Well, like always, an epistle from Dad, and a beautifully short message from Mom. I love you guys.
Starting off with the temporal things at home:
Dad: School never changes does it? It reminds me of that Bowling for Soup song "High School Never Ends." It's all true isn't it? I have more drama after the mission!
And as for the B-17: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING EVEN ASKING ME IF I DON'T WANT TO DO IT?!?!?!?!?!??! WHAT KINDA QUESTION IS THAT!?
Of course I want to go, that's frickin' ovio, Gosh dang it! You insult my love for the history of this world! Kidding about the blow-up, but of course I would love to go with you. I CALL BOMBARDIER!
STAR WARS! I don't know something that's as followed as this film will be. It's going to be intense.
Mom: Yay for cleaning! I'm super glad that things are going good in that regard. Things will work out. Your recital will be an awesome one, of that I'm sure! They always are. Good for Marcus, and good luck with Kendra!
Yay for grilling, I'm missing good old fashioned American grilling, because no italian knows how to cook American food. They think that if you put french fries on something, it's American! (It's not true, but eh, if it fits, )
On the Spiritual side of things: Dad, I will help with the family history as much as I can
Now as for my week things were definitely better this week.
We, once again, were not able to meet with our Italians in a formal lesson, but we were able to see one of them at English Course, and he said that if he's free he'll meet with us. We also ran into another one after church, and he said that he is free to meet with us this week. So, looks like things are looking up for us in that regard.
However, as always, our trusted Marina Africans are progressing quickly, and they came to church this week. They are ready for baptism, and hopefully all things work out for their interview this week, and all things will be awesome! This week we ran over the Plan of Salvation on Wednesday, and then we read some scriptures on Saturday. They're doing a great job!
Besides that, a lot of finding and english course publicity, and we're getting a great amount of new students. I'm think about approaching some of the students to see if any of them would be interested about hearing about the gospel, and I hope something comes of it. I think, overall, things are starting to get better after a terrible week.
Now to answer the questions, that's going a long email, so here comes a separate one.
My favorite part of being a missionay. That's a dang good question! You'll have to give me som...okay here's the answer :
I absolutely love every aspect of it! But what I love the most, is that I get to focus on this scripture. It comes from Alma 29, and I hope you don't mind some analysis. (I'm a nerd, with a desire to explain and know everything, so here comes scholar Nathan Eads ).
So, we'll start with the beginning: verses 1-3
"1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me."
How often at times have I desired to proclaim the Gospel to the entire city, from a wall of something similar! I wish that I could proclaim repentance to every soul, with enough energy of the heart that I could convert thousands in one moment!
But, how do I sin. I know I should be content with what the Lord has given me, and that should be enough, but there are times when it isn't!
Verse 4 and 6:
4 "I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to theirdesire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction."
6 "Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?"
Looking at all the things I've come to know, why should I want more, than to fulfill the calling that the Lord has given me? Why should I desire to do more? I state this because this calling is probably one of the greatest and most important callings in the world, and that should be enough for me. In magnifying this calling, I am magnifying my God, and giving him the glory.
Verses 9-10:
"9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."
Verse 9 is something that hit me really hard a few transfers back. I know what the Lord has commanded me to do, "Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor." Being warned, I must warn others about the day of the Lord that is soon to come, so that they can be adequately prepared for that coming.
"I do no glory of myself" I do the best, and a lot of the time, I'm not too good at that, but I am trying to glory my God more than me. I glory in the fact that God has commanded me to warn my neighbors, I glory in that!
I do not know if I have been a super effective missionary, I didn't come out even knowing I would have baptisms. But I cam out knowing that as I do my best that "perhaps", which means that even now I do not know for sure if I can do all of this, "I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance, and this is my joy."
I find it interesting that Alma says "an instrument". I think a lot of the time, and I know a lot of the time for me personally, that we missionaries tend to think that we are the most important part of the work. We, occasionally, and only a few of us, are "lifted up in the pride of [our] hearts" (see 2 Nephi 26: 20), and we begin to think we are better.
However, that's not true. We are only the tool the Lord uses to bring to pas his work, and like a good worksman, a good farmer, he has many tools. We should not lift ourselves up becasue the Lord is the one who truly brings all to pass.
Verse 10 is very personal. Whenever I see someone, whether one of my investigators, or another missionaries investigator, truly humble themselves and are penitent, and they go before the Lord, knowing that he can cleanse them, as he has cleansed all of us, then is my joy full. Then am I,in the words of Ammon "Lifted up....to boasting in my God!" (see Alma 26).
It reminds that the mercy of God can be extended towards anyone, even the most hardened sinner, and that with the Love of God, the hardened walls can be broken down and all things can be done. Miracles can occur through the power of prayer.
In closing, I'll leave you all with verses 14-16, and with my analysis:
"14 But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of [Italy].
15 Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!
16 Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy."
We shouldn't joy in our success alone. We're all in the same work, we're all on the same team. We shouldn't envy the success of others, but rejoice with them in the moment of joy! They are many who have labored so hard, so diligently, but have never seen the fruits of their labors. We should remember always that this investigator that we've come to love, was loved by another.
Our joy should be full as should theirs. We shouldn't let bitter feelings interupt that! I've truly come to see that in my mission, that envy doesn't do anything. Only love moves the work forward, only charity "love unfeigned" "the pure love of Christ" will propel this work far into the future, and carry it on into eternity.
Hopefully that answers your questions. Love you guys, talk to you next week!
NaNa
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