Week 31: "Storms about to hit Nogales"

Hello All!

A crazy week and it went really really fast. And it turns out that supposedly there is a storm that is about to hit Nogales that is going to be really dangerous and harmful (super awesome and tempting....) and so we have to be in our homes early today. SO I don't have too much time to write today, so I will attach one of my most favorite videos I know of. It is a wee bit long, so when you have a moment, watch it. Esta bien bien suave les va a gustar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1J58SSjpqI

Love you all, hope everything is well.

Elder Bernal

Week 30: "I Love You Sam"

Hello all,

Another great week as usual. Not a whole lot of time so I wanted to share something that was very touching this week.

We are teaching a man named Manuel who is going to be baptized in two weeks. He is a living testament of the power of the Book of Mormon. About 3 years ago, Manuel was attacked and beaten by two men that tried to rob him. He had luckily escaped in his car somehow, but only to have gone unconscious at the wheel and than crashing shortly after. He was rushed to the hospital and barely survived, but is alive and well today. He has a special type of crutch to help him walk, and his speaking is extremely, however, this is one of the must humble person I have met in my life. We are reading the Book of Mormon with him everyday now, and it has been incredible. When we first started, we would take turns reading a couple verses each person. Manuel could barely finish a sentence. He struggled with each word, but never gave up. Now, after several weeks of visits, Manuel reads to us almost entire chapters needing very little assistance. He is improving at a rate much faster than predicted by his doctors. He claims that the cause is because he asks his Father in Heaven every day and night to help him reach his goal to walk and talk without difficulty, and most importantly to grow closer to him each day. One Sunday, in the middle of testimony meeting, he moved his crutches aside, flopped himself over, got down on his knees, and began to pray. He told me that he knows that God is helping him every day because he is making the right decision. Sometimes, when we are in his house and his is reading to us, I look in his eyes and I feel tears leaving my own. The Lords hand could not be more obvious and beautiful than in the words of the Book of Mormon through the sound of this sweet mans voice. 

There are a lot of words that I wish I could fit in to this message, a lot of emotions that I wish I could get out, but right now I just don't know how to fit it all together. All I want to say for now is that my dear friend Sam holds a very special place in my heart. I spent some of the best years with that kid and he was one of the best friends anyone could ask for, and anyone who had the great privilege of being his friend would know that. He was a fighter to the very end, never showed a moment of weakness, and is a winner in my mind. I am brought to peace to know that Sam is part of the great Plan of Salvation that God has prepared for each one of us, and that he is now in a better place, looking down on each one of us, and being taught the truths that will bring him the kind of happiness that lasts for the eternities.

I love you Sam, and your presence will forever be missed until I see you again. And when that day comes, don't forget to bring your tennis racket :)

I love you all so much. Don´t let a day go by without letting your loved ones know that they are loved. Please pray for Sam and his family.

Elder Bernal

Week 29: "Life just keeps getting better and better"

Bueno!

So, apologies for not writing yesterday. Turns out that we had transfers, and my companion left me :( He is going to Guaymas to work in the exact same place that I was in!! I gave him a bunch of tips about the place and I know he is gonna kill it.

SO, in place of my Elder companion, they sent me Elder Otteson, WHO IS FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN FROM THE MTC!!!! Elder Otteson just finished his training in Utah, and now he is just getting to Mexico to start his mission. He is 14 days in.... how precious! Reminds me so much of when I got to the mission and I was so freaked out with everything but excited. And then I look back at the time and I realize that I already have 7 MONTHS IN THE MISSION!! Time really goes by that fast?? Miss me yet guys!!????

I am going to be Elder Otteson´s Trainer, meaning that I will be teaching all the things he needs to know about being a missionary. In the mission, they say that when you get a freshy missionary from the MTC, he is your "son," and you are his "Dad," and so I now officially have a child. And my "Dad," or Elder Mejia, the Elder who trained me, now has a grandson. I'm pretty young to already have a son don´t cha think?? I am super excited though. I have to admit that ever since I got here, I have always wanted to train a new missionary. It is a special opportunity because you literally get to form a servant of the Lord. Your companion has no idea what is going on in the mission, and so he is watching every you do. With Gods help, I get to help this missionary understand how great his purpose is here in Mexico, and give him the tools he needs to be a successful instrument in the hands of the Lord. Now that I think about it, its kind of like Build a Bear. Lets hope I don't screw it up...

Cool things that happened this week...

1. I read an AWESOME scripture in the Book of Mormon, in Ether 2:25. God is talking here, to the brother of Jared, and this is what he says:

25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?

When I read this scripture, it spoke differently to me. To me, it said "I will prepare you against all things, for you cannot go through this life save that I guide you through the struggles and obstacles that will come. Therefore, what do you want that I should do for you, that you may have light when it is dark, that you may be strong when you feel weak, and that you may be find a way out when you feel overwhelmed by the world?" I absolutely loved loved loved it. One of my favorite scriptures that I have read.

2. News update on our friend Michel, the pastor of his church.... He is doing really really well..... We watched the Restoration movie with him about Joseph Smith, and he loved it. We ended up giving him the movie, and he was so happy. I am so pumped for this guy. Pray for him. Weekly update to come next week.

3. Two amazing packages arrived this week, thanks to Rosy Bernal and my beloved family, and the great Taylor Smith. Thank you rosy for the lifetime supply of deodorant. I think I have enough to supply myself for the rest of my life, as well as the population in Nogales. much appreciated. Tay Tay thank you so much for the KILLER TIE and the pounds and pounds of pretzels. I am in heaven. You guys are so awesome thank you so much for all the work you put in to sending these. You have no idea how happy I feel when they come!

4. This week, I finished the book of Mormon in Spanish for the second time in my mission, and as I always do, I put to the test the promise that we are given in the final chapter of Moroni 10, verses 3-5. I got down on my knees, prayed to God, and asked him yet again if this book is true, and if Joseph Smith was called to be his Prophet to restore the church of Jesus Christ. I have learned in my mission the when the Holy Ghost speaks, it comes in many different ways, often revealing an answer in a subtle feeling or thought. But it always comes. As I uttered this words, I felt the chills overtake by body. I felt a peace and calm that cannot be explained, only felt. And again, I knew for myself, that these things are all true. I invite all others to do as I did, and as many are doing across the world, to read this section in the Book of Mormon, kneel before the Almighty, and ask him for the truth. Whether you are member of The LDS church of not, I promise you that this act will strengthen your faith and belief in God, and will bring you closer to him as you receive your individual answer. It has worked for me, and I know it will work for all those who ask with an open heart, true intention, and having faith.

I don't know how, but life just keeps getting better and better. I cannot belief that I have already been gone for 7 months. It feels like it was yesterday that I was a just a itty bitty noob out of the MTC and starting my mission, and now I am training someone who is in that spot. Life goes by fast when you are having fun, and I am so happy to know that I still have so much time left in my mission.

Enjoy the photos! Look at the wittle fishies on my tie!

Elder Bernal

Week 28: "TALK ABOUT MIRACLES"

Hey gang,

Another awesome week in Nogales! I got a little sick because we got fed pig skin and it didn't sit so well in my stomach. Looks like pig skin just isn't my thing because I either fumble when its in my hands or it makes me sick when I eat it. (get it, pig skin...)

We had an awesome lesson this week with a person named Gabriela. She has been wanting to get baptized for over two years now but hasn't been able to because of some complications. When I first got to Nogales, we had gone to her house to visit her, but she was supposedly never there. Finally, one day, when we came by, she was around, so we passed by, and she told us that she as going to be leaving to another state in Mexico and we wouldn't be able to see her anymore. It was pretty sad, I will be honest, but we wished her well, and she said she would be leaving the next day. That week, my companion and I had a conversation about miracles. We said that in any given situation, we need to always have faith the the lord will provide us with a miracle, because without faith, he will not do anything (2 Nefi 27:23). So the following we week, we were around Gabrielas house and we noticed that her door was open. We thought, hmm, that's weird, we thought she left. So we swung by, and she saw us and said "hey Elders, I´m still here! And i have some news for you. Come by tomorrow at 11!" Cool got it sounds good. So we came back the next day at 11, and had one of the best lessons I have in my mission. She was so excited and just jumped right off the bat and said that the complications she had that had held her back from being baptized were going to be removed very shortly, and that she was now going to be able to be baptized after waiting for two years! She was like "Elders, put the date, I want to get baptized now!" TALK ABOUT MIRACLES. We thought she was gone, and now look what that turned into. If all goes well, Gabriela´s two year wait will finally come to an end September 6th. The Lord works miracles, but we must have faith first. For after the trial of our faith comes the blessings (Ether 12:6). I know this to be true because I saw it happen first time. God is a God of miracles.

An another note, I don´t know if it has hit number 1 on iTunes yet, but everybody needs to stop what they are doing and listen to the song attached. It is sung by none other than my own sister Adrianna Bernal, and oh my goodness it is heavenly.

http://grooveshark.com/#!/search/song?q=Adrianna+Bernal+Your+Hands

Another note, as you all know how handsome and charming Fernando Bernal is, Coca Cola has now realized that fact as well, and instead of putting their brand name on their bottles, they figure that the mere name of Fernando will send people crawling. See photo attached



Thats all for this week. Love you guys!
Elder Bernal

Week 27: "Which wolf wins? ...The one you feed."

Hello hello!

Honestly the weeks are just getting better and better and I am loving it. Lots to include so perdoname por excribir mucho ok?

1. I read an analogy this week abut an old Cherokee story that I like a lot:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. “One is Evil – It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good – It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” There are many ways that we can "feed" the wolves inside of us. What we feed them are the things that we give our attention, and the environment that we surround ourselves in. Let us be sure that we are not giving food to the wolf that we do not want to follow.

2. A new investigator that we have this week is a super cool guy named Michel Fuentes. Michel, is a Pastor for his church, yet he asked that we visit him. He has a strong faith and God and knows alot about him, yet he has so many awesome questions that the bible alone simply cannot answer. His humility was very remarkable in that a Pastor of a church was willing to say to a pair of young missionaries that there are still plenty of things that he wants to know, and more, that he was asking us for answers. It was an awesome lesson because all of the questions that he has, are able to be answered because of the knowledge we have of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and The Plan of Salvation. I love having people who really want to know, because it makes it so much better to tell them that we have answers for them. Really excited to meet with this guy this week.

3. We did a service project this week for a family we are teaching. They currently don't have a place to live, so this week a ton of members from the church took time to come tear apart an empty terrain and make a place for them to live. So we built them a house! Hours of hacking away at weeds and putting together whatever pieces of blocks and woods that we could find, but at least now they will have a roof over their heads. They were so happy and grateful for what we did, and it was fun to do, so in the end everyone was just happy. Service is really good, do it. And be grateful for the roof above your head!

4. Thursday was a day I will always remember for the rest of my mission. We were eating lunch with a member, and then began to share a scripture with them. In the middle of the lesson, it started to rain. And then it started to rain harder. My companion and I thought eh maybe lets wait it out to see if it will just pass by, but it only worsened. After a few minutes, I realized it would probably be really easy to say "eh its raining, they don't expect us to work in this, there's not even that much we could do." But in that moment, I realized, I actually wanted to go out in that rain. I wanted to get absolutely soaked and drenched, walk through all that mud. The fact that it was raining that hard actually made it seem more of an adventure to me. We asked the member to lend us a couple plastic sacks to cover ourselves, and then we headed out into the storm. Within seconds we were completely soaked. Everyone was running away like it was a world war, trying to get inside. The Thunder roared like I had never heard before. It was like a giant whip in the sky, that pierced the air with each strike. The car alarms to every car were literally going off. It felt like the end of the world.

And yet there we were, two missionaries in our shirts and ties, laughing and joking. Skipping around in the rain and pretending as if all were well. It didn't matter what was happening around us, we have a message to share that does not depend on the weather.. We ended up stopping by a few of the investigators that we have and shared our testimonies. It was an awesome experience and something that I am always going to remember because I realized how much I love this work. That even when the city was practically flooding, I actually wanted to be out there. I hope people saw us and thought to themselves "What the heck could be so important that those boys are still out there?"

I do not want to be anywhere else than where I am now. The Gospel is true, and it is that important. I want nothing more than for these people to realize that truth.

Love you all, and wishing you a great week!
Elder Bernal

Week 26: "Focus on the good in others and you will find much more"

Hello world!

This week was SO SO AWESOME. In a bagillion of ways it was just so cool. I started keeping a list of everything this week because there were just too many things that I wanted to write about. So get ready, this might be long pero vale la pena, leanlo por favor muchas gracias los amo muchisimo.

1. My stud companero has this super cool book about Joseph smith, and for every day of the year there is something about him, a little special message or reminder to have for the day. I read one that I really like. It was talking about holding judgements about others. If we are only looking for the bad in people, we are going to find it. However, what you find may not reflect so much about them as it does about you. In other words, the bad that you "find" in other people is actually a reflection of who you are as a person, of the insecurities you may have and not so much of theirs. If you are looking for the bad in others, you wil probably find it, but why are you looking for the bad in the first place? Focus on the good, and you will find much more. We never know their story or what they have been through, so it is best to hold our tongue. An interesting thought to keep in mind the next time we may naturally want to lay a judgement on others. 

2. We had a lesson with this guy name Horacio, who is 17 and his Mom and him are listening to us. One lesson when his mom wasn't there, he said he wanted to learn more about the Plan of Salvation, and the life after this. We talked about Gods Plan, explained why here is here on this earth, and what God has planned for him after. It was a super powerful lesson. At the end, I bore my testimony to him, that I knew this plan was true, and that it is literally revelation from the heavens. Towards the end, I said I know that Christ lives, and that he was there with us in spirit testifying of the truth. Horacio responded, "I know man, you can feel it too?" MUSIC TO MY EARS. That was one of the best moments of my mission, hearing him clearly say that he was feeling the Holy Spirit and that he knew it was real. Without delay, he responded again that he wanted to baptized, and that he was ready. Could it get any better? No, it couldn't. It was so awesome. So so amazing. The spirit is real, and its presence can be felt, if we just invite it.

3. It rained. It rained so hard. And then it actually rained every day after. Actually now that i think about it, its rained almost every day ive been here at one point in the day. I LOVE THE RAIN. As my awesome (and bien guapo) Dad reminded me of a quote from a cool movie, "God is in the Rain."

4. I am going to apply what I learned in 3rd grade and show, not tell. That is, I am going to try and explain what Nogales is like. Imagine a humble village, up in the mountains, which some shades of green and others hillsides of mud, on a sunny day with some partial clouds. Are you thinking of something like Machu Piccu?? That is literally what i think of when im here. We are like some Sherpa village up in the mountains, and its actually so cool. I feel like a city in the sky sometimes, and although its a lot of walking up and down some gigantic hills, it is still a beautiful scene.

5. We did a service project this week and painted a newly bought shop for one of the members here. I suck at painting. He might have to buy another place now.

6. On (fun) Friday, we were just finishing up our studies when it was time to leave. I slipped my shoes on routinely, got my stuff and headed out the door. After about 10 steps, I felt a little something in my shoes. Hmm, a little rock buggin me already just a few seconds out the door? I took my shoe off, peared inside, and there, I did not find a rock. I found a freshly dead cockroach (whether because I crushed it or because of the odor remains unknown). The first thought I had was flattering because this cockroach had decided to make his humble home in the same place as my feet. Then I realized it was kind of gross, so i brushed the guts off my sock, put my shoe back on, and headed out to work! FUN FRIDAY RIGHT

7. This week was sacrament meeting, and it was perfect because we had brought TONS of people to church with us this week! Testimony meeting is when the members of our church, instead of giving a speech or class, can choose to go up to the pulpit and bear their personal testimony of Jesus Christ and his church. Always a very spiritual meeting that I look forward to. One testimony that stuck out to me was one by a cute little girl, about 7 years old. She waltzed her way up to the stand, climbed on to the foot stool, positioned that mic perfectly proportionate to her height, then, after a big breath, literally shouted "YO SE QUE JESUCRISTO VIVE", which means I know that Jesus Christ Lives. As she realized how loud she was talking, she quietly continued to bear her sweet innocent testimony to the congregation. Hearing the words of such a young girl bear testimony of what she knew to be true, about the most important thing in the world, hit home for me, as I am sure it did for many others listening.

8. One of my awesome friends Jessie Jones sent me something SUPER cool, that I want you guys to read.

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient? If he were to pray for courage, does God give him courage, or does He give him opportunities to be courageous?"

When we pray to God and ask him for things, let us always be watchful that we will know his answers when they come. An interesting perspective that will help us understand how to recognize divine answers.COOL HUH. Atta girl Jessie.

Life is just so good. And thank you all so much for taking time to write me. I literally cant describe how happy I am to see emails from you all. Makes my day every time.

Elder Bernal


PS. I can now start receiving packages from you guys in like 5 days!!! Instead of sending it to Mexico, you can follow the directions here and send it to the home of a member in Arizona, and she brings it all over for us. Yay!!!

The only rule is that you DO NOT PUT MY NAME IN THE MAILING ADDRESS. YOU PUT THIS ADDRESS EXACTLY.


Ma. Isabel Garcia
82 N Terrace Ave.
PMB 066
Nogales, Az 85621

To designate it is for me, put "Elder Bernal" in the return address, and she will send it our way.

Thanks, peace and love.

Week 25: "One is good enough"

Hi everyone,

So, this week was really really fast.

I arrived in Agua Prieta, and we started working right away. The members were awesome, my companion is super cool, and there had been like three thunderstorms in a row! One moment it was sunny and then five minutes later we were running for shelter to hide from the rain and lightning bolts it was nuts. I actually dont know that I have seen lightning so close or so bright. I was super cool. It hit me once but it didnt even hurt.

So after a quick week in Agua Prieta, turns out that they actually want me to be in Nogales! So today bright and early at 2:45, we woke up to go to the bus station, where I left Agua Prieta, and went to Nogales which was about 4 hours away. Nogales is also a border town, but the thing that is way different is that it is a city of hills. Up and down and up and down. My new companion se llama Elder Beddes, and he is from California. Real cool dude, we are gonna do big things together.

So I dont have too much time today, but I want to share a little something with you all that my dear friend Rachael Duncan shared with me after her incredible trip to El Salvador (ask her about it). Hope you enjoy:

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions. Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?” The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.” The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

Always look for ways that you can help others. You never know how much of a difference you can make in somebodys life. Even if you can only help just one, it will be special for that one person, and one is good enough.

Love you all, Hope you have an amazing week!

Elder Bernal

P.S. Next week I will have my new address!