Fortified Nephite Cities

Sumaj p´unchay!

I hope that you are all doing well. I am currently sick, proving that even those with a divine mandate from God can suffer illnesses.

This week, first, last week. Because it rained at Condor Picchu, (Machu Picchu) there were no bugs. So it was a tender mercy in disguise, but, also because it didn´t look like it would rain, I decided to leave my rain jacket in the car that brought us to the train. So I got wet. But I had brought more shirts, so I did a wardrobe change at a Wonder of the World. Right there in the middle of everyone, all the tourists I changed my shirt. Though differently than you might think, for you see, I´m ingenious.

I put my black long-sleeve on first, then my green t-shirt, on top of my white shirt which got rained on. Then, I unbuttoned my white shirt and carefully took it off from under my two other shirts. Then I put it on top of everything because it was cold and I had no other layers. So, quite ingeniously I did a wardrobe change at a touristic location without hardly anyone noticing because I was never shirtless! Haha! The only thing is I might be sick from getting wet, but lesson learned. If not going to bring a jacket, bring a plastic poncho.

Now, this week went like lightning. There was a lot of things that happened, but it´s all over now. Changes meeting so we can plan for everyone to move and all. Half p-day, work then half p-day. And a couple citas for teaching too. The Spirit was strong in the one we had yesterday. With Irina we taught the Restoration and really drove home the importance of the Book of Mormon which we´d shared with her earlier.

Ahora, lo que es el titulo del correo: I visited Pikillakta again, but this time it was with Elder Lewis and the Johnsons. So we actually looked at what is was, not the pictures we can pose.

This time, as evidenced by the videos I filmed, I´m now convinced that it was a Nephite city that was fortified personally by Captain Moroni. I could be wrong, but I also could be right... So...... Yeah.

Just look at the outline that the city is from the high vantage point that I took the picture from. There were strong walls, they could have had trenches on the outside for all we know, the whole city has been filled in by dirt almost. They´re excavating it for crying out loud. But it could have been a fortified Nephite city...

Now, analogy: We should make our lives like a fortified Nephite city. We should make it hard for our enemies to enter. And we should make it easy to kill our enemies when they come and try to invade. That way we can come out victorious by defeating all our enemies. But the key to remember is that the Nephites were strengthened by the Lord, and we need to be as well. The Lord strengthens us as we pray, read the scriptures, go to church and keep the commandments. So, I recommend that you all do those things, because I´ve seen when I do them, I´m better off than when I don´t. Because the Lord strengthens me when I do those things.

Have a great one!

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Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher