Que el agua se caiga, Dec. 11, 2017

Hola Mamá y familia!

It´s so great to see what a great time you were all able to have in Australia and with the homecoming of Noelle! I´m glad to hear that you were all able to enjoy a successful trip with great memories! 

Elder Holmes and I made some great memories this week in "the vineyard". God really showed us his power while we were teaching our investigators Veronica, and Sebastián. As we were teaching them and preparing them to attend church, the brother of Veronica- Tomás came in and started listening to us. Sebastián made a comment about their baptism on the 24th, and we reviewed briefly the doctrine of baptism by the authority of God. 

Tomás listened and then asked, "How does the baptism work? I have never been baptized." We asked him if a baptism is something that he wanted in his life and he said "Yes." Veronica then shared with him how in order to be baptized he would have to quit smoking. She proceeded to ask, "Are you willing to quit smoking to be baptized?" The next thing that happened brought a big smile to my face- he looked at Veronica and sofly but firmly said "Yes". We are now working to prepare not just Veronica and her son Sebastián, but Tomás as well for baptism. I know that baptism and confirmation will change his life forever.

This last week a mentioned a man named Ramón and his family that we found and taught for the first time. God gave us an early Christmas gift and the entire family (except for Ramón) attended to church with us. Four of the daughters (Rocío, Reyes, Natalia, and Naiara) and the mother (Analía) have accepted baptismal dates. What a great blessing it was to see a family come closer to Christ.

No matter what happens today, tomorrow, or next week- I am grateful for having the opportunity to invite so many people to come unto Christ. There are many things that I can´t control, but what I can do is take the actions that God asks of me. Like Ammon, I know that I am nothing, as to my strength I am week;therefore, I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God. Behold, we have wrought many mighty miracles in his land for which we will praise his name forever. (Alma 26:12)

I love you all.

-Elder Lambert

P.S. The computers in the cyber café got viruses on my memory card so I can´t use it with my camera anymore. That´s why I haven´t been sending pictures recently. Sorry about that.

Si pudiera ver mas alla, Dec. 4, 2017

Hola Mamá y familia!

Sounds like it has been an amazing trip in Australia! I´m excited too see some of the photos and hear more about your experiences. I´m glad that you all got the chance to visit Australia!

Elder Holmes and I have been putting our shoulder to the wheel for December miracles. Our mission president has asked us to work towards four baptisms in each companionship in December and we have been working hard to achieve that goal! The biggest miracles we saw this last week were with Florencia, and a new family that we met just yesterday.

Florencia is 24-years-old and has already attended church with us twice since we started visiting with her. She struggles with depression but we have been talking with her about the commandments and how they help us to have happiness. Particularly, she has had difficulties with the law of chastity and we have invited her to live the law.

God blessed us that after Zone conference this past Friday, Florencia texted us saying that she has decided that she wants to be baptized and asked what she needs to do to repent and live the law of chastity. It was great progress and we were able to teach her on Saturday and invite her again to repent and be baptized this month. 

In addition to this miracle with Florencia- on our path towards our plans yesterday, I saw a man sitting outside of his house and listening to music loudly. My natural man said to keep going to our plan, but something else said to stop and talk with him. 

Elder Holmes and I returned and met Ramón and his 5 children- Rocío, Reyes, Natalia, Naiara, and Ian. We taught them briefly and invited them to be baptized. Ramón said that none of his children have ever been baptized and that he had just been thinking about how they are old enough that they can choose to be baptized. We were extremely blessed by God to meet them and are hoping to help them come unto Christ and be baptized as a family.

I know that God lives. I am an imperfect servant, but I want to give up my worries, and trust in him. We cannot fail when we are built over the foundation of Jesus Christ. May God bless you all as you follow Him this holiday season.

Much love,

Elder Lambert

Las bendiciones de un Dios misericordioso, Nov. 27, 2017

Hola Mamá y familia!

Australia sounds incredible! I´m so excited for you guys! Sounds like you have been enjoying every moment- I´m excited to keep seeing more pictures and stories from your experiences in the great down under!

What a great week Elder Holmes and I had here in Francisco Álvarez! Elder Holmes and I have been out inviting people to come unto Christ and be baptized and we were blessed to have two of our newer investigators- Veronica and Sebastián take the leap of faith and attend church!

This past Saturday we had an incredibly spiritual lesson with Veronica and Sebastián. When we first met Veronica she expressed how she feels sad at times seeing united families, because she has faced so many problems in her life with her own family. She has two children that live in Paraguay, and two of her other children that live with her here in Argentina, and it´s painful for her to have to face the reality of that situation. We bore our testimonies of the blessings of God as we live the commandments and left her a part of the Book of Mormon to read. 

 When we arrived Saturday, she had read what we had left her in the Book of Mormon. We began to teach her about the restoration, and as we were talking they saw an image of the prophets that we sometimes show as we teach. Veronica paused and told us how this week she had seen three bags thrown in the road that contained spiritual books. She decided to grab two of the bags, and said that one of the books that she found had a similar image. She went to find the books to show us and when she returned with the books we were amazed to see that it was the gospel principles book that we use in our church! 

God had really done a miracle in preparing her to be in our path. Even more, God had prepared a way to show to his daughter, Veronica, that she was in the right path. She committed to attending to church with us, and we stopped by with banana bread in Sunday morning, ate a little bit, and then she took the bus with a member that lives close to her house. She and her son, Sebastian, both loved church, and accepted baptismal dates for the end of December.

It has been great getting to know people like Veronica in my mission. I try to invite all people to come unto Christ, and I never know who will accept. However, I know that God has angels preparing the hearts of the children of men to accept the fullness of his gospel on the earth. I hope I can be an instrument in his hands as I seek to do his will- give my best, and forget the rest.

I love you all!

-Elder Lambert

Feliz cumpleanos y feliz dia de accion de gratitude!, Nov. 21, 2017

Hola Mamá y familia!

Elder Holmes and I had a great week in Francisco Álvarez. We really received an awesome miracle of God yesterday. I´m glad to hear that you all were able to arrive safely to Australia! I´m very excited to hear about the adventures. Also, because everyone keeps asking- it was a REAL TIGER AND LION. There was no green screen, they were not stuffed animals, they were living, breathing, lions and tigers. 

By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I hope that it´s a memorable and amazing birthday Mom! I love you!

As for this past week and yesterday´s miracle. Elder Holmes and I had the privelidge of teaching the Fleytas family yesterday. Bruno, the father, is a returned missionary and is married to a non-member, Mariela. Bruno is an awesome guy but chose to stop attending church several years ago. We recently began to talking with the family this past week because we had heard that Bruno was in a car accident and had gone through foot surgery.

We went over last night, and read with the family in Alma 32. We read about faith and I invited Elder Holmes to share his thoughts on faith (he gave a talk this past Sunday on faith). He shared his story of how he decided to serve a mission, and it really invited the spirit. He invited Mariela to prepare to be baptized in December and she accepted! 

It was truly incredible, and I felt like we have really been where God wants us to be when He has needed us. I know that he lives and loves us. I know that he will bless and guide you as you seek his help. I encourage you all to put your faith in God today. He will never fail you.

All the best,

Elder Lambert

Photos:

1. Me and the bike in the streets of Álvarez

2. The sunset in Álvarez