What an eventful week! I have to say that being a missionary makes
every moment count. I once asked one of my favorite companions what
made him work so hard, to which he said, "I don't want to waste the
Lord's time."
Wow. Such power, such honesty. That is a missionary who understands
that this time is sacred and special. He is not the only missionary
that has told me that before. I am glad that I serve around so many
inspiring leaders.
One of the key indicators for my personal success is how much I find
joy in the success of other people. Recently I've been able to keep
close watch over the missionaries serving around me, and they are
doing amazing things with the Lord's time. Feeling the joy of others
inspires me to have my own joy, and believe me I do. There is always
something to be happy about.
For instance, at the beginning of this week, I thought I would melt.
It was so blessed hot outside. We took a bit of time in the afternoon
to get out of the car and walk, and after two hours of work, we got
back into the car, and I realized that all the pass along cards in my
front pocket melted together. I have no idea how I did it on a bike
last year, but I'm glad that I am off of the bike for now.
On Saturday, however, we got caught in one of the most torrential
downpours of my mission. It matched the time when a tropical storm
ripped through Texas in the Fall of last year. It was like watching
sheets of water hit the ground. Quite spectacular. Even though we got
a good soak in, it felt better than getting sweat and dirt mixed
together on my face. It has been raining nonstop for the past two and
a half days. I love it. I feel like one of the kids in Holes, when it
finally rains, except I don't wear orange jumpsuits, or own a shovel,
or am on parole. Other than that, I feel like Holes.
we received two self referrals this week. One of them was for a
Nigerian Lady, E I, and a recent UT grad, M.
Eallows us to call her Maria. Thank you so much, Maria.
Maria is actually a member of the church who has moved into the Ward
for next few months or so. She wanted to know where the local church
was. We were glad to tell her and then get to know the family she is
staying with. Maria has been a temple worker in Aba Nigeria for the
past 11 years. She is a very faithful woman. We asked her sister and
brother in-law if we could teach them, and they said, "of course!"
Maria and her sister came to church this Sunday and loved it. They
said that they could hardly understand anyone's English accents, but
they still felt the spirit. That's what is is all about. So glad to
meet her.
M. Referred himself after a great time of thought. He says that
he has been drawn to the church throughout his life, but has never met
with the missionaries. He's been reading the Book of Mormon on his own
and loved all three ours of church. He came in a sport coat and white
shirt with dress pants. He fit right in! M is a great man and I
hope that he accepts the invitation to be baptized soon.
This week I ate in a home that my brother ate at many times before.
When he was serving his mission in Texas, he would go to the Mitchells
from time to time and have dinner with their family. Now here I was,
looking at the same wallpaper, probably the same table, talking to the
same family that I have grown to love serving in my own Ward. It was
such an out of body experience to think, "My brother was here 10 years
ago. He sat in this room. He talked to these people." It would be even
wilder of an experience if half of the Stony Point Ward didn't already
know my other Brother.
Things are going great out in Round Rock. I officially cover three
townships though, due to the amount of wards we cover. Yesterday I was
in Pflugerville sacrament meeting, drove to Round Rock, and then
finished the night in Georgetown municipality. For being in three
fairly densely populated wards, it's a fun thought.
I want to finish my email by sharing one of my favorite stories about
the early church.
When the 23-year-old Heber J. Grant was instaled as president
of the Tooele Stake, he told the Saints he believed the
gospel was true. President Joseph F. Smith, a counselor in
the First Presidency, inquired, "Heber, you said you believe the
gospel with al your heart, … but you did not bear your
testimony that you know it is true. Don't you know absolutely
that this gospel is true?" Heber answered, "I do not." Joseph
F. Smith then turned to John Taylor, the President of the
Church, and said, "I am in favor of undoing this afternoon
what we did this morning. I do not think any man should
preside over a stake who has not a perfect and abiding
knowledge of the divinity of this work." President Taylor
replied, "Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, [Heber] knows it just as well as
you do. The only thing that he does not know is that he
does know it." Within a few weeks that testimony was realized,
and young Heber J. Grant shed tears of gratitude for the
perfect, abiding, and absolute testimony that came into his
life.
It is a grand thing to know—and to know that you know and
that the light has not been borrowed from another.
Elder Richard Hall
1. Elder Nebeker and I. He was one of my four trainers, and an
excellent missionary.
2. Toe Juice. The most amazing thing on earth
every moment count. I once asked one of my favorite companions what
made him work so hard, to which he said, "I don't want to waste the
Lord's time."
Wow. Such power, such honesty. That is a missionary who understands
that this time is sacred and special. He is not the only missionary
that has told me that before. I am glad that I serve around so many
inspiring leaders.
One of the key indicators for my personal success is how much I find
joy in the success of other people. Recently I've been able to keep
close watch over the missionaries serving around me, and they are
doing amazing things with the Lord's time. Feeling the joy of others
inspires me to have my own joy, and believe me I do. There is always
something to be happy about.
For instance, at the beginning of this week, I thought I would melt.
It was so blessed hot outside. We took a bit of time in the afternoon
to get out of the car and walk, and after two hours of work, we got
back into the car, and I realized that all the pass along cards in my
front pocket melted together. I have no idea how I did it on a bike
last year, but I'm glad that I am off of the bike for now.
On Saturday, however, we got caught in one of the most torrential
downpours of my mission. It matched the time when a tropical storm
ripped through Texas in the Fall of last year. It was like watching
sheets of water hit the ground. Quite spectacular. Even though we got
a good soak in, it felt better than getting sweat and dirt mixed
together on my face. It has been raining nonstop for the past two and
a half days. I love it. I feel like one of the kids in Holes, when it
finally rains, except I don't wear orange jumpsuits, or own a shovel,
or am on parole. Other than that, I feel like Holes.
we received two self referrals this week. One of them was for a
Nigerian Lady, E I, and a recent UT grad, M.
Eallows us to call her Maria. Thank you so much, Maria.
Maria is actually a member of the church who has moved into the Ward
for next few months or so. She wanted to know where the local church
was. We were glad to tell her and then get to know the family she is
staying with. Maria has been a temple worker in Aba Nigeria for the
past 11 years. She is a very faithful woman. We asked her sister and
brother in-law if we could teach them, and they said, "of course!"
Maria and her sister came to church this Sunday and loved it. They
said that they could hardly understand anyone's English accents, but
they still felt the spirit. That's what is is all about. So glad to
meet her.
M. Referred himself after a great time of thought. He says that
he has been drawn to the church throughout his life, but has never met
with the missionaries. He's been reading the Book of Mormon on his own
and loved all three ours of church. He came in a sport coat and white
shirt with dress pants. He fit right in! M is a great man and I
hope that he accepts the invitation to be baptized soon.
This week I ate in a home that my brother ate at many times before.
When he was serving his mission in Texas, he would go to the Mitchells
from time to time and have dinner with their family. Now here I was,
looking at the same wallpaper, probably the same table, talking to the
same family that I have grown to love serving in my own Ward. It was
such an out of body experience to think, "My brother was here 10 years
ago. He sat in this room. He talked to these people." It would be even
wilder of an experience if half of the Stony Point Ward didn't already
know my other Brother.
Things are going great out in Round Rock. I officially cover three
townships though, due to the amount of wards we cover. Yesterday I was
in Pflugerville sacrament meeting, drove to Round Rock, and then
finished the night in Georgetown municipality. For being in three
fairly densely populated wards, it's a fun thought.
I want to finish my email by sharing one of my favorite stories about
the early church.
When the 23-year-old Heber J. Grant was instaled as president
of the Tooele Stake, he told the Saints he believed the
gospel was true. President Joseph F. Smith, a counselor in
the First Presidency, inquired, "Heber, you said you believe the
gospel with al your heart, … but you did not bear your
testimony that you know it is true. Don't you know absolutely
that this gospel is true?" Heber answered, "I do not." Joseph
F. Smith then turned to John Taylor, the President of the
Church, and said, "I am in favor of undoing this afternoon
what we did this morning. I do not think any man should
preside over a stake who has not a perfect and abiding
knowledge of the divinity of this work." President Taylor
replied, "Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, [Heber] knows it just as well as
you do. The only thing that he does not know is that he
does know it." Within a few weeks that testimony was realized,
and young Heber J. Grant shed tears of gratitude for the
perfect, abiding, and absolute testimony that came into his
life.
It is a grand thing to know—and to know that you know and
that the light has not been borrowed from another.
Elder Richard Hall
1. Elder Nebeker and I. He was one of my four trainers, and an
excellent missionary.
2. Toe Juice. The most amazing thing on earth
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