Let Your Light So Shine... to ALL!

(Insert your own caption) Couldn't kick one up myself...

Hello family and friends!

I HOP that everyone had an EGG-cellent Easter! Well that's enough of that... It was super amazing over here! Best way to remember Easter and the Resurrection  is to celebrate it with the greatest of all
events, to have a baptism and visit the temple! Today we had to drive around and pick up new elders coming into the zone and deliver them to their new home. So... We were up super early and now I am super tired. Anyways, it was good and now we get to enjoy the rest of this sunny day! Well, here is how Easter Week went down for me this year!

Tuesday: March 22nd, 2016

DJ Zed-Man in the house!
(it's how they say Z over here...
it sounds better then Zee)

Today we had computer work to finish in the morning and then we met our friend Ali Beg and we taught him the Plan of Salvation and he actually invited us to speak on his radio show so we could explain more about Christianity.

Wednesday: March 23rd, 2016
My final exchange today with Elder Clark... this was our 4th exchange together and it was a great one to start the exchange. We met with a wonderful prepared family who has been involved with the church for such a long time and we were able to spark an interest of hope again into them and hopefully they will all be baptized soon. The kids were super stoked to learn more again!

Thursday: March 24th, 2016
Final day with Elder Clark and it was interesting! Super fun though for sure! We had district meeting in the morning with the Crawley district and it was powerful. We were all able to share what we learned most from Elder Clark when serving with him. Words can't express how much he helped me out. I've learned a lot of what I do now from him today... it was a good 4 rounds of exchange with a great elder who will be missed.

Friday: March 25th, 2016
Today we had our usual weekly planning and then we met with Katie again and that was good... Still a struggle. After we had some contacting time and also gave a blessing to a sick member and then had dinner before Ali's baptismal interview. It was successful and then we visited with Rudy and Amy and taught the importance of reading the Book of Mormon each day.

Saturday: March 26th, 2016

Ali's Baptism!

Best...Day...EVER! We spent the entire day doing the best part of missionary work ever. Well, it's all good, but this is the cherry on top! We spent the morning at the temple with Ali (who was getting baptized the same night) and Felix (Recent Convert who would be baptizing Ali), and Sebastian (he is on date for the 9th of April. Super good temple experience, I love it there... Definitely wish I could be there more often but that'll have to wait till the future. We had Ali's baptism later that evening and it was just a glorious way to cap off the day! Greatest reward in missionary work is seeing a brother join the true fold of God.


Sunday: March 27th, 2016
Strongest confirmation I have had the privilege of being voice for. The Spirit was super strong and the Lord definitely has a lot in store for Ali to do as a new member of His church. Baptizing and Confirming our brothers and sisters... it is the most rewarding thing of missionary work and it is the reason I am here. It's a humbling experience to have such a blessing in my life and it's amazing to see
what change happens to people once they have it to! I know for a fact God is working with us... The work is progressing very quickly in every corner of the earth and it's amazing to be a part of this incredible work!

Temple Trip with the Crew!

Monday: March 28th, 2016
We had a pancake social today and there was a super good turnout and there were 3 investigators who came! We also did some driving practice again too. We also has a super good lesson with our other friend Ali and we were asked to speak on his radio show, so after we get some paper work filled out with the church, we'll go live and speak to millions of people listening and explaining the importance of the Restoration and answering questions that Ali comes with.

Anyways, it was a super great week and I hope everyone was able to celebrate this wonderful season with the real meaning in the fore front. Although chocolate eggs and things are good, a holiday is better, but the best is that we remember Jesus Christ and his great infinite and eternal sacrifice, and most importantly, that He Lives again... And because of that... We to may all live again. If you haven't found new life in Christ yet, I encourage you to search for it, there is more out there today than what is in front of you, just recognize that you are in a journey to find truth but you aren't fully aware of it. Start looking, because the reward is beyond anything this world has to offer.

Verse of the Week:

3 Nephi 13:33
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

I hope you all have a wonderful week and make sure your prepare questions for the upcoming conference weekend as we get to listen to living prophets and apostles address the world with what the Lord needs!

You can watch the broadcast live at www.lds.org It starts Saturday and ends Sunday! It's a great opportunity to learn truth and receive personal revelation and I encourage you to watch it if you really want to discover something new!

I love you all!

Have a great week!

-Elder Rivera