Week 98: What Once Was lost Is Found

It's Monday again and it has been a great and unforgettable week.

We just kept working our butts off and finding satisfaction in the diligence and not so much in the success (lots of rejection this week lol).

This week was unforgettably good because Heydi and Angel (the two people who got baptized about a week ago) got to go to the temple and participate in the vicarious ordinances there. We got to attend with them and they both loved it. 

While at the temple, another one of the recent converts who was there for the first time totally went missing and me and my companion went searching for her and her daughter for like an hour. After our unsuccessful search, we found them both inside the temple, having already participated in the vicarious ordinances 😅 they were in the waiting room a little earlier than the rest of our group and the temple workers must've snagged them haha.

Also while at the temple, one of the youth in the ward willingly ran away. As we made our way over to the bus to leave, he slipped away from the group and left the temple grounds and got into the backseat of an unmarked car that was waiting outside the temple which then drove away. There was communication with him for a few minutes until he turned off his phone. He wouldn't say where he was going or who he was with. His cousin was with us and he is an incredible person. We were all pretty worried about the situation and then we said a prayer together, did everything we could to gather information from temple security, and then made the long and anxious bus ride back home.

While on the bus ride home, I felt the impression to read a talk I listened to a few months ago with my last companion, Elder Prior (shoutout Elder Prior for the fire recommendation). The talk is titled “An High Priest of Good Things to Come” by Elder Holland. While reading this talk I could only think of what this youth must have been feeling in his life in the weeks before the temple trip and the many emotions his loving cousin must've been feeling in this moment. I shared the talk with the cousin and he read it, picked a few lines he loved, and then faithfully sent that quote to the turned-off phone of his lost cousin.

After many many prayers and a sleepless night for many of the members on that temple trip, we have just been informed that contact with the young man has been restored and he is currently on a bus headed back home. As he returns home, I can only help but think about the Prodigal Son. In moments like these, it is very easy to be frustrated or upset with those who have acted without thinking and affected many of those around them. It is easy to focus on the questions of who was he with? What did he do? Why did he do this? However, Christ taught us to love. And not just to love, but to forgive, to forget, to give, to congratulate, to encourage, and to simply care for those in need. We don't know the whole story of the lives and situations of others, but one of the most beautiful things is that we don't need to know to be able to love them perfectly. Most people are already well aware of their mistakes and most people want to improve. The factor that they need to be able to do so is our love and our support.

I invite everyone to read that talk and then think about someone who may need a little more love, a little more support. You can then be the means to change someone's life through your kindness. Afterall, the only thing that will really matter in the end is our covenant relationship with God and our efforts to minister to those around us.

With so much love,

Élder Snyder

Week 97: Justice, Love and Mercy

Whats Uuuup? This week went by so fast. Every week goes by fast but this one went by even faster.

Heydi and Angel got baptized!! Thank you all so much for your prayers! It was honestly such a miracle. Last Sunday, Heydi called us and said she was no longer going to get baptized and was done receiving lessons. The only explanation for how she ended up in white in the font and absolutely sure of her decision to do so is that God answers prayers. She prayed and we prayed A LOT, and she received her answer. Angel is the son of a new member and he was always hesitant to commit to a date for baptism but this week he was ready! He is such a good friend and it was so awesome to just be so real while teaching this 16 year-old. One of my favorite things is teaching young people and just trying to apply the Gospel to the life of young people. Because without the Gospel, I don't know how any young person really can navigate this life. Now, these two have the Spirit to guide them and we should be going to the temple with them this Saturday!

Went on exchanges with Evanson and it was soooo lit. Found some elect people and just worked all day.

Now, I want to share two experiences that really touched my heart this week.

First, for the past month or so, a very drunk alcoholic has been coming to church about every other week. None of us know him but he stumbles in a little tipsy with his Book of Mormon in hand every time, ready to listen. Whenever someone in their talk or testimony mentioned “The Book of Mormon” or “Jesus Christ” he would raise up his copy of the Book of Mormon and almost yell “Yes! It's the word of God!” or, “He is my Savior!” 

Most of the congregation in these moments often laughed or cast a few judgmental glares. However, one of our investigators had a much more different, deep outlook on it. She told us on Tuesday that she has now seen this man twice in church and both times she has seen that despite his flaws and weaknesses, he is paying attention to the words being spoken. She asked herself the question, “who am I to judge this man when I often don't pay attention to the speakers because I think I have something more important to think about or to do on my phone?” This got me thinking, who am I to judge? I am guilty of often not paying attention, and often judging others. This man may be a little ways off of the straight and narrow path, but we can all learn from his example and focus more on improving our own weaknesses rather than judging others’ weaknesses and pay the attention that the Lord deserves.

Second, I had the privilege to do a baptismal interview this week for a young teenager that the other Elders are teaching. When discussing the Word of Wisdom, this young man hesitantly admitted to me that he had drunk half a cup of coffee that afternoon. I really wanted to pass him because he really is such a great and honest kid and really felt sorrow for the little mistake he had made. However, in this moment, the Lord taught me a lot about justice, love, and mercy. We had a really special experience as he learned how to repent and did it right then and there. The Spirit that we could feel as he prayed and then pondered what so peaceful. He now understands that there are consequences for his actions but that things will be okay if we repent and try to improve! In a short time, he will be making his first covenant with God and he is even more motivated to do what is right.

I think this is how Christ feels every single day. He wants to “pass” us when we mess up because of his mercy. However, he must be just, so he allows us to suffer the consequences of our actions. But because of his love, he teaches us to be stronger through repentance and blesses us with more opportunities to improve. This allows us to experience the lasting satisfaction and conversion of actually doing what is right (or at least trying our best) rather than getting spoonfed blessings and not changing our behaviors. He is only sad when we decide not to repent and, in turn, delay or maybe even completely miss the blessings that He offers us. But on the other hand, He is so happy to see us repent and is not at all upset because of our mistakes, in fact, He is hopeful for the lifelong conversion that will come through repentance of these mistakes.

If you read all that, I hope it made sense haha

With so much love,

Élder Snyder

Week 96: Mariaaaaaa

Somehow another week has already passed by and it was honestly so good.

María got baptized! It was a beautiful baptismal service and she actually showed up before us hahaha. When we were waiting for the rest of her family to show up her 10 year-old sister and her decided they wanted to pay their tithing. It was something I will never forget. Seeing the faith of these children to pay 50%-100% tithes without even realizing it. Afterwards they realized they didn't have to give that much but then just said, “eh, more blessings!” We had many friends present at the baptism and it was a very spiritual experience.

A woman we are teaching was also going to be baptized yesterday. However, the morning of her baptism she called us to tell us she no longer wanted to be baptized. We met with her last night and we are still working with her! Please keep Heydi in your prayers so she can receive answers to her doubts and questions and so that she can feel the love of God in her life!

Elder Evanson's convert from San Pedro came and visited us again so we could celebrate her birthday with her and she took us to this delicious restaurant. She is so awesome.

We taught English Class again and we divided into two groups and I ended up only teaching the service missionary (shoutout Elder Benitez) in our ward how to welcome people to Sacrament Meeting in English and it was lit.

We had some pretty awesome experiences this week. We are teaching a partial-member family and preparing 2 of their kids for baptism and this week, the daughter of the family turned 15. La quinceñera is always a big thing here, but sadly, this family does not have very much. My companion and I decided to buy a cake and surprised them with it and I will never forget her smile as well as the sincerity of her parents as they thanked us. Serving the Lord is so much more than baptizing.

This week, my companion and I had some disagreements and I definitely got my patience tested. However, the hard moments are always the moments when we learn the most. What I learned was the importance of prayer individually and with my companion. The Spirit and humility that we could both feel was so special and I just felt so much more peace, patience, and love. It's always been hard for me to choose humility, but I hope to keep learning.

With so much love,

Élder Snyder

Week 95: Home Stretch

Hola gente

This past week was a grind but we are still going strong. This week, I start my last transfer of my mission and it's hard to wrap my head around but we're just gonna give it everything and see what happens!

I learned a lot this week. A lot about patience, a lot about love, and A LOT about how the Lord still needs me to improve in these things. I learned a lot about patience from the example of my companion. We met with a very inactive, very old man. I was thinking of what we could share to try and get references or get him to church this Sunday but then Elder Rosales wanted to teach him about faith and prayer. Two simple things that this man had forgotten, two simple things that will change his life forever in the long term. I learned from my companion the importance of having patience for the long term needs and to have patience to start with the basics. 

We then proceeded to visit a family that had just recently lost their 5 year-old child. We read Moroni 8 with them and I will never forget the face of the little boy’s uncle. Just a pure, content, and full smile, slightly tears eyes, and pure excitement as he said "We are going to see him again!” This gospel is beautiful and really is the answer.

We taught a super old lady the Word of Wisdom and she immediately stood up, went to the stove, and poured her huge pot of coffee right down the drain. She then proceeded to give us juice which was delicious. However, I saw her go make us more and used water from the tap (not safe) and we politely declined the next glass.

I learned many lessons on love through service. This week, we had the opportunity to do a lot of service and get a lot of blisters and it was just awesome. Being totally honest, I don't consider myself very service-oriented and I often think “we could be contacting new people right now or teaching one of our progressing friends a lesson”. This week, my mindset changed. We helped build a fence for the grandmother of a service missionary in our ward. Recently, burglars have been breaking into her house because her fence was broken. I will never forget the sincerity behind her words of thanks.

The ward that I am serving in currently has a lot of internal problems with drama and gossip and judging and it has been a little difficult at times. This week, I learned and hope to never forget that the best way to show that we really believe in the Atonement of Christ is by forgiving others, doing everything we can to love all and help all progress, and trusting that God will administer a perfect judgment to bless all those who have done their best to forgive and love others. 6 more weeks to try and improve in these things as a missionary. A lifetime more to keep learning and improving.

Hope everyone is doing great and your prayers for Heydi and Maria who will be getting baptized this week will be very much appreciated!!

With so much love,

Élder Snyder

Also, the mission exterminator sprayed down our house this week and "killed" me and Evanson ✊️😌