Infinite Arithmetic

I love math, and I love relating math to the gospel.

A long time ago, I realized that when talking about infinity, and limits at infinity, we are describing God and his attributes, because God is infinite and eternal.

By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them. (D&C 20:17)

So, I started doing infinite arithmetic, and seeing how the results related to God.

Here are two of my favorites, a mathematical poem, if you will.

This is very similar to what Ammon says in Alma 26:12.

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Updates

I have returned home from my mission, and I haven't been emailing home weekly emails, so this blog has been collected dust for a while.  Sorry.

Here are some updates:

• The first thing I did when I got home was go to the temple.  It was amazing.
• I am working at Kneaders.  I was hired as a sandwich maker, but lately I have been working more up front.
• I am attending the singles ward, and I think that I am starting to adapt.
• I met with Hermana Potter at City Creek, and it was great to catch up.
• Today was stake conference, and the theme was hastening the work.  I want to be a temple worker.

The Long-Foretold Time

Hello Everybody!!!

Today is my last day in Copperas Cove!  and on Thursday I will be in Utah, and I think I am going to freeze to death the moment I step outside of the airport.

What a mission.  I began my mission, with a solid testimony of the Book of Mormon and that living the gospel brings happiness.  The scripture on my missionary plaque is Alma 30:44, which teaches us that all things testify of Christ.  I know that this is true!

I have learned on my mission to love the Bible as well as the Book of Mormon.

I have also learned what exactly is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The gospel is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  The gospel is simple, pure, and completely true.  These 5 simple steps truly bring the most happiness.

One of my favorite scriptures that I have studied on my mission is Doctrine and Covenants 123: 17.  "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

Through my mission, I have been pleased to see the salvation of God.  His arm has been revealed, and he is here.  He labors with us in the work of Salvation.  This is His work, and it has been a great privilege to serve him.

I have learned the importance of the ordinances of salvation.  Baptism and the reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost are essential for salvation, and there is great power and a great spirit felt at every one.  There is also great power in the sacrament, and the spirit is present in every chapel every Sunday.  Our eyes need to be fixed on the temple, because that is the House of God, and there we also participate in the ordinances of Salvation.

I have been studying very hard the Old Testament, and today I read the last page of Malachi.  As I have studied, I have realized that there are four very specific things that the Old Testament prophets prophesy: 1) the scattering of Israel, 2) the birth of Jesus, 3) the gathering of Israel, and 4) the second coming of Christ shortly after the gathering of Israel.  I have also realized that we are living in very historic times.  The gathering of Israel is NOW, much more than any other time.  Israel was scattered in the days of Jeremiah and Daniel and all of the Old Testament prophets, but today during the ministry of more than 80,000 full time missionaries and more than 15,000,000 member missionaries, Israel is being gathered at a rate much faster than ever before.  This truly is the long-foretold time!

From Waco to Denton to Stephenville to Fort Worth to Copperas Cove, I have met and befriended many of the Saints of God.  I have cried and laughed and prayed and worshipped with them.  I have mastered Spanish and gained many more cultures.

I have given my soul to Christ, I have served him with all my might.  Now, just like Paul, I know that, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (2 Timothy 4:7)

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  I know that he lived and taught and died and loved for me!  He is my Saviour and He does reign as King!

See y'all Sunday, if not Thursday,
Hermana Julie Anna Sanchez

Baptism and Confirmation -- The gate into heaven

Hello everyone!

Martina got baptized this week!  She felt the spirit super strong, and she had a powerful manifestation of the spirit during her confirmation.  They also stayed for the classes, and it was fabulous!  They are such a good family.

We were helping them get started on their family history last night, and Martina is so excited to go to the temple!  She can't wait to go to the San Antonio temple and do baptisms for her ancestors. We are so excited for her as well.

Best wishes,

Hermana Julie Anna Sanchez

 

 Pictures from Hiedi's baptism

11 nonmembers at Hiedi's baptism and 1 more during her confirmation, so she will be the means of bringing at least 12 people to Christ!

Christmas!

Martina's baptism!

My exchange last transfer

Our District Last Transfer

Timmy and the Olivos children

Acting out the Christmas story with the Wilson/Gutierrez family

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be...

Strep throat.

 

Sunday, I started feeling the effects of strep throat.  I was very sick.  I have had strep throat before, and I knew what I needed: antibiotics.

 

By Tuesday, I texted Sister Ames.  Wednesday, I was given permission to go to the doctor.  The only problem was that all of the clinics were closed for the holiday. 

 

So on Thursday I finally went to the doctor.

 

We met some cute little ladies while we were in the waiting room.  At this point, I had completely lost my voice, so conversing with them was interesting.  I would tell Hermana Black something, and she would repeat it for the ladies.  One of them was a lost member, so even though we weren't able to do a lot of missionary work last week, God still guided our path.

 

The ladies gave me lots of suggestions, like all you need is to eat some honey.  Or to gargle salt water with a little bit of pepper.  Or that all I really needed was Sudafed. 

 

When we finally got in to see the doctor, he asked me, "What can I do for you?" 

 

I told him promptly, "You can tell me that I have strep throat, and give me some antibiotics."

 

Without even pausing he said, "You have strep throat." 

 

He didn't even do a swab test, because he said, "If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck..."  My tonsils were huge and they had all sorts of white spots all over. 

 

After being on Amoxicillin for many days, I have started to feel better.

 

-----

 

So that was the parable.  Here is the interpretation:

 

Antibiotics are the Gospel.

Strep Throat is the effects of sin

The Cute Ladies represent other churches

The Doctor is a worthy priesthood holder.

 

Even though I knew what I needed, and could preach about Antibiotics all day long, I myself had no authority to get any.  Antibiotics can only be administered by the proper medical authority.

 

Although many good people do know about the gospel, and they do preach about it, they lack the authority to get to it.  Many parts of the gospel can only be administered the proper priesthood authority.

 

The advice that the women in the waiting room gave me was good.  There was nothing wrong with it.  But it also wasn't complete.  There is no doctor I know of that would say it is bad to drink honey or gargle salt water, but there is more of a cure available.  No one is asking anyone to give up honey or salt water, but just come and get some antibiotics as well.  You will be cured.

 

Much of what comes from other churches is good, but it isn't complete.  You don't need to give up anything good that you have, just come to Christ, and receive the cure.

 

Now I have the antibiotics. They were administered by the proper authority, and I am starting to feel the positive effects in my life.  However, there is a big warning to make sure that I will take every last pill of the antibiotics.  If I don't the strep throat may return, and it may be harder to treat future cases of strep throat. 

 

Even though, baptism and confirmation are essential.  They by themselves is not enough.  We have to endure to the end.  Otherwise, we can never receive the full cure, and the effects of sin will return.

 

Feliz dia de los reyes!

Hermana Julie Anna Sanchez

Ring Out Wild Bells

Hello everybody!

 

Christmas week was awesome! 

 

We have helped one of our investigators make delicious treats for the holidays!  I love service/bonding time with our friends!  She helped us make cookies on our pday (Thanks mom for the delicious cookie mix!  We decorated them and gave them to lots of people as a merry Christmas present).  Then later on, we helped her make cake-pops.  They are so easy to make and so delicious!!!  I will definitely be making some when I get home!

 

One of my favorite things is that whenever we visit Hiedi, she has had her young women's necklace on (The girl in the torch).  She glows with the spirit!!!

 

During interviews with President, he told us that he was going to close Cove.  In fact he had been planning on it, but somehow our names ended up there instead.  My first reaction was "No, don't close Cove!"  It definitely puts a new perspective on things.

 

All of the things that we have done.  All of the people we have taught, helped reactive and baptize.  Almost all of that never happened.  :0  That would be so sad.  I am so glad that I am here in Cove!  It is the best place to serve!

 

The whole time we've been here, even though we cover Lampasas and Gatesville and parts of Killeen, I have always felt like Cove was were it was at.  Even though, there aren't many Spanish people in Cove, those that are here are the best.  There are some truly amazing souls here just waiting to be found.  One day the church will be filled!

 

Here is a list of some of the miracles we have seen while serving here:

1. Hiedi got baptized!
1. She will be one of the first active Laurels in the Spanish Branch, and it should help ease the tensions between the Spanish Branch and the Cove 2nd Ward (The Spanish YWs meet with the Cove 2 ward, and not everyone has the same vision about what the role of the different wards/branches are. Just by having Hiedi going to mutual and classes, things will work out better.)
2. Hiedi will be the means of bringing at least 12 people to Christ. (The number of non-members at her baptismal or confirmation service). Hiedi has already been doing missionary work even before she was baptized, and it will her role will only continue to skyrocket as she gets more and more involved in the gospel.
3. Hiedi plans on serving a mission when she is 19, which means that even more people will be blessed by Hiedi.
2. Martina (Hiedi's mom) is preparing for baptism! Her baptism is scheduled for Saturday!
3. Lucy (a slightly less active recent convert when we arrived in Cove) has been called to serve as the Relief Society secretary.
4. Roxana (a recently reactivated member and wife of a recent convert) has been called to serve as the Relief Society 2nd Counselor. Roxana has told us that by going on exchanges with us is what helped her to strengthen her testimony.
5. Maria (a less active) has been to church 2 out of the last 3 weeks. The only thing keeping her from church was a ride. She just needed to be found.

Feliz Ano Nuevo.  Nos vemos en el proximo ano!

Hermana Julie Anna Sanchez

White Christmas

What a great week!  This has definitely been one of the hardest and most amazing weeks of my life.

 

Before I go any farther, I just want to point out that through the whole week Hiedi has been solid.  She hasn't wavered about anything.  However, everything else was hard.

 

Last week, we thought we had the baptism all arranged.  Hector had been asked to baptize Hiedi.  Roxana had been asked to give the talk on the Holy Ghost.  Samantha had been asked to give the talk on Baptism.  We had asked Roxana to make a cake for Hiedi for after her baptism (to celebrate her birthday).  Everyone committed to do their part. 

 

We had communicated with our Ward Mission Leader about all of the details.  He agreed to call Presidente Wojnowski and confirm everything and to reserve the building and make programs.

 

Well, Hector's dad passed away, so they are in California for the funeral.  Samantha is there too.  We asked several members to give talks, none of them were going to make it to the baptism.

 

Finally one member agreed to give the talk on the Holy Ghost.  We were still looking for someone to give a talk on Baptism.  We try calling the Young Women's President and everybody else we know.  No one.  So we decide that I will give the talk on Baptism.

 

Hiedi asked that Elder Shields would baptize her.  Thankfully missionaries are reliable, so we didn't have to worry about that.

 

We find a less-active Beehive in the Spanish branch.  She agreed to give the closing prayer. 

 

Sister Coombs has agreed to make a cake.  (She is one of the cutest senior missionaries ever!  She and her husband are serving in Cove as Military Relations.)

 

We ask our Ward Mission Leader who is going to fill the font and where are the baptism clothes.  He doesn't know, and he doesn't have a key to the font, neither to do we.  We call our district leader and our branch president, nobody has a key to the font.

 

We are inviting everybody we can think of to come to the baptism.  No one can.  We are pretty sure that there are going to be more non-members than members at the baptism.

 

We call up the English missionaries serving in Cove.  They call their bishop and borrow his keys.  They drop them off Saturday morning.

 

The Beehive gets in a car-crash.  She's fine, but they can't drive the car.  No one can give her a ride to the baptism.  We ask another missionary to say the closing prayer. 

 

Our Branch President texts us to say that he isn't going to be able to make it to the baptism.

 

We find the baptismal clothes and it is all too big.  We call our district leader and ask him to bring some smaller clothes from the Killeen font.  He agrees.

 

We fill up the font, and the water is cold.  With a big stick we manage to unplug the font to let some of the water go down.  And we add more hot water. 

 

Hiedi and all of her family show up.  We take lots of pictures.  (And we don't let her know about all of the problems with the baptism)

 

Elder Shields fills out the baptismal record (this should have been done at her interview, but at least it gets done sooner than later).

 

Our Ward Mission Leader shows up, wearing a red sweater, and he has the programs.  He used google-translate to translate them and there are some funny things in the program. (The baptism was in English).  My favorite is the baptism of Heidi Rodriguez for Elder Shields.  (In Spanish the word for 'by' is 'por' which is also the same thing as a lot of other words like 'for'.)

 

There are a few members who showed up for the baptism.  We think that there were about 1/3 part members, 1/3 part missionaries, and 1/3 part Hiedi's friends and family at the service.  There were a lot of people there. 

 

Everybody is sitting in the room waiting for it to start, when someone that we do not know comes up to us, and asks us if there is a member of the branch presidency there.  There wasn't.  He says that we can't have a baptism unless there is a member of the branch presidency to preside.  He says that the Ward Mission Leader can't preside because he isn't wearing a white shirt and he doesn't have permission from the Branch President.

 

Fortunately, our Ward Mission Leader was wearing a white shirt. He just had a red sweater on top of it.  We call our branch president and ask if our Ward Mission Leader can preside at the baptism.  He says yes.

 

We were so worried that we were going to have to cancel the baptism, after everyone was already there, because the branch presidency wasn't there.

 

Fortunately it all worked out!!!

 

We start the program.  The elder conducting has never been to a baptism before.  There are a whole bunch of mistakes.  The talk by the Holy Ghost is first, then the baptism, and then the talk on Baptism.  No one welcomed her to the ward. 

 

But it was amazing.  Despite everything, the spirit was strong.  Hiedi is the first in her family to get baptized.  Her mom will be baptized in two weeks, and hopefully her dad soon thereafter.  Taide, Hiedi's dad, felt the spirit very strongly, and he got some good fellowship at the baptism.

 

Hiedi was beautiful, and the spirit was strong and everything worked out!

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." D & C 123:17

 

It was a white Christmas and it was wonderful!

 

Church on Sunday was fabulous as well.  Hiedi got confirmed.  Benjamin received the Melchezidek priesthood.  Lucy got called as secretary in the Relief Society Presidency.  We had a whole row of investigators and non-members.  One of the people who came to church is named Jaime (he is not related to Hiedi at all).  He felt the spirit super strong!  It was awesome!

 

Feliz Navidad,

Hermana Julie Anna Sanchez