Week 80 – Memorial Day

I hope you all enjoy your Memorial Day since I can't because it doesn't exist up here! It exists in my heart though. I guess it got me thinking not just into the lives that have fought for such things as our freedom, don't get me wrong, I am extremely grateful for that, but I have been focusing I guess on a different group of people who have fought for what they believed in. The early Latter-Day Saints forsook all that they had, because they believed in something that was far greater than anything of themselves. I think those early saints really understood what it meant to, "lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven" and to consecrate all to our Father's kingdom here on the earth. Think about it, what sacrifices have you had to make in order to be where you are at right now as a member of the church? What changes have each of you had to make to be at the level of conversion you now experience? What I love, even though looking back and me saying how much those saints had to sacrifice (homes, family, even their own lives) in many ways we all have had to make similar sacrifices, or sacrifices that weigh on us just as heavily. Be grateful for what you have given up. Be grateful for what your own families have given up to bring you what each of you has. In or out of the church, there has been someone along the way that decided they were going to change their Heritage's course, I am grateful for that in my own life. 

So! The new comp is a blast! Elder Ustare is a good man, which is without a doubt in my mind. He is right from the Philippines, the first one to come to this mission straight from the isles on the sea! He is 24 years old. He has only been a member since Feb 2013... now that is wild. I have been on my mission 3 months longer than he has been a member. That is just too weird. Good guy, strong testimony, great desire to serve. Being reassigned as a Tagalog Missionary though is a real trip. We have SO much work to do. Honestly. Mind blown. Covering our ward we still have a lot of work to be done, lives to bless. Okay now really look at things with the stake we cover, it is like where to begin. Good thing God answers prayers. Our area by geography is honestly ginormous. Technically we cover all the way up to the North Pole, which is my area. But I don't think too many Pinoys are up there. Oh Pinoy is a slang for Filipinos. We just let the other missionaries tract to find the other Filipinos throughout, we just street contact and contact at public places, seems to work for us. The look on their faces when they see big old white me is fun though! The work is hastening though. “And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture.” 1 Nephi 22:25

Hey! We picked up a new investigator this week, her name is Tanya. Real cool lady from England. She was having a tough time, missionaries knocked her door, she takes that as her answer! It was proper. Sorry more slang terms... I don't know what is happening to me. It is the Canadian language. But she considers herself to be a more spiritual type, never got into the big church scene with everything. Things are going well there though; she wants to learn more and really desires to see what we have to offer. Just need to get her out to church! Seems to be the big thing with all our investigators right now though! Just got to get them out to church, that is a huge sign of real intent. That is what we need though! We got a cancel of going to church by this Filipina and her son, a PM family up in St. Albert because they decided to go to the Catholic Church instead, that one hurt. They just need to receive that true answer that our Father is anxiously awaiting to give everyone that asks. 

So lately I have been really thinking about patience. Usually as I consider this I think of the typical patience like someone is annoying and you can deal with them without becoming frustrated or upset. But now lately I have been thinking about patience in regards to God's will and plan. It seems that most all things we do in our lives we are naturally going to face opposition, which is okay since that is even doctrine. (2 Nephi 2:11) It helps us see and feel and realize the great blessings that in store for those who persevere in faith. I think lately I have been thinking about this a lot in trying to realize why blessings don't come, or aren't recognized (maybe that is the bigger problem) when someone is doing what is right, when someone is being obedient, when someone is following God's plan to their best ability. You can't help but ask, why? Why aren't the righteous continually blessed especially those who "hunger and thirst after righteousness" and seek after the Kingdom of God with sincerity? The only answer that I have come to is simply that it is just another step in us developing our faith, another step in our refinement process. When we aren't blessed with those things it isn't that the Lord is frowning down upon us, but rather allowing us to become who He needs us to be through experience. In many of those situations I think we will be blessed if we continue faithful, but maybe we are not ready to receive the blessing, maybe there is someone who needs to be blessed and be a part of that answer in your life but they aren't yet in that position. God is in charge, that much I do know.

Well, that should be sufficient for the day. Stay sweet! I love you all!

Elder McFall

The Tagalog Group!

My new companion, Elder Ustare

Me and Connor Groskreutz (November 2013 and May 2014) kinda cool with the 18th month difference in these pictures with Connor.. weird!! (not that we look too much different... maybe I just can't see it! eh..)