Uber Baptisms

I LOVE DOING THE LORD'S WORK, ahhhhhh! This week was filled with so many crazy, random adventures; however, I felt like I truly was an instrument in the Lord's hands, and I couldn't be more focused and happy.

The mission is still filled with a lot of hard stuff, but honestly, my mission is going by SO fast; there isn't time to think about the negative.

Since December, the power of the covenants (promises) we make with God (when we are baptized or in the temple) has stood out to me in my studies. Mosiah 24:12-16 (in the Book of Mormon) is one of the most powerful accounts emphasizing that the Lord "knows the covenants with [His] people" and will "strengthen [covenant keepers] that they [can] bear up their burdens with ease".

This week, I have studied the powerful story in the Book of Mormon in Alma 56, when Helaman recounts part of the victory of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors in defeating the Lamanites and apostate Nephites in battle due to their diligence in keeping their covenants in the most difficult of situations.

Alma 56:7

7 But in the twenty-sixth year, when they (the people of Ammon) saw our afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to break the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war in our defense (to fight for a good cause).

The righteous people of Ammon saw the afflictions the Nephites were facing from constant battle against the Lamanites and wanted to aid them in their efforts; however, when the people of Ammon were converted unto the Lord many years before, they made a covenant/promise that they would bury their weapons of war and never fight again, showing their dedication to the Lord and His mercy upon them through repentance.

Alma 56:8

8 But I (Helaman) would not suffer them that they should break this covenant which they had made (in Alma 24), supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of fulfilling the oath which they had taken.

Almost 40 years later, Helaman reminds them of the power of covenants. Instead of breaking the covenant the people of Ammon made with God, Helaman created a little army made up of their sons (because they did not covenant with God) and miraculously won the battle without losing a single life.

Alma 56:19

19 And thus were we favored of the Lord: for had they (the wicked Lamanites) come upon us in this our weakness they might have perhaps destroyed our little army; but thus were preserved.

Logically, Helaman's army of teenage boys should have lost; however, due to the faith and diligence of their covenant-keeping parents, the Lord did strengthen them in their weakness, and they "were preserved".

In my mission, I have learned that my calling as a missionary gives me authority, and keeping my covenants gives me power. We literally have the Lord and all His unmatched power on our team, and He will strengthen us in our weaknesses.

Making and keeping covenants "is the very means by which we can tap into the divine. It is how we accept Christ's invitation to take his yoke upon us and receive His divine power".

Christ worked miracles through diligence to covenants anciently and will continue to do so modernly. THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN OUR COVENANTS.

Highs:

PEDRITO got baptized!!!!!! Prayers were answered!

Anddd, I got to return to my old ward and see everyone. It has only been two weeks, but O MY, I missed Geronimo de Alderete!

MONICA, ELIAS, and DAMIAN want to get baptized YAYYYYAYAYA. They are such a miracle family!

In one of my intercambios, I RAN INTO ONE OF MY FAVORITE CONVERTS, GLADYS!!!!!! I cried.

Seeing Hermana Arne.

Seeing Hermana Gonzaga.

Saying "atroz."

Took 5 Ubers this week, and I am just waiting to see a picture of the drivers dressed in white #holyelect.

New missionary training!!! CIPO.

Having four companions this week.