Week 56 – Well, here it is

Yikes, so bad news everyone, this week was sort of non-eventful. On the bright side enough happened that I decided to still write.. There were and are miracles occurring with our work.. I think often I just don't focus on those as much as I should. Patience is one of our biggest trials honestly, but really it is because these people do want the gospel and they are willing to learn that makes it so hard in my mind to accept the fact they aren't meeting with us regularly. We have seen some things develop over the last little while though, one of those miracles being with Rolando, he is a less-active guy. He has had a super difficult life, gone through a lot. He was in the military all throughout his time back in the Philippines, and since he got here he has gone through a divorce, etc. etc.. so we got to see him this week and it was one of those things where you can just feel how much he needs the gospel in his life again, and that he knows that for himself too. He has a testimony of the gospel, it is more like a small bush then a great oak though.. We got talking this last week and really he just wants us to spend as much time as we can with him, whenever we are in the area to come and share a message with him. He is really beginning on those steps of having that in his life, strangely you can even visibly see a difference. He is a good man!

We saw Roy this week, and it went well. Fortunately because of his accident he is at home rather than work, that is a blessing! We can see him as much as possible... but that isn't as much as we would hope just because of our schedule.. he is reading the Book of Mormon, which is good, however he isn't understanding it that well. His questions are actually really great, but what helps the situation move forward is he is willing to accept and act on our invitations and he does have an open heart and willing mind. The biggest thing with him is simply just understanding when we are not there... tried to give him the Book of Mormon in his native tongue, but he was having none of that! Looks like we just have to spend more time explaining stuff, I guess really that isn't the worst problem to have! 

Met with Abner.. still going there. Tough draw though. I mean he has this great desire to learn, feels that he has found the truth in the Baptist church though, not sure what happened there. Basically his real concern is just coming to church. he wants to be baptized, he wants this spiritual confirmation of the church and our teachings, just hasn't had that yet. In his mind, it is because he hasn't come to church regularly.. he must be a "regular" to know if it is true.. Well we will see what we can do.. The missionaries we are working with to get him there seem to be slightly incompetent...But we need the help because he is on the other side of the city.. we are on the very south end.. he is way north.. like a 30 minute drive.. don't worry though, the Lord will help us along. 

Still just spending time finding more of those Filipinos that are all over this city.. even if it is just Less actives and what not. We are doing what we can. It proves to be a wild time.. we have been working with Pres. Manion on this cause so we will see. Couple weeks back we got approval from SLC to get 4 Tagalog Speakers sent to the mish.. we will see what happens there! I could train in some foreign tongue.. or Elder Laceste will be Momma Hen!! Well I guess Papa Hen? We went up to St. Albert, which is just north of the city and if you remember the Uwazny family from back in Barrhead, they live there now.. so we stopped in there for lunch, it was a good time. So nice to see a familiar faces and to see those kids again! 

All in all, it is cold. Soooo I will try not to freeze. This week shouldn't be too bad though, today we are at like -12 or something with the wind chill, maybe a bit colder.. feels real nice though. Things are lookin sad! We will hopefully meet with more investigators this week!! I'll do my best. Go do something Christmas'y! Love you all!

Love, Elder McFall

Notice the new suit -   let's say it was a killer deal... $400 dollar suit or so for $70.. I had to do it! ha I need to move away from all these stores here.. I think my shopping has gotten worse..