Week 54 - Happy Thanksgiving

Okay so last week I said I would give you a little more to read this week, well I am going to try to keep up with that promise  but surely I can't tell at this point. Let's just start off by saying this week was full of crazy disappointments that made me just a bit bitter.. trial of my faith you might say! All in all, things weren't that bad, I just feel that lately I have set the bar so high for myself and my companion, mostly because I know we can do it. The other reason mostly due to the fact is we have this culture in our zone now, because of things we have now done, that we cannot expect more from those within our zone if we are not first doing it. We want them to find new investigators? We better be finding new investigators! We want them teaching more lessons with members, you better hope we are teaching those members! So on so forth! All in all, it was a good week, but not as good as we would hope.. more of the routine type. 

Good news though! Found another investigator this week, another one of those Filipinos! It was pretty good though. We were going through some potentials we had and we tried this one lady on there. It has been snowing like crazy (surprise right?) So while she answered and Elder Laceste talked I just shoveled the walkway and everything.. good plan eh? So we ended up getting invited in and shared most of the first part of the first lesson. Her name is Ivy p.s.... but anyways, she seems interested and wants to really learn more of why we had a restoration of a church. She goes to some Christian church.. that isn't true.. she doesn't necessarily know that yet though. She feels there should be a prophet and apostles here today, how wonderful it was to bear testimony that there is a living prophet, who has been called by a loving God who is very aware of the problems we face. To testify that our message is true, and that it truly will bring her lasting happiness. To feel that spirit enter the room.. now let's just hope she felt that same thing and recognized it as such. 

Saw our pal Roy this week.. still recovering from that real bad concussion. He is doing really well though. We only saw him the one time and just read the Book of Mormon with him, which he enjoyed. We have been hesitant about a Baptismal date just due to the fact he is recovering.. we are going to get him on that soon though so he will really begin to take things more seriously. I do think he would be farther along if it weren't for his wifey.. We just haven't really had the chance to meet with her and get her interested in the message.. we are working hard on that one though! 

One of the other really great lessons we were able to have was with a less-active fellow I have mentioned before.. named Rolando. He is a super nice guy, but man has life been tough. He was a military man back in old country (Philippines) and then he came here and since he has gotten divorced and so on.. But basically he just needs more hope! He is a really funny guy and loves our visits but hasn't really been coming to church, yesterday we just got talking and really figured out why.. he feels as though we need to be perfect to be there. This got me thinking, and this is really such a dilemma for so many people! They feel as though we must be perfect, but they just do not understand the purpose of the gospel. I love one of the titles given to Christ, that is The Great Physician, for truly He is just that. When we turn to him, surely we will be healed. No matter our circumstance, no matter our level of spirituality, when we turn to Him, and follow his call to "Follow thou me" or the call to "Come unto Christ" to name just two phrases we can say.. The whole point of this is to say we can be forgiven, how grateful I am for a Heavenly Father who wants to forgive me, and for a savior who has provided the way, for he literally is The Way. I just wish everyone I ever saw not just read this, not just agreed, but took this to heart and found the true application and found true healing we seek in our Savior.

Well family and friends.. Have a real nice Thanksgiving! Watch some football for me! Hopefully the cowboys win... if they are even playing? Enjoy the holiday spirit that comes with it! Go buy something cool at black Friday! I love you all! Talk to you soon!

Love, Elder McFall

Just last week in front of the temple here.. good stuff. Honestly so cold though! 

The weather outside is frightful.

Week 53 - Okay Okay this is a surprise!

Well I guess the surprise is you get emailed on Tuesday again, exciting eh?! We changed our p-day this week to have a temple p-day.. meaning I got to go attend the temple this morning for just the second time since I have been on my mission! Okay I will just come out and say this, whoever is reading this I hope you are doing all that you can to find your way to the temple. Whatever age you may be, the spirit you feel as you enter into the House of our Lord is simply incredible. There is a spirit that obviously pervades that edifice and it is something I wish I could experience more. If you aren't going consistently, do all you can to adjust your lives and get there. It will never be something you regret! So in a nutshell, it was a nice morning! 

Man, this week was crazy hectic though. So many different people and places calling for us.. at the same time I wish there were more people and places calling for us. The work is still picking up, which is nice! But not fast enough.. jeez. We saw Lisa & Allen 2x this last week, I loved it. I seriously love that family so much! It is the most rewarding thing to see a family begin to take hold of this pearl beyond price (the gospel).. it is something I definitely have taken for granted in my life, but when you are part of a family who begins to change their opinions and are doing this simply because they KNOW it will help their family grow closer, you can't help but think back and realize all the blessings you have received in your own family because of the gospel. The blessings are not often easy to spot and realize, but the more you study the doctrines, the more you realize the applications of such in actions. Although we may not be perfect in our families, as much as we wish we were, we know that because Christ has performed the Atonement to forgive us, we too must live in a pattern that reflects his life within our families, and when we fall short.. we just do better the next time! It is a beautiful cycle that the life of Christ teaches us.. which is also what I have been studying lately.. I would also recommend that!

We found a new investigator this week in the Tagalog work.. we will go back tomorrow.. her name is Lorie! Hopefully things will go well! She is open and it was funny because in our meeting with her it came down to her just saying, "okay so what is different about your church?" As a missionary we love that question.. makes life easy! Well easier..

We saw our good friend Roy this week! WHat a guy! He is still recovering but when we saw him he was like okay so I read that whole Restoration pamphlet, they talked about some book , where is this book?! So we talked about the Book of Mormon, he is excited so that is sweet! Gotta love the gospel! uhhh what else.. we saw this less active fellow and his wife.. I don't know why he is LA because his mission was sweet! But we were talking to him and had a super nice visit, at the end I even said the closing prayer, this was all in Tagalog though, it was pretty cool! My prayers are short and sweet, but It was a really cool feeling to say a prayer for someone in their native tongue. Definitely an experience you don't forget. I gotta keep getting better at that Tagalog stuff though..

As a follow up to some of the people that I taught in past areas, remember Madi up in Barrhead? She is now baptized. Remember Michael in Rocky Mountain House? Also now baptized. And another one in Barrhead is close.. it is cool to see those types of things happen. Right now as a missionary, I would say I do feel confident I have done what I can.. Our baptism averages are maybe 20 a month or so in the mission.. not super high. it is actually the lowest mission in regards to the averages for the rest of the region. One or two things I am most proud of would be what I have been able to obtain in regards to scriptural knowledge and testimony. The other off the top of my head is I feel I have become much more Christlike in my dealings with others, especially with other missionaries. There is a greenie missionary from Orem who I see myself in, and it has helped me to really see where I was to where I am now. I still have soo many things to learn, but honestly some of my greatest successes at this point have been personal, maybe that's selfish? ha I mean I haven't baptized many, but I have been a huge part it feels in fixing relations and attitudes in both Barrhead and Rocky in regards to the missionaries. I feel I was an integral part of helping them realize their role in this work of salvation. My struggles..., well they are many! I wish I did more of baptizing obviously.. I am still looking for that family! Looks like we might have one, we will just have to see! And I really want to be better about being Christlike. Interesting how strengths can also be some of your weaknesses.. 

My dear friends! I must go.. I am outta time today. But I will write more next week. I love you all very much! I am loving life right now. We have had like a couple blizzards this last couple week... haha that is okay though! Let the snow begin(: I'll talk to you all soon!!

 Love, Elder McFall

Week 52 - The Weather Outside is Frightful

Okay it (the weather) isn't that bad, but it sure is lookin' a few shades whiter this last week. The air has gotten a bit chillier, but we are blessed and have a car and things to do so we aren't in the snow and cold too much. Well besides doing exchanges like every week which seem to always be to walking areas.. It is so nice to be able to work with these young missionaries and really see how we can help them and how I can influence them to truly achieve their potential. I remember when I first came out, the way that I looked at my mission leaders, how much I thought they knew, makes me think, do these young missionaries think the same things about me?! Jeez, hopefully I can make 'em proud and help them all out.

There are miracles in Edmonton I tell you. Especially miracles amongst these Filipinos. I will start there, and this week we in total found 4 new investigators that are Filipino. One individual who has a family, and another mom and two kids. The one individual, Bayani, is definitely more prepared than the others and seems to be more willing to act on the message and accept it, but who am I to make that judgment. It is all in the Lord's hands at that point. We met with him and he really likes the message we have. He isn't super religious, has a faith, but not doing much about it. So this looks like one that we should be able to really step in and help. The other small family is Ana, Aileen and Vicky. They are more of trying to get questions about religion all settled in their minds. They are a member referral, which helps, and the member basically spent the whole night following our meeting just answering questions and basically teaching another lesson. Hopefully that is one that will also pan out.

Another miracle that happened this week, Lisa and Allen (the family here in Bearspaw) came to church for the 2nd week in row. We didn't have a chance to meet with them, our one appt got cancelled late in the week but they came to church and this time even stayed for Sunday School. The ward has been doing really well of fellowshipping them and getting them involved as much as possible. It is the most rewarding experience to see a family that truly is seeking the gospel find something and not just look into it as a factual experience, but rather, put it to the test and then they have already began to see the blessings flow from it. We are hoping to meet with them this week, and hopefully get them on a baptismal date before Christmas. You know there are so many things that this gospel truly brings into our lives, especially in our family's lives, and this is something that can make all the difference if we but simply allow it to. I can't wait for it to continue to progress. The Lord is definitely interning at all the right times here, who woulda thought?!

One other really neat experience this week was with Taylor one of our investigators and his dad who is less-active. We went over there and shared the message on the Plan of Salvation. We have really been able to develop a good relationship with these two and things have been moving forward, not as quickly as we would hope but they are moving in the right direction. Okay little side note, that is probably one of the hardest things as a missionary, trying to be patient with progress. We just want these people to accept now now now! Okay and we are back.. so upon leaving and then seeing Pete at church(that is the dad) he was talking to a couple different fellas at church and I overheard him talking about how much he loved having us over and how much it has helped him. The less-active dad even stayed for the 2nd hour of church, something I haven't seen since I have been here.. He has been to church just a couple times in the last while but usually leaves right after they pass the sacrament, but it was different this time. Definitely a blessing of bringing the spirit into someone’s home and helping someone really relight the flame of their testimony.

All is well right now it does seem. Things are picking up in our zone in some regards. Hopefully it can stay that way before it really starts to get cold! We have been working really hard to get things between members and missionaries clicking and working hand in hand over the next while, it seems as though that is beginning to happen. Slowly but surely things will come together.

I hope all is well for you all! Have a great week!! I'll talk to you soon!

Love, Elder McFall

My 1 year mark!

Came out with 14.. now 45.. not too bad eh?  It accumulates. Gotta love it.

Week 51 – To Whom It May Concern

This week some of the most amazing things have happened! I am not really sure where to start but I guess I can start with something that will catch you a bit off guard.. well maybe. So I forgot to mention last week.. We are pretty much going to some sort of Filipino gathering every weekend now.. it has been so good to meet people and see what we can do for them. Last week though we went to one and I had some real exotic foods, that is no real surprise though. Are you ready? Okay so I had pig ears.. Pig intestine.. cow tongue.. and pig or beef lungs.. not sure! Sounds pretty good eh? Don't worry I will try and send some home next time that delectable meal is prepared. Okay honestly I have to admit.. the intestine wasn't that bad.. ha ha it was bbq'd.. so that makes just about anything good. I am gettin' a little more Filipino each day. I guess to add to that list I have no had Pig skin the other day.. that wasn't too shabby either.. cooked up real nice. Pretty much there are some Filipino dishes that I love, some that I never want to eat in my life again.. but either way, I am getting quite the culture experience up here! 


Okay now to some really great spiritual updates! So first, we got a new investigator this week! Her name is Eunilyn. We followed with her after we stopped in last week. She was a referral from some other missionaries who tracted in to her. She is 19 and Filipino. So we went over and she invited us right in. Now here is where things get crazy.. we are invited in to some house party.. probably 25-30 high school age kids music going down stairs, ball game on the tv.. people in and out.. We are just thinking to ourselves, what on earth is happening!!! But we got in we need to make this some sort of good experience. Ended up actually teaching her part of the first lesson! Yes, we taught a lesson including a prayer in the middle of the party. She was actually really responded to our questions though. Her mom and dad were on the couch nearby watching tv.. but the mom would just pipe in with questions and comments.. so this could turn into a bit more! We have a return appointment this week, so hopefully this environment will be a bit more conducive to the spirit. 
Elder McFall

So that was the Tagalog, but we really have some great things going on here in the Bearspaw Ward! Okay so we finally met and had another lesson with Lisa and Allen, you all remember them, right? It had been about a month at that point. Well basically we went and had a super spiritual lesson with her. Usually she is all over the place with her questions, but we went in prepared and just kept the discussion going in a way that allowed for us to really just state our purpose, give our message, and allow the spirit to bear witness to her heart. In the end, Allen who we have been struggling to really get to open up, just started talking and basically said he thinks this may be exactly what the family is missing.. he really thinks this is what will bind them together. Lisa is now speaking in terms of, "so when I am baptized..." I can't tell you how great this lesson was! The spirit was so strong! And then to top that all off, the whole family, so Lisa & Allen and the 3 kids were all at church the next day! This was the first time! It was the most amazing thing! It has been too long since that has happened, and it was just a really gratifying feeling. Things are lookin' bright for that family! They said they would be there next week again, so this should be good. 

This last one is something that strengthened my testimony on the power of the spirit like nothing else has for quite some time. We were up in the Coronation Park area.. so that means West Ed.. and we were trying first our investigator for a drop by, wasn't home. So we tried this super less-active Filipino fellow who lives with some members in their basement. He has had a tough life for sure, gone through a lot. So to cut to the chase, we ended up sharing a message out of 3 Nephi 14:7-11.. talking about prayer. To begin with this was a lesson that we hadn't planned on sharing because initially we had not planned on seeing him. This man was not just a Filipino though, he also speaks a different dialect.. he speaks Ilokano.. so I have no idea what he is saying unless he decided to speak english. In the lesson, Elder Laceste knows Ilokano so they would communicate in that language and I was lost to be honest, well at least I thought I was lost. Elder Laceste would share a piece of the message and while doing that I would just pray and try to listen to the spirit as closely as I could. It would then transition and it would be my turn to speak, and I would speak what I felt was in my heart at that moment and what I felt needed to be said. Fast forward, we get to the car, I tell Elder Laceste just like well I hope what I said made sense with what you were saying because I had no idea what was going on! Turns out, everything I said fit perfectly with what he said. Every word I said was fitting to what the individual needed to hear from his perspective. He said it was one of the most smooth lessons we have given and it flowed perfectly. So moral of the story.. LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT!

Well my friends, I hope you all have an amazing week! Things up here are now all white, but they are looking good! I am loving life right now! This week I will hit the year mark, can you believe that? Hopefully I can get work to continually pick up and continue to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. I hope you all can do the same.  I love you all!

Love,