December 17, 2012 Tender Mercies and Mighty Miracles

Carlos and Juan Rodriguez and the Family

After Carlos was baptized

Elder Bryce with Carlos Rodriguez

Elder Leonardo and Elder Bryce

Dear Familia,

Well, this week has just been fantastic!

So, I have a quick question for you, when you send the package with Carlos, could you tell them to bring it to me. I don´t know, it would just be a lot easier and stuff. We can work out a meeting place and stuff. I don´t know, what ever you think would be best.

So, this week has been one of the most amazing weeks ever! I have seen the Power of the Book of Mormon, the Tender mercies and Mighty Miracles of God, and the Protection of the Lord. So, quite a while ago, Elder Leonardo gave Alex, the son of our Cocinera, a Book of Mormon and told him that he would give him some money if he would read it. Well, I thought that that was pointless, because Alex didn´t want to have anything to do with religion and that he would just read it for the money and he wouldn´t learn anything. Well, I was wrong. We also got him to allow us to teach him the missionary lessons which went fairly good. So, this last Friday, we went to teach him. To our uttermost surprise, he had finished the entire Book of Mormon, but the part that was most shocking, and that brought the most joy, was that he wanted to change his life. He realized that his life was just going downhill, and he wasn´t happy. He also committed himself to start living the Word of Wisdom, all on his own, we hadn´t even taught it yet (but we were going to teach it that day). He has been conquering his addictions, and he has seen the blessings of the Word of Wisdom. He was explaining to us how he felt when he didn´t smoke and drink and that stuff, and every single one, was a promise contained in the Word of Wisdom. At the end of the lesson, we asked him if he would be baptized by someone with the priesthood in February. And he accepted. 

That moment brought the most joy to me than any other moment on my mission. To see someone who had no desire to change, and liked the way he was living, to suddenly have the desire to be baptized and to have the desire to live with his family forever. This momoent was really amazing. I know that when he is baptized, he will be a really powerful member of the Church. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it changes lives. I have manifested this with my experience with Alex. I know that by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass. I have had so many experiences this week that have just really strengthened my testimony. There is honestly nothing that brings greater joy than to see someone that you love and that you have taught, enter into a covenant with our loving Heavenly Father through baptism. 

You have also experienced this with Connie. Matt and Dad have experienced this on their missions, and Tyler will experience this when he serves our God. There truly is no greater work than missionary work. Through our Faith and our Works, Miracles happen. I know this with all my heart. I have seen it, and I know you have seen it. May we always continue to build the kingdom of God here on the Earth. 

I love you guys so much and am grateful for every one of you. You have truly blessed my life, and I know you will bless the lives of others. May we always have the constant guidance of the Spirit.


Love,


Elder Bryce Rodney Hales

Mi hermano amado Matthew,

Well, everything here in El Salvador is just fantastic. This week we have really learned a lot and have had some amazing experiences. Well, first off, I read that Article by President Ezra Taft Benson, and it was AMAZING! I loved it. It really did change my view of the Book of Mormon and the importance of it in our lives. Also, the other day, Elder Leonardo asked me how we can become missionaries like Ammon. Well, that scripture that you told me at the beginning of my mission, Alma 17, popped in my head. We need to search the scriptures diligently, pray, and fast then we will have the Spirit of prophecy and revelation. So, we decided to fast that day. This fast was really special because we fasted for some really important things. I also have a story about this in more detail, but for certain purposes, I won´t write it through email, or if I do, it will be in Spanish. (You can let me know next time what you want. If you want me to tell you now or wait till I get home.)  The only thing is you will probably have to remind me. 

I really like the Sersasalo figure. It is really cool. I had to explain to my companion what it was because he has never seen anything like it. 

Well, a cool phrase that has been in my mind lately has been something like, "Even in the darkest times, there is Light and Hope."  I have in my mind a picture of Reith with his sword in the ground and the ground cracking around him with a light shining from the Earth. This is the last moments of Reith. I want to draw a picture of it, but I am not that good at drawing and I haven´t had the time. So, if you or Tyler wanted to draw a picture like that, that would be awesome. I picture it from the eyes of a soldier, wounded on the ground. Looking to their leader and their hope. 

Well, my brother, I pray that everything goes well for you and that the Spirit will guide you to the moment to give J the Book of Mormon. I know that if J and C read it, it will change their lives, (see Moms email for more details). Well, I love you bro and I hope that all goes well with school and work. You will have to let me know how you did in school!

Seamos fieles, pues!

Elder Bryce Rodney Hales