people to church again!!!). THEN, God gave me a personal MIRACLE because right when we were going to try and find him, I asked this man outside of the café if he worked there, and he said no but then pointed to someone who was walking up the stairs and said "but he's the boss". WHAT??? NO WAY!!! We quickly went over to him and naturally brought up our friend blah blah, and our new friend AND THE BOSS OF THE CAFE, Sebastian, said he would give our sweet friend another call!! Miracles in La Florida, Chile.

Lows:

-Never have I had so many tests of faith (is that how you say it?) with our friends this week. Like actually

-Working on not being, as my mom calls me, "emotionally constipated"

-A man thought I was going to rob him when I contacted him in the street...and then Hermana Gonzaga and I couldn't talk because we were laughing so hard. So funny, yet the poor scared man.

-Saying goodbye to my mission friends in zone conference who go home next week, time is passing too fast.

-I only have one more week of this transfer. WHERE DID THE TIME GO?????

Everyone is welcome in the culture of Christ.

Hermana Pickett