Sunday, December 16, 2012

Searching for "The One"

A couple of weeks ago in a Priesthood Leadership meeting in Linares, each priesthood leader was given a colored stone and asked to keep it in his pocket as a reminder to search for "the one."  Nearly 90% of the members here in Chile are less-active.  We are trying to bring them back one at a time.
Roberto Caceres was 15 years old when we taught him and his family in 1969.  We baptized his mother in October 1969 along with Hermanas Salgado and Miños.  He was baptized a few weeks later after I left by my companion, Elder Robert Burton.
Elder Robert Burton baptizing in the Rio Maule.
The Caceres family was introduced to the Church by Hermana Salgado who found out about the church through this "Mini-Expo" we made and set up in the plaza in Constitución.  An 8 year old boy named Carlos Alegría also filled out a referral card from this Mini-Expo.
Roberto Caceres (C) was the first full-time missionary (Chile Viña Del Mar Mission) sent from the Constitución Branch in 1977.   Carlos Alegría (L) was the second sent just 2 months later (Chile Osorno Mission).  
Unfortunately, Roberto Caceres became less-active after his mission in 1979.  When I asked him if he believed that the Book of Mormon was true he said yes.  He still has a testimony.  He even named his firstborn son Angel Moroni Caceres in 1986.  That son lives in Linares and we're going to try to find him.  Angel Moroni was baptized with his stepmother in 2000.  Roberto has remained inactive during all of that time.  He knows but he just doesn't act on it.
We invited Roberto to come back.  It has been a long time but it is not too late.  Carlos Alegría has been faithful his whole life.



5 comments:

  1. Interesting that your companion was named Robert Burton. My great-grandfather is Robert Taylor Burton. Do you know where Elder Burton was from?

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    1. Glendale, California. I've never been able to find him since. It's possible he went to Vietnam. I really don't know. He was a great companion.

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  2. Great stories of pure missionary work. I love how Doug can put real perspective on the work, having served in the same cities in his former, full-head-of-hair life. Enjoy your mission.

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  3. Doug there is a Robert Lanell Burton that is on our deceased list for our missionary time of 1961 to 1975. Gary Davis probably knows the circumstance if anyone would.

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    1. I believe that is him. I couldn't find the deceased list. I'll contact Gary Davis. Thanks for the information.

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