Hey
Guys!
Well, do you remember
Elder Bednar's talk about the mission call? How we are called to preach, not
called to a place? In Centroamerica, we have realized why he gave that talk.
There are many missionaries who have been converted to the Gospel, and then go
to serve a mission. But before the mission, they get tattoos.
Now that may not seem
like a big deal to everyone in the states. There isn't really a difference
between a missionary who doesn't have tattoos and a missionary who does; both
are servants of the Lord. BUT in Centroamerica, tattoos often imply gang
affiliation. This is a huge danger to those missionaries, especially in the
capital. In the mission and in other missions lately, we have had many threats
made against missionaries who have tattoos. The Missionary Department took
action before anything bad happened, and re-assigned all the elders who have
tattoos to places a little bit calmer than here, like Costa Rica or Panama.
Missionaries who have tattoos are no longer allowed to serve in Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua, or El Salvador.
Our zone was affected
by that change. We lost an elder from the Maya, elder Vilorio, and his
companion, Elder Moore, was stuck without a companion. There aren't many elders
to fill vacancies in the mission anymore, so they put him with us on trio,
which means we have to cover 2 areas. But it's been fun. Elder Moore is about 4
months into his mission. The kid likes to work hard, too, so that's what really
makes the difference. We've been able to have a lot of very good visits to
people, including a man we found who lost all his family in the states.
It’s been interesting
to see the way we have been able to bless lives this week, as well. There are
people who don't want to listen t the Mormons, but maybe they need a prayer.
There are people who don't care at all about us, but need help taking the water
home. Really, a big part of the mission is doing random acts of kindness. The more
that we serve, and the more charity that we work with, the more charity is
shown to us, and the more we can receive.
Even though a man can
prophesy, even though he has dominated a foreign language, and even though he
has all worldly talents and powers available to us in this mortal existence, it
is all worth nothing if we have charity. All these things are great, but they
are all imperfect as well. Charity is the pure love of Christ, and even though
the earth and the heavens pass away. God's love is perfect. And when one has
this love, he can never ever fail. I'm working to have this love more abundantly
in my life.
Love you all! Thanks
for writing!
--
Elder Jeffrey Reed
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