THE BOOK OF MORMON

Dear Family!!!

I love you all SOSOSOSOSO much!!!!!! I'm so grateful for the Plan that allows for us to be able to be together forever!!!

Transfers came -- I'm still in Bilbao, but my companion left..........TO IBIZA!!!!!!! 8D He will be there with one of my other companions, Élder Wheat!! They're going to have a BLAST!!!! It's an island of MIRACLES!!!!!!

My new companion is from Calgary, CANADA! His name is Élder Hardy. He is tall, blond, blue-eyed, talented, good-looking, and funny, too. He is the second-born in his family, too! :) We're already friends! I can tell we're going to have a fun time here in Bilbao!

I'm sorry for writing late in the week, but with transfers sometimes you just can't control all the variables. Go figure.

We just had another MIRACULOUS AFTERNOON, and I'd like to quickly tell you what happened.

We had only two planned visits; neither of which I knew how to get to for sure (I often feel lost, but we're going to get a map soon), and neither of which we could technically even go to, because we didn't have another man to go with us! (As missionaries, to respect women, we don't go into their homes unless there is another man present -- it's a rule, we follow it, it blesses us).

So we said a prayer this morning before a meeting that we would be able to take people with us to this visits, and that we would be able to make it to each of them.

We called up some members, and they either didn't respond, or they couldn't come with us.
...
We stopped for a bit, and didn't know what to do. So we prayed again, and tried to listen more to the Spirit. We talked about the people we were going to visit, what they were like, what their needs were, who would best be able to help them.... and then a name came to mind; and as we were about to call him, we got a return-call from one of the people we had called before! BOTH were happy and willing to go with us, for the separate visits!!

The first one was CRAZY, but great! It turned out amazing, because she is an older Basque woman who has lots of Basque patriotism, and the member is also Basque. She spent a lot of time talking to us and sharing about her family stories, and the member happens to be a recently converted man who works in the Family History Program of our ward here. She's going to come to the Family History Center and learn more with us this Friday!!

Our next visit didn't end up happening... she didn't answer the door, and her neighbors told us to avoid her because she is dangerous.
....so
We prayed, and asked Heavenly Father what we should do. Our member friend decided to take us to his friends' house! On the way, we met a nice couple from Bolivia who, after a really nice walk and conversation about eternal families, want to come to church this Sunday!

Then we got to the friends' house! The friend was FANTASTIC!!! She has SO many questions, and she is interested in the Book of Mormon that we gave her as a gift. She once was Catholic, and now she is Evangelical, and she has never heard of the Book of Mormon. She asked, Why do we need another book? What's the point of having this Book of Mormon?

I know that there are no such things as coincidences in the work of the Lord.

This morning I was reading 2 Nefi 3:12 with my companion:

Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

(see also Ezekiel 37:15-19, if you'd like)

I know that this is true, and that the Book of Mormon is the word of our loving Heavenly Father for us in these times of crisis. The Bible and the Book of Mormon together get rid of all doctrinal/religious confusion. It testifies of Jesus Christ, and will help us to understand Him and His teachings.

If you read the Book of Mormon and sincerely ask God if the Book of Mormon is from Him, I promise that you will feel a personal answer from God that will let you know that it is from Him.

I know that as we study out this book we will be blessed. We will become more like Jesus Christ as we live its teachings, and we help others to follow Him when we share this book with them. Everyone, even my family members here in this country, can know if these things are true if they READ THE BOOK and ACTUALLY ASK GOD. I also know that this church is true. If they want to know this, they just need to COME TO CHURCH and see for themselves.

All people who humbly and diligently seek for truth will find it. I know that this is true, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,
Élder Zubeldia