March 7, 2016

Dear Family,

This week has been really awesome and interesting to see how miracles occur in our own area when we are being obedient. We were excited to work in our area this week and we were planning to find people to teach. As we were there Sunday at church, a sister got close to us and said "Hey Elders my son wants to get baptized this week. He has attended for quite a while and he has the desires to be baptized." When we heard that we were desirous like Alma to baptize him for Repentance. We worked really hard this week to teach him every day. We did the interviews necessary and he got baptized this week that just passed. I've sent some pictures so you can see. We were really happy to know that the Lord has blessed us for doing his will and not our will. We also were not planning to baptize our investigator because he has done some bad things. We were thinking that he would need another interview with President Castillo one of the counselors of Presidente Erickson. We later found out that week that one of the missionaries called President Erickson to ask him and he said he would not need another interview with President Castillo. From that moment on we Planned on baptizing him this week that passed. He has had the desires to come unto Christ. Im really proud of him and his decision. When we told him his face lit up with joy. He was excited to make a covenant with the Lord. When he came out of the Water on Saturday his face was so happy to know that he had made the right decision. He has read up to Helaman 12. He has really done what the Lord has asked him to do and know he is filled with the spirit of the Lord.

This week has been really successful especially coming from last week baptizing to this week also baptizing has been such a happy feeling. I feel like Peter when he baptized hundreds testifying of Christ and the great power he has to heal means hearts and make them whole again. The Zona Carabaylho has put a goal for 15 baptisms. We are 16 missionaries in total. We are excited with this goal and looking forward to reach it this month. We are seeing now that the missionaries are auto sufficient and that they know how to take out dates for baptisms. We are really happy with the zone and this week has been a good week. We have been trusting more in our district leaders and they are doing their work.

Just to let you guys know that this week we have felt the spirit strongly in the baptisms. We are excited to keep serving our master in his glorious work here on earth. I have felt his power and authority telling people in their faces that the life they are living is incorrect. This week president gave a training that was really powerfull. He said that we should "Alzar nuestra voz" or Lift up my voice. I have tried it this week and spirit testifies strongly and with conviction that what we share is true. You make a bold statement. This week I tried it with the first vision and we tried it with a new family that we were teaching. When we testified that Joseph Smith was a prophet. The family started crying and they knew it was true. They literally told me when you talk it sounds like if the Lord would be talking to me. I was astonished and surprised to hear that from this family. I felt the confirmation of the spirit in that very moment. We are excited to keep teaching that new family and making them feel that peace that the Lord gives.

We are really happy to keep pressing forward and never giving up. Now I understand that scripture that says Never stop doing the right in Doctrine and covenants 64. Sometimes Satan tries to trick us into giving up but we must be constant in the correction we give.

I love you guys so much. Keep it up. This week I turn 18 months in the mission. 3/4ths of the way done.
Till next week.

Elder Parra