Week 39 - Hello!

We have been so busy just trying to find new people to teach, and also get this ward in action with missionary work. We had a miracle happen last Sunday though, well a miracle to us anyways. We asked the zone to actually pray for us last Thursday to help us find people to teach. Then Saturday a couple things happened, but we didn't really see the effect 'til Sunday. So we were driving to our next appt, we see this guy in his backyard, moving a big ol tiller, Elder T says let's go help him. I swing the car around, we walk over there and ask him if we can help. (Now keep in mind, still in white shirts and ties). He is like no no I got it, I just have to drive it up these little ramps to get it into the back of my truck. We let him try, but to no avail. So we just pick the thing up, put it in the back of the truck, and get on our merry way. The next day at church, we learn that that fellow actually posted on Facebook about that! We had members of the ward council come up to us and thank us for doing that, and they actually told the whole story over the pulpit! Wild stuff I tell ya! But also Saturday night, we met with our Ward mission leader, shared this video about the Work of Salvation, and the role of the ward mission leader. It is all from that broadcast back in June. The next day in Priesthood opening exercises he got up and said that they need to help fill our schedule, they need to find us people to teach--something he hasn't done since I have been here and I don't think really ever. So things look to be improving!!

There are some good things happening up here. The work is slow, but there is a scripture in D&C 123:16-17... "You know, brethren, that a very large ship is ^abenefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.

“Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us ^acheerfully ^bdo all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the ^csalvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed... forgive the rubbish of hyperlinks and whatnot. But it explains it better than I could just by paraphrasing it. We have to do everything we can, as it says in verse 17 in the beginning, and then, and only then, can we stand still at wait for the Lord to step in and do his part. He is not going to do the work for us. We are here to do what he would have us do. If he was going to do everything he wanted to anyways; why would we be here? It just wouldn't make sense. I think it is one of those things that it is hard to find the balance. But we must do just that. Read the rest of that section too, it is pretty neat what it tells us.”

Alannah's baptism is coming right up! We don't have any others, things just keep getting in the way. I guess it comes down to some patience for sure. I have always been sure, if with people that kinda like to  bash on doorsteps or anything, so bear that testimony to them. It is such an amazing feeling to look someone in the eye and tell them that "I know this is true." And I do. I have had my prayers answered, I didn't take any ones word for it, but I went to  my Heavenly Father, I did just as James directed, I did it for myself. And invite them to do the same. We know that all will have an opportunity to hear the gospel in this life or in the next, when it is, who knows! I just hope that I never do something where I withhold that opportunity for anyone.

 I really do hope we get to go back soon to the temple. I was hoping to maybe go when we have our mission tour, I know we have mission dates to go to the temple, but we are 2 1/2 hours from the temple, it isn't just one of those things where we can just go. I am not sure when the next chance will be. I really do look forward to seeing the new film though. When you go, please remember to pray for people for us to teach, because like I said, things are slow. Once we have Alana’s baptism that will be even one less investigator we will have. We are trying so hard, and will continue to do so.

I hope you all really have been studying more. The prophet and apostles are constantly urging us to do so. I think that council might stop if we were actually doing it. In Alma 32:3 I believe, it talks about "feasting upon the words of Christ" I hope you are really looking at it that way. I love reading talks, it is like modern revelation. I think gratitude is something we all need a tune up in, right? We can think of songs like, "Because I have been Given Much" Or things like that, but do we really internalize it?  We really are so blessed, so many good things, but do we show that appreciation we should? And I think that we don't actually show our gratitude. I was posed this question, "what if the only things you had the next day, were the things you thanked your Heavenly Father for the night before?" Now obviously this would make our prayers quite lengthy and repetitive, thus being contrary to the example that Christ taught, but it is an interesting idea! I like that also though, looking for something in each day that is the hand of the Lord at work. There are so many things that I believe go unnoticed. If you think to the scripture, Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. We may do the asking, but do we go seeking?

You are always in my prayers!! I'll talk to you soon!

Love, Elder McFall

A little black bear we saw on the way back from the ice fields.

Abraham Lake - This is a really sweet glacier fed lake that is probably like an hour and fifteen minutes from where we live. We were out there yesterday and we hiked on down to the water. The color of it was pretty sweet!

Parker’s Ridge in Banff National Park- This is from the top of a hike. Probably took an hour or so to get to the top. In the back is the backside of the glacier that wraps all around the range of mountains.