Because of Him

Hey There,

This week was nice and really spiritual. Our Mission President showed us this video during Zone Conference the other week and I was reflecting on it a lot this past week. It is called Because of Him. Here is how it goes...

IT WAS UNTHINKABLE, IMPOSSIBLE, UNFATHOMABLE, UNPRECEDENTED. 
A SINGLE ACT THAT CHANGED HISTORY.   POSSIBILITY.   DESTINY.

HE WAS A CARPENTER, A TEACHER, AN OUTCAST, A LEADER.

YET HE DID WHAT NO CARPENTER, TEACHER, OUTCAST, LEADER HAD EVER DONE.

LIKE ALL WHO PRECEDED HIM, HE LIVED, AND HE DIED, BUT UNLIKE ALL WHO PRECEDED HIM... HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD.  HE LIVED AGAIN.  HE LIVES.
AND BECAUSE HE LIVES... YOU AND I AND ALL WILL LIVE AGAIN.

BECAUSE OF HIM.

DEATH HAS NO STING, THE GRAVE NO VICTORY. WE CAN START AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

BECAUSE OF HIM... GUILT BECOMES PEACE, REGRET BECOMES RELIEF, DESPAIR BECOMES HOPE.

BECAUSE OF HIM... WE HAVE SECOND CHANCES, CLEAN SLATES, NEW BEGINNINGS. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE END... BECAUSE OF HIM!

I love this so very much and has opened my eyes about how much our lives need to revolve around Him and how much I rely on him. It is because of Him that I am here on mission. It is because of Him that I am able to have hope of living with my family in His Kingdom with eternal glory and happiness. It is because of Him that all may be saved if they do as he commands. I have a strong testimony of our Lord, Savior, King, Redeemer, and Brother Jesus Christ. He died for all of us so that through his mercy and grace from obedience to his commandments, we may be saved. He loves us all more than we can comprehend.

On a less spiritual note... I thought I would update you on this week that just passed. My companion and I are having success in this area. The Lord is really preparing these people for us. This week we were able to baptize a few of our investigators. They were very happy and the one that is very black and old is Michael. He overcame a lot including the word of wisdom so that He could join this church and be baptized. Everything is truly possible with the Lord and His spirit working by our side. His wife is a deacon for the Pentecost church. She is not happy that he is being baptized but Michael understands and can’t deny the truth that he has found. He told me that one day the Lord will show his wife the truth through him. It was a great Sunday/yesterday. The sacrament meeting was in TWI and I understood nothing but a few words. Amazingly enough, I felt the spirit very strong especially as I pondered over the meaning of the sacrament itself. I was surprised that even though I could not understand the talks, I could feel the spirit working within me. I have realized that the spirit is something I cannot live without.

I love this gospel and this church. Anyone who seeks to find that it is true with a broken heart and contrite spirit will no doubt come to find that this is the only true and living church upon the face of this earth. I love each of you and always think about you. I miss yall but this time here could not be spent here any better.

Love,

Elder Cornelius III

P.S. I attached some photos of the baptism just for fun.