Four months

Dear Family,

My Thanksgiving was delightful. We actually had a lesson that morning with a new investigator that went great. She showed up at church with a Spanish-speaking English member and wanted us to come by this week. She has already been to the Mesa Visitor Center and read from the Book of Mormon. Her first question to us was, "How can I know what the truth is?" She is willing to be baptized with she feels a confirmation that this Church is true. I was amazed at how prepared she was, and I still am. It was really encouraging to know that God has prepared individuals to hear the Gospel. And what is interesting to note is that we work our hardest to find people, and then God puts someone in our path that we would have never found through our own efforts. It's a reminder that we are dependent on God for everything, that He gives us the success, and that He does reward us for our efforts to serve Him.

The rest of Thursday was just an eating fest. I have never been so frequently full in all my life. After one lunch and two dinners, it was painful. Luckily we got to burn some of it off at an activity that night with some other missionaries. At the first "dinner," we sat in front of a lady from the Dominican Republic. They have a reputation for speaking quickly, but she wasn't too fast. And I was able to have a conversation with her and understand it all.

Here's a side note for Erin: I watched a Mormon.org profile video this week of the owner of Communal in Provo. His name is Colton Solberg (not sure on the spelling). You should check it out. The Church has an ongoing media campaign right now, and hundreds of videos are up on the website for people to view and become more familiar with what Latter-day Saints are like. Members are encouraged to make their own profile and direct their friends to check it out, as well as check out all the information about the Church on the website. The Spanish version will be fully-operating in February, but the English one looks good. I recommend taking a minute to visit Mormon.org.

Well, that's all I have for this week. Best of luck in your missionary efforts. I love you all!

Elder Joshua Gathro

Seasons greeting

Hola familia,

Well, as some of you have mentioned, it's starting to feel like holiday season with Thanksgiving (dia de dar gracias) this week and the cool weather. Unfortunately, that has yet to mean that we have more lessons in the week. They're always falling through. BUT, Father is blessing us for our efforts nonetheless. Yesterday, a Spanish speaker from an English ward came to our Spanish branch with her non-member friend from work. The lady is interested and seems pretty open to the Church. Elder Morris and I estamos animados (are excited) for the lesson with her this week. The greatest is when people have a sincere desire to learn the will of God and change.

We had a lesson last night with a couple that are so friendly. We shared with them the first lesson, about the Restoration of the Gospel. It was fantastic, the Spirit was present, and they accepted the invitations we extended. It was the best example of a first lesson that my companion and I have every had, even in his 10 months of being on the mission. Part of what made it so excited for me was that I could understand everything they were saying. My Spanish has really improved recently, or at least my comprehension. That in turn means that I can contribute more in discussion and teach more effectively. It's incredibly exciting. When I got to Arizona I felt like I could speak more than I could understand, and it was hard to recognize individual words. But now it has reversed, and I can understand more than I can speak. Life continues to improve for those who love Father and do His will. One of my favorite scriptures is Doctrine and Covenants 78:17-19. I hope verse 19 has special meaning as we approach Thursday. God loves us. His perfect plan is motivated by His love as a father. When we remember that, life takes on a new perspective.

Thanks for everything, family. It sounds like you all are doing well. Have fun, stay safe, and know that I love you.

Elder Joshua Gathro

P.S. Happy Birthday to my friend who will see this on the blog

Helped by an angel

Buenas dias a todo,

Sorry for any who haven't been able to find an interpretation to my Spanish in some of these emails. I hoped that Google Translate would be your aid in learning a word or two, but my Spanish is probably too poor for Google Translate to recognize. The opening line says "Good morning to all."

Well we finally got our car back yesterday morning so we were on bikes all of last week. And Ben, you were right. Tengo que comprar llantas con kevlar (I have to buy kevlar tires.) I had a flat every day last week. And while it was annoying to replace the tube tan frecuentemente (so frequently), it was una oportunidad para ver el mano del Senor en la obra (an opportunity to see the hand of the Lord in the work.) Friday night my tire went flat and we were probably 5 miles from home. After saying a prayer, making some calls, and walking half that distance, an English member noticed us walking our bikes and pulled over. When he saw that my tire was flat, he said, "Let me drive home real quick and get my truck to drive you elders home. I'll be right back." We were planning on having to walk home, then call a member of the Spanish branch to drive us to Walmart for a replacement tube. But when the member came back with his truck he said, "Hey what size is your tire? I've had this tube in my garage for years and always felt like I should keep it." It was the right size. He was an angel for us when we needed one. (Hebrews 13:2)

I realized this week that the mission really is a time of self-discovery. It turns out I'm a fan of creamy peanut butter, cocoa-rich chocolate milk, and bread that compresses on itself just slightly when bitten into. I hope that can catch that visual :)

I read this week a line from PMG that I wanted to share. On page 189 it says, the best way for an active latter-day saint to help recent converts in the church is to be their friend. I always appreciate statements that help us now that most effective way to help or improve. I also stumbled on the scripture 3 Nephi 18:32. If any of you are struggling to help less active members, or friends who seem reluctant to learn more about the Gospel, I hope that verse helps. We do not know what it will take to help others establish their connection with heaven and experience the joy of the Gospel, but our efforts are never wasted. God delights in blessing those who serve Him, and He will reward us for our diligent service and love.

Speaking of love, I found a quote this week that I would have to say is now my favorite dicho (quote). President Joseph F. Smith said, "Charity, or love, is the greatest principle in existence. If we can lend a helping hand to the oppressed, if we can aid those who are despondent and in sorrow, if we can uplift and ameliorate the condition of mankind, it is our mission to do it, it is an essential part of our religion to do it." May we let love be the motive for all we do. Only then will we truly come to be like the Master.

With move love for each of you,

Elder Joshua Gathro

Me fui a pie

Hola a todo!

Esta semana ha estado bien. No mucho paso diferente. I should have reread my journal entries from this week to remind myself of everything that happened. Well, our zone had interviews this week with the mission president. It was nice to feel more love from President Howes and to see him more relaxed with a smaller group of elders. He's a good man.

One of the most exciting things this week was our cena en sabado. We have several members in our branch from El Salvador, and one of the best meals from there is pupusas. Everyone loves pupusas and starts salivating when they are mentioned in discussion. Pues la familia Erazo hecho pupusas para nosotros! They had to work for several hours on Friday preparing it for Saturday. And they were absolutely delicious. Me fui a pie (literally that means 'I went by foot,' but the phrase means we ate without utensils). But I had the biggest stomach ache despues. Hermana Erazo said that to her family, the missionaries are angels. Another family said the same thing last night when in prayer they thanked Father for the angels that could eat with them. It puts into perspective the great responsibility we carry, and is an added incentive to work hard.

Because our car is in the shop, we have been on bikes ever since last Sunday. It's not as convenient, obviously, but it's more exciting and more work. Although we haven't had a lot of teaching oportunidades this week, one family we're working with is still progressing. It's exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time because they are like friends now, and we don't want to mess up in helping them see the beauty of the Gospel. We pray for them often and try to sense their needs. But something that helps me is to remember is that they were God's children first. He will help them, too.

A note about the weather: it's cold. Fifty degrees right now and this morning it was raining. I know fifty can be refreshing, and at Utah State that would be flip-flop weather, but after being on bike for several hours my fingers are so numb. Friday night we had a dust storm move through the area. For us it was just really, really windy, and visibility was limited to probably a mile or less. But towns further south were told to stay inside if they could. We were all safe though, no se preculpe.

I bore my testimony yesterday in la reunion sacramental. It was terrifying, haha. But our investigator appreciated it. And no hispanic will ever make fun of you for trying to learn the language.

Well, that's all I have to share for now. I'm sure I left something out, lo siento. Best of luck in your missionary efforts. I love you all.

Elder Joshua Gathro