Thursday, March 12, 2015

Week 56: Humility and Courage

Hello!!

So another great week. In our zone of 20 missionaries, we had lots of success this month and had a lot more improvement so that is good. Today we played a ton of soccer and bonded and all and it was great. Good times. Here are some highlights this week!

1. I was reading in my study book Preach My Gospel, and it directed me to 3 Nephi 11 and made me think about the way God presented his son, "Behold, My beloved Son, in Who I am Well Pleased." God truly was so proud of His Son, and he showed it in the way He spoke of Him. I thought about it a little bit, and I wondered how God would present me if he had the chance. What would he say? "Behold, my servant Connor Bernal, in whom _____________" I really made me reflect more about who I am, who I have become, and who God wants me to be. I think that at the end of my mission, and in simple words, I would want the Lord to say "Behold, my servant Connor Bernal, who to me has been faithful." I think that those few words encompass all that I hope My Father would think of me. Now I ask you, if the Lord were to present you today, what would he say? What would you want him to say?

2. On Monday of last week, I went to the dentist to get mah teeth checked up (no cavities, booyah). At the end of the appointment, the dentist asked me how I brush my teeth. I showed her with my hands than I just give my teeth a couple scrubs up and down and all over the place until i feel like i have sufficiently grinded out all the bacteria that there could be, and that is how i have been doing it my entire life. She smiled, and then proceeded to pull out a life size model of a mouth and a toothbrush. She then showed me the proper way to brush my teeth, demonstrating that every stroke should be made away from the gums as to avoid pushing the bacteria inwards, the whole time making it very clear that all my life, I have been brushing my teeth wrong. I stood there thinking, "Well excuse me Miss, maybe you forgot but I believe you just told me that I have no cavities so thank you very much but my way is working just fine."

But then I calmed down and thought to myself and realized, Ok, she probably knows what she is talking about alot more than I do. I should probably take her advice. So from that day on, I have began brushing my teeth differently and I really hope she is right (and for those of you reading this that are dentists, do feel free to send me some input just so I can have some reassurance...)

How does that relate? Because what that Dentist told me, is very much like what us Missionaries do as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We share a message that is unique, and different, and often times very hard to accept, and many are in shock to hear the boldness of our message. I cant tell you how often I have had people respond saying, "So your saying my baptism isn't valid!?" When I heard that Dentist tell me that what I had been doing my entire life was wrong, I wanted to snap back, but I the only way I could know if what she had said was true, was if I put it in to practice. It helped give me a better perspective of how our message sounds on the receiving end. 

As missionaries, we do not tell people that they are living their lives wrong. Rather, we present the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ to help them live their lives better. Even though I thought my teeth were perfectly fine the way they were, I realized that maybe there was something better. That is why accepting our message takes two incredibly important characteristics; Humility and Courage. Humility, to be willing to listen and act, and Courage to actually do it. The only way to accept the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to first live the principles that it teaches. But the only way to do that is if we are humble, and courageous.

To everyone (and yes I am including you Parker and Erik and Phil and all of th4) I invite you to take a look at what I am talking about. Make the effort to learn a little more about what I do as a missionary, and meet with missionaries close to you. I promise, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that every reader willing to put our message of the Restoration to the test, who is humble and courageous, WILL recieve an answer than will change their life forever.

And, with no further adue..... HAPPPPYYY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL MAMI ROSIBELITA WHO TURNS 25 ON MARCH 5!!!!!! DID YA THINK I FORGOT??? MAS VALE QUE TE PORTES BIEN EN LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA!!!!!!


Have a great week!
Elder Bernal

















Week 55: "When one strengthens himself in God, he simultaneously strengthens himself in everything else."

Hey everyone!

SO IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD WEEK THIS WEEK. Two of our awesome investigators got baptized!!!! Their names are Joaquin and Cynthia, brother and sister, and they are very soon going to be BIG leaders in the church. THEY ARE SO AWESOME!!! QUE FELICIDAD!! Attached are some photos from their baptism. AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL!!!

Since I have talked a lot these last few weeks, I am gonna keep it low key this week and not write a whole lot. Otherwise you´ll all get sick of me too fast.... if it hasn't already happened that is....

In other news, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF THE COOLEST MAN ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET THOMAS PLACE!!!!!!!! DID YA THINK I WAS GONNA FORGET?????? HAPPY 21 YEARS YA CHUMP!!!

In other news, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHERS WIFE CAMI!!!!!!!!!! YA THOUGHT I FORGOT DIDN'T YA??? DON'T GO HAVING ANY KIDS TILL I GET BACK!!!!!

If I forgot a birthday, that will be real embarrassing.

Have a happy week!
Elder Bernal

Inspiration for the Week:
"When one strengthens himself in God, he simultaneously strengthens himself in everything else."