Treasures in Heaven

Hola!! 

It's hard to have a weekend better than 2 baptisms! Cecelia and Berta Fuentes were both baptized on Sunday, and I can honestly say I have never seen happier people! I was able to baptize Berta (64) and Elder Campbell was able to baptize Cecelia. (27)  HOLY COW THE WATER WAS FREEZING COLD!!! I think I saw a spider crawl into the font, but as soon as it hit the water it curled into a ball and turned into an ice cube. Berta came out of the water gasping, but grinning ear to ear! She started jumping (or kind of bouncing) with her arms in the air and saying "I did it! I feel so good!!"  (only in Spanish) Then she tried to hug me, but I kinda ruined the moment with an awkward handshake instead... That's one of the super hard things about this- that in such happy celebratory moments we can't do something simple like hug. Haha! Elder Campbell got hugged by Cecelia, and another member who was there at the baptism. I keep telling him it's ok, but he still feels like he sinned. :) 

Both Cecelia and Berta were so completely happy after the baptism- Bertha couldn't stop smiling, Cecelia kept crying (from joy, not fear) It was such a blessing to see the incredible faith of these two sisters as they believed on the amazing promise we have of an eternal family. While their worldly possessions are almost nothing, they have each other. This is the one treasure they have, but it's one that can now last forever. 

President Cluff challenged every missionary to read the entire Book of Mormon this change, finishing before Christmas. Even though I have read it many times, it's been amazing to see the new insights and knowledge I have gained every single time I read. Right now I'm in 3 Nephi where the Savior is teaching the Sermon on the Mount. (Ch 13) A line that really caught my attention was verse 21, which says: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. That made me think- then what are our "treasures?" If you look at the verse in reverse order, our treasures are whatever you give your heart to. To give your heart to something, or to lose something, you spend time with it. So our treasures are whatever we spend our time with. Then what are our treasures? Are they treasures in heaven like Cecelia and Berta have found, like family, the scriptures, service and the church? Or are they treasures upon earth like our phones, social media, video games and TV? What do we spend our time with? 

I promise that as we sacrifice every day to spend a little more time with the important things- 5 or 10 more minutes reading the scriptures, 1 more night a week just home with the family, a little less time on your phone, every one of you will see a difference in your lives and you will become closer to the Lord, to each other and also lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. I love you all so much! Thank you for all the love and support! 

Feliz Navidad!
Elder Tadje




















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