Thank you for your letters and Happy Mothers Day (in Panama it's the 8th of December). I got the package with all the letters from the Young Women and the skittles, thank you so much and I got a letter from Grandma Jane tell here thank you.
On Saturday afternoon and this morning at 4:00 we felt earthquakes. It was super cool, I've never felt an earthquake before they both lasted for only 15 seconds but it was really interesting seeing everything shake.
This was the last week for my companion and we had a lot to do this week. On Tuesday, I worked with one of our recent converts in the area, while my companion said goodbye to some people. On Wednesday we had a meeting with the President for all the leaders, and on Thursday we had zone conference.
Zone conference was really great we watched a movie called ''Ephraims Rescue'' I don't know if you guys have seen it but it is really good. It's about the Pioneers. We also went to an orphanage and sang songs and gave gifts to the kids.
On Saturday we had the Mothers Day activity and we ended up setting it up but it turned out really well.
My companion is really great but these last few days he's been super truncky but I can't blame him it was his last week. I'll be getting a new companion on Wednesday.
People here are starting to put up there Christmas trees and lights outside but we don't have a tree in our house, I should go buy one.
We watched the first presidency devotional yesterday it was really great, I loved all the music and the cute story about the kids who had Halloween, Christmas Eve, and Christmas all in one week.
I still find it strange to sing Christmas songs under the hot sun but maybe God is trying to teach me the real meaning of Christmas doesn't mean snow.
The other week I read in the Teachings of Joseph Smith this about our Heavenly Father.
When we comprehend the character of God, we comprehend ourselves and know how to approach Him.
“There are but a very few beings in the world who understand rightly the character of God. The great majority of mankind do not comprehend anything, either that which is past, or that which is to come, as it respects their relationship to God. They do not know, neither do they understand the nature of that relationship; and consequently they know but little above the brute beast, or more than to eat, drink and sleep. This is all man knows about God or His existence, unless it is given by the inspiration of the Almighty.
“If a man learns nothing more than to eat, drink and sleep, and does not comprehend any of the designs of God, the beast comprehends the same things. It eats, drinks, sleeps, and knows nothing more about God; yet it knows as much as we, unless we are able to comprehend by the inspiration of Almighty God. If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves. I want to go back to the beginning, and so lift your minds into more lofty spheres and a more exalted understanding than what the human mind generally aspires to.
“… The scriptures inform us that ‘This is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.’ [John17:3.]
“If any man does not know God, and inquires what kind of a being He is,—if he will search diligently his own heart—if the declaration of Jesus and the apostles be true, he will realize that he has not eternal life; for there can be eternal life on no other principle.
“My first object is to find out the character of the only wise and true God,and what kind of a being He is. …
“God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by His power, was to make Himself visible,—I say, if you were to see Him today, you would see Him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion, image and likeness of God, and received instruction from, and walked, talked and conversed with Him, as one man talks and communes with another. …
“… Having a knowledge of God, we begin to know how to approach Him,and how to ask so as to receive an answer. When we understand the character of God, and know how to come to Him, He begins to unfold the heavens to us, and to tell us all about it. When we are ready to come to Him, He is ready to come to us.”9
After reading this I've been trying to improve my prayers by imagining God sitting next to me and listening to me during prayers. It helps me realize that God truly does listen to our prayers and is a Father to us.
Thank you for your letters and I'll wait for the packages.
I love you,
Elder Weston
