Week 36: Adventures of the co-inky dink

Heyo!

So Zachy Zachy...

His life is basically soccer I feel like. I mean, I know it is more than that, I know he studies gospel stuff, and walks around talking to people... But for reals, I think he is just playing soccer :)

SOCCER! See the dog on the right side? That is Sasha. She is a stray that follows Zach everywhere and is his guard dog. It is actually the cutest thing ever. She just waits outside every night for him. DARLING.

Also he has been teaching a young man named Rodrigo (when he is not playing soccer). This little guy has committed to baptism on April 11th, which Zach is pretty excited about, because that is a pretty special day in our family also. Our sister Cassie is getting sealed to her fiance and her little baby girl Tegan that day! What a cool little coincidence! So even though Zach won't be able to be with us in the temple that day, we know he will be somewhere pretty equally special, changing Rodrigo's life with the gospel.

Another investigator that Zach has is Raul who is about 45. He has been attending church sometimes, but seems to not want to commit to anything. He loves to go to activities, but wont commit to reading the scriptures or to pray, which are two pretty important aspects to gaining your own testimony of the gospel. Zach has been using this to his advantage and invites him to lots of places to help Raul open up. Just recently he invited Raul to family home evening with the re-activated Flores family. They played a game together and had a really fun time. So hopefully Raul can be blessed with the spirit and can see how important those things are to his activation.


Zachs challenge this week for everyone is to perfect our talents. He gave the example of our brother who has been working so hard with baseball. He practices everyday and juggles his tournaments with schoolwork and friends. Its kind of a rough schedule for a 13 year old. But he still continues to perfect his talents. With hard work, we can all grow our talents!

In conclusion and in Zach's own words:

"Right before Jesus Christ atoned for us in the garden of Gethsemani he asked for another way that the task at hand could be accomplished but willfully he submitted to the lords will. Right then as he began to atone for us Jesus Christ was then completely alone. This thought before haunted me to know he was completely alone. I always wondered why god left Jesus Christ completely alone. Have you ever thought about that? When Jesus Christ paid the price for every pain, emotion, sin, he did it completely alone. Not to mention his circle of close friends diminished slowly. Christ was alone. Atoned alone. That gives me pain when I think about this. The reason that he was completely alone was because as he atoned for all of our sins he had to know what it felt like to be completely and utterly alone. Cut off from the presence of his father, so that he could help us!

We are never alone! Jesus Christ was our savior and redeemer and he was completely alone. He needed to know how it felt so he could know how to help us. This thought that was conjured by the talk by Elder Holland, no one was with him (I think that's the right translation) brought new understanding to me that who ever feels down. Remember that Christ knows us perfectly. 100% perfectly.

I know that we are never alone and that Christ is here for us. Pray to god. Live the commandments, do your best and then tell me that you cant feel the presence of the lord. When we do what we are supposed to we will see changes. Huge ones!"

Hasta luego!