Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Called to Serve in Spokane!!!

My son Colin has been called to serve a 2-year Spanish Language mission in the Spokane Washington Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). He has wanted to serve a mission since he was a little boy and now as he becomes an adult, it is a wonderful thing to see him growing and developing in his love for the Lord.

He began his mission at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo Utah in August and has just entered the mission field. We are very pleased for him and proud of him as he has chosen to dedicate 2 years of of his lfe in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. His primary responsibility is to teach others about our beliefs.

He really enjoyed his time at the MTC and learned a great deal about his own testimony of Jesus Christ. He made some great friends and was able to be taught by actual Apostles He has grown a lot in such a short time. He has enjoyed learning Spanish and looks forward to using his new skills in teaching fellow Latinos the Gospel.

Here is a link to his Mission website - http://www.mission.net/washington/spokane/index.php

2 comments:

Rivcoach said...

Here is Colin's first email from the mission field. He's a bit homesick...

hi family,

im so glad to be able to contact you at last. p-day is monday so im happy. where do i start? mission president president clark is awesome. so inspired and just great. i am in a mainly english area so the spanish is hard to keep up. i have been pretty homesick during study periods because im obviously not out serving people. in the space of one week i have been scared, worried, lonely and homesick, but never in place of the work. i spoke to president clark about it. he says to just learn as much as possible from elder garcia my companion, and take note as to how i would do things differently. dont worry so much about things just be the most obedient, and hardest worker i can given the current situations etc. president clark only took over in july. i am doing my best to live by the new rules. president said i will be an amazing missionary. in fact, elder clark (my mtc comp) has a trainer who has only been out for 4.5 months!!!! he is that good! and preident said he had a very similar chat with him straight off. so you never know, i could be training and senior comp in 4 months lol! oh well. im doing good and i know it will be worth it. im hanging in there, and i will never give up until the master says the work is done. i will fight the good fight. i will keep the faith. i must obey. i am generally happy and this is where i need to be.

i need to buy a winter coat. i will be good with my money. i have been so far with my mission account for food. i need a coat and gloves because the cold is unbelieveable lol!

Stay true family. please pray and read scriptures every day without fail as a family! i need this strength! also, mum and dad please go to the temple as much as possible because i need that strength 2 because im 4 hours from the temple here! the ward is good here. investigators are good. we met one on my first day and he is loving it so hopefully!!!

Seriously, words cannot express how much i love you guys. please stay safe and true, pray for me, and the lord will bless us i promise! 21.5 months! not hugely long. i love you i love you i love you i love you.

i love you and i will be happier soon i promise and so does president clark! p-day is just harder because im not serving other people. its selfish of me to feel sad and stuff. the lord never said it would be easy, he only said it would be worth it. and it will be. i love you all, and i love the lord. i know he lives. let us all press on in his work. the work that shall not stop until the master says it is done.

Love Eternal, your fellow servant of the master,

Elder Rivera

Rivcoach said...

Colin is doing well. He has a new companion from Peru who is a hard worker and is helping him with his Spanish. Col is helping him with his English in return. They already have 2 baptisms set up.