Happy Easter!

This weekend was sadly my last in Parque Liceo. They don´t usually leave missionaries in one place for more than 6 months, and even though it didn't seem like it another half-year passed by while I was there in Parque. On the bright side (the dressed-in-white side) Jesica got baptized on Saturday and was confirmed on Sunday. It was very beautiful to see the results of all the time that we were able to work with her, all of the effort that she bravely put in, and all of the help that she received from our Heavenly Father.  It was super sad to say goodbye to her and the other members after such good experiences that we had together. Parque Liceo will definitely have a special place in my heart. 

Jesica with David and Thiago before her Baptism

To celebrate Easter yesterday we had the choir performance and sang our little hearts out. WE had a big turn out of people who came to see the choir. It was really special to be able to sing for all of them. I was really able to feel the Easter spirit. Maybe it´s because I don´t watch TV so I don't see commercials reminding me all of the time about holidays, but this year Easter kind of came up on me by surprise. But yesterday in the performance I really remembered what Easter is all about. It was at the beginning of the performance when we all watched a short video from the church about Christ. I actually had my back to the projector screen when the video was playing and during the video I was looking out to the audience. It was interesting to be able to think about Christ and watch a massive crowd of people also think about Christ. It came to my mind that we were all there that evening because Christ had touched our lives and we all needed him. I realized that we were singing to commemorate what he had done for us. That thought sure helped me sing a lot louder and stronger.

So my new area is Alta Gracia and my new companion is Elder McCleve from California. What´s funny is that he was in the choir and the week before we found out about what the transfers were he was telling me that we were going to be companions  I will be the district leader during my time here in Alta Gracia which is something that is a little frightening and exciting.  

I hope you all have a wonderful week. 

Elder Lulich

The Work Blesses All

This morning we practiced the Easter program and I've got to say that we are sounding pretty beautifully. The best song by far is the Hallelujah chorus. There´s a great video from the Mormon tabernacle choir singing the song. In my opinion we sound just as good. Or just about as close as you can get for 6 weeks of practice. I´m super excited for this next Sunday when we´ll be performing. It´s going to rock.

I´m also looking forward to this Saturday because Jesica will be baptized! Yus! She has put in such a good effort to prepare for baptism so I´ll be really happy to see her make that covenant on Saturday. 

This week i prepared a talk for church on Sunday that I ended up not having to give. Even though I wasn't able to share it yesterday I´d like to share a little part here. I've said it before but this work blesses both he that gives and he that receives. I am sure that one of the reasons that the Lord called me on a mission was so I could see my own weaknesses and have the chance to apply the gospel of Christ in my own life to be a better instrument in His hands. The focus in missionary work/the path of discipleship is never on oneself. The focus of everything we do should be to fulfill the two great commandments Love God over all thing and love one´s neighbor as himself. As we focus our energies on serving God and our brethren the grace of God will bless us to do make the changes that we need to make in our lives to be better than we were before.  

Have a great week,

Elder Lulich

Last week´s paintball adventure

Learning to Be Humble

So this p-day I got to do something that I've wanted to do for p-day my whole mission. PLAY PAINTBALL. And it was preeeeetty fun. We went as a group of forty missionaries so there was plenty of people to shoot at and/or be shot by which always makes it more fun right? 

This week I was really able to see how the lord can give us specific direction on how to improve if we are humble and seek the improvement. On Tuesday we had a lesson with Jesica (it´s actually spelled with a j not a y) and a member present. The member has recently returned from her mission so after the lesson, figuring that she would be able to give good advice, I asked what we could have done better in the lesson. She surprised me by asking if we had practiced the lesson that morning. We had planned what we were going to share but we did not practice exactly how we were going to share it. The next day, Wednesday I received the same message from Presidente Alliaud at our multi-zone conference. He told us all that even if we hate doing practices of the lessons, it shows our love for the investigator and we are promised the guidance of the spirit during those lessons. I got the message loud and clear, DO PRACTICES. So Elder Fantham and I have set the goal of doing at least one practice each morning for a lesson of the day. 

It´s great to feel the hand of the Lord in your life. Even if that hand is turning your head so that you´ll notice something that needs improvement. All we need to do to be better is be humble. Be humble enough to ask what needs to be done and then be humble enough to actually do it. None of us is perfect and we have all fallen short of the glory of God, but if we seek the Lord and try our very best to do his will, he can purify us and help us make it where we want to go.

Good luck this week in all you do. Con cariño.  

Elder Lulich

P.s.

I´m sorry I haven´t been sending photos. I seemed to have misplaced (that´s the fancy way to say lost) the cable that connects my camera to the computer. I think I left it in the computer place we went to 2 weeks ago. If I don´t find it, there are other ways to get photos from a camera into a computer so I´ll figure it out.    

Helping Jesica Stop Smoking

This week was especially special because for the first time in my mission we are helping someone stop smoking. Or better said this is the first time in my mission that it has actually started to work. What really helps is that Yesica, the investigator, really has the desire to quit smoking. What really drives her to give up cigarettes is the fact that it will help her three year old son Thiago have a good childhood and a good future. This week we made a plan with her so that she can stop smoking before the 19th of this month. If all goes well, and I´m sure it will because Yesica is quite determined and she´s going to have the Lord´s help on top of that, Yesica will be baptized the 26th of this month.

I can really testify that the Lord is willing to help us. hes loves us and is willing to carry the things that we don´t have the strength to. We just have to be willing and put in our best effort to do all that he says and His divine love will change and better our lives.

OOh I've got good news. First and most important do yo guys remember Rocio the first person I baptized? Yeah her and her husband Ronan are going to be sealed in May! (I don´t know if I already told you that) and Also I got chosen (with a select group of other elders) to sing a special version of Nearer My God to Thee for the Easter choir. You guys can look up the version online it´s the vocal point one. 

Have a great week