A Simple act of Service....these great missionaries!

In Preach My Gospel we read “the starting point in building strong relationships with members is the bishop. Offer to help and serve in any righteous way that he asks. Regularly ask yourself, “Am I a blessing or a burden to the bishop (or stake president)?” Develop a “How can I help?” attitude. If you will look for opportunities to love, serve, and teach, the bishop and ward members will be more likely to trust you with their family members and friends” (PmG pg. 161)
I want to share this message I just recently received from a stake president:


"A FEW WEEKS AGO MY WIFE WAS OUT ON THE PATIO AND SAW TWO YOUNG MISSIONARIES SWEEPING OUR SIDEWALK, THEY WERE MISSIONARIES FROM OUR WARD. SHE CONTINUED TO WATCH THEM AND DID NOT WANT TO INTERUPT WHAT THEY WERE DOING ... SHE OBSERVED THAT THEY NOT ONLY CLEANED OUR SIDEWALK BUT ALSO THE SIDEWALKS IN FRONT OF THE HOMES OF MANY MEMBERS OF THE WARD. THIS SERVICE WAS NOT AN ACT OF ADVERTISING, IT WAS SO SIMPLE AND FULL OF LOVE THAT MY WIFE REMARKED TO ME "I FELT AS IF JESUS CHRIST WAS WASHING MY FEET” (TEARS WERE RUNNING DOWN HER FACE)”
“By small and simple things are great things brought to pass…

And by very small means the Lord … bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).

Thank you for who you are, true disciples of Jesus Christ.

We love you always,
President May
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Past successes help increase our Faith

I had the opportunity to work in Rencali zone with two different companionships this past week. I had the opportunity to knock doors. As we were knocking doors, I had the thought come to mind of past bishops and relief society presidents were found by knocking doors. As I kept my mind focused on these thoughts, it built my faith to continue knocking doors with greater urgency and hope of finding more of them.

Nephi was a great example of reflecting on past successes to increase his faith to overcome current trials.

It is one of the many evidences of why he was highly favored of the Lord. Lehi had just died and Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael were angry once again at Nephi. I am sure Nephi was thinking, “Here we go again, are they ever going to learn?” He must have been feeling somewhat disappointed with the whole situation. In 2 Nephi 4:17 we read:

“Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

Nephi was always quick to recognize, especially in times of difficulty and trial, the great things the Lord had done for him. In verses 20-26 we see how Nephi recognizes what God has done for him:

My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

Nephi draws strength to face adversity and trials that he is currently facing by bringing to memory the times in the past in which he has seen the hand of the Lord in his life in blessing and strengthening him. Nephi uses this as a source of strength ot overcome his current challenges and trials. Verse 26 illustrates this well:

O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

I invite all of you to be like Nephi and remember the blessings and the success the Lord has blessed you with in the past as a missionary to help you overcome challenges and trials you are currently facing.

We are grateful for all that you do in bringing souls unto Christ and we love you very much,
President May
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Elder Scott taught about "Transforming Power of Faith and Character,"

We know that in the mission we are going to have many wonderful spiritual experiences as we go about the work of bringing souls unto Christ. We are also going to pass through some very challenging times. As we reflect upon the words of Elder Amado that with every change we will experience a particular challenge in one form or another to increase our faith.

We learned this past week in our zone conferences about the life of Nephi and how he was at his very best in terms of faithfulness to the Lord, obedience with exactness, and diligence in the most difficult and challenging of times. How was he able to do it?

In his talk entitled, “The Transforming Power of Faith and Character” Elder Richard G. Scott teaches a very powerful principle in regards to developing strength of character to continue to be faithful, obedient and diligent in challenging times.

“Faith and character are intimately related. Faith in the power of obedience to the commandments of God will forge strength of character available to you in times of urgent need. Such character is not developed in moments of great challenge or temptation. That is when it is intended to be used. Your exercise of faith in true principles builds character; fortified character expands your capacity to exercise more faith. As a result, your capacity and confidence to conquer the trials of life is enhanced. The more your character is fortified, the more enabled you are to benefit from exercising the power of faith. You will discover how faith and character interact to strengthen one another. Character is woven patiently from threads of applied principle, doctrine, and obedience.”

In the past I have used the example of bank account when describing the relationship that exists between to missionaries in a companionship. When they love and serve each other and work together in unity and harmony, they make deposits in the account. When the account has plenty of deposits in it, the relationship can withstand any great challenge or trial.

Elder Scott teaches us that when we exercise faith unto obedience with exactness consistently on a daily basis, we will develop the strength of character that we can draw from in times of great challenge and temptation. Our own personal account of faith and character will be sufficeintly full to see us through any trial or challenge. The same faith we exercise in being obedient to the little things in the mission will grow to be a powerful source of strength in times when our faith may be tested in the form of a progressing investigator no longer wanting to be taught, not finding any new people teach, or not having any baptisms for extended period of time. These are the moments where consistently being obedient with exactness to the commandments and the mission rules will give us the power to press forward with a steadfastness in Christ… (2 Nephi 31:20) to accomplish what the Lord wants us to accomplish.

It is my prayer that we will exercise great faith in Jesus Christ that will provide us the power “to do miracles according to God´s will. Faith is a principle of power. God works by power, but His power is usually excercised in response to faith (see Moroni 10:7) (Preach My Gospel pg.116).

We love you and pray for your success,
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Ships are Safe in the Harbor

Good Morning, valiant Missionaries of the Chile Santiago North Mission,

Some of you might not know, but President May is having a birthday tomorrow on Tuesday, Feb. 8th, so I asked if I could write to you dear missionaries, instead and let me share some thoughts with you. You all know that I love President May, and I hope each one of you, in your future, will find an eternal companion with whom you can really feel, is your best friend, and companion from whom you never want to be transferred! He is the best, and I’m blessed to be married and sealed for the eternities with him and our family.

Recently I read again a talk given by Elder Claudio R.M. Costa, then a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, that he gave on 2 Nov 2010 at a BYU Fireside. He entitled it, “Ships are Safe in the Harbor.”

I want to share some of his quotes and thoughts with you. “Years ago, while visiting one of our institute buildings, I saw a beautiful painting on the wall. It was of a 16th-century ship with the sails tied to the mast, anchored safely in the harbor. At the bottom of the painting was the inscription, “A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for…..as you know, ships are not built to stay in the harbor, but that they are meant to navigate the oceans and to experience adventure. I was remembered that it is the same with us.”

He went on to remind us of prosperous Lehi and his family, with all of their possessions and seemingly happy life, comfortable with their comforts on their daily life. But they left it all, and went to a desert that was not comfortable, because the Lord commanded it and they obeyed. Then speaking of ships, they even were able to board a ship, because the Lord commanded Nephi how to build one, even though he had never imagined that he could do that, or even think he should try to build one. Lehi and his family symbolically left their harbor and sailed with faith.
Also, Alma was one of the priest to the King. He had a high social position, but left it all, after he heard Abinadi teach him the gospel, and also became a follower of Christ. He too left his safe harbor.
Then there is Ammon. He received his mission call, but didn’t get called to the best mission in the world, the Chile Santiago North Mission. He was told, ‘don’t go there, the Lamanites hate us, will not accept you, and might even kill you. Ammon decided to leave the harbor and navigate to an extraordinary adventure. But out of his safe harbor he found, as he told his son Helaman, “The Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors.” (Alma 36:25)
“The Garden of Eden was a safe harbor for Adam and Eve, but they would not have known their full potential if they had remained there.” (Genesis 3)
“Noah and his family left their safe harbor to live on the ark while it rained for forty days and forty nights. By the time it was safe for them to leave, they had lived on the ark for one year. (Gen 7:11-13)
“David a shepherd taking care of his flock. He was a young man, not a soldier. He was in a safe harbor of his life, but he left the security of his harbor, and with courage and great faith he accepted the call to fight Goliath.”
Elder Costa told about the travels, moves, changes and adventures of their own family, having children, was like leaving the harbor and navigating oceans in a new and marvelous adventure; bringing more responsibility and also great joy. It had been better than being anchored in the harbor with no progress. I think of President May also having many gifts, opportunities and future choices to make in his basketball career, and then later in his own personal career progress, but that he too left the safe harbor and followed the Savior when he was first call to serve as a full-time missionary in Bolivia, and then later to choose to step away from other career blessings, to see that the only option he wanted to choose was to heed the call to come and serve here in Chile.
Elder Costa reminds us that we will all have choices and then trials. But you dear missionaries are learning how to follow the Savior amidst the challenges. “Even when turbulence caused by the storms of life naturally comes our way in this mortal existence, we can be led by the lighthouse of the gospel and by our testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ.” The Savior himself left his safe harbor at the right had of his Father to give His life as an atoning sacrifice for all mankind. He knew this would not be a pleasure cruise, but one that while he was in Gethsemane, “he began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy.” He trusted and knew that His Father gave Him the power to accomplish all He needed to do.
A scripture comes to my mind, D&C 123:16-17, “You know brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.”
We love each one of you missionaries, and hope that you set your course to follow Jesus Christ faithfully.
Sister May
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Our Message is Simple for 2011

Thank you for all of your efforts in magnifying your purpose to invite others to come unto Christ. The Lord has blessed our mission greatly throughout the year 2010. We are so grateful for the work of both missionaries and members in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone. Our message is simple:


6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. (2 Nephi 2:6,8)

We have a great opportunity in the year 2011 to show our love for our Savior by increasing our faith, obedience, and diligence to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in greater abundance. As we have more of the companionship of the Holy Ghost in our lives, we will have more charity because it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). As we have more charity, we will teach the doctrine of Christ(Our missionary purpose) with more power and we will work more effectively with our wonderful in the Vineyard of the Lord. May our love for the Lord be our greatest motivation to give all of our heart, might, mind and strength in bringing salvation to our Heavenly Father´s children here in the Chile Santiago North mission.
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"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered, ' Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.' We read Alma 5:14:

14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you lookup, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

It is my prayer that we understand that the trials of the mission are the flames that refine us to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. We cannot go through this process without His help. “Through the Atonement we can be freed from the burden of our sins and develop faith and strength to face our trials. As we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, He can help us endure our trials, sicknesses, and pain. We can be filled with joy, peace, and consolation. All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”
We love you all,
President May
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Faith to Move Mountains....

In light of the Chilean mining rescue, we would like to include some information regarding the details we learned about the rescue. One impressive thought we felt so apropos was heard in this recent Oct 2010 session of General Conference, when Bishop Edgely said, “When the disciples asked Jesus why the could not cast a devil out as they had just witnessed the Savior do, Jesus answered, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove. (Matthew 17:20) I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude. Yes, I have seen mountains removed.”

More to be added soon.
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