Mission Front (email dated 12/7/2009)

Hey every one,

Well down here on the Island of Curacao things are Progressing slowly but there starting to go some where and we're coming across some new potential. The only problem now is going to be making sure we're getting enough lessons in with our investigators as we want to. Its starting to become a little tough because of the Christmas season everyone is to busy. For that reason i loved the talks this Christmas Conference by the 1st presidency! I was so happy to be able to even see it down here on these islands! Honestly it was such a nice fresh breath of air and edifing a the same time. Just like always though right? As i was watching the Christmas Conference this year i starting reflecting to myself, why do i as a missionary get so excited to hear the Prophets and Apostles speak? Because honestly yesterday i was basicaly just counting down the time until we could go listen to the words of the Prophets who are living today.

Then it dawned on me the reason that i get so excited, its because of the spirit that i feel as i listen to truths that they teach as they speak. AS a missionary serving the Lord 24/7 for 2 years we basicaly live off of the spirit, because with out that we are not good servents in the Lords hands. Then i started to think what exactly does the spirit do for us, and the fraise "the spirit always edify's" came to mind. So as i thought of that little fraise i realized as missionary's we're here to invite others to come unto Christ be excepting His restored Gospel and Church. Truely the only way of doing that is by teaching others or edifying others with the truthfulness of the Gospel that the spirit testifys of.

So as all of these thoughts were running through my head i realized that every time i listen to the Prophets or read their words the spirit is inviting me to become better,and thats why i feel so good. But if i dont act on what the spirit is teaching me then that spirit will go away and i'm left at where i started. Now here on the mission i've come to love the words of the Prophets so much more then before, because i'm more prone to put them in practice and act on the feelings that the spirit gives to me. I can truely testify that we are led by a true Prophet Thomas S. Monson with real Apsotles of God that were divinly chosen to lead us down the straight and narrow path. As we listen and put into practice their teachings we are edifying our spirits and as we put their words into practice we are growing spiritualy which is what really matters here in this life.So as you can probably see this past Christmas Conference was a great conference for me as i listend to good old Mo-Tab do their thing, with Presidents Uchtdorf, Eyring, and Thomas S. Monson speaking!The Christmas Spirit is in the air and lets carry it forth this whole year and not only for Christmas, always looking for Christ in everything!

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone and i hope and pray the best for you!
Much Love,
Elder Lopez