Elder Josh Skousen: Alrighty then

This week was a tester. I´ve been fighting some sort of head cold or sinus infection or something, which makes it harder to concentrate and sometimes harder even to understand what they are saying. We are trying to make lots of changes in the ward, because nobody really seems to want to do anything. It really hurts to see so few priesthood holders in church every sunday. we are normally about 6. Of these 6 about 4 are special needs or unable to really hold a calling. But we are trying really hard to better the ward here, I was also able to speak on sunday in church. I spoke on the importance of members in the missionary work. I also spoke on the importance of magnifying our callings, and saving our brothers and sisters. and who are our brothers and sisters? EVERYONE. The worth of Every soul is great in the sight of God. I shared part of the conference talk of Bishop Edgley, in priesthood session, during WWII about 500 american soldiers were captured and taken as POW´s. So they put together a rescue squad of about 100 soldiers and the night before the rescue, the captain called together all 100 and told them "Men, tonight meet up with your religious leaders and kneel before your maker and promise God that while you still have breath, you will not let those men suffer one more minute" (something to that effect, i only have it in spanish...) But should our dedication to those suffering spiritualy and that can have eternal consequences be any less? and in the words of president John Taylor "we will be held responsible for those that we could have saved if we had done our duties". Those are powerful words, but true. We are talking about eternal life, the salvation of the children of God. This is what really matters! "Brethren, should we not go on in so great a cause?" (D&C 128 and one of my favorite scriptures) I definitely want to be able to stand before God at the last day with a conscience free of guilt, knowing that i´ve done my duty at its best.

I know that this is the work of the Lord. I pray that all of us will do our duty to its fullest, and do it because we love God and our brothers and sisters.

I pray for all of you every day, and hope that you will keep the faith. Especially during the hard times.

I´m also thankful for my country today, because the fourth of July came and went without me realizing... Today is the equivalent of the 4th of july here in argentina. I´m not nationalist or anything, but i´m really thankful for my country. I dont think anybody can really realize how great it is until they live in something else. It truly is the promised land.

Send some photos every once in a while and i´ll try to do the same. the thing is that the computer place we go to usually is so slow that i cant send them, but today we came to one far away because i wanted to send letters too. sooo yeah.

I love you all! have a good week!

Elder Josh Skousen

PS also next pday isnt till wednesday because of transfers

gtg love you