The gift of agency

7/18  This week was a bit trying. Although we were planning on a baptism with Alexia, in the end, it didn't happen. To make a long story a little bit shorter, she left for girls camp on Tuesday expecting to get back Saturday and get baptized. When she got home her mom decided to change her mind, and told her she couldn't get baptized. We called her to tell her that everything was all set up and ready to go, and that's when she told us that her mom wanted to talk with us. We planned to go there with Hermano Buffoni, but later he called us and told us that it would be best if we put it off for a few days. I don't understand why it happened the way it did, but what I do know is that Alexia was devastated. We talked with Alexia on Sunday and she said that she was hoping we might be able to do it this week. So we are going to do all we can to make sure that happens.

My new companion Hermano Mora is super fun! He is from Costa Rica, and has been living in Santander for a few months. He's 19 and already working on his mission papers (he's serving for 6 weeks as a mini missionary). He told me that he use to go out with the missionaries almost every day in Costa Rica, and he knows a lot about missionary work. He's very spiritual in lessons and in the streets, and he always knows exactly who we need to talk to. I'm excited for the next 5 weeks with him. I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot with him.

This week I learned just how important our free agency is in the Plan of Salvation. Our agency is the one of the greatest gifts God has given us, and it is one thing that he will never take away. Our agency is a key part to our purpose in this mortal life. Our purpose is to be tested to see if we will use our agency to follow Christ. Unfortunately, some people chose not to follow Christ, and sometimes those decisions affect other people. But I know that God will always bless us for choosing to do the right thing. He always blesses us for following His commandments, and although other people's decisions can sometimes affect our lives in a negative way, if we chose to follow God, we will be blessed.

¡Un abrazo querido amigo!

4 mini missionaries with their companions in Valencia -- 28 missionaries returned home last transfer, so 16 mini missionaries are serving for 6 weeks to help fill in for full time missionaries until new missionaries arrive next transfer