temple experience

zapallala district- zone puente piedra

Elder Nielsen and Elder Hyde

Well it was another good week for me, a lot happened in a very short amount of time. I had a very spiritual experience that helped me know that God is still there and is listening to my prayers. I want to be the very best Elder that Elder Hyde could possibly be. I didn't come here to waste two years of my life in a foreign country just to be a tourist, or to learn a different language, or any other reason. I know that In the past I havent exactly been the most spiritual person, or at least I didn't reach my potential. I had a little experience before coming to Perú that helped me gain a little bit more of a testimony, I will share that one in a different time. I have had many since that have helped me grow piece by piece and grow a little closer to my Savior each day, but this week I had something quite strange happen. I wanted to be even more clean, even more pure, even more worthy as an Elder to be serving in the place of our Redeemer as his representative in Perú. This past Wednesday I was praying in the night for forgiveness with all the energy that I had for not being the best Elder that I could be, I asked if he could help me in my weaknesses and trials, and then I asked if he would help me to know that I was forgiven and that I was still worthy. When I finished my prayers I opened the sheets to hop in bed when the phone rang. It was Elder Nielsen with news that tomorrow(thursday). It has to be one of the fastest responses that I have ever recieved in my life. I hadn't been to the temple in 10 months and then out of the blue we get a text that we are going, and I dont think that it is a coincidence. The next day we went to the temple where I had another spiritual experience but a little bit more personal sorry, and then we bought all the necessities hymn book, garments, pictures, and all that fun stuff. Then we came back and I think that God gave me a little bit of a trial of my faith because my companion has been sick and it finally got to me late Thursday and friday and Saturday as well, I was in bed coughing with migrains and with pain in my chest and stomach etc and nasty sneezes and all that to the point where I couldnt leave my house. So after my big spiritual experiences I had to sit in the house and wait and suffer a little bit. I think that it is to see if it really is my desire to change and to be better or if I am just saying words to get on his goood side, but it is all good because I mean what I say and I say what I meant. I know that God always is there to give us an extra push and to forgive us fast. (Moroni 6:8) That is the point is to mess up as many times as it takes to get where we need but to repent fast to get us back on track to have the blessings of God again in our life. That is what I am striving to get and to obtain. To be just a little nearer to God each day and to grow to love becoming closer and closer. I know that if we make that our goal and our song that we will not only be happier but we can and will have all the blessings of God with us. That is what I hope and wish for each and everyone of you. I love you all so much please take care and keep growing and stretching. 

Con amor,

Elder Hyde

mission conference with Elder Oaks

Another week down. I have no idea where this week went, it seems like it is thursday or somewhere around there. I think this week just cruised by because we had so many things to do and so little time to do it. This week we had a visit from Elder Oaks in person. He is the third apostle that I have been able to shake hands with, and of course it was amazing and life changing. We went to his meeting and we learned a little bit more about how we can help others to find their way in the world. He talked a lot about ''real intent'' and that the reason that some people dont receive answers is not because they dont want to know, but a lot of the times it is because they wont act on the answer that our heavenly father is so willing to give. And I have thought about this a lot, and was wondering if that is the reason why so many of us feel lost, confused, or even depressed when we dont receive an answer. We as missionaries are always looking and trying to help our investigators to receive an answer for themselves and many of the times we think that if we pray hard enough, if we preach hard enough, and we give them everything that they need that they will be converts. I learned this week that that is not the case. Many times in my mission I have felt depressed like I didnt have the testimony, or that I couldnt talk perfect, or that I wasn´t sufficiently worthy or something, but I now know that sometimes after all that we  have done sometimes people just dont want to change. They dont receive the answer that they should/could because they are not willing to make the changes necessary to have these things revealed to them. I hope and pray that all of you are willing to make the changes and follow the promptings that your heavenly father gives you, because if you aren't ready or willing he cant and wont give you more information. I loved being able to hear from an apostle of God and being able to hear his voice, I now know with certainty that I have the best mission president in the world and especially here in Lima. All the mission presidents gave talks and they were all ok, but President Stauffer spoke last out of the presidents and he blew them out of the water hands down no contest. We also got to go to the beach and do a service project for the people of Perúand it was a great success, and no one got hurt.

We found a dead dolphin and an Israelite man who was fishing like the apostle peter and he had a great huge white beard it was great. It was a jam-packed week for us because we had ''rain'' (you cant call it rain it is more like there is water in the air and it just makes everything wet, I have no idea how to explain it it is just something you have to see for yourselves) and my companion was sick and we just seemed to be running from appointment to appointment the whole week. Not a bad week, nor a frustrating one, just a stress-filled week. I am glad that it is over, and glad for the success that we were able to have! I love you guys so much and love that we can still have a great relationship even though we are so far away! Love all of you so much hope that everything goes super fantabulistico for each one of you!!!!

-Elder Hyde

also got some questions answered....in a response from my email(doesn't happen that often):

(9/18/17)

Yes they are progressing, and we had 5 insacs this week it was a pretty good week! Um we had three baptisms a stellar activity that gave us a bunch of references and 10 news that we worked our butts off for. All is good for right now. And today was the first warm day that we have had in quite some time. Love you too mom 

(9/25/17)more questions answered this week:

That is fantastic! My week was good. The investigators from the activity are doing well and they are progressing really well as well. We had 8 people come to church so that was great. In my mission I feel better more pure, more ready, and more prepared to handle problems and difficulties that come my way, quick to jump back to good, and to help others to do the same. At the same time quick to love and to help others to feel the love of Christ as well. Nothing is really new for us other than that.