Dear Family and Friends,
Elder Erickson and I's last comp picture together. Everyone here in Houston has signs outside of their doors that say "Este hogar es Catolico." This home is Catholic. anyway, we decided to make our own. It's pretty sweet!
Anyway, the funny thing is I am going to see him tomorrow because we are going to be having Zone Conference and the AP’s will be there. Kinda like … seeing your ex-girlfriend at a party you were both planning on going to with … someone else. hahaha I’m just joking. But really I am pretty sad.
Staying With University Elders
So for this next week until transfers come I am going to be living with the University of Houston elders. It’s pretty weird, because we are covering both the U of H and Magnolia areas. So I pretty much have a van and a phone to myself. #soccermom it’s really weird. Last night I had to try gather zone numbers and crunch them all and get them ready myself for the conference call with president this morning and I’m not gonna lie I went as fast as I can and still was up pretty late. I’m sorry to anyone who reads this but being to bed on time on Sunday night as a ZL is impossible. Sorry.
My new companions for this week, Elder Sully-Guerrier and Elder Mallard! Elder Sully was born in Brazil but he is Hatian. He has his hair in a do-rag every morning during studies and it's kind of rubbed off on Elder Mallard. Haha pretty funny.
Faith and Works
This Saturday I went on exchanges with Elder Davis. We have followed each other around on our missions and we are pretty good friends. We had a really good day. For dinner we went to an Asian buffet (I love those!) and we ate some good food. There was a family sitting behind him who seemed really nice. They were middle – aged, and had a son with them who reminded me a lot of my little brother. He was in his early teens. Anyway, they just seemed like such good people. I kept thinking that I knew them from somewhere. The dad just looked like he should be an elders quorum president. Just looked like such a good guy. Anyway. I told Elder Davis and we were a little hesitant because we didn’t want to ruin their family night but we went over and told them who we were and what we do and left them with a card and our number. They were pretty nice about it.
Then we are walking away and there is this man eating at a booth in the corner by himself and he goes, “Elders, come here.” and waves us over. There’s only a few things that can mean, and I was right. Turns out he is the pastor for one of those typical, huge baptist churches. I think it was called Grace Harvest or something like that. Maybe just Grace Baptist. Well… I don’t bash. I think “bashing” is when it gets personal or contentious. So we had a wonderful debate. Amukek vs. Zeezrom style. Just like a conversation with any baptist, it came down to the whole faith vs. works thing. They just can’t get over that. They think that we believe our works and ordinances will save us. They won’t. I could live a PERFECT life and I still would need Jesus Christ’s atonement to overcome the effects of the fall. We are saved by Him after “all that we can do.”[1]
I also love the 2nd chapter of James[2]. I read it over and over at church the next day. I love it, it explains it so well. We are saved by faith, but we know we have true faith by our WORKS. That is, we follow the gospel left by Jesus Christ because we believe that it truly will redeem us. And that gospel was restored through Joseph Smith. Therefore, if that is true, then yes, baptism, the holy ghost, the temple, they are all necessary for exaltation. I could go on and on but bottom line is he hasn’t read the Book of Mormon and asked God sincerely so he won’t know until he does. He was a good man, just trying to do what he thought was right. I guess, to “warn” us. I told him. I’ve heard it all on my mission. All that garbage that is out there, and also some true stuff. But I have received a witness that this is true. “Sir, what do you want me to do?” I asked him before leaving. “I fear God more than man. And I know that He told me this is true.” I love this Gospel.
Teresa
Update on some people. Teresa is back in town and so we are going to start teaching her son who has a baptismal date for the 31st but has a problem with weed. He’s a good guy though.
Hugo Garcia
Have I ever told y’all about Hugo Garcia? He is our coolest investigator. He was a referral from a convert family here and he is doing sweet. He is almost done with the Gospel Principles book. He is a little rough around the edges but he’s awesome. His only problem is smoking. He has a date for the 31st as well so we are trying to work with that. He is down to three a day. He is so funny. He takes us out to eat after every time that we teach him. To “los chinos” he calls it haha. it’s just an Asian buffet.
And we have another date for the 31st. Her name is Mariluz Guevara. Her family has known the missionaries for a while. But her husband is against the church. He finally gave his permission for her to get baptized. She is a sweet, humble lady from El Salvador. You know what that means… pupusas!!!!
Anyway this email was really long. I just wanna go play basketball so… I’m about to!
Love y’all!
Elder Viitanen
- 2 Nephi 25:23
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.↵
- James 2
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.↵