Heeeey Buddy =D

Seems like everyone is doing good and things are moving along well. It's getting colder down here. I can see my breath some days now. I had to bust out the sweaters, but it's a lot better than being hot. Right not we are working hard with the ward mission leader here in getting those members active in mission work. The bishop here will be ordering Preach My Gospel for the leaders and members of the church so that they can start reading it and finding out how they can better participate in la obra misional. It's really interesting down here understanding the majority of what the people are saying. At first when you get here and until you learn the language mas o menos, it sounds like everyone is just like mumbling and somehow people understand them, but now I can make out what they want to say. I still have lots of practice to do but it's really fun to be able to understand the people and talk to them, especially when you get to sit down with someone and teach them the lessons and talk to them. Today I was reading in Predicad Mi Evangelio in the section of helping people keep their commitments that we give them. Commitments are invitations to repent and live the teachings of Christ and bring them closer to Him. Something really interesting that I thought about is that for us as missionaries to have power in what we teach and to be receptive to the spirit at all times, we also need to keep our commitments the Lord has given us. Signing up to be a missionary also means that you signed up to live like a missionary. We are supposed to obey the Lord in ALL things, but with exactness. We need to humble ourselves and work with the Lord, because this is His field, we're just working in it, and we have to do it the way he wants to have success. If we are keeping our commitments (commandments, rules, living the gospel) from the Lord, then the people we teach will be more receptive and willing to keep the commitments that we give them because our teachings will have power from the spirit because of our exact obedience. When we bear testimony and the spirit is felt, it's not because of our use of words or what we said, but it's the conversion of our heart in what we say. To become converted to the Lord takes work, hard work. It's not easy but it's more than worth it! If we are exactly obedient and work the way the Lord wants, we will have His spirit to be with us, and if we have His spirit with us, the people will hear and understand the message of the gospel and the importance and urgency of it. It's important that we're obedient, we'll never be able to convert someone beyond our own conversion. Become converted to Him even more by obeying Him with exactness in all things, the love you feel from Him will be incredible! I myself know the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, lives! He loves us! I want to be completely converted unto Him by my strict obedience to the mission rules and all his commandments. I want to reach my potential and always have the spirit with me.
This week I saw two Mormon message that were incredible. One is called "Because of Him", and the other is a bible video with Elder Holland going boss and talking about the atonement of Jesus Christ and how it relates to missionary work. It talks about when you wonder why things are so hard, don't worry the Savior did too. We just need to trust the Lord and move forward. He's got a hold of you and will guide you if you obey Him and trust in His power with your faith. When He was suffering the atonement He asked to God if he'd take this bitter cup away. He didn't take the pain away because it was necessary to accomplish the atonement and many more things, but He sent an angel to comfort Him. We, too, can receive the angel of comfort in times of sorrow and weakness, when it's too hard for us to move forward. The Savior thought it was hard, it was hard for him, but He endured it and accomplished  His purpose on earth. If we will trust God and endure to the end, we'll be alright, we will make it. Just remember when you think it's too hard, so did the Savior. We'll never suffer like Him, but we will suffer because we are involved in the same work as He is, the salvation of souls. Just watch the videos and what I am saying will make more sense.
I love ya guys,
Elder Wikstrom =D