Hereby I want to express my sincere desire to be baptized and become part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The reason I have asked me to write this letter is because my sins are not mild. Before you I address those details, I consider it is imperative that narrate some of the circumstances of my life that led me to commit such wrongdoings.
I was born and lived on the island of Cuba, before the days of communism. From an early age, I have lived a series of horrific events that have marked my life. In 1959, when I was nine years old, the communist regime began to govern; and my family was against such ideals. That brought dire consequences for our family, including me. I was an eyewitness of how much of my immediate family
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Yes, as you well read, the communist regime also sent children to the adult prison, and many of those ruffians abused of the innocence of those defenseless children. Largely, due to all the bitterness I had in my heart, I felt compelled to become a defender of the innocent in this environment of evil. Many frightened children approached me for protection, and offered to them for nothing in return. Perhaps the atrocities I lived as child had a great influenced in that decision. During the Mariel, the Cuban communists sent me to the United States with other criminals as well. Some of them sought to kill me. After several years in this country, I killed another man who was looking after me to take my life. This event led me to be imprisoned in this country for ten …show more content…
Moreover, I have come to feel repulsion of myself. My life has been a breastplate and darkness for all the things I have experienced. When I no longer could bare the guilt of my consciousness, I had thoughts of committing suicide. It was in those conditions where I met Jesus Christ, which has paid for my sins, and that through repentance I can be released of my torment. Although I have had psychological help, I recognize that I need God's forgiveness. I feel isolated and helpless. Even more, I have not been able to forgive myself.
My conscience is being tormented and as the only way I can go to sleep is by sleeping pills. I know I have done a great evil; however, many times I wonder why at this time God has knocked the doors of my house through His missionaries. I have taken all the lessons from the missionaries, and I know this is the Church of Jesus Christ. I know that Heavenly Father sent his begotten son to die for our sins including mine. And I know that without Him I cannot reach forgiveness. This is why I appeal to your clemency and God's mercy to allow me to be baptized.
You will seal my commitment to Jesus and his church by anointing me with oil and by calling me by my name. The name I wish to be called at my Confirmation is Augustine. I have chosen that name because, like Saint Augustine of Hippo, there were times when I had doubts of what my faith was about. But ever since I’ve been preparing for my Confirmation, my eyes have opened and I no longer believe because I’ve been told to believe. I’ve felt God with me. I’ve noticed everything that God does for me. And I’m anxious to share that feeling with others who have wandered away from the path to our Lord.
From April 15 to October 31 in 1980, over 125,000 Cuban migrants arrived in the United States. Family members from America ferried relatives and institutionalized Cubans from the Cuban port of Mariel, in what was soon coined the Mariel Boatlift. Mirta Ojito, one of these ‘Marielitos’, as they soon were termed, grew up to write “Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus”. In this text, the author provides a historic account of events leading up to the Mariel Boatlift, narratives from important figures surrounding the event, and a personal narrative describing the struggle of her family to gain freedom from the socialist dictatorship of Fidel Castro. Throughout the story of the years preceding the boatlift and the influence that living in Cuba held on her life, Ojito describes the positive and negative elements of the both the political climate and personal life on the communist island which led to her eventual emigration to the United States.
Thirty-seven years to the date April 20th, 2017, Fidel Castro enacted the policy of the Mariel boatlift, in which he’d allow Cubans seeking to emigrate to the United States to do so by departing at Mariel. This number would eventually eclipse 125,000 people seeking asylum and refuge from Cuba, and the regime in which at one point they felt represented or directly opposed their own viewpoints. The first wave of Cuban exiles being the extremely wealthy, in direct opposition to Fidel Castro’s regime for a race-less society, and a single-class economy, government, and social order. The ultimatum being set at you’re with the revolution or you’re not, this encouraged former supporters of the now ousted Batista, to seek refuge in the United States.
Cuba is merely one example of a society. Juan Cabrera is simply an ordinary example of an individual. What The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera by J. Joaquin Fraxedas bring to light is the extraordinary effects of stepping outside the comfort zone of following the expectations of those that lead our governments. Although the situation was unlike our own it highlights what could very well could have
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The Communist Revolution of Cuba didn’t just impact the working class, but rather also affected the youth living in Cuba as well. Many children fought in the brigades to avoid capital punishment. One such account tells the story of Jose Agustin, who wrote an autobiography of his experiences in the brigades titled “Diario de brigadista, Cuba 1961”. It was in this book that Jose talked about his daily
This night was one of the best nights there ( and not just because I was leading it). This night was the night that people opened up the most, and let there walls down, and let one another see each other's brokenness, that we may be healed by the Lord, keep each accountable, and pray for one another. This was the first time that I knew that I was supposed to go into ministry, although I had thought about it before. Here on this mission trip was also when I knew that I was going to be baptized for the second time. I was baptized once before, I knew that I had realized that I was not completely aware of what I was doing. I told my youth pastor that I wanted to be baptized aging, and he was very happy for me. We got back from our mission trip, and about a month later I was baptized by my youth pastor on July 31, 2016. The only way I could describe how I felt afterward was “complete”. It made with special experience even better, that I was able to share it with all of my church family, that has supported my through my walk with
Ever since its inception, Christianity has been epitomised by a range of religious practices that explore the sacred beliefs that have been upheld and spread around the world. These practices thus continue to bear a significant influence over the lives of adherents and how they seek to express their faith in Christianity. One such religious practice is that of baptism which functions as a significant milestone in the life of any
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In a contemporary Christian environment one of the most prominent practices to have a significant contribution to Christianity as a living religious tradition is Baptism. Baptism is of utmost importance for most Christian denominations. It has profound significance for the individual who is baptised and is also important for the Christian community as a whole. As a sacrament of initiation, Baptism calls its adherents to become missionary Disciples of Christ. It is through baptism that one’s faith journey begins and Christians are called to follow and live their lives in the light of Christ.
The theme of manipulation and deceit in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Emily Bronte’s wuthering heights. Men and women have many ways of betraying and manipulating their peers and lovers. Women often become too manipulative in their relationships. Manipulation is seldom a good thing to do to a spouse.
This is a brief examination into Cuba’s historical progression and their constant political struggles with the government, the people of Cuba, and
The Cuban Revolution was touchy topic for the United States and Cuba. America’s alienation of Cuba didn’t help when communism from the USSR was brewing over the revolution. When the revolution gained Castro as its leader, the worry and hatred from the United States was unbearable, especially when the Soviet Union landed in Cuba to interest Castro in its aid. The US’s fear of communism, Fidel Castro, and aid from the Soviet Union was significant because it changed the US’s political role in Cuba during the Cuban Revolution.
The New Testament is a collection of books which contains the writings concerning the significant events in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. These books appeared after the physical death of Jesus Christ. In this regard, Jesus had left no records concerning him, and all that is written about him depends wholly on what other people have written about him. The first four books of the New Testament are part of the several biographies of Jesus which were written by the end of the first century of the era of Christianity. Then before any of these biographies have been drafted, there were Christian communities which were being instructed through epistles on how to live like Jesus and how to solve their problem like Christians. A good number of these letters were written by a man called Paul. After Paul death, some other new leaders of the Christian movement continued to write letters to the churches to encourage and strengthen them. As Christians grew in number persecution arose, and some letters have been drafted to support them and also to counter the false doctrines. These letters are part of the New Testament. The twenty-seven books of the New Testament were selected from the list of writings in that period (Bruce, 1988)
I realize that I have remained content in my relationship with God rather than working to enhance it. This is due to my dislike of change and fear of obstacles. In “The Emotions God Gave You” Art and Laraine write, “…a phlegmatic may feel anxious or fearful. These are simply tendencies and do not dictate our actions (Bennett 34). I am disappointed in myself because I have allowed the fear I experience to dictate my actions of avoiding spiritual growth. Every human is called to holiness and in order to achieve it action is required. This fear also explains my internal conflict with laziness because I have allowed the fear to disincline my activity. An insecurity that I am extremely fearful of is talking to adults. This greatly affects my spiritual life because in order to be resolved of my sins I am required to talk to a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation. My fear of talking to a priest has effectively hindered my decision to receive reconciliation for more than three years now. In order to further my relationship with God it is vital that I attend the sacrament. I will no longer allow fear to dominate my actions as I plan to attend reconciliation this coming Saturday at my