Elder Zachary Gehring: Dangers of Tarija

Hello my dear family.

This week has been a good one. I've learned a lot from my companion. We had consejo de lideres. It was good to work with Elder Murillo (my companion). We were able to share a lot of ideas and I feel like it helped us a lot as a companionship. We get along well.

Tarjia is wonderful. We did though get robbed last Wednesday. We went to santa cruz at 7.00am for a leadership conference and we didnt fly home until late that same night. (it was also the day of mothers here in bolivia 27th de Mayo). We got home to quite the scene. The owners of the home (we just rent a room) were very distressed. We asked what happened and they told us all their TV plasmas and their computers and everything had been robbed. They told us our room was kicked open and told us to go check it out. We went in and found everything the way we had left it. Not a single thing had been stolen. Some drawers were opened but nothing was gone. I took my camera with me to Santa Cruz and the zone money was with me as well so there was nothing from them to take. We were blessed to say the least. I didnt sleep too well that night but Im good now. We are looking for a new house to move to. Dont worry though mom, God protects His called servants. I am watched over. I thank you all for your prayers. I felt them this week.

Our área is doing all right. We are struggling to know how to help people come to church. The assistance in our Ward is going down. We are at about 130. It used to be more and we are searching with the consejo del barrio to see how we can help the atendance. We had 10 investigators planned to come to church. We were so sure they would all come. We prayed and prayed and prayed some more. 3 ended up coming. We were happy and grateful for their attendance but it was a Little sad to have 7 that werent able to progress. We still arent too sure why they couldnt come but today and tomarrow, they are the top priority to help. We were humbled by the experiencia and have set goals to be more like Christ this week as we humbly work toward our goal to have 10 in the Sacrament meeting this next week.

We did though have a wonderful Sabbath day. We had a great consejo de barrio. We had a successful zapato misional. We all street contacted for a few hours in the afternoon and were able to find a few dirreciones desconocidas. We were able to work with the Elder’s quórum president as well. He asked to have a short 10 minute meeting with us which showed us that he trusts us. We were able to understand his goals as a president and help him in his efforts. The Ward misión leader is Young. He is a great worker, has wonderful ideas but sometimes he has a hard time making them happen. We are praying for him. The bishop is a man called of God and I have been honored to work under his keys.

This week I studied the Doctrine of Christ. As I pondered what I should focus on this week, I felt the spirit testify to me that it was what I needed to study. Im still in the first paragraph of PME Chapter 3 Lesson 3. I have learned a lot. I realized even more what my purpose is as a missionary. I am to invite and help others to come unto Christ. In the first or second paragraph of lesson 3 it says that when we recieve the remission of our sins, it is the spiritual healing mentioned of in especially 3 Nefi. I learned that I need to help others become healed spiritually (recieve a remission of their sins) which is only posible through baptism. I now realize even more my role in the spritual progession of others. I am to bring them to Christ, help them recieve the restored góspel so they can be healed spritually through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I am greatful for Him and His love for me. I know He lives. He is my friend, my Savior, my Lord, my God.

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Elder Gehring