Encontrar Bingo

When I got here to Málaga we had maybe 3 progressing friends and 2 of them were passed to the other Elders in the ward. Yep, that means we get to do a fresh start and lots of finding. This week we had a finding Bingo card amongst our district and while we didn't get a bingo, we found lots of new friends. One of the spots was a grandma from Spain. I talked to probably 30 Spanish grandmas this week but no luck. This week when we weren't walking around, we had some other fun stuff. 

One of the photos shows us with our friend and his mate. He's a member of the ward in Málaga from Paraguay named Silvio and we make our calls with him while he updates us on the latest AI news. He also was just randomly watching some college football so that was super sick - haha.

This Thursday we went to a house of a family from Brazil and mostly just listened to their story. They were all super depressed. It was difficult to see a house with so little hope. We offered a blessing and a spiritual message and we should be going back sometime this week. I hope we can bring some light back into their lives. 

On Saturday we had a big BBQ with some members of the ward. I have no idea what they were celebrating, but I was happy to be there.

Finally, we finished the week off with some friends in church! Just a good week that's all. Nothin crazy, just a good week. Sorry for a lazy email. I promise some stories next week. 

I was reading a lot in the New Testament this week and it included the story of the 10 lepers. Having leprosy in Ancient Israel meant more than just having a disease. It also meant being a social outcast as you were considered ritually unclean. Jesus, doing as he always did, changed the cultural expectations and looked toward the heart offering mercy and compassion. 

"And [he] fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole"

Did you catch that? Even though all 10 of the lepers were healed, only one, through his faith, was made whole. Jesus offers His healing to all, but we have to return to Him and be made whole through our faith. In our lives we may not be made physically healed of our infirmities. After all, those are part of the reason we are here, but we can receive spiritual healing and be "made whole" by returning to Jesus. 

“Most gladly therefore will I … glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, … in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

"Those who wrestle with mortal struggles and turn to God in faith like Paul can receive the blessings of becoming acquainted with God. Paul was not healed of his affliction, but he was spiritually whole in Jesus Christ. And even in his adversity, the light of his conversion to and strength from Jesus Christ was shining, and he was joyful." (Camille N. Johnson, Apr 2025)

This week I invite you to search out spiritual healing through Jesus Christ even as you may be waiting for physical or emotional relief. 

Elder Dougall