"David and Goliath" March 7 Group Email

Dear everyone,

Hello there! Wow, it's already March! It doesn't feel like it here - all winter it has been a pretty mild temperature with a ton of rain, so March just kind of sprung up on us here. It has been a good week! Elder Barrett got sick this time, so he's been fighting through that, but we DID teach a crazy hobo man named Paulo with his terrifying zombie dog. It was terrifying. But Paulo is nice! He has lots of faith in God, and is so far receiving us well! We taught José, the husband of Liliana about the plan of salvation, and he had a lot of really good questions about what happens after this life. It seems that most people here believe in God, but don't believe that He plays any real role in their lives. Almost everyone is Catholic and believes in Christ, but don't let Him bless their lives because they don't have the desire to act or change to follow Him. A lot of people also don't believe that God can really make a difference for them - they don't see the blessings that they can receive from Him. THey don't believe that God really has the power to make that difference. Because of that, I really like the story of David in 1 Samuel 17, when he goes up against Goliath- 

 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand...

 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

I know that God is at our front, and that this battle really is the Lord's! The Lord will deliver us from the hands of our "enemies." We have our burdens, temptations, hard relationships, times when we feel alone, times when we don't know if we can go on - and the Lord will deliver us from all of these things. I hope that this week I can help someone understand that the Lord is on their side. He wants nothing more than for us to turn to Him in faith, and when we do, we will be delivered. I hope you all have a super good week, and remember that the Lord is on your side. 

- Elder Valentine!

P.S. We contacted a guy Antonio who, after accepting our invitation to learn about the gospel, quizzed me on the biggest and smallest bones in the body - thank you Medical Anatomy and Physiology for helping me remember. :)