Transfer of area

So, this week we found an awesome investigator, Cyprien. We found him on Friday, he wanted us to come back on Saturday, and he came to church on Sunday. We ended up teaching him on Sunday since anther rendez-vous fell through. He understands really well, and seems to already believe that it is true, even if he doesn't have a really strong testimony yet. I think that he used to be Catholic, but that he left because he felt like their teaching weren't in harmony with the Bible. I think he might have gone to several churches before. So, it is possible that it won't turn out quite as well as it first seems, since that happens often. But, it is very possible that he will be someone who is baptized two weeks after he met the missionaries, someone who was looking for the truth, but hadn't found it yet.

But, unfortunately, I won't be able to continue teaching him, since the change of areas will be happening today. So, I will now be in an area that I know nothing about. But, really the hardest part is just leaving all of the people that we were teaching. There are some that are getting close to baptism, which is cool, and I'm sad that I will miss out on that. There are others who are really good people, but that I have a feeling won't be taught nearly as often, or at all after the change. Some missionaries are more willing to stop teaching people if they don't come to church, or keep commitments, etc. Others are willing to give them more chances. I think that one of the missionaries who will be working in the area is one of the type that will stop teaching people if they aren't keeping commitments. Which is necessary sometimes. It is hard because I think that most missionaries have a tendency to want to teach the people that they find, and that they started teaching. That is normal, but hard sometimes.

Sorry, that all sounded kind of negative. I really don't think it will be that bad, but I am a little discouraged that it is possible that tons of people I started teaching won't get taught anymore. But, I also think that that is one reason for transfers in a mission, so that the missionaries teach the people who really need to be taught. It is easy for missionaries who have stayed in an area for a while to want to keep teaching people who really aren't that interested in learning, and waste time like that. By changing missionaries, there isn't that attachment there, and it can help things progress. But, there has to be a balance there. Too far to one side is bad, and too far to the other is bad.

So, yeah, hopefully that made sense. I just don't want people to miss out on the blessings of the gospel because the missionaries don't teach them. But, they have to be willing to act as well. Sometimes it just takes time, and it is hard to know how much time is the right amount. I am pretty sure that most of the feeling come every time that you are transfered. But, especially when you are just swapping areas with another set of missionaries, and you are in the same apartment with them, it is hard. I will just have to continue on in faith, and trust the Lord knows what He is doing.

Journey is the destination

Elder Phillips, my first companion, talked about a phrase, ''The journey is the destination.'' For example, most of the time when you go backpacking, you don't actually go someplace, you just walk around with a backpack on for a few days. It is the same with a mission, or kind of, it isn't the perfect analogy. But, the idea is that the mission is the destination, and it is important to enjoy the journey. The goal of a mission is not just to finish the two years. The mission is the goal, if that makes sense. The idea was really good, and it was something that I really needed to learn. Sometimes I just feel like the mission is too hard, and like I am just trying to endure until the two years are over. But, the mission is the destination, and it took a long time (19 years) to get here. I need to enjoy it while it lasts. Thanks to my Aunt Rae, who in a letter said something about how after her mission she remembers the good more that the hard, and that it is the hard memories that help make good memories.

Thankful and Testimony

December 1, 2008
"I am grateful for washing machines. I don't think that most people realize what a washing machine does, but I do now, after having done it by hand. Air conditioning is an amazing blessing, though I have learned to live without it. Having a fan is very nice though. I am grateful for power, since this last week the power stopped working a couple different days. It really helps me to be grateful. I remember the talk in conference where someone said that we shouldn't have to lose something to be grateful for it. I think it was Elder Hales in the Priesthood Session. I am grateful for hot water, which is something we don't have. But again, I have actually kind of gotten used to cold showers. Also this last week, when the power stopped working, we didn't have running water for a while. We got filtered water in bags, but no running water. so that was hard, but a good experience.

Above all else, I am grateful for the gospel, and for the love that my Heavenly Father, and my Savior Jesus Christ have for me, and the testimony that I have. It is just amazing to even think about. Sometimes as a missionary you just think that it is so obvious that the gospel is true, that everyone should just believe and get baptized. But, it doesn't work like that. I read the special issue of the Ensign about Jesus Christ the last couple days. It is amazing, and I highly recommend that you read it if you have the chance. I especially liked the article by President Packer about who Jesus Christ is. So, I really have a testimony of the love that God has for us. I see it every single day in my own life, and in the lives of others. I knew this before my mission as well, it just grows even stronger as a missionary. I know that we have the true church of Jesus Christ, and that if we pray and ask good, that we can receive a witness through the power of the Holy Ghost that the Church and Book of Mormon are true. God really does hear and respond to our prayers, it is not just something we do because it is a commandment, or it shouldn't be. We should pray to God because He is our Father, and He loves us with a perfect love. I know that the power of the priesthood is real, which is very humbling. It is God's power, yet He trusts us enough to act in His name to be able to serve His children on the earth. I could go on and on, but those are some of the things that I am grateful for, along with a testimony of some of the things that I know."

Haircut and Happiness

I got a haircut last Monday. Time is a lot different as a missionary. My companion cut it, with some clippers we have in our apartment. So, that was pretty interesting. He did a good job, it's not really that hard to cut my hair, since I don't care that much what it looks like. (I told Michael that he might have to cut his companions hair. I don't think that he believed me before he left)

So, there is a quote in the missionary call letter that says something to the effect that you will find your greatest happiness as a missionary. It really is true. I am not exactly sure how, but I really am happy most of the time. There are times that things are really hard, a lot of those times, but there are other times that are really good. But, it is not really me that is happy, it is more that I am happy to see other people's happiness, if that makes sense. We taught a family home evening the other night with a recent convert and a couple that has been members for a while. So, couple had a temple calender that hadn't even been opened, and they gave it to Matin, the recent convert. After words, just to see how happy he was, it was really awesome. And, to know that the happiness that the gospel brings is the only type of happiness that can last for eternity. So, yeah, the gospel is true, you should all share it with people. And go on missions when or if you have the chance. It is cool. Really hard, especially with learning a language, but really good.

And on December 8th he wrote: "Well, I have a ton of stuff that I have been thinking about lately, and it is really hard to be able to express myself in writing. Or in speaking for that matter. Basically if you could just feel the things I feel, that is the only way to completely understand. Basically right now, I just feel happy. I am not sure exactly why, but things are going good."

Gift of tongues-Magnify calling

The gift of tongues is real, I don't think I really realized that before my mission, I didn' think much of missionaries learning languages. But, it is real, because I have seen it in my life. So, yeah, have faith, and all things are possible.

The people here are mostly new members, so it is really cool to see them magnify their callings. SOme of them don't really know what they are doing, but they try really hard, and do a good job. It makes me wish that I had tried harder at my callings before my mission. Always do your best, even though that is really hard to do.