Elder Sierra sent two letters this week. Here are some excerpts:
6/3/13
Hey Mom,
Thanks for the scripture!
(D&C 121:7-8. 7 My son,a peace be unto thy soul; thine b adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a c small moment 8. And then, if thou a endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy b foes.)
In fact, I share that one a lot with many of my investigators.
Things have just picked up immensely!! However, it happened after the trial of our faith. We were losing investigators left and right and it was getting us down quite a bit, especially while doing a service project out in the Sacramento Race Track. An elder dropped a VERY heavy metal rail on my foot. Broke two of my toes on my right foot. When that hit my foot, I lost it, and I hopped about 20 yards away so I could vent, haha. And what was worse was that some of the sister missionaries were there...(I was pretty enraged). So, that was the icing on the cake of a bad week. And to make matters worse, none of our investigators came to church. So, that kinda got me very depressed. I am a sleep deprived, handicapped, and depressed missionary. I prayed to the Lord saying, "Lord, I have been trying as hard as I can to work hard, and my companion has also been giving his all. I have two broken and swelled up toes, and I'm still biking and running door to door, and let me tell you, it's not fun. We REALLY need you to throw us a bone here, please." Right when I said that, a less active member brought two friends and his nephew inside our class and they were all non-members that have a very intense desire to learn about our church. HAHA! I then prayed again saying, "Sorry for complaining and thanks for throwing us a big, fat, juicy steak, instead of a bone." We taught all of them that same night. All three have a baptismal date for June 29!!!!!!!!!!! That's a miracle. Their names are: Antonio Franco (the nephew, very excited to learn), Juan Fraga, and Jorge Gonzales. That was the miracle of the week.
(D&C 121:7-8. 7 My son,
In fact, I share that one a lot with many of my investigators.
Things have just picked up immensely!! However, it happened after the trial of our faith. We were losing investigators left and right and it was getting us down quite a bit, especially while doing a service project out in the Sacramento Race Track. An elder dropped a VERY heavy metal rail on my foot. Broke two of my toes on my right foot. When that hit my foot, I lost it, and I hopped about 20 yards away so I could vent, haha. And what was worse was that some of the sister missionaries were there...(I was pretty enraged). So, that was the icing on the cake of a bad week. And to make matters worse, none of our investigators came to church. So, that kinda got me very depressed. I am a sleep deprived, handicapped, and depressed missionary. I prayed to the Lord saying, "Lord, I have been trying as hard as I can to work hard, and my companion has also been giving his all. I have two broken and swelled up toes, and I'm still biking and running door to door, and let me tell you, it's not fun. We REALLY need you to throw us a bone here, please." Right when I said that, a less active member brought two friends and his nephew inside our class and they were all non-members that have a very intense desire to learn about our church. HAHA! I then prayed again saying, "Sorry for complaining and thanks for throwing us a big, fat, juicy steak, instead of a bone." We taught all of them that same night. All three have a baptismal date for June 29!!!!!!!!!!! That's a miracle. Their names are: Antonio Franco (the nephew, very excited to learn), Juan Fraga, and Jorge Gonzales. That was the miracle of the week.
Chewy Valdez is still doing great and now his daughter wants to be bapitzed, but she is scheduled for two weeks after Chewy's baptism so that he can baptize his daughter. The work is moving along. As for Pedro, he is making steady progress and we will challenge him and his wife to be baptized tomorrow. Nothin' is gonna keep me down, haha. I love being a missionary. I do miss you guys though, but there will be more hikes and family outings when I get back (until Benjamin heads out on his mission). I love you all. Thanks for the support.
Tu hijo,
Elder JG
Excerpts from Dad's Letter:
Hey Papi,
Excerpts from Dad's Letter:
Hey Papi,
...Well Dad, I know no one can beat you in practically anything when you put your mind to it. I still haven't been able to beat you mano-a-mano yet. However, that will change when I get home. I have been filling out haha. I am also happy to hear about your class. Dad...everyone loves you. Honestly, I still hear from people to this day, including __________, who just wrote to me saying, I wish I had a Father like yours. No one can compete with you. You're literally the perfect Father, at least to me. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that My Father in Heaven can love me infinitely more than my earthly parents. I promise when I get home to do much better about spending a lot more time with you. Because I want my family to be close to you and Benjamin. That's the way I want it to be. I don't care if that means I gotta move to Utah.
My sleeping is very bad right now. I get about 2 hours a night. It's hard for me to get up on time and it does affect my studies, but I am working on it...This time of the year is when many of my friends passed away so it's kinda normal for this to happen. But it does not affect my teaching. I do not allow it to. I may be broken by the time I get home, but it will not be while I am working. So don't be surprised when I get off that plane and want to take a nap. I never stop working out here. Sometimes my comp gets tired rather quick and wants to rest, but I push us both forward. I dont believe in surrender.
Dad I will be fine. The Lord will not allow me to fall. Whether it's on my mission, at home, in the military, or fighting the adversary and his hosts like I did, before, back in the pre-mortal life. For just like Boyd K. Packer said (try and find that talk for me). "[I] was a General in the war in Heaven. [I] was held back 6000 years because [I] was one of the most loyal, obedient, courageous, and talented among all the spirits in the premortal world." I have been saved for this reason Dad. Even the misson president said that Spanish work is, right now, at a low point and it has been spiraling down for 5 years, but this is the generation of missionaries, [we] that are here, right now, that will turn this work around. Don't worry Dad. I will not fail. I can't stop and I won't stop the work that I am doing. This will be just a small moment and before I know it, the trials will be over and I will see the fruits of my labor. I have NEVER DOUBTED MY GOD!! HE IS MY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF! MY FATHER IN HEAVEN!!! I CANNOT FALL! I am being righteous and striving to be better. Even though I am a SINNER, I SHALL NOT FALL! I love you Dad and tell your class what I said because I know they all need to be reminded of this. For they are also Generals of the WAR IN HEAVEN! We are the ARMY of HELAMAN! We have been TAUGHT in our YOUTH! And WE will BE the LORD'S Missionaries to BRING the WORLD it's TRUTH! My Mother and Father taught me to have faith in Jesus Christ, to pray always, and to praise God. Yea, it was my parents that changed me into a faithful young man. The Lord is with me and whether it is physical or spiritual, as long as I am with the Lord and rely on Him, I can never FALL in battle. I love you Dad. Thank you for being my perfect example of a soldier. I may be the so-called "Golden Generation", but you are the best teachers, in my belief, for it was your duty to raise up this generation. I love you Father. I will be just fine.
Your Soldier,
Elder Juan Gregorio Sierra
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