Faith, Hope & Charity

Hey everyone! 

How are things!? Its so great to hear from you all. Thanks so much for your love and support. I seriously would die without your support and love. I was talking to a lady in our ward who just sent 2 of her sons off to the MTC and i instructed her to write them every day while they are in the MTC. That's what kept me sane when i was there. Anyways, it sounds like a lot is going on with you all. Life is Awesome!! Dontcha just love it!? I sure do :)

I've realized something just this past week. I realized it during a fireside we set up with our ward mission leader about missionary work. We had a member from the Northern Kentucky Ward speak in it. He is a pro at handing out pass-along cards to strangers. For the past 11 years he has passed out 14,000 cards each year. Thats 3 a day! and 43% of them have resulted in a baptism. Isn't that amazing!? Anyways, he is really awesome and he has a solid testimony about missionary work. The spirit was definitely chillin with us during that fireside. So, about what i realized.. I realized that this is the greatest time ever to be serving a mission! Think about it.. Mitt Romney has sparked the nations interest in the Church! What a great opportunity we ALL have to share the gospel to our friends and neighbors! I'm actually kind of jealous of all you guys, because you could do some pretty awesome missionary work that missionaries cant do. Another reason why this is the best time to serve a mission is because the Prophet himself revealed revelation from our father in heaven that we need MORE missionaries!! Did you know the bishops of the YSA wards at BYU are backed up by 3 months with interviews for people wanting to go on missions? crazy right!? I think its pretty obvious that the Lord wants all of us to get to work in proclaiming his gospel to everyone around us! So thats why this is the BEST time to serve a mission. I'm excited for Nick and Rebecca :)

I've been studying about faith, hope and charity lately. I love these principles! Faith is so important to me and i hope we can all find the importance of it in our lives. Its basically the key to allowing the Spirit to dwell with us. Have faith everyone! its great and will make you happy :)

I also found a pretty cool scripture this morning that Heavenly Father wanted me to read. It says, "And from thence let my servants Sidney Rigdon, Joseph Smith, Jun., Oliver Cowdery, and Dillon Benavides, take their journey for Cincinnati! And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For i am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you." Pretty cool huh.. :)

Dad thanks for the package. Its supposed to snow on Wednesday so you couldnt have sent it at a more perfect time. :) And thanks a lot Southwick family for sending me that surprise package. It was great! :) The slideshow didnt work on our dvd player so lets hope it works on this computer... I love all of you like crazy. I miss you like crazy too. Im so happy to be a part of all of your lives. It truly is an honor and a privilege and a blessing. Go about doing good in all that you do! Let us do as Elder Neal A. Maxwell said and "reach to lift hands which hang hopelessly down!"

I love you all

Elder Dillon Benavides