E-mail received 6/27/2011

I was able to send in the information this morning so it should arrive there around wednesday or thursday. I wasn't able to order a report and I tried twice but I'll get a letter off today. It's been a fun experience so far with all the fun finance issues but much less than I would've thought. It was kind of interesting to see what people do with someone elses' information. It brings to light how important the principle of accountability is when someone's unaccountability before God let's them go to extreme lengths to satisfy their desires. Hopefully they'll be able to repent and find the greater happiness that they can find through integrity in the Gospel.

 

That's awesome that the girls want to exercise during the summer! I especially like that Maleah wants to bike because I've come to really love cycling as I've been doing it out here. Although, I would definitely appreciate a bike that requires a little less maintenance than the one that I currently ride. It's given me useful practice though which I will definitely use later on in my life.

 

Tell Maleah not to worry about juggling school and a job at the district office. My friends who worked there said that if anything else it was a great place to catch up on homework at. They said they did little to nothing there so it was a reverent environment to do their study. With that in mind though tell her to make sure that she needs to be an employee worthy of her hire. If anything else, some of the most foundational times for her life are these times so she should strive to excel as a student and stand out as an employee. The way she carries herself on both fronts will help her establish the person she hopes to be for a lifetime.

 

I do know Elder Young from Sparks, Nevada. He actually goes home in two days if I'm not mistaken. He's a Spanish-speaking missionary and he gave a great testimony a few weeks ago in all mission conference.

 

I'm actually super sad that that memory card doesn't seem to be working. It had a lot of pictures and the pictures of Elder Smith and I at the mission home. But there's no sense crying over spilt milk. The memories will always be there in the noggin. Just note that I did send a video.

 

Jason Hensley did do running start and graduated with an associates degree. I don't actually regret not doing that program because it would've alienated me from the friends and associations I made at school but it would be nice to be a little ahead when I get home. Although it just means I get to have more years of fun in college so I'm excited as well. It'll be fun to get there and everyone, including my little sister, will be ahead of me in school. But everything will be fresh in my mind and I won't have to recall college courses that I took two years ago!

 

This week was definitely a fun one. We worked really hard and taught and committed a lot of people. One of our major prayers was answered this week. We've been teaching this African family from Liberia and the father and the daughter have both been baptized here but the mother was having a few struggles. She believes that the church is true and wants to be baptized with all her heart but her job requires her to work on Sundays. Her husband is going to school right now and is about to finish a course in mechanical engineering so she's bringing in most of the family income and despite her pleas to get the Sabbath off she's yet been unsuccessful. We felt inspired to tell her to pray for it and then to exercise all of her will towards getting the day off. The family held a special fast together and we were praying none stop for a miracle. One day her boss came up to her and said that for the following schedule she'd arranged that she would be working different hours on Sunday. Instead of working 12-5, which is during the same time as church, she would be scheduled to work 5-10, which is right after church! We were ecstatic when we heard the news and she committed right then and there to be baptized on July 19th! It's amazing what the Lord will do for those who trust in Him and believe on Him. Her family will be completed and they'll be able to prepare for marriage in the temple next year!

 

We were a little disappointed when a family, who was so sure on coming to church, didn't come this Sunday but we still have hope that they can exercise their own agency to do it. They're a great family and we want to help them the best that we can. We've been meeting with their son on a very frequent basis and it's great to see him light up when he understands a scripture and loves the story. It's great to see so much potential here in Jersey and the Lord has given us this opportunity to harvest it here.

 

I hope we all take the chance we've been given to reach out and harvest where we are. There is potential all around us. We see it on the street, at our jobs and in many cases even in our own homes and God has put us exactly where we are for a purpose. If we listen to the Spirit and listen with love to those with whom we associate, we will be led to those seeking for the truth. Have a great week and let us go on in so great a cause!

 

-Elder Guinto

E-mail received 6/20/2011

Mighty fun stuff! I'm just hoping that this doesn't reflect poorly on you because you're my power of attorney. When Elder Packer called me and said that I'd gone to New York and splurged 750$ I was quite surprised that I was capable of sleepwalking that far. Ironically we went to the temple this week and so we were two days away from going to New York anyways. That's why I didn't email last week because we switched our preparation day to Saturday and the length of the trip from down here in Trenton didn't allow me to email on Saturday either. So don't worry, I didn't get mugged.

I'll make sure and take care of everything today and after I do I'll make sure and have Elder Packer call you. Wish me luck in finding myself again!

That's very weird that Katelyn's out of high school and even stranger that she'll be further in college than I am when I get home. Speaking of Katelyn I met someone else who knows her this week. Carlos Sanchez introduced me to his sister who was apparently Katelyn's counselor at SOAR. I'm slowly turning into the brother of Katelyn rather than her being my sister! I showed them the video of Katelyn (P.S. got the package on Wednesday. Gracias!) and they laughed. I laughed really really hard when Katelyn got the text message in the middle of the video! She's all grown up! Kind of...she'll always be my little sister.

I sent another card with Dad's father's day card. I hope you got it in time for father's day. Don't know why but it felt the best to see Dad and Maleah in the videos. I think I appreciate Dad's quirkiness more now than I did back home. Maleah's so skinny! She should trim her bangs so that everyone can see her beautiful face! Tell her not to worry. I'll come home to replace Katelyn for a little while.

Tell them both to make sure they're reading their scriptures every day! That's really just the key to getting all the support they'll ever need. We've really seen it in the person who was just confirmed yesterday. The first day we met him he was really reserved and just a altogether shy and not outgoing person at all. He would go to work and come home without seeing anyone and just not really living life. Then he started reading his scriptures and it's been amazing to see him just totally change. For the years prior to us meeting him he went through some intense radiation treatment for colon cancer, I believe, and he was just always racked with pain and fatigue. Now he's the most energetic and upbeat person. He walks around the church like he's been a life-long member and he cracks jokes with the bishop! He wakes up early in the morning, around 4 or 5, so that he can study his scriptures and ponder on the throughout the day. He finds enlightenment and strength daily and it helps him to thrive in any situation. The scriptures really are the power of God unto our own salvation as long as we treasure them up and trust in the Lord.

We had somewhat of a challenging week this week but it's also been one of the most revelatory. I'm truly a believer that trails are given to us for our good, for whom the Lord loveth He chastens. I learned a lot about patience this week. One thing that Sister Bahr taught us from Sister Beck is that everyone, and I like to substitute every thing, that comes into our lives is clinical material for us to practice becoming more like the Savior. Without an opportunity we cannot grow. In the premortal life I'm sure that several of us were anxious and eager to come here and to prove ourselves faithful to our Heavenly Father but he reserved our strength and zeal for a time when we could truly be tested. I hope all of us know that we are not ordinary sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father but if we hold on to the rod he has given us we are His elect. We were chosen to come in the last days, the toughest days, not because we are disliked or forsaken but because he knows we can do it. Christ repeatedly beckons us to follow Him but too often we may forget that the implication is really to follow Him because the way has been prepared for us.

Help Maleah to read a few talks for me. "The Atonement Covers All Pain" by Kent F. Richards- April 2011 Ensign. There's also a great video on the talk by Joseph B. Wirthlin entitled "Come What May and Love It!" on youtube that she should see. Both of these have brought me a lot of strength through hard times out here.

I really love the opportunity I have our here to come to better know my Savior and my own faith. The more I work the more I grow, the more I read the more I know and the more I strive to be true the more I show the Lord I love Him. Never lose hope. The Devil will always try to dim the everlasting truth made real by the Atonement of Christ: "You can do it."

-Elder Guinto

E-mail receved 06/06/2011 - The 100th Post!!

Don't worry I'm not (eating too much fast food). My former companion and other zone members were huge fans of eating out as a zone, even when I don't have any more msf. Fortunately we're not doing it too much anymore so you won't see any more of them. Although I am planning on buying a new back pack today. The one I bought last April is wearing out in the bottom and I want a lighter one for the super hot summer on the bike.

 

I find it interesting that you really don't like teaching and speaking in front of groups and I really like giving talks and teaching and things like that. I guess we're all given different gifts that God gives us to help His children in different ways.

 

Still crazy that Katelyn's graduating and crazier that Jason Hensley bought a house with his WIFE! It'll be so weird seeing all the changes that have happened. Life comes at you fast sometimes and I bet it comes twice as fast when you've been out of it for a while. I'm not going to lie, I really enjoy being a missionary. It's pretty care-free and you enjoy the Spirit 24/7. It's really a blessing to have this time to draw nigh unto the Lord and participate in this great work. The most happy and fulfilling times have definitely been out here serving the Lord.

 

This last week we were able to do a lot of finding and inviting and we've seen incredible success. We're definitely working, finding, teaching and baptizing! There will be another baptism this Sunday with an incredible investigator that we've been working with for some time now. He was found by a few missionaries a few months ago, through a member. Since he's met with the missionaries he's gone through some intense cancer treatment and it's really gotten him down. From the time we first met him to now there's been a total change in his countenance. When we first saw him he was very very quiet and reserved and really just worked everyday, came home and kept to himself. Now that the Spirit has really worked on him and he's changed completely. He's super friendly and outgoing, he testifies to his friends and family about the Book of Mormon and the prophets, he wakes up early in the morning and instead of going and having a morning coffee and cigarette he warms up with a hot chocolate and the Book of Mormon. He enjoys and is edified by the Spirit DAILY and he tells us about it! He's truly been converted by the Spirit.

 

He's going to be a great member and missionary to his fairly large family. He's already setting a great example of nobility and obedience to them.

 

I love this work! I love it's redeeming and life-changing power! It's incredible what the Lord can do when we give Him our all and in return we receive His all. I know as we devote our time and attention and even just give room for Him in our lives we lay up for ourselves a great treasure which cannot be taken from us, now and in the eternities.

 

-Elder Guinto

E-mail received 05/31/2011

Sounds like everythings doing well back home. I'm looking at this email now so i can't really remember what was on the other one other than everyone's sad about school ending but hey what else is new.

 

Our week was incredible! My new companion is awesome. He's part of the first batch of a new era of missionaries. They've reformed the training that they are giving at the MTC to focus more on following the Spirit while teaching. We've been trained and briefed on it out here but this is the first batch of missionaries to receive the new training. They trounce out all of us. I've never see a more reverent and Spirit driven, new group of missionaries come out before.

 

My companion is Elder Smith. He's from Kansas City, Kansas and he's actually has a relation to Joseph's Smith's line! (Even if it is super distant it's pretty cool!) He's really dedicated and puts a lot of himself in to his work. The coolest part of the week was definitely that Elder Smith was able to have his first baptism his first week. He baptized one of the investigators we'd been working with for most of last transfer and it was a really awesome experience.

 

It was a father and his daughter who were baptized and it was just an amazing moment, as it always is, to see them entering in to sacred covenants with their Father.

 

We're excited for many more baptisms this transfer and excited to grow with each other and towards our Savior!

 

-Elder Guinto

E-mail received 05/23/2011 - Transfers again - Newbie to Train

Can't think of anything else that would be noteworthy of sending. I'm pretty good over here. I'm excited to get that Ensign! I've been reading a few of the talks from the apartment copy that we have and it bugs me that I can't mark things up. I love Elder Oaks talk on desire and how righteous our desires must be in order to become the people that God needs us to be.

 

That's great that Katelyn's starting to get all the scholarships that she deserves. I have faith that she'll get the same scholarship that I did. We really didn't get much word until the summer I don't think but maybe we did. That was so long ago.

 

That's great to hear that Stephanie Stringfellow got married but sad I guess to hear that it's not well accepted by the family. I hope everything goes well with them. Stephanie always seemed like a good girl so I can't imagine her making a terrible choice in a husband. I hope that he's a member of the church and if he's not I hope she as well as all of us are doing our best to fellowship them and help them continue to see that Christ welcomes all to come and partake of his salvation. (2 Ne. 26:25,27)

 

We had an amazing week this week. Elder Archibald performed his first baptism! It was a great service and the Spirit was really felt strong there. It's just such a beautiful moment when a child of God makes sacred covenants with their Father and then the Father enters into a covenant to always be with them as they are worthy of Him.

 

We're looking forward to another baptism this Sunday and we're so excited at how much this man has come in His search for the truth. He's one of those amazing investigators who started with very little knowledge about the church and just thirsted after. Watching him really search and ponder and pray over the passages we would give him was truly a delight and a privelage to see how the Lord blesses and prepares His elect to hear and hearken unto His voice. It's an inspiration to see the value of the scriptures made alive in one's life.

 

Transfers are tomorrow and sadly Elder Archibald is being transferred. We've had a great transfer together and we've had a lot of fun but he's needed elsewhere and the Lord has great plans for him in another part of His vineyard. Elder Archibald was definitely a man of intense faith and zeal to do the works of righteousness. I have faith that the Lord will make of him a mighty servant.

 

For the new transfer I'll be training again! I'm so excited to train for a third time! It's such a great opportunity and privelage to have a missionary who's just fresh and not knowing what to expect from the missionary experience and he has the most faith of any missionary in the mission. I'm so excited to help this missionary to get aquainted with the work and especially to learn from his faith and testimony of the Savior and His divinity. It always brings back the zeal and excitement that all new missionaries have leaving the spiritual landmark of the missionary training center.

 

The work continues to progress in a monumental way. President Henry B. Eyring presided at a wonderful stake conference for the East Brunswick Stake yesterday and bore testimony of the powerful that has been accomplished here in the New England states and called for a renewed sense of purpose for the work being done today. Their words continue to inspire us to be better and as Elder Holland so beautifully put it, "...to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable." May we all with zeal approach the people in our individual areas and testify of the restored Gospel and of the church which we hold dear. Ours is the greatest testament to the truth.

 

-Elder Guinto

E-mail received 05/16/2011

I'm not sure if it's something in the air or the commission that was given by President Monson to start acting and getting to the temple to make those sacred covenants. It's wonderful to see that there are so many hearkening to the words of our beloved prophet and they will surely reap the blessing thereby. We've recently received the General Conference edition of the ensign and it's been an incredible privilege to pour over it's pages and to apply the instruction and doctrine that's been bestowed on us. It's a great and amazing responsibility.

 

I'm not going to lie it was very hard to concentrate for the rest of the email after I read that Andrea's not doing so well. I hope they're able to figure out everything so that she can get better. She's got so much potential. I would be lying if I said I wasn't still interested in her. I realize that I haven't actually told you guys a lot about my major doubts about the church for a long time and my eventual conversion but she actually played a pretty big role as far as just being a huge example of what the Gospel should be like in someone's life. I really have a lot to thank her and also Jaron for because of the great things they helped me, maybe not intentionally, to do that led up to my conversion. So she'll always have a really special place in my heart. I've met a lot of girls on and off the mission but none so far that have matched her inside and out. I'm just worried about if I'm quite the man she'd ever consider or if she's changed at all. If anything I'm sure the standard has been raised and it helps me to have an increased desire to make myself more and more like the Savior. In the end it's what he wants for His children that matters and all will work out as it should. (; Don't ever let anything get in the way of your dreams Bro! Our fraternal bond is stronger than the cords of death so don't worry about it.

 

We had an amazing week this week! We weren't able to get as much work done in our area week but it was all for a reason. I was called to attend a leadership conference for two day as well and we were trained just on what the mission needed to get down and apply for us to be successful. The Spirit was felt and we all received revelation that guided us as to what we needed for our areas, districts and zones and we've seen miracles from it.

 

My testimony of following our appointed leaders continues to wax strong as it is tried and tested. The Lord calls His servants for His purposes and reasons and it's not for us to decided why such an ordination has taken place. It is for us to know only that it has and that it is done under divine sanction for the benefit of God's children. We must humble ourselves so that we don't get in the way of the Lord's hand in our lives and we must be still to know that He is indeed our God.

 

My companion is amazing! Elder Archibald this week had a revelatory experience in church and he's just been on fire ever since. He was sitting in church with our investigator and he's really been trying hard lately to clear his mind of the normally carnal things which have crowded it. As he's been putting in this astoundingly sincere effort he's been seeing the Lord help him to make his weaknesses into strengths. It all culminated in his partaking of the Sacrament. He said that as the bread and water touched his lips he just felt pure love flow freely over his body as he was bathed in the saving power of the Atonement through that sacred ordinance. He really felt the Holy Ghost cleansing and forgiving him for his sins. Since then he's felt the Spirit to a measure he's never experience and it's been edifying to both of us. I'm so thankful for such a wonderful companion and I hope that we can all strive to magnify Christ's sacrifice in our lives by partaking of the sacrament worthily.

 

My heart swells with joy for this work because there's going to be a baptism tomorrow! I'm so excited that another one of God's blessed children is going to be able to partake in His salvation and my hope that all can have this gift blossoms. I love this work and I love my Savior. My joy is really that it never ends.

 

-Elder Guinto

E-mail received 05/09/2011 Bike Failure!

Cool. I actually forgot my planner so I'm not going to be able to write it down just yet so if you could remind me that you sent it to me in your letter next week that would definitely be appreciated.

We had quite the week this week. It started off a little rocky but we were able to come through with testimonies strengthened and renewed purpose.

We had an excellent zone meeting and the Book of Mormon challenge is well underway. We're now on page 120 in the Book of Mormon already and it's amazing what revelation can come even when we're reading at quite an accelerated pace. I found great power in the lamentations of Nephi when he grieves at his weaknesses in Nephi chapter 4. He yearns to be a greater man and overcome the temptations and weaknesses that beset each of us. He goes on to wonder why he must droop in sin and knows that in the Lord he will be able to overcome the dreadful effects of the fall and serve the Lord with great strength and vigor.

We've seen it as we've born our trials this week. On Monday we were given new bikes by our awesome neighbors but they had been out in the rain a little and we couldn't clean them as well as we probably should have. The bikes are really fast but Elder Archibalds gears jammed up at the wrong time and he went head over handlebars going pretty fast. He scraped up his arm pretty bad and that was the end of the new bikes for this week. We're going to see if we can get them cleaned today.

The injury slowed us down quite a bit and put a fair sour damper on morale but we were able to work through things and teach many people.

One awesome experience we had after we contacted a young mother and her daughter on the street. We set up a return appointment because she seemed keenly interested in obtaining a copy of the Book of Mormon. We returned the next day to find her with her mother and brother. She was happy to see us and so did her family but her brother had some papers prepared for us. He was ready to do some bashing. We wouldn't answer any of his internet generated questions because the Spirit told us he was only there to try and confound us and not out of a sincere desire to learn but we simply bore testimony of what we knew to be true and how we obtained that answer. It was awesome to see the contrasting difference in their eyes as his sister was listening and asking real questions to understand and he trying to break us to satisfy some underlying need for vindication of his own. In the end she ended up being the one to tell his that she felt that we would be saved even on the basis of his belief and we left with our testimonies and a card that will lead them to the answers they both seek. Both their hearts effected by the Spirit they felt.

There are great opportunities given to us that sometimes may seem very unfavorable but with the Spirit as our guide they can become some of the most rewarding walks we undergo. When given lemons just add water and sugar and you will be refreshed.

I hope each of us will treasure the scriptures this week because they are the sweet sugars we need to feed our often starving souls and drink from the fount of every blessing: the love of our Savior. In this we can experience joy in the journey now, in any circumstance or trial.

-Elder Guinto