Monday, July 27, 2020

Wherein Seth Goes Back to Church!

July 27th

     So this week we got to go back to church. It was super incredible and we loved every second of it. It was really nice to be able to get to know the members a little better and serve them in a church setting. 

     As of right now we get to go to church on the fourth Sunday of every month. Yesterday we were given the great opportunity to bless the sacrament and to give a short talk. (I'll attach my talk if anyone wants to read it).  In summary I really just say that God is still blessing us through this pandemic and wants us all to take some time to be happy. And that is just as true as ever. So don't give up, don't fall into the group of people that are content with life, nor those that have given up on life. 

There is hope. We aren't perfect and life will get better. I love you all, but more importantly, God loves you. 

Elder Bailey. 




Here's the talk. This isn't word for word but it has the main ideas. Enjoy! 

La felicidad en esta vida no depende de las circunstancias en que vivimos ni los acontecimientos sino de nuestra actidud y reacción a ellos.

Ahorita nos está pasando algo muy difícil, loco, grave, o mal. Este virus ha hecho un gran cambio en este mundo. Nunca pensaba yo, hace seis meses, que estaría aquí, que estes cubrebocas serían requeridos para discursar en la iglesia o hacer cualquier otra cosa, que el contacto físico como saludar o abrazar sería algo muy mal o que estaría yo, tan bendecido como estoy.

En estes momentos de dificultad podemos decir que vamos a ser tristes porque todo el mundo se puso mal. La economía fue casi destruido, no podemos visitar a parientes en otros países y pues antes de hoy, aún no pudimos ir a la iglesia para adorar al Dios Todopoderoso.

Pero Dios nos dio un gran poder. Que realmente podemos decidir ser felices aún en momemtos difíciles. Entonces les pregunto ahora, hermanos y hermanas, como el profeta Ammon del libro de mormon, "que bendiciones grandes nos ha concedido? Podeis decirlo?" (Alma 26:2)

Les voy a dar algunos de las bendiciones que hemos recibido como resultado de la pandemia pero quiero que ustedes, al regresar a casa después de está reunión hagan una lista, como familia de todas las bendiciones que han venido por causa de la pandémica.

Primero, hemos tenido la oportunidad de adorar Dios en nuestros hogares mas que nunca antes. Tenemos la gran oportunidad de participar de los sagrados sacramentos tomar la Santa Cena del Señor en nuestras propias casas. Que bendición! Eso trae un espíritu muy fuerte que al menos a mi me hace tan feliz.

Segundo, hemos tenido mas tiempo para conocer a nuestro Dios. Les voy a dar un relato del Elder John H Groberg, o mejor conocido como Kolipoki. El estaba en Tonga como misionero cuando les pego un huracán. Toda su comida y agua limpia fue destruido y vivían los siguentes meses con minimo alimentos. Al reflexionar en estes tiempos cuando estaba al punto de morir, escribió lo siguiente.

Otro lado del cielo: Pg 113-114 (aprendí- Dios)

Creo que cada uno de nosotros tiene una necesidad de estar tranquilos. Pero en este mundo, la tranquilidad es bien rara. No es algo que viene a menudo. Y eso le da risa a Satanás. El no quiere que tomemos ningún descanso del mundo, que nos acerquemos a nuestro Dios, o que seamos felices. Uno de sus mejores armas contra nosotros es la distracción. Si el logra distraernos al grado que no oramos, o no leemos las escrituras o no vamos a la Iglesia, es una victoria para él.

Yo sé, mís hermanos y hermanas, que Dios nos ama. Eso es una doctrina que nunca jamás cambiará. El quiere bendecirnos y que seamos felices. Y eso es una decisión. Entonces les ruego que no permiten que el diablo les distrae. Les pido que si ahora ven esta pandemia como una maldición, que recuerdan cuán misericordioso y bondadoso ha sido el Señor y hagan una lista de todos los bendiciones que han venido por causa de ella. Les amo y digo estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucristo, amén. 

Monday, July 20, 2020

Wherein Seth Tells Us of An Amazing Miracle

July 20, 2020 


   So, this week we continued with the grind.  An amazing miracle happened on Friday when after sending out a bunch of text messages to the majority of the contacts in our phone, we got a reply. (That usually doesn't happen btw).

     Ismael called us up and said, "hey, I need y'alls help. Now I don't need any of that God stuff cause I already know all that. I don't want to hear a word about Jesus. You guys talk too much about Him. I just need you guys to help me. I got some family problems." 

     Well that confused us cause God helps with literally every problem that could ever exist. So we chatted with him a little and became good friends with him and set up an appointment for tomorrow. 

    Then just today he texted and asked for some scriptures to read in preparation for the meeting tomorrow. I'm not sure what happened. Why he turned from refusing us even speaking of God to asking what scriptures to read. But I have a really good feeling that the Lord intervened in some way this weekend and helped soften his heart a little bit. So we look forward to tomorrow with high hopes. 

     I've come to realize that in life we need to be slower to take offense and quicker to see the hand of God. Too many people are anxious to jump on little errs of others or the smallest of insults and feel a need to receive some sort of pity. Myself included. Kinda strange. And this usually amounts to a grand total of two offended people and zero progress through life. On the other hand if we don't focus on our own selves, as the Savior encouraged, and learn to love others (John 13:34) we all grow and improve in a happy way even while in a gloomy world. So yeah, be happy and love. 

Love you all,
Elder Bailey




He got our package with the Lego missionary Emerson made for him! ;)



Monday, July 13, 2020

Wherein Seth Teaches Us About Humility

July 13, 2020

    Howdy fam!

       Big sad about Emerson getting the Rona. (*Side note from mom - Emerson doesn't have Covid - he just had a cough). Hopefully he'll be alright. Best of luck with that wedding cake for Bryan. You'll do great I'm sure. Also give them my felicitations. 

       So this week was real good. We made lots of videos and had a blast doing it. More than that, with all the texts we sent out, a few people actually responded and we were able to teach one. Her name is Sister Mena and she's super awesome. We talked with her about eternal families and how important that really is and inthe middle of the discussion she mentioned that she is recently engaged and is working on planning her wedding right now so she found it curious that we were talking about marriage for all eternity.

      So that was another of those neat little experiences that fortified my testimony that God really does know what every one of His children is going through and knows exactly how to help them. We all just need to be humble enough to fall in line with His will and listen to the spirit so we can be instruments in His hands to help others.

     I gotta be honest, this mission has been a truly humbling experience. Before, whilst in high school and actually almost all my life I thought I was the coolest, I low-key thought I was invincible and that I could be the king of the world if I wanted to. But no. I was wrong. If anything I've been able to see the pure power and love of God and how truly little I can do without Him.  And that brings me true joy. That even though I am so insignificant in the spance of all existence, God still loves me, and still is willing to use me and my efforts to bless others.

      I love that each of us, as beloved sons and daughters of God, really does have an incredible amount of worth and God wants us all to be happy. Sometimes we just need to open up our hearts and see the great Love that He has for us and try to share that with others. 

I love you all and wish you the best. 

Elder Bailey



Monday, July 6, 2020

Wherein Seth Teaches Us About "Death-Bed Repentance".


July 6, 2020

     Happy day to you all. I hope that independence day passed smoothly and all had a blast celebrating America. Life down here is the same as it has been. 
Here's a quick story and spiritual thought for the week. 

     We had this old plumber guy come fix our shower recently and it was really nice to get to talk to him about life and such. Amazing person, lots of stories. When he was finishing up we gave him a Book of Mormon and shared a short message and he replied with a sentence that really stuck with me. "Yeah, my wife and I are getting up there in the years. It's about time we start thinking about this stuff." 

     Naturally Alma 34:32-35 came to mind but I got to thinking, other than the truth that it teaches us in those verses, why is waiting til retirement age to learn about the Gospel a flawed concept? I think one thing that most people don't see is the pure blessings that living the gospel brings us. Religion isn't just about falling in good standings with God after we die so we might end up in heaven. God really wants this life to be awesome and while this world is so full of crap from the devil, living the way Jesus did and repentance make it oh so special. 
       Now this plumber is truly amazing and yet another miracle of Christs atonement, so beautifully portrayed in Matthew 20 is the fact that it doesn't matter at what point in your life you hear of the Gospel, you really can gain the same rewards. The sketchy part though is those that have heard, have felt, and know of the gospel and refuse to follow it in fear of one thing or another with death bed repentance planned in mind. Not only does that plan not work out, they miss out on soooo many wonderful blessings in this life. 

     Now I'm not the best at writing my thoughts down, so if by any chance anyone has any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. 

  Love you all and God is good, 

Elder Bailey