Week 69 - Good stuff ya'll

Things lately have been full of excitement, mostly because Spring is in the air! Well, Alberta spring at least. We have now risen to the 30-40's, daylight savings, it is like people are living up here again. We are actually beginning to see people outside again, that is a great benefit! It is interesting how you can actually see people want to talk a lot more once the weather changes, their whole demeanor is different. Seasonal depression is a big problem up here, don't worry I take my vitamins and live by Hakuna Matata, but a lot of people up here sit in their homemade house caves and mope around.. no good. You would think sharing a message of "good news" would be quite timely for everyone.. but we are working on 'em! 

This week was super good, we were able to have our zone conference. I got thinking about things and how I have been able to personally develop as I have been in this position to lead out 22 other missionaries. I have begun to realize that we each do have a role to play in helping others begin to recognize the potential that lies within them. We each can reach out and help others begin to see that with the Lord they can accomplish miracles. Pres. Manion introduced a new Standards of Excellence. I will be honest, when this was first introduced to the Leadership Council in the mission about a month or so ago, I thought it was outrageous! We got talking about this, and really it is simply because we lack faith, okay I lacked faith. I wouldn't say I lack so much a desire to be successful, that is all I want! But it was more of putting aside the way I approach problems, and relying on the Lord's wisdom to overcome and bring miracles into what we do. Great things are in store I tell ya. 

Something that I have been pondering this week is that most people of this generation and time are of little faith, and don't really know what it means to rely on the Lord and to trust in His promised blessings. Also, they seem to all believe that the way that God deals with His children has mysteriously changed. What I think is interesting about all of that, is people so often get into the thought pattern that God spoke, not speaks, even today. They will readily accept that more has been revealed in some cases, but when what has been revealed is still incomplete to answer every question they have, they just rant about how things now must be untrue. They disregard everything when something disagrees with their opinion in the slightest degree. I have also been thinking about the impact that I am having on others and how we may not know that true impact until possibly after this life. I have been really racking my brain lately to figure out why on earth I cannot find anyone to consistently teach.. I feel that I do all the right things, really I do, but I don't have people to teach. but the truth is, I don't have any idea of how I have impacted others in their lives.. I have played a role in lives; I have helped others come closer to Christ, possibly even generations to come into the Gospel. I know this whole principle & idea, I guess Satan works on getting me to think otherwise. We should never doubt and discredit the good we have done. I think we humans want to always do more, have the bigger & better accomplishment, rather than focusing on what experiences the Lord has blessed us with and realizing that true success in this life is not measured by outward performances in every instance. 

This last week we decided that with our new friend Michael we were goin to reach out to him in some way.. so we did a real sister missionary move and brought him cookies. Only thing is, we didn't make them and instead got a member to do it!! Then went to another member's place and typed up this nice note, real simple stuff. Then just dropped in and said we were thinking about him and he was in our prayers, real simple stuff. We get a text from him about an hr later telling us how grateful he was and that he now feels that he would love to sit down and talk with us more, that he is really beginning to trust us, which is uncommon. We will be going there tonight, wish us luck! 

Man, this last week we were visiting with a member here named Pete.. what a guy! hah we go over there about 2-3 times a month, we have been working with him for a while. I thought to share a few insights though! So we got talking and it made me get thinking about what I really am looking for in my life.. what I really want to accomplish and how my mission will help me prepare for that time. The thought that came coming back to me over and over again was just how we really just have to be true to who we are, true to what we stand for, and just live your life in a way that reflects your heart and desires. Don't change because of what others are expecting of you, don't change because society seems to go against everything you believe.. quite simply we are blessed for following those paths that lead to eternal life, so why stray? I mean, that doesn't sound so profound, actually very simple, but it just kept coming back to me!

Well, I am sure I could write more.. but this keyboard is stinky (not literally) I just don't like it. So I will talk to you more next week!! Love you all!

 

Love, Elder McFall