Believe Because You Want To

The past two weeks have been incredible. I have seen so much. Last Monday we went to a pueblo and walked over two hours to get to some caves. We knew we were almost there but had to go up a steep road. We started it with not very much enthusiasm. We had stuck out our thumb already from the beginning. Then a car stopped and said they could only take two of us. I automatically thought, "well if we all four can't go then none of us." and before I knew it, the other two elders were half way into the car! ha ha. We had hope that another car would see us going up the mountain and feel pity. We didn't walk much till we heard the next car. He stopped and we told him where we were going. He gave us a lift all the way to the caves. Then to my amazement, as he dropped us off he drove off and kept going till I couldn't see him. I then realized that he went out of his way to take us. Even as I write this I feel so grateful for him again. The Caves of Valporquero was magnificent. It was huge inside and water running through most of the cave and even waterfall! Sunday was just ever so wonderful. It snowed and didn't stop. I have seen lots of snow before in my life but never have I seen perfectly empty snow covered streets become snow covered streets in a matter of hours. My companion and I could have easily said we should probably go home and maybe do something productive since it was snowing good. We ended up deciding that people probably wouldn't stop but we needed to give it a try. You wouldn't believe how many people we ended up talking to! We ended up contacting a lot of people and it was random but miraculous. We ended up stopping a few times and then a person would come and stop next to us and we would just start talking to them and then the next thing we knew we had set up a visit with that person. One of the times was a young Spanish guy that would have never listened to us if it had not been just the right moment like that. On our way home we walked a lot of the way only seeing so far ahead of us because of all the snow in our face. We walked through a park and it was the most beautiful thing I have seen in a long time. The park was quiet and just covered in a white blanket of fresh snow . . . the images of it all are all still very clear in my mind. That might be because that it kept snowing today. We didn't stay in León for it either. We ended up taking a train to a pueblo where it was snowing harder! I fell asleep to only wake up in a small town because the train couldn't go on. The train was full of passengers and we all waited for an hour or more. It has been so much fun seeing how the snow brings out the child in so many. I had a good show while I waited as adults played in the snow wrestling and all. We made it to our destination. Then my friend, the priest, couldn't make it to us. We all had to wait till the snow plows cleared the way. We got a call met him. We went to his residency and it was so deep in snow that I was waist deep in it!! I loved every bit of it. He made us a soup typical of León, chorizo, Spanish bread, French fries, corn on the cob, arroz con leche, turon, and my favorite part was the meat . . . I got to eat BULL for the first time!!! I was the only one that had been there before and the other three got to learn about his thirty-nine years living in the United States. I learned something new as well of his time in Salt Lake. He said he was able to give tours on Temple Square! I love that place! Oh I forgot to mention some thing about Sunday. I get to do a lot in the branch and help out. It has been a great experience because I have learned so much. One part that has really changed my Church experience is Sacrament meeting. I am the one who assigns the members to talk and what they will talk about. As I sat in Sacrament I seemed to hear the speakers and their talks in a very different way. I seemed to appreciate the word of God I was hearing because of the time the members took to prepare their talks. My days in the house of the Lord have since become more spiritual in many ways. I love the teachings of the Savior and I cherish the things my God wants me to know. I keep trying to do my best. I owe everything to my Heavenly Father. Thank you all for reading the things I prompted to write. I want to say I appreciate the time you take and mean it. I have seen the power of God work for the benefit of all and what a sight it has been. I thought you might want to know that your prayers were answered. Last night, at a certain time, I received the strength I was in need of. I knew I couldn't have done it with out you all. I love you all so much . . . Elder Rodriguez

More pictures to come soon...

Ok ALL, i know i need to put more pictures of Elder Rodriguez and i will do it as soon as i can. He looks GREAT and i hope you keep enjoying his weekly emails as much as we do!

Things happen and we continue to trust in God

I don´t know if I have mentioned it but when Monday comes around I either know what I want to write and have known for a few days or I look at the computer screen and wonder what I should write. Many times it changes right at the last minute. I have a few things to tell today. Let´s see if I remember them all. First off Jesús is doing great. He finally stuggled with a commandment of God. We passed by last night and I asked him how he was doing and he said great. He had overcome his trial and trusted in the Lord. We have one more time to teach him and then he will be ready to be baptized. He plans on visiting his parents back home for the holidays. God prepares people in marvelous ways. Jesús is trying his best to follow God and really wants to be baptized and just wants to know he is ready. As for my ThanksGiving . . . well I didn´t have one. This was the first time in my life where I didn´t celebrate it with Turkey and Stuffing (yum), and mashed patatoes, peas, salads, bread, cranberry, pumpkin pie, and all other pies, and so much more goodness! My new companion, Elder Sorensen, arrived the night before. We went out on the streets talking to the people. We stopped a nice woman and a man. They were on there way home. I had recently tried Sancocho, a great soup from the Repubilica Dominica, and told her about it. She was surprised to know that I knew of that dish. We set up a visit to pass by the following day(ThanksGiving). The thing I love about the mission is that even though hundreds of missioanries have been by before me in this city they never talked to her. The reason being that she has only been here for one week! There are always new people around and usually the ones willing to listen. What a miracle, well actually her name happens to be Milagros :) Then to top it all off a pot of boiling chicken was left on the stove cooking. I got a call from Elder Gallegos and he said with a weary voice, ¨The piso is full of smoke.¨Everything got silent for a second as I kept listening, ¨The entire building smells like smoke.¨ Well from there I then realized that if he was refering to a building then it must still be standing. Noting major happend. The water evaporated, the chicken was well done, and the pot black as can be. All our clothes smeel like thick burnt smoke. I am grateful nothing major happened and thanked my God. Something not so great happened but we still trust in Him. If you want to know what I eat for ThanksGiving, take a guess . . . yes, it was rice, and just that. I would have been happy with turkey and all the fixin´s like we say in Texas but I got to teach Milagros about her Heavenly Father. So many more great things keep happening. One elder just came into the district as well. He is coming from Sestao, where I served! :), and talked about the area. We only had a few minutes today to do so but I will see him every week. I asked about all the people I was teaching and what happened to them. I asked about Raul Victor. He is the one in three pictures at the very end if you click on the August entries. He is my friend and the things he said, I´ll never forget. He one time asked, ¨Does God work through others? Does He bless people by sending others?¨ I had an idea of what he meant and didn´t quite know how to respond to him for the fact that he was talking about my companion and I. He ended up saying, ¨ . . . like you guys?¨ I was touched to hear someone say something so humble and yet it was a realy sincere question he had. Well I found out more about him today. Elder Dredge told me, ¨Of course I know him!¨ ¨We invited him to be baptized and he accepted.¨ Another experience that I can never forget. I can´t seem to thank my God enough because as I do He continues to bless me and my family and even my friends. So I keep thanking Him and try to keep up :) People can say what they may. My testimony will keep growing in Jesus Christ. Nothing changes the fact that God loves us. Nothing changes the fact that Jesus is the way. Even if you may not know them, They still love you . . . They wait with arms streached out as my sister once put it.

¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!

The weeks go by quickly. Elder Marín leaves tomorrow for one of the coldest cities in Spain, Burgos, and finishes his mission there. Elder Gallegos has about a week left till he goes home. He will stay a week longer to show the new branch president, Elder Chavez, how to do everything. I was in the CCM with Elder Chavez and have traveled to Oviedo to do cambios with him. I am excited to have him in the piso. Elder Cepeda, the newest of missionaries, will stay in the piso. I get my new companion on Wednesday. He had just served in the neighboring city before he left. So I had seen him every week for six weeks some three months ago or so. I got along with Elder Sorensen great and so we will see how much being companions will change all that. He is from San Diego and has a lot of energy and will be great to work with. I will be in León for the next six weeks. Then I might leave, if not I would only stay six weeks more. Jesús is doing great and we only need to teach him a couple of more times. We take it from there and see if he is ready and prepared to be baptized. The seach continues for more people to teach. Both missioanries and members can be a part of this great work. The work to prepare the way, the earth, and all people for the second coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. We still have our duty to strengthen our faith in Christ, strengthen our families, and establish the Church were we live. I know as we do missionary work we will be able to do all other things that life requires of us. I too had a busy llife before the mission. I too will also have effective filled days after the mission. What big picture are we looking at? The one that is filled with so much we have to do and no time to do it all? or The one that is filled with all that we get to do and all the time the Lord, our God, has given us so we may be happy? I want to share something . . . my friends that read from the Book of Mormon with a purpose and go to Church every Sunday are the ones that progress. They are the ones that learn, are happy, and stress free. They are the ones that make the decision to be baptized. An example is my friend, Jesús. The ones that struggle to make the time to go to church every Sunday are the ones I work with. I help them understand the importance of meeting together frequently(Called Church) as the Savior did with His Apostles and the people. I have a question for all . . . how many hours in the week are there? . . . take the time to figure it out . . . some can do it in there head (not me) . . . while others can get there cell phone out and use the calculator to figure it out . . . So, how many hours are there in seven days? . . . we have one hundred and sixty-eight hours per week! That means that many hours to work, eat, sleep, study, and so much more. Here is my favorite part . . . The Lord only expects us to be at Church for three hours . . . Now I hope that you don´t have to use your cell phone :) but 168 hours minus 3 hours is 165 hours left. God gives us SO MUCH time to do all we need to do and all we want to do. All He expects of us is but a few hours each week. As I look at it this way, my whole Sunday has completely changed. Three hours at Church passes by so quickly that I can´t wait to go back the following Sunday. Go to Church and be happy and your world will be a better place. Of this I testify and know to be true, Elder Rodríguez