Elder Jeffrey Richard Bromley II: August 2014

Monday, August 25, 2014

Week 71- Villa Maria, Lima, Peru: Cambios

I don't have much time but here's what going down. I am staying in this area, Villa Maria, and I am going to train.

I love you all!

Elder Bromley

Shrimp Soup

4 out of 5 generations

Geovany Falconi

Monday, August 18, 2014

Week 70- Villa Maria, Lima, Peru: Temporary Missionary

Last Monday I sent Elder Topham off to his house and received my new companion! His name is Geovany Falconi and will be my companion for one more week until los cambios happen again. He is from Chorrillos, Lima, and is trying to decide when he'll go on a full-time mission.

This week has been a learning process; I am training Hermano Geovany in these two weeks we have together. I have a stronger testimony now of the language of angels mentioned in 2 Nefi 31:13; I have really felt him discover his own strong testimony as he has poured out his heart to our investigators. I look forward to this next week that we have together.

I invite all of you to refresh your thinking back to the basics of the Gospel. All a mission is is a year and a half to two years spent teaching the same 5 things: the five steps of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Bromley

New companion- Elder Geovany Falconi

Monday, August 11, 2014

Week 69- Villa Maria, Lima, Peru: Jose Antonio's Baptism (PICTURES)

Jose Antonio was baptized and confirmed last weekend! He's going to be a strong priesthood holder; he actually left early from lunch afterwards because he was going to go visit families with another church member. We are going to do everything now to ensure he remains active in the church. What shocked us most about this baptism is that Jose Antonio cleaned up a lot. while we were teaching him he had longer scraggly curly hair and he had a scruffy little beard. But he walked into the gates of the church in a new suit and tie. We did not recognize him at first becuase he looked so different haha it's just one of the effects of accepting the gospel.

Elder Topham has been a great companion; we worked super hard in this new area and these four weeks have blown by. I look forward to seeing who my new companion will be. It still freaks me out a little bit but I know it'll all be ok. I will drop Elder Topham off in a couple hours and then I'll figure out who this Missionary (full-time or ward, I don't know) is.

I love and miss you all!

Elder Bromley

Monday, August 4, 2014

Week 68- Villa María, Lima, Peru: Villa María

This week was nice, we were working super hard to get everyone to understand how church attendance creates conversion. We were able to see 8 investigators at church Sunday, which makes me happy, but there is still a lot more work to do here. We are going to have a baptism next week and plan on putting up more fechas. Villa Maria is a great place, we are going to help the ward council with their retention efforts so it becomes better. I'm not quite sure who my next companion will be, but we will not slow down in this area.

Next week we will baptize a man named Jose Antonio. He's an awesome computer gaming part time wood edging maker. I will send pictures next week.

A spiritual experience this week, Elder Topham and I were teaching a less active woman whose mom recertly had passed away. I shared a scripture with her, in John 14, Christ said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

She then asked what that meant, and without thinking I opened my mouth and related to her a story from Pisco. There was a young woman who was passing through many difficult circumstances in her life. To forget her troubles, she would go out and drink and party with her friends saying that it made her forget. Coming to a realization that those feelings only masked her deeper feelings, she broke down. Eler Mera and I then invited her to pray and with some encouragement, offered a very sincere prayer. The room was then quiet and warm, and she realized that God's love renews the heart in times of trouble while other efforts may harden it.

I invite all to open up the scriptures, offer a silent, sincere prayer, and also to have your family home evenings tonight. The word of God heals the scarred soul and enlightens the soul. So do it!

I love and miss you all!

Elder Bromley

Lots of pictures this week! (Captions by Elder Bromley)

The Mountain of the Cross

Ceviche de pota with the district

Ceviche de pota

About to play volley and mata gente (Peruvian dodgeball)

My comp almost ate it in mud

We climbed a mountain for morning exercise

Elder Topham

Villa María from the mountain

Dinner

Villa María at night

Jeff's Scripture References

Alma 26:6-7 "6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them. 7 But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day."
Jacob 5:70-72 "70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few. 71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come. 72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things."
Jacob 5:75-77 "75 And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard. 76 For behold, for a long time will I lay up of the fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self against the season, which speedily cometh; and for the last time have I nourished my vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; wherefore I will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time, according to that which I have spoken. 77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire."
Alma 6:6 "Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God."
3 Nephi 18:32 "Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them."
D&C 105:10 " "That they themselves may be prepared, and that my people may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands."
D&C 107:99-100 "Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen."
Matthew 11:29-30 "29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Luke 9:23 "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
2 Nephi 31:10 "And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?"
2 Nephi 25:23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
Moroni 7:45 "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
2 Nephi 25:29 "And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out."
2 Nephi 25:26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
2 Nephi 25:23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
1 Nephi 11:17 "And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
1 Nephi 2:16 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers."
Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
John 7:17 "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."
1 Nephi 21:15-16 "15 ...Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."
Jacob 3:1 "But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction."
Helaman 3:35 " Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."
Alma 36:3 "And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."
D&C 84:88 "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."
Jacob 5:72 " And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things."
Alma 37:6 "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."
John 9:39 "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."
Ether 12:4 "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
Alma 36:3 "...whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."
Ether 12:6 "...faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."
Alma 36:3 "And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."
Moroni 8:16 "...Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear."