Day 12
Graduation Day
What a
wonderful 60 minutes! We held our graduation ceremony in the chapel that we
have been using all week and it was absolutely amazing. The students stood and
sang “Called to Serve” and then recited the Academy Slogan:
Somos linaje divino, mexicanos emprendedores, en un
país con grandes oportunidades.
Determinamos nuestro destino.
Vivimos la cultura del éxito.
Al exigirnos disciplina, diligencia y visión constante venceremos la pobreza.
Valoramos la integridad, el servicio, el trabajo y los recursos.
¡Forjaremos generaciones prósperas y nunca, nunca, nunca nos daremos por
vencidos!
We are
Mexican entrepreneurs, from a divine lineage, in a country with grand
opportunities.
We determine our own destiny.
We live the culture of success.
By requiring discipline, diligence and constant vision, we will overcome
poverty.
We value integrity, service, work and every resource.
We will build prosperous generations and we will never, never, never give up!
We then had
four graduating students speak about their experience with the ROCK PROJECT.
They spoke about how they went from disbelief to amazement within hours of
receiving their rocks. Reyna correlated herself to the rock and explained that
she has felt useless and totally incapable of achieving great things before
coming to the two-week course. We then heard from Roberto who spoke about how
he gave his friend a rock, instead of money, when his friend asked him for
money. After him, we heard from Samuel, who was the man that found the carpet
behind the hotel and sold it within hours after picking it up. Lastly we heard
from Gandhi who challenged the graduates to live according to the Culture of
Success. He cited President Kimball and said, “We must be the generation that
no longer asks why, but asks WHY NOT!” His word set the tone for a great
spirit.
After the
four short discourses I asked Alan Alanis (a graduate from January 2010) to
come and share his success to the graduating class. He spoke about the
importance of organization, hustle, and contracts. He inspired the students by
telling them he had 0 pesos when he returned and within weeks of returning home
he had signed a contract for 1 million pesos. However, what was more impressive
were his words: “All I have is because my faith in myself and in my Savior have
brought me to action”.
After Alan
spoke, Alberto De Hoyos was asked to share his feelings. His is the gift of
bringing the Spirit into the room. He spoke about how he learned as much about
the gospel as he did about business while in this training. He invited the
students to always search for the greatest things in life and to provide for
their families.
Sergio
Navarro (the Puebla Chapter President) then shared a few words and challenged
the graduates to: 1) Leave the chapel clean and 2) Arrive on time to the 1st
Chapter Meeting in Puebla which will be held July 31st, 2010 at
5:00pm. He and his counselors will be receiving trainings prior to that
meeting.
I then
shared my love and respect with the students and challenged them to beware of
pride, for riches would surely come. I expressed my gratitude and challenged
them to hire slowly, fire quickly, and to find the right person for the
job—members and non-members of the Church. I told them that their businesses
could be a great way for non members to know the Savior and come unto Christ.
After I spoke, Elder Benjamin De Hoyos spoke.
Elder De Hoyos:
Not only did Elder De Hoyos have two of his biological
sons in this generation, he also had two of his “mission children” participate!
What a GREAT reunion!
Elder De Hoyos spoke about how “To whom much is given, much
is required” and that prosperity is a worthy goal to set. He spoke about the
importance of the scriptures and challenged the graduating class to re-read
their scriptures with the mentality of what they had learned in the course. He
promised the graduates that if they would “read the scriptures….remembering
what they had learned these past two weeks, that they would have all things and
more, even precious gems, revealed to them.”
Then Elder De Hoyos explained that it was their obligation and duty to
go out and spread this knowledge to other people. Elder De Hoyos promised the
graduates that as they taught they would learn, “for he that giveth, receiveth
more than he that receiveth.” Hearing the words from one of the Lord’s anointed
is always humbling and inspiring.
All in all
I believe that these past two weeks have changed hundreds of lives, at least.
Our students are leaving with a new hope, a new faith, and a new sense of
identity. I love this work. Like many others, the feeling shared here is the
same we felt on the mission—selfless service always brings the Spirit of God to
the heart. I can honestly say that I have learned more in these past two weeks
than I would have expected. I thank you all, each of you, as does Elder De
Hoyos and Elder Johnson, for the amazing love you have provided to these
people. I am just a missionary, spreading the knowledge of those that have gone
before me and achieved success in business and with their families. I am so
happy that I have been blessed with this great opportunity. Thank you all for
your love, prayers, support, and donations. You have allowed hundreds of
families to be blessed already!