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