A Labor of Love: Belief VS. Faith

HOLA Amigos :)

What a week, exchanges, Zone Conference, and a little bit of an earthquake! There was a pretty big earthquake in Chile and we felt a little over here. We were all in the church for a Family Home Evening and I felt a little weird and then everyone came out of their offices and such and we went outside until it stopped. But nothing serious. An interesting experience! My prayers go out to my fellow Chileans.

Life is good. Investigators are good. Progressing :) This week we had a lesson with Elena and our good friend Hermana Godoy shared her powerful testimony of the Temple. Recently she went to the temple and prayed that her son would return to the Church and the when she got home from the trip, her son had bough a suit and tie to go to church the next day :) Awe. And now he is preparing for the mission! Elena felt the desire to be able to help her relatives that have passed away :)

Mario is just as good as ever. He is so oober excited for his baptism! YAY. If all goes as planned, he will be baptized this week :) Norma told us that she is helping him review, and that they are praying together every night... such a miracle. They also told us that they pray for us and for the prophet every night. How precious. I love seeing how the spirit is really starting to soften her heart. She still doesn´t want to go to church... but she´s on her way... haha :) Also Mario told us that his mindset has changed, that now when he goes to church he feels like he belongs there and is so excited for church that he wakes up a couple minutes before the alarm. What a stud. :)

This week we had the blessing to have Zone Conference. I love receiving counsel from President Goates, what a blessing to have such a wise man as a Mission President. He shared about the difference between Belief... and Faith... He shared a scripture in James Chapter 2....

17. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

19. Thou believest that there is one God, thou doest well, the devils also believe, and tremble.

Wow.... quite the difference eh? Belief... is common. We hear it all the time. People believe in God... but do they have faith? Faith without works is dead. What good does our belief do us if we don´t put that belief to work eh? Because as James explains... Devils also believe.... and obviously it does them no good. What an interesting insight :) And what a blessing to be able to help people turn that dormant belief... into faith :)

Con Amor, Hermana Matheson