Week 31 - Hello one and all!

I can't believe the amount of things that can be done in one week as a missionary! The weeks have honestly just been flying by. It's so much fun though! This week we weren't able to have a ton of lessons with our investigators, which is frustrating and rather sad. However, we still were able to chat with them and have good conversations. I know things will move along eventually with each of them. They will all come to realize that the gospel is what they need, it just takes time though. I feel as though I was able to be a part of their journey for simply planting the seed and getting things in motion, and then time will allow things to progress. We did have one lesson this week with our investigator Maryann. It was so great! It was a super solid lesson all about how the Book of Mormon is essential to us in our conversions and how we need it to find the greatest happiness. We emphasized how it is one of the most crucial points in getting a testimony of the gospel, and how to heed the promptings of the spirit. The Book of Mormon, coupled with an understanding of how the Holy Ghost is working within you, is what makes everything click. She has been able to see Satan working against her and she recognizes what he has been doing to try and dissuade her from further progressing. At the same time she has been seeing how the way is being prepared for her to investigate the gospel! It has been a cool conversion to be a part of! 

I was able to have a very neat experience with the Holy Ghost this week. We were having a regular meal and lesson with one of the member families here in the ward last Wednesday. As it goes, we go from supper (dinner) and then we share our message. That morning we had planned this lesson we thought would be super solid and what the family needed to hear. When we sat down to do the lesson, my comp and I both opened to a scripture in D&C 84, where initially our scripture was in Mathew 7. We didn't notice it at the time though. Anyways, we both opened up thinking it was the exact message we had prepared, it was the lesson for them, and neither of us questioned it. We had our message/lesson, and it went so well! It was exactly what they needed. We answered some questions they had about missionary work, gave direction, motivation, the works! It was a super sweet lesson. Now fast forward to that night when we were planning for the next day and talking about our lessons that day. We looked in our planners and realized we shared a completely different message without realizing it! It was so cool! The Holy Ghost is always at work; often times when we don't even realize it! I was so grateful to heed to the prompting that we were able to receive at that time. The Holy Ghost allows us to bless other people's lives more than I think we do realize.

Another awesome experience this week was with a less-active family that really does not come to church, nor plans on it. Well you know, we had a supper with them! It was a great experience! It has been a blessing in this area for me because I've realized I have been able to get friendships with some of the members that missionaries haven't been able to get in for a while. I've been a part of them reopening their lives to the gospel, and I am so grateful for that!

Now I will bear the bittersweet news, I got the transfer call this morning and I will be headed down to Rocky Mountain House! It is in the southern part of our mission, actually over by the mountains too! I am stoked for that! Another outlying smaller area, apparently it's sort of in the middle of nowhere, but I am excited. It's been the greatest blessing to be up here in the Barrhead area. I love the people up here and they have greatly influenced my life. It's the greatest blessing! I have made friendships with some of these people that I will never forget! I will be with Elder Coombs, the same fellow I served with in the tripanionship! It is close to the mountains there too, which is sweet! I will enjoy it I’m sure. It will be tough leaving behind Barrhead, but I feel at peace with the area and feel as though I accomplished what I was here to do, and learned (or as the Canadians say, learnt) what I was supposed to learn!

I hope you all have a wonderful week this week. The scripture in D&C that I mentioned is one you should all look up. It says, "And whose receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." I hope you can all think about that and realize that when we are in the work of our Lord and spreading the gospel as we are constantly told to do, he has prepared the way. He is there to guide us along the way. It is the greatest blessing we could ever have. He is always there to help us; we need to allow Him to be a part of the work that we are so eagerly endeavoring on. 

 
I love you all! I hope to hear from you all soon!

Love, Elder McFall