I Know That My Redeemer Lives
Well this is it. This is my last email to all of you. I first want to take the time for all of the support and love you have always sent to me while I have been on this 2 year journey. I could honestly feel your prayers on many occasions. This has been an amazing experience. I really don't have the words right now to express even a fraction of what I am feeling right now and how much my mission means to me. It has been incredible. I am going to miss these two beautiful countries of El Salvador and Belize a lot. Even more so, I am going to miss the people I have met. My life has changed. My desires have changed. I am not coming home perfect. I wasn't the perfect missionary. I wish I could have done more and been better. But, I am grateful for all that I have learned and for how much my testimony has grown. I know that my Redeemer lives. There is no greater testimony to have than that. That He lives. That He loves us. That He knows us. That He watches over us. That this is His church and His gospel. There is no other way. There just simply isn't. There can be no straying from this path. It's as simple as that. This is the truth. I have witnessed miracles and happiness beyond comparison. I have experienced it for myself. Nothing can take that away from me. There is no work more important that the work that the Lord has called all of us to do. I will not end in this work. It simply just brings me too much joy. I love my Savior. I love my Father in Heaven. I am grateful to Them. There just aren't words to explain it. But it is true. It is all true. And I am ready to dedicate myself to that testimony and to that truth for the rest of my life. Yo sé que Jesucristo vive. Si no supiera eso yo no estuviera aquí ahorita. Ya me hubiera ido. Pero vive. Por medio de la Expiación de Jesucristo podemos ser perdonados. Podemos ser salvos. Yo espero anhelosamente el día en que yo vea a mi Salvador. Será un día dichoso. I am excited to see you all again soon, in just a few days. I love you all! The church is true. I know it.
Elder Abilez
Final Pupusa Count: somewhere over 500 (there are pupusas in Belize I didnt count. They arent from El Salvador...)
Monday, July 3, 2017
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Week 100 Corozal, Belize-June 26, 2017
One More Time
Hey. So this is weird. I'm starting my last week in the mission. It feels surreal. But, lemme tell you about last week. It was also pretty surreal, but really awesome. The main points are that we had our Multizone and interviews with President Adams. Last Multizone means I had to bear my last testimony. Dont worry I didn't cry. Real men don't cry. They weep. So I wept. After the Multizone I also had my last interview with President Adams. I love that man! He has been a great help and a great example for me this past year. He gave me some really great advice of course. Yesterday all 4 of us missionaries gave talks in sacrament meeting too so that was cool to be able to speak one last time before i go. I love Corozal! This next week we will be very busy! And thats exactly how I want my last week in the mission to be! The sisters are set to have a baptism at the end of the week and we are going to be working hard with our mission leader as well. The mission has been amazing! I will sprint through the finish line! Love you all so much! I hope you have a great week! Talk to you all soon!
Elder Abilez
3 John 1:13-14
Hey. So this is weird. I'm starting my last week in the mission. It feels surreal. But, lemme tell you about last week. It was also pretty surreal, but really awesome. The main points are that we had our Multizone and interviews with President Adams. Last Multizone means I had to bear my last testimony. Dont worry I didn't cry. Real men don't cry. They weep. So I wept. After the Multizone I also had my last interview with President Adams. I love that man! He has been a great help and a great example for me this past year. He gave me some really great advice of course. Yesterday all 4 of us missionaries gave talks in sacrament meeting too so that was cool to be able to speak one last time before i go. I love Corozal! This next week we will be very busy! And thats exactly how I want my last week in the mission to be! The sisters are set to have a baptism at the end of the week and we are going to be working hard with our mission leader as well. The mission has been amazing! I will sprint through the finish line! Love you all so much! I hope you have a great week! Talk to you all soon!
Elder Abilez
3 John 1:13-14
Lots of old photos from some recent adventures with no explanations sent due to a shortage of time
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| Cerros with Elder Flake |
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Week 99 Corozal, Belize-June 19, 2017
Twas a good week
Hey everyone! This week was awesome! So biggest and best news is that Britney, Christina, and Steve all got baptized on Saturday! There were a few complications with getting the whole family there (rain and stuff) but it all worked out! Elder Gallardo was with me on interchanges this week and we went to see Christina and she had decided to get interviewed and be baptized. It was all a miracle! Well other than all of that the week was normal in terms of work. We got pig head tacos yesterday which were nice. This week we will have our Multizone and interviews with President. I'm nervous! But everything is good. Pray for Yanira and Ulrich! Pray for the Bejerano family! I will pray for all of you! I love you all very much! Have a great week!
Elder Abilez
Hey everyone! This week was awesome! So biggest and best news is that Britney, Christina, and Steve all got baptized on Saturday! There were a few complications with getting the whole family there (rain and stuff) but it all worked out! Elder Gallardo was with me on interchanges this week and we went to see Christina and she had decided to get interviewed and be baptized. It was all a miracle! Well other than all of that the week was normal in terms of work. We got pig head tacos yesterday which were nice. This week we will have our Multizone and interviews with President. I'm nervous! But everything is good. Pray for Yanira and Ulrich! Pray for the Bejerano family! I will pray for all of you! I love you all very much! Have a great week!
Elder Abilez
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| Here are the pictures of the adventures we had as a trio last week! |
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Week 98 Corozal, Belize-June 12, 2017
A Week Full of Surprises
This last week was wild! Okay I will just get into it. So it was announced a while back that Elder Renlund was coming to El Salvador and was gonna have a conference for all the missionaries. Unfortunately, he wasn't gonna come to Belize...but! the day before the conference we found out that they were gonna transmit the conference to us! So, last Tuesday we dropped all our plans and went to Belize City to see (or rather just hear because the video wasn't working) the conference with Elder and Sister Alonso and Elder and Sister Renlund. It was awesome! Elder Renlund shared some funny stories and talked about keeping "an eye single to the glory of God". Super good! Last week we had planned to do interchanges on Thursday in order to have Elder Gallardo do the baptismal interviews for Steve, Christina, and Britney. But! we got another call on Wednesday to inform us of emergency changes and that Elder Gallardo was actually just gonna stay with us in a trio! My second time in a trio with Elder Gallardo! He is currently on his way back to Orange Walk but we spent 4 whole days working together and it was a fun time. A little bit of bad news, Christina didnt get interviewed last week because she is a little unsure right now about baptism. Also, on Saturday morning we got informed from the kids' mom that they wanted to postpone the baptism until this coming Saturday because Steve got really sick. Now, to give you guys some hope and peace of mind, we went to visit the whole family Saturday night, gave Steve a blessing, rescheduled the baptism, and even talked with Christina. This week we are goin back to see what she says and we are still gonna go through with the baptismal service on Saturday. Pray that everything goes well! Yesterday at church we were surprised as well to see that one of our newer investigators, Yanira, came even though she said she wasn't going to be able to. And she loved it! She's super positive! Pray for her too! It was a really hectic but fun week! This next week will be awesome too! I love you all and hope you have a great week! Bye!
Elder Abilez
This last week was wild! Okay I will just get into it. So it was announced a while back that Elder Renlund was coming to El Salvador and was gonna have a conference for all the missionaries. Unfortunately, he wasn't gonna come to Belize...but! the day before the conference we found out that they were gonna transmit the conference to us! So, last Tuesday we dropped all our plans and went to Belize City to see (or rather just hear because the video wasn't working) the conference with Elder and Sister Alonso and Elder and Sister Renlund. It was awesome! Elder Renlund shared some funny stories and talked about keeping "an eye single to the glory of God". Super good! Last week we had planned to do interchanges on Thursday in order to have Elder Gallardo do the baptismal interviews for Steve, Christina, and Britney. But! we got another call on Wednesday to inform us of emergency changes and that Elder Gallardo was actually just gonna stay with us in a trio! My second time in a trio with Elder Gallardo! He is currently on his way back to Orange Walk but we spent 4 whole days working together and it was a fun time. A little bit of bad news, Christina didnt get interviewed last week because she is a little unsure right now about baptism. Also, on Saturday morning we got informed from the kids' mom that they wanted to postpone the baptism until this coming Saturday because Steve got really sick. Now, to give you guys some hope and peace of mind, we went to visit the whole family Saturday night, gave Steve a blessing, rescheduled the baptism, and even talked with Christina. This week we are goin back to see what she says and we are still gonna go through with the baptismal service on Saturday. Pray that everything goes well! Yesterday at church we were surprised as well to see that one of our newer investigators, Yanira, came even though she said she wasn't going to be able to. And she loved it! She's super positive! Pray for her too! It was a really hectic but fun week! This next week will be awesome too! I love you all and hope you have a great week! Bye!
Elder Abilez
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| We got Domino's across the border... |
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| Hawaiian pizza thanks to the help of some members |
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| Diva the puppy! |
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| Future Elder Bejerano |
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| Future Sister Bejerano (just needs to get over her shyness) |
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| Power to the People! |
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Week 97 Corozal, Belize-June 5, 2017
The Great Plan of Redemption
Or the Great Plan of Happiness or Plan of Salvation. Whichever you prefer. That seemed to be a theme of our teachings this week. In any case, they were all powerful lessons. It is one of the most central teachings of the church and one that also brings the most joy and peace! And it's more fully explained and recorded in the Book of Mormon. How blessed are we to be members of the Lord's church and have an understanding of such a plan! This past week was great! We had a meeting in Belize City early on in the week and interchanges with a special companionship, the zone leaders of Belize City. There are some changes being made in the Belize side of the mission so this is something new that will be beginning. Interchanges between zone leaders. And so, I got to spend a few days working in Corozal with Elder KAUFUSI! Haha it was awesome! After a whole year we got to work together again! Made up a little bit for the second transfer we never got together haha. But it was a really great interchange and we had a lot of fun. Also, Brittany, Christine, and Steve are doing great and their baptism is set for this coming Saturday. Pray for them so all goes well! This next week we will be busy busy busy! Also I'm gonna get to have interchanges with Elder Gallardo! Two past companions in two weeks! It'll be fun. And work. well i hope you all have a great week as well! Love you!
Elder Abilez
Or the Great Plan of Happiness or Plan of Salvation. Whichever you prefer. That seemed to be a theme of our teachings this week. In any case, they were all powerful lessons. It is one of the most central teachings of the church and one that also brings the most joy and peace! And it's more fully explained and recorded in the Book of Mormon. How blessed are we to be members of the Lord's church and have an understanding of such a plan! This past week was great! We had a meeting in Belize City early on in the week and interchanges with a special companionship, the zone leaders of Belize City. There are some changes being made in the Belize side of the mission so this is something new that will be beginning. Interchanges between zone leaders. And so, I got to spend a few days working in Corozal with Elder KAUFUSI! Haha it was awesome! After a whole year we got to work together again! Made up a little bit for the second transfer we never got together haha. But it was a really great interchange and we had a lot of fun. Also, Brittany, Christine, and Steve are doing great and their baptism is set for this coming Saturday. Pray for them so all goes well! This next week we will be busy busy busy! Also I'm gonna get to have interchanges with Elder Gallardo! Two past companions in two weeks! It'll be fun. And work. well i hope you all have a great week as well! Love you!
Elder Abilez
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| Interchanges with Elder Kaufusi! |
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| Also with my beloved Bejerano family! |
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Week 96 Corozal, Belize-May 29, 2017
sorry guys
hey so im just about out of time. i just realized i didnt write you all a message. i also wanna send some pictures so this will be short. this last week was great! pray for brittany christina and steve! next week is their baptism! this next week will be awesome! im excited! love you all bye!
Elder Abilez
hey so im just about out of time. i just realized i didnt write you all a message. i also wanna send some pictures so this will be short. this last week was great! pray for brittany christina and steve! next week is their baptism! this next week will be awesome! im excited! love you all bye!
Elder Abilez
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| Corozal zone with the flakes and the adams |
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| selfie from cerros maya ruin a few weeks ago |
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| Headin out across the bay |
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| our boat and dock at cerros |
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| the main mask temple |
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| on top of the temple overlooking the ocean |
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| cerros sands |
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| Elder Abilez |
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| I still love Belize |
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| Burritos with Elder Hendricks and Oscar (new convert!) |
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| The first mango of the season |
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