12/27/2010

Hey ya'll!

Hope your Christmas' were fantastic! Mine was amazing. I was able to spend some time with my Dad and Joe and Bobbie and my niece Megan...it made for one of the most memorable Christmas' ever. There really is something special about family and the holidays. I hope each one of you had a similar joy.

This week my companion and I have two baptisms scheduled for Saturday! We're so stoked! Our investigators, Patty and Steven are amazing. It never ceases to amaze me at how much investigators can gain a strong testimony of the truth. It strengthens my resolve to continue to believe and it strengthens my faith and testimony.

Patty, a girl that requested the missionaries from mormon.org is amazing. She loves learning about the gospel and is so ready and willing to commit to living it. It is so incredible to teach her...most people we have to explain things or give an extensive background to set up for a principle but we can honestly teach her just about anything and she'll believe and love it. It feels kind of weird...like there should be more of a challenge behind it! With more people like this, missionary "job security" could become an issue :)

Everyone would love Steven...but Levi would especially. He loves video games and "anime". And he is quite the reader. He has read nearly half of the Book of Mormon in a month's time. He asked me to baptize him this saturday and I am so excited to see him and another one of Heavenly Father's children enter into such a sacred promise with Him. I can't imagine how he feels. Steven is a stud and it's an honor to be able to help him along his journey here in life. I feel so privileged to have been a part of even just one person's life changing events. What a miracle it is!

I love you guys...it was so wonderful to hear your voices (well some of them....grrrr) and to talk to you. I hope you continue to have great joy in your lives on a daily basis! God Bless!

12/06/2010

Dear Family,

Well, with a week after the last one I told you about, it would seem hard to top. But this week was arguably just as amazing. I have come to the conclusion that there is something to this place Greeley, Colorado. Perhaps it's in the murky water, or the well manured farm soil, or maybe it's in the distinct cow aroma that fills the lungs on a windy day. I'm not sure what the cause of all these wonderful things is, but I am sure that this place is different from any other. There's a special vibe one can easily pick up from spending just a few moments on the streets and talking to the people. It's exciting and exhilarating. I love to be here.

Thank you for writing back last week. It meant a lot to me to hear from each of you and to hear about your reaction. I thought it was pretty cool to share this with each of you and I hope it touched your heart the way that it touched mine. Well, it probably wont, but it might come close :)

I wanted to also tell you that I was praying one night this week and I was praying for you, my family. As I did I felt this overwhelming feeling of gratitude for all that each of you have done for me. I reflected on the many experiences and lessons I have been able to share with you and felt very blessed. I ponder more on it as I continued to pray and then felt again, an overwhelming feeling, this time of comfort and strength. The feeling came and I immediately felt strongly that it was the Lord's way of helping me to feel your prayers offered on my behalf. I felt so humbled and grateful. What an amazing family I have! I love you guys and miss you terribly. I am so grateful for your prayers, your thoughts, your emails, your letters and packages, everything! Thank you for being so good to me.

I love you guys! I pray for you! I hope you have a wonderful week! Merry Christmas!

--
Elder Cabrera

11/29/10

Dear Family,

At the approach of this thanksgiving season, my mind was filled with joy and gratitude for several the several blessings I have been so abundantly given. But one blessing in particular seems to occupy my mind when I consider what I am thankful for. A blessing that was manifested just this past week-the day before thanksgiving. A blessing that is nothing short of a miracle, a gift from God Himself, and a tender mercy to me.

Attached are a few photographs with me and some people you probably don't recognize. The first is a picture with me and my biological father, David Cabrera. The following pictures are with my brother Joe and sisters Bobby and Kristen. After a life long search to find my father and his family, I have been led to them.

The story goes like this...

Some of you may not be completely familiar with my story surrounding my father. When I was a year old, mom and my father were divorced and after having moved to California, he slowly lost contact with me and mom. When mom remarried and phillip adopted me, my name was changed and all contact ceased. I have been looking for him ever since.

After visiting with a member of our ward in Thornton, we came on the topic of my family and I told her the story of my family and my father that i haven't been in contact with for over 22 years. Hearing this she was motivated to find him so I gave her what information I had and she set off!

Well, it turns out that he lives in my mission. I found out his location days before i was getting transferred. Not surprisingly enough, my new area covers the area in which he lives in Greeley, Colorado. With his telephone number and address in hand and with a sanction from my mission president, I called and talked to him for the first time last week. We arranged a time when I could come by his home and meet him and my siblings, one of which i didn't even know existed.

I was so nervous. What would he be like? Would he love me? Would my siblings let me in to the family? Would they shun me because i am not brown enough? I didn't sleep all that night. Questions and anxiety plagued my mind.

The time finally came and as my companion and I pulled up to his home, I said a quiet prayer and knew God had already heard my prayers previously to find him. I came to the door and knocked. The cold and the dark of night and the outside were in sharp contrast to the warmth and the embraces and the joy that filled my heart and that soon followed. I found my father! Could you imagine how I felt?! What a miraculous gift! How could I not acknowledge the hand of Gd in this? All of the difficulties surrounding my attempts to serve and even the trials I have faced recently are overpowered by the consuming feeling of love and gratitude I have for this opportunity. What a wonderful Father in Heaven we worship. Needless to say, I love my family. They are each wonderful and loving and have welcomed me into their lives without reservation.

Of all the places in the world I could have gone on my mission, of all the missions in the world I could have served in, and even of all the areas (All 100 of them in this mission) that i could have been transferred to just as this information is made known to me, I come here; to the Colorado Denver North Mission and I come to Greeley. How could there not be a sense of awe in my soul for this?

I hope each of you can feel my love and sense of thanks for making my mission and my reunion with myfather possible. I love you each so deeply and appreciate all you have taught me. I am grateful for a tender parent in mom for raising me in the gospel. I am grateful for Chaleece and her motherly care when mom wasn't available and her friendship throughout my life. I am grateful for the best older brothers any young man could ever ask for in examples. I am grateful for the men of God that they are and their patience with me. I am grateful for older sisters like Taylor who were always understanding and compassionate and grateful. I am thankful for little bro's; for Levi and all his nerdiness and what a good heart he has. There are so many reasons to be grateful. So many reasons for which I have to rejoice.

Love you all. God bless you this week. Please remember this wonderful miracle with me.
--
Elder Cabrera

11/08/2010

Hey Ya'll

I have developed a bad habit of rushing through Mondays and sometimes fore go a weekly email to everyone. I feel terrible. Some of the most wonderful and respected people in my life are those in my family and I think you deserve at least a quick email letting you know I'm still alive and loving life.

Some of the sweetest and most precious moments of my life have occurred on my mission. I have been contemplating why this is. Why do I feel more peace here than at any other period of my life? I've come to discover in trying to answer this question, a principle of eternal worth. It is summed up in this scripture which I have paraphrased:

"whosoever will lose his life for my name's sake and the gospel's, shall find it"

I wonder how much I have really immersed myself in the service of others. I believe that my joy and satisfaction is directly proportionate to how much I lose my life for the Savior's sake and for the gospel which He taught.

I have found happiness in lots of things, but it was never lasting. It would come for a fleeting moment and then slowly fade away and I would have to search again for something to replace it. It was as if there was a big hole in my heart i was trying to fill, but try as I would, nothing could fill it. Everything was temporary. It makes me think of this poem by Robert Frost:

"Nature's first green is gold; her hues are yours to hold,

Her early leaves a flower, but only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief.

So dawn goes down today, nothing gold can stay"

After serving my mission, I don't know if I completely agree with Robert Frost. I think the fact that change is always imminent is true, but I believe there is a lot of gold things that can stay.

A lesson I learned this week relates to giving up your selfish wants and replacing them with desires to serve others. It was what Christ not only taught, but what He did. I am thankful for His example and for His teachings. This is where true happiness lies.

Thank you all for your emails and letters of support. Thank you to those who are making my mission possible with your support. I love you all dearly and pray for you often. I hope the Lord continues to bless each of you in all your doing. God bless!

--
Elder Cabrera

10/18/2010

Hey Family!

Sorry I've been lame at writing weekly emails-I know it's been awhile! I have been super consumed with lots of stuff to do, that's a bad excuse but I'll use it this time for good fortune. Next time I'll think up a good story about casting out some demons or calling fire down from heaven as a better excuse.

Well, I was reassigned to be a Zone Leader again. I guess I was on everyone's las nerve's in the office so they booted me out. All the better though-now I have more time to focus on missionary work rather than a computer and a longing for Jared's technological wizardry. I have been having an awesome week and I'm real excited about the change. My mission president moved the Assistant's area to Broomfield and left me in the same area with a new companion. I'd like to flatter myself and say he made the move because he loves and respects me so much, but it's more likely that he's just trying to do some kind of damage control and isolate the "elder cabrera problem" to a specific region. Anyways, my new comapnion is Elder Hollingsworth. He's from Colfax, California and he's an opera singer. Everytime I introduce him to other people I let them know where he's from and that he is a world renowned opera singer who sung with Andrea Bocelli in the Sidney Opera house. He loves that :). Sometimes when we are tracting we run into people who, as soon as they find out the Mormons are on their doorstep, they start to slam the door with an "I'm not interested". That's when I tell them that Elder Hollingsworth is an opera singer and is going to serenade them.

I am enjoying the blessings of serving the Lord. There's never been a happier period in my life. I hope you each enjoy your week and have awesome experiences!

--
Elder Cabrera

8/13/10

Dear Family,

Me and my favorite companion, Elder Porter! We're tearing it up!
Love you all!

Elder Cabrera

8/2/2010

My most amazing family...

This past week has been really crazy...we had zone conferences every day this week except Monday and Sunday and it can be exhausting traveling to each one, but it was also rewarding. My companion and I were on the road a lot and it provided lots of opportunities to talk and learn from one another. Each zone conference is set up in a similar format and could have easily been repetitive had the zone leaders not been so effective in adapting the trainings to the missionaries in their respective zones. We have some awesome missionaries in this mission. I am so impressed with several of them and their commitment to serve the Lord with all their heart, might, mind, and strength. I am so grateful for the good examples they are to me. And each training in each different zone conference seem to teach me more and more about the gospel and prompt me more and more to change so I can be a sharper instrument in the hands of the Lord.

One special experience I would like to share with you has taught me a lot. I was having a particularly hard day this week, one that was causing quite a toll on my heart and I was getting discouraged. I felt very inadequate and very overwhelmed. I felt like I wasn't doing very much to further the work here and I felt disappointed. Even worse, I felt like for some reason that the Spirit had withdrawn from me. I felt alone and without divine help. As the day wore on I got more and more frustrated, which only worsened the conditions. Finally at the end of the day I knelt in personal prayer before bed and my frustration and feelings of injustice couldn't be contained. I complained to Heavenly Father in my impatience and wanted explanation for such a hard day. I felt I hadn't done anything wrong and had unjustly dealt with. "How could you!", I almost shouted in my mind, "Why does it have to be so hard when I didn't do anything wrong...I have only been doing what you asked me to. And besides, I'm a missionary...this work is too important for me to be without the Spirit. Why was it removed?" With feelings that the heavens were closed and my conversation was only one way, I collapsed in bed feeling unheard and unloved. Well, the next day I rose and decided to move forward. I was determined to be positive and have a good day; in short I just moved forward. Later that day I discovered why such an experience had occurred. As I was observing several missionaries practicing their teaching in a zone conference, I stopped with one companionship and stayed to listen for awhile. Halfway through a lesson, one of the elders was struggling trying to verbalize what he wanted to say but was not feeling successful. He stopped and just hung his head in silence. Then stood up and excused himself and his companion followed him out of the chapel and into the foyer. I felt prompted to follow and see if I could help. I sat down on the couch next to him and asked him how he was doing. He then related to me some of his feelings that not coincidentally were identical to the ones I had been having the previous day. He felt discouraged, overwhelmed, inadequate and incapable. As I listen I knew instantly why the Lord had allowed me to feel those feelings the day before, He needed me to have similar experiences that could allow me to better lift this elder to higher ground. I stood him on his feet grabbed him by the shoulders and looked into his eyes and told him I knew that the Lord called him here for a reason, that he was needed and that he mattered to me and to the Lord. I told him that it was hard but that if anyone could do it, the Lord could use anyone. But it's not easy and the Lord called him personally through His annointed prophet to minister to His children. I told him to go forward and have faith in the Lord and His ability to make "weak things become strong". I knew after our conversation that he felt much better. I could tell in his eyes that in part he felt understood. I know this was not a coincidence. And I thank the Lord for it. It felt so amazing to be an instrument in helping one of my fellow missionaried feel better.

The church is true...and so is the gospel. I love you my good friends and I pray you may find special experiences where you have opportunities to lift others. It feels so good to do. God bless.

--
Elder Cabrera

7/26/2010

Hey Family,

Life is amazing! I love Colorado and I love being a missionary. I've never been so happy, confident, or optimistic about life. I am continually learning and growing and appreciating the different experiences I have every day and see the value in each one. Life holds so many opportunities and it seems that even when you let one pass by, you learn from it and take the next one.

Attached is a sacred document....The Dinner Calendar. So because my companion and I serve in a singles branch, sometimes we have to get creative if we want people to sign up. Here are the results! Hope you get a good laugh out of them.

I hope everyone is doing well. I wish everyone the best. Let me know what I can do for ya'll!

7/12/2010

Dear Family,

I don't quite have enough time to write the things I would like to, but there is one thing in specific I would like to tell you all. Last night, my companion and I had a meeting with our mission president. After it concluded, my mission president mentioned to my companion, Elder Porter that his family called and he would need to call them back because it was urgent. My mission president and I left the room and left Elder Porter some privacy. It must have been a difficult call because when he emerged, his eye were red and tear filled. His sister has cystic fibrosis and has been battling a lung problem for several weeks. Last night his family called and told Elder Porter that she may not make it through the night.

It was a long car ride home in the dark. I didn't know what to say. I searched for words that would bring comfort. I wanted really bad to share something that would help. Nothing came. It was silent until Elder Porter turned on the stereo and we began listening to a Mormon Tabernacle choir CD. A the next track was a hymn that fit so perfectly well with the situation. It's called "Abide with me-'tis eventide". I don't have time to write the words, but I would encourage each of you to read them. As I listened and thought of the meaning of the plea for the Savior to abide through the night, I began to cry. It was so comforting for my companion to hear. I felt so much love from the Savior. I knew and felt that the atonement is so real.

I love and cherish each of you. I hope to never be in the situation Elder Porter is. But, I know the Lord has a bigger plan and can see the bigger picture. I trust that His will is always best to submit to. God bless each of you. Appreciate each other this week and value your relationships. Trust in the Lord and find comfort in that hymn. I love you all.

7/04/10

Hey family,

I had a pretty amazing week. Life is awesome as a missionary. So many neat experiences and opportunities to help others. I have really grown to love and treasure the time I have to serve the Lord. I was reading a quote from President Hinckley the other day that really articulates how I feel about my mission. I can't quote verbatim, but he said something to the effect of "you can't call a mission a sacrifice...it's not a sacrifice when you receive more than you give". I love that! It's so true. You could never receive this kind of growth and these kinds of experiences in any other way. Yes it takes some work and sacrifice on the part of the missionary, but the blessings far outweigh the sacrifice. I have found that concept to be consistent with every principle of the gospel. Sacrifice is an interesting commandment...sometimes it's one that stretches our faith the furthest. One of my favorite scriptures form the Book of Mormon talks about sacrifice and how those who truly seek the will of the Lord will give anything up to follow Him. In Alma 22, one of the sons of Mosiah teaches the Lamanite king about Jesus Christ and eternal life. After hearing his testimony and invitation to pray, the king kneels down and begins to pray in an almost childlike sincerity. He said "O god, Aaron hath told me there is a God; and if there is a God and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee..." I love this scripture. It means so much to me. I just love the way this king, who probably had lots of mistakes to make right, was willing to sacrifice everything, especially his sins, to know Heavenly Father. I've realized that getting to know Heavenly Father is really what life is all about. There's another scripture in the New Testament that teaches that very concept, that eternal life is to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I can't wait to see what that's like, to come to know Heavenly Father and His son. It sounds incredible. The Plan of Salvation and the atonement are so perfect. It can take someone as imperfect as me and turn it into someone perfect and someone like Father in Heaven, with all the attributes of godliness perfectly attained. I think if we all could get a glimpse of how Heavenly Father sees us and what are potential really is, we would have an attitude like the Lamanite king to give up everything, all our sins and worldly possessions, to have eternal life. And it's available to all, we just have to choose to receive it.


Well, I'll get off my soap box-I don't mean to preach, I'm just excited about some things I've been thinking about. I love you all. You're all so fantastic. I hope you had a good week and enjoyed the 4th of July.

6/14/10

Hey Family,

Just wanted to send you a quick email and let you all know I'm still alive.

I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer. I heard Jared was in Denver on Saturday and ran out on the tarmac to shout for me. I don't how I managed to miss his shouts of love, but I did. I felt horrible. Sorry Jared.

Anyways things are great! We have a group of new missionaries come in last week and one of them is from the Ukraine, Elder Tkachenko. He is staying with us right now and he is awesome! He is so fascinated with everything. We took him to Wendy's to get a frosty and it was like a momentous event for him. He's a way fun missionary. Ti budesh krestiteya? (that's Russian for "do you want to be baptized?")

We're teaching a young man named James right now. He is really neat. He has a sincere desire to do what's right and every time I'm around him I get the impression that Heavenly Father truly has a deep love for him. He is having some struggles right now with the things were teaching him and could really use your faithful prayers.

I'm sorry I haven't written very consistently. I promise I will be more diligent in doing so. I love to hear from you all. Thanks for your letters and emails and packages. You are the best family ever!

God bless!

4/24/10

Hey Family!

So Just before I began this email, I read over some information that the mission office sent my companion and I about transfers this coming monday and apparently I will be leaving the great city of Fort Collins to go back down to the Denver Metro area. I have some mixed emotions about this-I have truly loved the people here and had some amazing experiences. It will be hard to say goodbye. But at the same time I am hopeful for the future and I see many growing opportunities on the horizon. Part of moving down to the Northglenn area involves a new assignment from my mission president that will require a lot of new responsibilities on my part and while such assignments can be daunting and overwhelming, I'm optimistic about what I can learn from it.

I'm going to be saddened to say farewell to my companion Elder Carpenter. He was awesome. I learned so much from him. I know President Ely was inspired in putting us together. And I feel a little spoiled and selfish becasue I think I took more from our time together than he did, and I didn't really bring a whole lot to the table, but in any case, it's been a fast and joyous 6 weeks.

One of the Sisters in our Zone is going in for surgery on Monday. She is an awesome missionary from Tonga and has a big heart, but if you could all include her in your prayers in the next week I know the Lord will hear your petitions on her behalf. Her name is Sister Ta'Ai (Pronounced "Da-i").

I know this is pretty embarrassing to admit, seeing as I am a missionary and all and should have a grip on spiritual things, but this past week I have had an epiphany in relation to understanding how the Spirit works. It's hard to believe it's taken me this long to figure it out, and granted I have just scratched the surface in terms of fully understanding it, but I can't think of a more valuable lesson I have learned in my life! I was in a lesson teaching an investigator this past week when it happened. She had asked a question about the three degrees of glory and why we needed them and why the traditional heaven and hell was not sufficient. As my companion tried to answer her question I did something I should have been doing my whole mission: I stopped trying to think about what to say and I LISTENED! I strained to hear the Spirit and I payed close attention to her body language, applying a training my misssion president gave a few weeks ago. I noticed in her expressions that the scriptures my companion was trying to use to help her understand weren't helping her. There seemed to be a deeper concern. When it came time for me to speak I don't even really remember what I said, but I felt thoughts and impressions flow into my mind and words come out that I have never considered. I hope nobody misunderstands this-I wasn't prophesying or anything, but it felt kind of the way you would feel if you stood in front of an enormous audience to speak and your fear choked your thoughts and bound your tongue, but a little microphone in your ear gave you the words you needed to say and you just repeated them. That was probably a bad analogy but I don't know how else to explain it. It was awesome though! We ended up tying everything back to the Book or Mormon and whether it was true or not and helped her to understand that gaining a testimony of it would help her to answer her own question. Very neat experience.

This past week we have been teaching members of the ward a lesson out of Preach My Gospel, and more specifically on the first principle we teach investigators: God is Our Loving Heavenly Father. This was a great chance to learn as we prepared for each lesson. As we taught I noticed what an incredible concept this is that there is a God, that we are His children, but most important, that He loves us. I have thought about what this understanding can do for someone. Could you imagine if everyone in the world knew they were sons and daughters of Heavenly Father?! This world would be an amazing place! What confidence and self-esteem everyone could gain from knowing this. Maybe that's why we learn at such a young age to sing that sweet hymn "I am A Child of God". I'm so grateful for this understanding. It has brought solace to my soul in times of need. To know that we can call upon our Maker in times of distress or hopelessness and to know that He will hear us and give relief is the most useful understanding we could ever gain. I am so grateful to know this, and to help others learn this. They don't know what they're missing. I encourage you all to consider those around you who struggle to know who they are and to use the key of knowledge you have to unlock the blessing of heaven to them. There are many who look for truth and are kept from it only because they know not where to find it.

Love you all. Write back!

--
Elder Cabrera

4/10/10

Hey Family

I cant write much-I'm on a time crunch, but I wanted to update you on this week. These past few weeks have flown by so fast. It's hard to keep track of things and realize that every day counts. I am loving the opportunities that have come about though and for the miracles that the Lord has wrought. I see His hand in some aspect of the work nearly everyday. It's incredible. I have learned much in this short little time. I have been privileged to be the recipient of much information and understanding.

There is usually not something extraordinary I stumble or a grand epiphany that enlightens an entirely new perspective I had never considered, but I have understood many of the basic principles and ordinances of the gospel much more clearly. I have learned a little more how encompassing Heavenly Father's love is for us. There are so many wonderful things that He has done for us, chief among them being the gift of His son.

How amazing was conference?! Come with questions and you will leave with answers! I loved every talk. It was overwhelmingly powerful. I particularly liked Elder Rasband's talk about how missionaries are called-that was a cool story. It helps me to know I'm in the right place!

I hope everyone is doing well. I sure do love you all-so very much. I know my emails are lame, but hopefully you can feel the joy, appreciation, and love that I feel for you all. I am not articulate or eloquent in writing; I can only say thank you and I love you. God be with you all!

--
Elder Cabrera

4/3/10

Hey Family,

Thanks for all the Happy Birthday wishes! You guys are the best. It means so much to me to hear your words of encouragement. My birthday was stellar. Even though I am in a singles ward I got cards and a birthday cake and even had "Happy Birthday" sung to me. The members in Fort Collins are amazing. This is such a strong area of the church. The members are faithful and full of love and support the work. It has been an amazing an amazing 5 months.

Last Thursday we had a mission conference with three other Zones up in Laramie, Wyoming. It was so cool! I have been praying really hard to find things that I can improve on because I feel in many ways that I have hit a wall and haven't been progressing. The trainings that were given by my mission president and his assistants were exactly what I needed to hear. It never ceases to confirm my faith that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers when experiences like this happen. I know when we go to HIm seeking counsel it comes-but not always in the way we would like it to. We have to search for it. I spent many nights on my knees in frustrated and impatient prayer looking for answers on what I was doing wrong because I had felt that I wasn't doing all that I could. Well answers do come, but on the Lord's timetable and whne He knows we'll listen. One of the lesson we taught this week to members of our ward has been on what the Lord expects of us to make our petitions become a reality. While reading in Ether 2 about the Brother of Jared (hey...that's me!) I learned that more often than not the Lord expects us to come up with the solution and go to Him to confirm our conclusion and to get His stamp of approval. Hence His unique response to the Brother of Jared was "What will ye that I should do...?" I can imagine it more as "what do you want me to do?". A similar experience was felt by Oliver Cowdery while attempting to translate. He took no thought save it was to ask, yet there is so much more to prayer than just kneeling and vocalizing our needs. It's in the doing that our prayers are answered! I was having dinner with one of the counselor's in our Bishopric and we were entreated to his son's mission stories from his service in France. He told us about his mission president who was trying to organize transfer for the whole mission and was having a difficult time and didn't seem to be making progress. He would pray and think and ponder but nothing would come. The story is told from the perspective of an Elder who was working in the Mission Office who would occasionally glance into the mission president's office and see him pacing and obviously troubled. Suddenly the mission president threw open his door and rushed outside to the lawn. He located the lawn mower and began mowing in his full suit, coat and all, in the middle of summer. A few minutes later, he rushed back inside leaving the lawn mower running, and bolted to his office. Ten minutes passed and he emerged from his office and casually commented that transfers were finished. That seems like an odd story but I think the point of it is to see that inspiration and answers to prayers come when we are doing something. I have found this to be true.

How amazing is General Conference?! I love it so far and can't wait for the following sessions. I am so grateful for living prophets. I have learned so much as I have found answers to question I approached the conference with. I love finding answers to questions. The lord is so loving and merciful to provide us with such answers.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter weekend-it's the greatest holiday ever. It signifies so much. I love you all and wish you the best.

--
Elder Cabrera

3/27/10

Hey Family,

Hope everyone is enjoing their spring so far-we got 6 inches of snow this week! All in one night. Colorado is so weird. It was 60 degrees and sunny one day then 20 degrees and snowing the next. I usually work in my area using a car but the one day it snowed I was on exchanges with another Elder! Coincidence? Nope. It was a good experience-you learn a lot about yourself when you are pushed to your limits. I was totally unprepared for the snow because I had been expecting warm weather and I was surprisingly really cold. It rained first and I got soaked, then it started snowing and I got freezing cold but it was such an awesome day. The Elder I was with kept pushing forward and heading to the next appointment like nothing was amiss. He taught me a lot. At the end of the day, after shoveling lots of driveways, I was at peace with the things I had done that day. There is such satisfaction when you're doing the Lord's work! We would tract and knock on people's doors or contact them in the street and they would look at us like we were crazy! But it was a good opportunity to telll them that the message we were sharing was so important that we were out sharing it rain or shine (or snow). We were blessed to find several people who were willing to invite us back to meet with them. I have a firm testimony that when you put in the work, the Lord will honor his promise to bless you with the Spirit to direct you to those that have been prepared. I LOVE this work! It is so rewarding.

Speaking of rewarding, my new companion and I are having some really neat experiences this week. We made it a goal to tract or contact on campus for at least one hour a day so that we can continue to find more of Heavenly Father's children to share the message of the Restoration with. It has been challenging at times and some days we have to break it up in 15 minute blitzes, but we have been so blessed as we have put forth the effort. We have literally found someone interested in meeting with us every day this week! Every time we go out, we have a spiritual experience where we have an opportunity to share our testimonies or give away a book of mormon, even when they are not interested in meeting with us, they give us their attention for a few minutes and accept a pamphlet or a Book of Mormon. It is incredible. We have already have found 3 new investigators this week that we have taught and have appointments with 5 more today and tomorrow! My testimony of finding through the Lord has grown. When you "thrust in your sickle with all your might" you will reap. It has been a week bursting with miracles.

My new companion Elder Carpenter is a stud. I really enjoy working with him. He's a great example of a hard working and obedient missionary and he has whipped me into shape! I have learned so much from observing him and following his example. He's a convert to the church and really has a stellar conversion story. He has a very strong testimony and it shows in the way he carries himself and the work that he puts in every day. As soon as he got here the work picked up and the pace of our day got quicker and things are starting to fall into place. He knows how to work hard and smart-a skill that I have not yet mastered. In any case, it's been a blessing to serve with him and I can't wait to see what the next few weeks hold!

We had a baptism scheduled for today that unfortunately fell through. Our investigator Jason doesn't quite feel ready and he feels a bit pressured. I went back in my mind trying to discover what it was that I did wrong or could have changed to make him feel at ease with the decision to be baptized. I was praying one night, and it was actually about something else, but the words of a primary song came to mind:

I'm trying to be like Jesus,
I'm folling in His ways,
I'm trying to live as He did
In all that I do and say
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen to the still small voice that whispers:
Love one another as Jesus loves you
Try to show kindness in all that you do
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought
For these are the things Jesus taught.

That was a powerful answer not only for things I was praying for but for what to do with Jason. I realized I needed to show more love, show not only him but everyone that I care about them and want what is best for them. Nothing that Jesus did was self gratifying. It was all in service to others. I think that when the people I am teaching really understand that I care and honestly want the very best for them and when they feel my love, they can feel the Spirit, they can feel Heavenly Father's love. If there is any other motive other than seeking to bless their life, they see right through it and cast the seed out before it can begin to grow. I have always wondered how people come to develop such deep relationships with those they teach when I haven't really felt such a connection with anyone. I don't know all the reasons but I think it is in part because I am too selfish some times and have some other motive for teaching them. I have found the importance of being constantly focused on others and serving them. Even in prayers where it can be easy to become selfish asking for things for yourself, I have discovered the need to pray for others. I wish I would have learned this earlier on my mission.

Well, I am going to be 23 tomorrow. That is old. I am dreading accepting the fact that in 2 and a half months I will reach my one year mark. I wish I could slow things down. I have learned so much and treasured the invaluable lessons I have learned more than anything.

I hope each one of you are living your life to it's very fullest and taking advantage of every situation to share the gospel. It can be intimidating and scary at first, but look at the rewards. They far outweigh the work involved. That is true with every commandment. We get so much more than what is asked of us. What could compare with Eternal Life? There is nothing we could ever do to deserve it. And yet we are simply asked to obey and give our hearts to God, and when we do we feel encompassing joy all around us.

I love you all. You are in my prayers. I appreciate the many things you each have done for me. God Bless!

--
Elder Cabrera

3/22/10

Dear Family,

Well, we had some transfers take place on Monday...and I got a new companion! And he's from Arizona!! Elder Carpenter is his name and he's from Prescott (Pronounced "pres-kit" or else you get in trouble). No, he's an awesome Elder. I already enjoy being around him and I've learned a lot from him. He has been out for almost twice as long as I have so there's lots I am taking from the example he sets. One of the coolest things about him is he's always positive. I've realized what a likeable quality that is. Nobody wants to be around a pessimist. And there's always something to be happy and bright about. We live in a pretty cool place in a pretty cool time and, best of all, we have the gospel. It's the key to happiness and peace. There's a lot to be positive about. And I'm trying to look at life more that way.

When a new transfer cycle begins, there's something refreshing in the air. It's kind of like the same feeling you get during the new year. You feel like you can wipe the slate clean and start fresh. A new companion makes it even easier to do. There have been a lot of things that I have been striving to improve and this is a great opportunity to start! It has been an awesome week to be able to set the tone and attitude for the next six weeks with hard work, focus, and high achieving goals. And we have seen the benefits that come from "thrusting in our sickles with all our mights". Yesterday, Elder Carpenter and I were in the institute planning and setting goals for the upcoming week, when we heard someone saying "Hello?". With all the CSU students being on Spring Break and the institute being desolate, we were wondering who was there. We came out of our office to find a young man looking around the corners for someone to talk to. His name was Nick and he was lost. He had wandered into the institute looking for someone to give him directions to the museum in town. Well Elder Carpenter and I didn't hesitate to invite him to sit down and talk while we drew him a quick map. While I drew the map, Elder Carpenter talked to him about his faith and got to know him a little bit better. While we were talking, Elder Carpenter managed to bridge the conversation into the Book of Mormon and the gospel. After we were finished he asked if he could have a copy and if he could meet with us to talk a little bit more. The Lord works in miraculous ways! It was an awesome experience.

Well I'm doing great. This is the best time of my life! And I can't believe how old I am going to be! But I'm just glad I have this opportunity to serve a mission. Thanks to everyone who is making this possible!


--
Elder Cabrera

3/6/10

Dear "Best Family in the World":

I thought this letter I'm including might interest some of you. I'm sure you are aware of the earthquake in Chile and the damage it caused. This letter is from the Mission President's wife of the Santiago East to her family. It's at the bottom of the email if you'd like to read it. Pretty incredible!

I've decided to try and have something to write on next to my bed so that I can record spiritual promptings when they come in the wee hours of the night.

Anyways, Elder Peppler and I have had a pretty awesome week. We just came from a Zone Leader Council with our mission president where were discussing some of the needs of the missionaries in this mission and how we can improve. I was amazed at how the subjects we were discussing paralleled so closely to things I need in my own life. My mission president is so wise and he is inspired. We talked at great length about culture; the culture of the mission and traditions and how we need to break bad habits and bad elements of the culture and keep and improve the good parts. I think it's easy to get stuck in a rut in life and never get outside of your circumstances and difficulties. It takes work and effort and it is sometimes painful to recognize things that you are doing wrong, even just out of ignorance or habit, and to correct them. If you keep doing the same thing you've always done, you'll keep getting the same results you always have. I found that I have been guilty of this in so many ways in my life-not even related to spiritual things. I often just expect things to change because I want them to and I hope they will. But it takes a good deal of examining yourself and seeking improvement, sometimes from an outside source, to break the cycle. In our mission, we are very good teachers. Those that we teach, we baptize, and retain them. But we're not so great at finding new investigators. If we can break the cycle, and find as much as other missions, we would be fulfilling our purpose in a miraculous fashion! I'm excited for the months to come. The future has never seemed so bright and so optimistic! I love this work!

Speaking of finding new people to teach, Elder Peppler and I were tracting yesterday in some apartments near campus and knocked on one young man's door. He seemed incredibly sincere and invited us in to talk a little more. As we sat down he informed us that he was from the Church of Christ and that his pastor was coming over in just few minutes to talk with him as well. I was a little uneasy at that, not sure how the pastor would react to us being there but we decided to stay and began teaching this young man, Craig, about the plan of salvation. When the pastor arrived, we shifted our focus to answer some questions that he had had about our faith. The pastor, Todd, was a graduate from Pepperdine university and at first was a little abrasive in his question about the validity of the Book of Mormon. He wanted archaeological evidence to support the stories in the Book of Mormon. As we talked we politely explained the need for faith and seeking answer from God through prayer and the Holy Ghost. As we bore testimony, I would love to tell you that he was completely converted at that moment; He wasn't, but his demeanor did change as did his approach. We began to discuss more the things we had in common. By the end he said he was willing for us to meet again to talk more and to bring some points that we believed in to his attention. He also mentioned how much respect he had for the Latter-day saints and admired their discipline. He said the closing prayer and prayed for everyone to be able to find truth. As we said our goodbye's, he mentioned that we were all brothers and children of God and all trying to achieve the same goal. I left humbled by the Spirit that was there and the miracle that had occurred. Just that morning Elder Peppler and I had prayed to be able to find new people to teach to bless their lives with the message of the restoration! The lord hears our prayers...isn't it incredible?!

My dear family, I love you all. My love has grown as we have been separated by this work I have been called to do. It has been a good thing. I am in deeper gratitude of all that you all have done for me and appreciate the wonderful relationship I enjoy with each of you! I am saddened by the struggles some are facing but confident in the atonement and the future.

I'll leave with a new favorite scripture an Elder brought to my attention today:

"Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice and be exceedingly glad...."

D&C 128:22

Love you all! God bless!

---Elder Cabrera

P.S. The letter about the earthquake in chile is below. Enjoy!

http://www.ldsmag.com/churchupdate/100303chile.html

2/27/10

Hey family,

Hope everyone had a great week! It was incredible here in the Promised Land! Colorado is beginning to show signs of spring and it's so beautiful. Yesterday and today it was in the 50's with clear skies and lots of sunshine. You could see the mountains perfectly-I wish I could go climb them! Colorado is for sure the best kept secret; everyone should move here.

This was a pretty crazy week. Lots of interesting experiences. First, we are teaching a less-active young man who is borderline anti-mormon but agreed to meet with us if we would teach him only from the bible. So I guess we're now teaching a Bible study class! We had interviews with our mission president, which was amazing. He is a wise and inspired leader. I have a lot of respect and love for him. We began teaching a new investigator named Alex who is just incredibly sincere in his search for truth. We taught him about the bookof mormon and about prophets and he loved it. He has investigated almost every religion from Judiasm to Paganism, and says he feels like he finally has found answers in the Book of Mormon. One of the wards in our Zone had a talent show and asked the Samoan elders there to do a "haka" for the ward and somehow we ended up a part of that. Apparently a haka is a war dance from the pacific islands. We're going to war against the powers of darkness! We are now giving a presentation to a Methodists congregation in town on Wednesday. Im not sure how that came about but evidently they want to learn about what mormons believe. And as a side note we're also going to be giving our input on the CSU's "Faith and Spirituality" panel of various religions. So lots going on in FoCo!

Other than that life is great! I was wondering if anyone had some either email addresses or mailing addresses fora few members of our family I would like to write: Taylor, Grandma Bugga, Aunt Bev and Uncle Bry, Kirk, Uncle Jim, Austie. If anyone could send them to me I would appreciate it. I hope everyone is doing great and enjoying life. I hope to hear from you all soon!

--
Elder Cabrera

2/20/10

This was a stellar week!! So many amazing spiritual experiences. I feel so honored and blessed, and just down right spoiled to be on a mission. I could never imagine my life without it now. I can now understand the push to serve-it stretches you and helps you find yourself. It's the most incredible thing I've ever done and the greatest work I've ever been a part of. I don't think I maintain the vocabularly sufficient to describe what an amazing experiences it is. It's so fulfilling and life changing. It sets the tone for the rest of your life.

I mentioned in my last email home the confirmations I had received that I am in the right area in the right mission. It continues to happen. I am noticing more and more the people that I know I have been sent to help. It's incredible how aware our Heavenly Father is of all His children and how he works through those He trusts to do His work. I've noticed this week that some investigators we are teaching and less actives we have been visiting are people that I get along with really and our personalities are similar. Jason is one investigator we have been teaching for several weeks now. I noticed just this week how well we get along and how much I enjoy his company and our visits. He has an interest in the medical field much like I do and is planning on going to medical school in a year or so. We had a breakthrough lesson with him where we talked about the Spirit, the Book of Mormon, and Baptism. He has some really deep and sincere questions that make me have to think (dang!) and reflect on my understanding. I love to teach him. We usually dont even end up teaching what we plan to teach but the lesson is more like a conversation than a sermon, and he said he has seen changes in his life since reading from the Book of Mormon and praying and coming to Church. He is an awesome guy and will be a great member of the church one day. I keep you all updated on how he is doing.

Another person we have been teaching is a man named Brad. He is a member but has been struggling with life and is having a rough time. I have never met someone who I instantly had the most profound and deepest love for. It was without effort. I dont know if it is just because he is just so affable in nature or if it is because he reminds me so much of Jared and therefore I instantly like him. In any case he is great. Our lessons with him are, again not so scripted, but rather very heartfelt and tender. I love him, without reserve, and for reasons I can't quite understand. I feel like it's the Savior's love. I feel like He is teaching me how to love those He has wlaked with and knows and loves Himself. Brad is an incredible person; he's a convert and served a mission just a year after he was baptized. He has quite the life story and lots of incredible experiences.

We heard from Elder L. Tom Perry yesterday. Words can't communicate the feeling that was present there. An apostle of the Lord spoke to us as a mission and gave us some incredible direction. As I shook his hand he looked right into my eyes and said "Thanks for being here." I feel like I never want to wash my hand ever again! He was an amazing speaker and the Spirit was strong. He talked about how important Preach My Gospel is and the wonderful tool it can be in missionary work (he pulled out his iphone and said he had it downloaded on it so he could take it on the go! No joke!). He was very entertaining and made us laugh and made us cry. I received a stronger witness that this Church is led by a living prophet who receive direction from Christ Himself and it is organized and arranged in such a way to bless the maximum number of Heavenly Father's children in the most efficient way. It is without fault.

Love you all! Hope everything is going fantastically. Keep me posted on how you are all doing!

--
Elder Cabrera

2/13/10

Family,

What a crazy week! We had lots of pretty incredible things happen. I love serving In Fort Collins because it has become so apparent to me why I have been called to this mission at this time and in this place. Certain things have happened this week which have convinced me leaving no room for doubt or coincidence the reasons why I am here. I love it. It is so humbling to be an instrument in the Lord's hands and to be able to bless the lives of His children.

There is a girl in our ward who Elder Peppler and I met with regularly for lessons and she also cuts our hair for free. Her name is Kylee and she is awesome. This week she shared with us that she was struggling with making some big, life changing decisions and with all the variables involved, especially the influence that those around her had on the decision making. I was able to relate in some ways with the struggle I had on deciding on whether or not to serve a mission. Some times the Lord prepares you to be able to share the perfect thing at the right time. I am so grateful for the Spirit being able to guide me in that conversation that seemed to help Kylee in her big decision. I know part of the reason I have been called to Fort Collins was for that meeting.

Next I share perhaps the most faith strengthening and confidence building experiences I have yet had on my mission. I had often heard of others having those miracles on their missions where they happened to be at the right place at the right time and happened to find this golden contact, but I had never yet had such an experience. On Sunday night, after a long fast Sunday, Elder Peppler and I were the last ones to leave the institute. As we pulled out of the parking lot and circled around to the street that the institute faces, something caught our attention. As we drove by the entrance, we saw a figure standing outside the doors on the sidewalk, facing the building's entrance and looking in. We decided that although it was late that we should turn around and go talk to them. We did; one of the best decisions I have made. It was snowing and dark and cold. The streetlights lining the road had been dimmed by the falling precipitation and created a gloomy haze in the dark. The figure, which we now discovered was girl, stood still on the sidewalk despite the dark, the snow, and the cold. As we approached her we saw tears and a sad countenance. I asked her if she wanted to go in. Her eyes didn't the doors, but she nodded. We opened the doors that had once been locked with the keys that had been entrusted to us. When we made it inside we started talking and found that she was a member but had been inactive for quite some time and wanted to come back. We took her around the building and gave her a tour, stopping at the pictures of the Savior and talking about them. It was incredible to see the comfort that immediately came over her as soon as she was inside. There's a special spirit about church buildings that have been dedicated and consecrated to the Lord. A healing spirit. We set up an appointment to meet later on this week and we are excited to visit with her. She left, I'm positive, feeling much better and much more at peace. What would have happened had we not been leaving at that time? What if we had not taken the time to go back and talk to her? I cannot fathom the regret that I would have had I know of the significance of the situation. I know that I was simply an instrument in the hand of the Lord. His daughter needed help and He used me to meet the need. Isn't this gospel incredible? Isn't the God we worship so loving, and so mindful of us in every instance? I saw so many parallels in this experience to life as I sat pondering over it several times. There are those out there, our Brothers and Sisters, who wander a lonely road in the dark, in the cold, and in discouraging circumstances. They often stop along the way and look, longingly, at the doors of the Savior's house, aching for His embrace which has the power to heal our broken hearts and mend our wounded souls. We have been called to stop in the midst of our busy lives and with the keys and knowledge that have been entrusted to us, through open those doors and bring them into His rest. We have a great work to do. We have love and healing to bring to the world.

I know this is a marvelous work I am involved in. I know that it is the Lord's work and that without Him, there could be no miracles such as these. I love Him, and I love that I can teach others the power of His atonement is real. I take comfort in knowing that when it comes to salvation, He is, as the scriptures say, "mighty to save". It's good to know we can full faith in Him and in the cleansing power of the atonement. Were He anything short of perfect I don't think the same could be said, but I am glad to know He was and is perfect. When it comes to faith, it ALWAYS first in the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is no need to doubt. The order of the first principles and ordinances are not given at random; that is the eternal order of things. Faith in Christ will always be first.

Love you all. I am doing so well. I dont mean to be selfish, but I dont ever want to come home. I hope everyone is doing great. Happy Valentine's Day!

--
Elder Cabrera

Christmas Pics

http://picasaweb.google.com/hanksmum/DenverNorthMission?authkey=Gv1sRgCJnWkIr5iajEVg#

2/6/10

Dear Family

This was an amazing week! We will have two baptisms this week...that will make for 7 for 2010 so far!! We are averaging about one baptism a week!! Things are going so well. I dont think there is a word that could describe how much joy I feel and how amazing it is to be here. Im not sure what it is we're doing to earn the Lord's trust with His children, but I am just grateful that I have the opportunity to be involved in the conversion of so many precious souls.

We are teaching some really amazing people right now. One of our investigators, Jason Leonhardt is a Biomedical Science major at CSU and is preparing to go to Medical School. He is one of the most sincere people I have ever met. He didnt grow up with any religious background so we had to start from square one with him. It wasnt difficult for him to accept the Book of Mormon or anything we taught, in fact he read a chapter we left him, then the chapter before it and after it and then half of 1st Nephi! He has the most thought provoking questions and is geniunely interested. I love to teach him. He is waiting on an answer to the Book of Mormon before he wants to get baptized and feels like he has to read the entire book before he can know. But I know eventually he will feel the truth of it.

Melanie Garlin is another investigator who is getting baptized today in a few hours. She was introduced to the church in England when she was studying abroad and came back and know wants to get baptized. She is awesome. I dont know of anyone who is more kind and loving and without guile. She asked me to baptize her and Elder Peppler my companion to confirm her, so we're way excited to participate in those ordinances.

Alex Wulff is a Jewish student that we just started teaching last week. He is incredibly intelligent, especially when it comes to the bible and the torah. He is another one who feels the goodness in the Book of Mormon and is reading it from cover to cover. He has already finished a good portion of it and told us of the many similaritities it has to other Hebrew writings. Pretty cool! He is really down to earth and open to learn. I can see how the Lord has prepared him to receive the restored gospel.

We have a few more investigators that are getting close to baptism as well: Sara Valcho, Jonathan Saylor, Chris Blake, and Josh Takahashi. These are amazing people, each having there own unique experiences that have prepared them to accept the message of the Restoration. The work is moving forward. I feel more resolutely the statement Joseph Smith said about missionary:

" No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent; till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say: 'The work is done.' "

I love that! We recite that at every District meeting and Zone conference. It makes you feel motivated and reassured that with the Lord on your side, nothing can stop you from accomplishing His great work. Very empowering.

On a side note Elder L Tom Perry is coming to our mission! Sweet! He is going to be speaking to us on Feb. 19. Im really looking forward to it. We get to shake his hand and take a picture with him as well.

How is everyone doing? Happy birthdays to: Mom, Jared, Clayton (belated...because im lame), and Taylor! Hope everyone is doing well. Enjoy the pictures!

--
Elder Cabrera

Oh yeah,

Forgot to mention, there is a sister missionary in my Zone whose father passed away on Wednesday. Her name is SIster Spence. Im sure she could use some prayers on hers and her family's behalf.
--
Elder Cabrera

1/30/10

Dear Family,

We have a new email system now. It's pretty sweet...the church is running their email through Gmail now so lots more memory and a lot better setup. So new email address is:

taunis.cabrera@myldsmail.net

Well we are doing great in Fort Collins. We had another baptism on Saturday, Eric Mokler. He's amazing. Great guy and a strong testimony. It was neat to see just how prepared he was by the Lord. He practically already had a testimony of the Restored gospel and was ready to go. We have two more baptism scheduled for this coming week: Bryan Evans and Melanie Garlin. They are both incredible individuals and are going to make great additions to the Lord's church.

Transfers are on Monday and I will be staying in Fort Collins for at least another 6 weeks serving on Campus. Elder Porter, my MTC companion is going to join Elder Peppler and I, so I'm excited for the next few weeks. Hope eeveryone is doing well and enjoying life-we're pretty blessed and there's a lot of good things to enjoy. Love you all!

--
Elder Cabrera

1/23/10

Hey Family,

An awesome week in Colorado! Things seem like they just get better and better...Im wondering where the ceiling is! We have been having tons of success and seeing lots of "fruit" from our labors. I find that we have little influence on those we teach-the Spirit does the work of testifying and converting. I dont think we get to decide who will join Christ's church, but we can be in the right place at the right time and be prepared for when those that the Lord has prepared to hear the message of the Restored Gospel.

One bummer about Colorado is the days seem so short. Time is flying by and the winter season doesnt help. The sun comes up late and disappears early. One bonus though is some amazing sunrises and sunsets. The other day I rolled out of bed lagging and not wanting to be up at 6:30. I came up out of the basement and looked out the window to a spectacular display of colors strewn across the morning sky. Oranges, pinks, and vibrant colors illuminated not only on the edge of the horizon, but all over the eastern sky. With the dull clouds as their canvas, it made for some incredible moments in awe. I saw a tree in our backyard begin to glow from the light shed on it's trunk facing east. It's resonating glow shone so bright to produce a good visual of what I imagined the tree of life would look like! My thoughts turned to the hymn "How great thou art". I think about that song whenever I see magnificent displays of nature: sunrises, sunsets, snow capped mountains. Truly ALL things denote there is a God, just like Alma taught.

How is everyone? Sorry if Im lame and I owe you emails or letters. I have hardly anytime to write. Thats no excuse but I do apologize. A bulk email is much easier. I gave a talk in a mission tour where Elder Brimhall from the Seventy was present. It was on the power of example. I was pretty nervous to speak to all the Zone Leaders of the Mission and especially in front of Elder Brimhall and President Ely. I thought a lot about what I was going to say and was paranoid about making it "doctrinally sound". As I stood up to give it though, I felt peace. I felt that it was going to be ok. I didnt really use my notes or things I had prepared. I took it a different route and let the Spirit guide. It is an amazing feeling to literally feel yourself being only an instrument and watch the Lord and the Spirit work through you. I read a song out of the hymn book: #335 "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy". I have come to love it. It talks about light and the need for those to whom have been commissioned to "keep the lights along the shore" for the poor, and fainting, struggling seaman. It illustrates so profoundly the parallel between light and example. The Savior taught it a similar way in the Sermon on the Mount:

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle and but it under a bushel , but on a candlestick; and it giveth light to all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Light, love, and the power of example all relate to one another. I shared some examples in my own life with the small audience gathered in a high council room. Lacking in a father figure most of my life I turned to those that have influenced my life for good. I relate to Corianton, Alma's waivering son, and the words his father used to counsel him on following the examples that he had been given:

"And now my son, I have somewhat more to say unto thee than what I said unto thy brother; for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not set a good example for thee?"

Corianton's older brothers Shiblon and Helaman were men of God and through their righteous actions, set a course for their younger brother. I spoke that I too had two older brothers who were men of God and labored diligently to lead by examples. I know their righteous actions influenced my decision to serve. Im so grateful for good examples; and especially for good older brothers. They are priceless commodities in a world of deteriorating values and shine bright against the world darkened by sin and immorality. Much like the lighthouses along the shore in the hymn.

Well family, hope everyone is doing fantastically. I miss you all and wish you the best. Transfers are next week so I may be somewhere else when I email again. God bless!

Elder Cabrera

By the way, I got a letter from Elder Brimhall last week expressing his thanks for my talk...the letter, folded in half, said on the outside: "Dennis C. Brimhall...The Seventy". It was legit!

1/16/10

Hey Family,

How is everyone? We had another great week in Colorado...another Baptism! Nancy Wittmer jumped through some intense obstacles to get baptized but she made it! It was an awesome service and the Spirit was strong. It was radiating so strongly that it blinded my vision as you can plainly see in one of the pictures.

Hope everyone is doing well. I love you all and wish the best for you.

Love,
Elder Cabrera

1/9/10

Dear Family,

Well things are going really well here in Fort Collins. Christmas was awesome and it was wonderful to talk to all of you. It's a new year and a new chance to start out fresh. We started it out with a baptism last Saturday and it was the best way to welcome in the new year for sure. Ashley has made some huge changes in her life and come a long way to become a member and she is way solid. It was the first time I've ever baptized anyone. I think I was more nervous than her. We even had to do it over...twice! The first time she didnt go under all the way, second time, I said the prayer wrong, but we finally got it right! It was an aewsome experience. The spirit was present very strongly and it was an awesome service.

Thanks to everyone who sent me packages! I really appreciate everything you all do for me. I think I am just faintly beginning to understand the dream I am living. It is such a privilage to be able to serve the Lord full time. NOTHING has ever brought me more peace, joy, purpose and fulfillment. I have all of you to thank for making this possible for me. I couldn't have done it without your help.

This past week we had a Mission Tour where a general authority came to visit the mission and talk to us. We heard from Elder Brimhall, an area authority who presides over the Colorado area. It was incredible. The things he shared were exactly what I needed to hear. He and his wife spoke to us about enthusiasm, being not just great missionaries, but the best missionaries; and also about our calling. Something he said really stuck out (well most of what he said stuck out, but one thing in particular), he said " Missionaries represent the Lord. They represent the creator of ALL things, the sculptor of the galaxies, and the shaper of the worlds; that's what they stand for." It definitely has a lot more attached to my calling when he put it that way. We had a leadership meeting after the chapel meeting where my mission President asked me to give a talk. That was definitely intimidating and I was really nervous but it turned out really well. I've found when you put the outlined paper away and speak from your heart is when the spirit can really testify. Overall one of the best days on my mission! And we get to hear from Elder L. Tom Perry next month!

I dont think I could ever find the words through an email to tell you how happy I am. I feel so bright and without burden. I love to serve others. It is such a miracle that the more we give and serve, the more we receive in return. I know without any reservation that is a true principle. I know who I am now! How many people can say that? I know exactly where I am going, I know what I need to do to get there, and I know how to get back on course if I get distracted. A mission is the best thing that ever happened to me. What an honor to put your whole focus on others for two years and to develop charity. I see no other period in my life where I can keep 100% the law of consecration-devote all my time , talents and attention to serving the Lord. I dont do a very good job of 100% but I try. It's also one of the best times to obey the two great commandments of loving God and loving your neighbor. With living that law comes blessings. Like the call letter states "Greater joy and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you..." So true.

I wish everyone the best and love you all. Thanks for your love and prayers.

Elder Cabrera