FAMILY!!!
BIG D! Happy Birthday bro! I can't believe your 15! AND preparing to get a permit! Don't do what I did, and make life harder on yourself by having to get it twice :) Seriously, I can't believe what a stud you are- look for something in the mail soon. As I have just glanced at the emails sent from home, I can sense the up-roar over the latest Baseball tourney- shoot, well Dad the lesson you have been learning about not trying to dwell on things you can't control- because you just relinquish your power and energy to the opposing force has been a lesson I have been learning as well! The victory will just be even sweeter next time! Dad- I sure did love the pictures- I have been chuckling to myself for the last 30 minutes. And also, the song I was hoping you could send me was “Homeward Bound” by the BYU Singers- but really, I am getting pretty used to my music- if you have free time, I would love a couple of your most recent favorites (mission appropriate obviously). No worries to get it done quickly.
This week has been ALL about E and B! We have had almost daily interaction with E, and double the interaction with B! B is doing so well! The gospel is becoming her whole lifestyle! We teach her twice a week, but she is our ride everywhere! She comes to at least 3 activities a week, she has so many friends in the ward that she is taking the initiative to call herself and ask questions and set up appointments with- and she has been asking and asking to go see the temple- so we will go on a tour with her this Friday! Wahoo! LOVE B.
E is no less amazing- he has such a strong desire to find truth that has drove him to study like crazy! He has been reading at least 5 chapters in the BOM every day, practically memorized our pamphlets, and been asking the Schaeffer family in our ward many questions. Unfortunately, (with an intent to find truth from only “biased” sources), he has also taken up looking on wikipedia all about prophets. To our surprise he gained an incredible testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet, but now has serious misgivings about our current prophet. Oh brother. He is beginning to have questions that are irrelevant to him becoming closer to Jesus Christ, and because they are ridiculous, we can't satisfy him with “good” answers. Nevertheless, he often asks us if we are still planning on meeting with him- he is a very smart man that wants to change his life. I have really gained a very good relationship with him- he has even said that he wants to buy me a plain ticket back out to Florida when I get home so we can go to St. Augustine (?) :)
I have developed so many amazing relationships in my ward, with my leaders, and investigators. I love my rural DeLand! I really hope I am not transferred- but with Sis Young being close to going home, it may be time to leave. Either way- I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. I don't bound around always beaming grateful to be tracting, eating another tuna sandwich, or biking home- but actually, I really do love it. I feel my spirit changing, I see others changing, and I know that I am doing all to work with the Lord in his vineyard.
Haha, MOM- the email you received was from my District Leader. He has been my district leader as long as I have been here and serves with me in the DeLand 2nd Ward- we have a really good relationship! But… no. Nothing you were hinting. Haha, I almost burst out laughing when I read that innuendo.
We have some exciting things this week- tomorrow is interviews with President. For that reason, our District Meeting (normally Thursdays) will take place tomorrow as well, at which I will do another training. I have done so many trainings! And if I am not doing a training, I am usually doing a musical number. Oh well, I know I always come out feeling stronger after having studied and bore testimony rather than listened. But regardless, I always love District Meetings. Also on May 4th (aka Star Wars Day, and Ellie May's B-day), Elder Clarke from the 70 is coming to speak to the mission. I feel so blessed to have been sent to such an incredible mission. It is a very social mission where I am able to have so much interaction with missionaries including district p-days. (Oh, by the way- last week we played sand volley ball…. Wasn't my shinning moment haha, but way fun). And with Orlando being such a hot spot of America, where many flights leave from to go to other countries, we have a privilege of hearing from general authorities more so than I think some other missions do. President Berry is so wonderful. I admire him and his wife so much. He is kind and trusts us. And these FLORIDIANS are crazy! Very colorful, quirky, Christ-lovin' people from many backgrounds.
Well, I try to be very positive in these emails- because so many great things are happening and I love my calling. I dread the time when I will not be a missionary for Jesus Christ. But, for any one that may read these emails and considering the experience a mission may entail- it can be hard. I have never fallen asleep so quickly so consistently than on a mission. You have to be very flexible- and reliable- and rely on others. Some days we don't teach anyone- some days we teach 8 people. Some days I look so sweaty. But in every instance, I feel the spirit. I know Heavenly Father is proud of me. Even when I am tired, I still feel energy. When I am about to become very nervous for things panning out- things usually fall apart- but then a better plan becomes so evident- like it was right in front of me the whole time. I have never had a really bad day- nor do I think I will. Because there are some hard moments, but they are just moments. The majority of my day is never boring- we can be very creative and have a lot of fun as we talk to so many people. It is a blast. I feel so powerful. I feel so loved.
Please read and pray at home. I have seen families become very disjointed and quickly unraveled by forgetting the little things. Recently I learned that when our stake presidency was changed just 6 months ago, Elder Godlen from the 70 came to interview the possible candidates for the stake president. The only questions asked in the qualifying interview were- do you read the scriptures every day, do you read the scriptures with your family every week, do you say a kneeling prayer every night and every evening, do you pray as a family, and do you have family home evening. That was it. Only 5 people qualified. Though this area is mostly made up of fairly recent converts, I still wonder- really, how different is it all around the world? Please read and pray, even if it it is short! It brings confidence, clarity, and power in my life. We are supposed to find peace- and prayer and scripture reading is how it is accomplished.
Can you tell what I have been teaching and testifying of lately? Haha, don't mean to over do it- it's just that good!
Hope you have a week that is full of good!
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