An Easter centered on Christ

 Buenas tardes, cómo están???

Been a good week. The people in Brownsville are literally so prepared for the Gospel. I feel so blessed to be here.

GOOD:

- Happy Easter! We had a wonderful church service yesterday and SO many of our friends were able to join us and remember the joyful resurrection of Jesus Christ. While at church I received a gift! My little friend named Penny who comes to church with her family told me and my companion she had pens for us. She disappeared for a second and returned with 2 pens that had been crafted to look like little bunnies. I know she must've spent a sizable amount of time preparing these pens and was thankful for the kind gesture. A picture of the amazing gift is included down below.

- Last Preparation day my district and I were able to visit the Gladys Porter Zoo. A fun fact about Brownsville's zoo is that it was the original home of THEE Harambe. Pretty interesting right? The zoo made for a very fun Preparation day. It was also super nice to visit a zoo on a Monday morning because there was casi nobody else there with us. Highlight of the zoo trip had to be watching the gorillas (which we did for a solid 20 minutes) or playing tag as a district through the children's playground. In Brownsville we work hard and then we play hard.

- Another blessing that we received this week was interviews with our beloved Presidente Larreal. He is always good to sit and talk with. I love that you can feel the love he has for us everytime we see him. He reminded us that we "are doing very well job in this mission" and that he "feels so pride" to be working with us in the TMM. Things are looking up and the work is moving along. What a blessing it is to be in Brownsville.

BETTER:

- Let me just start by saying that this week was BUSY. We are teaching SO MUCH and teaching people who are truly looking to change their lives through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the best lessons of the week was with our friend Susan! She was rapidly taking notes and also RETAINING everything we were saying. I am so impressed with her desire to learn. She has had a crazy life but is so prepared to accept the gospel. During our lesson this week she said "I always feel so happy when I meet with you guys." We were teaching her the plan of salvation and she started circling the words "Celestial Kingdom" in her pamphlet and said "I need to be here." We extended the invitation to be baptized and she happily accepted. Miracles!

- We have been continuing to teach our good friend Joe! He is super awesome. This week we had some great lessons with him about the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation. Also this week Joe accepted a day to be baptized! He joined us again for church and has enjoyed getting to know the members of our ward! Teaching Joe is super fun because he is close to my age. He is looking for the truth and wants to know he is on the right path. He said the closing prayer in one of our lessons and asked Heavenly Father to help him as he prepares to be baptized and thanked Heavenly Father that he was with "the brothers." I love hearing people pray for the first time, it's always a special thing when they pray out loud even if they are nervous or unsure of what to say. We look forward to helping Joe make covenants with God!

- Danielle and her son Nathan are so elect. Wow. The entire family came to church this past week which includes Danielle's husband and their 3 children who are younger than Nathan. We had some great lessons with them this week on the Temple, Eternal Marriage and Family History. They really want to make family trees and Danielle really wants to work towards a temple sealing! It is so amazing to see repentance working with their lives and see them changing!! They are earnestly working towards their Baptismal date and I cannot wait to see them make covenants with Heavenly Father. They are going to GLOW! Teaching them is literally a blessing and I don't know what I did to deserve being here in Brownsville during this time.

BEST:

The Larreal's felt inspired to have a TMM Easter conference over zoom and invite every missionary's family to join. We were able to listen to uplifting music, testimonies and messages. What an amazing conference and awesome way to focus on Christ this Easter.

The biggest thing I have learned this week is that Easter is the most important holiday. Without Jesus Christ's Atoning Sacrifice and Resurrection... we would be practically helpless here on this Earth. I have so much gratitude and love for Jesus Christ and what He did for me. When we center our Easter festivities on Christ - His life, His teachings and His love for all, it can become the most special day of the year. 

I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that as we bring our lives in harmony with His teachings that His power and grace will fill our lives. I know the gospel is the pathway to true and lasting happiness and that eternal life is truly possible because of Jesus Christ.

Happy Easter!

"Work Hard, Keep the Commandments, Have a Positive Attitude and Show Gratitude."

- Elder Stringham