Week 88 – Oh Happy Day!

Let's get down the the nitty gritty here folks. Things up north are rolling forward, that is pretty good eh? Sure we have tons of disappointment and things that are so frustrating, but we are doing well! This week we were able to find a few new investigators, we talked to what seems like a million people(which still wasn't enough), and just got work done. I'll start with that fella named Steve that we helped move. He didn't come to church, which was a huge bummer. But we were able to teach him this last week and he has expressed great interest in our message and really wants to get into the pages of the Book of Mormon. There are two channels of revelation and signs of conversion that in my experience thus far as a missionary are what separate the boys from the men... First would be if they are prayerfully reading from the Book of Mormon.This would be essential because they have to "consider the evidence". First and foremost in our conversion should always be a firm belief and testimony of Jesus Christ and God the Father, but in the Church, we must also gain a great conviction towards the Prophet Joseph Smith and his divine calling. Without that we will simply have a conversion with no foundation. The other channel would be church attendance. In some ways, this is almost more important because this is showing to others that you are willing to sacrifice and truly change. You can read privately and secretly and you receive little public scrutiny compared to what you do to go to church. With that in mind, I am always trying to get those investigators, and less active that are returning to activity out to church! 

We were able to see Josephine up at church. Last week turns out she was at church, so that makes it every week since she has been in Canada she has been at church. Not bad eh?! We had a great lesson yesterday with her. Still rolling around the topic of tithing. We talked about obedience, and the purpose behind the commandments we are given. I love the promises we have in Mosiah 2:22, D&C 130:20-21, D&C 82:10. We are told, in fact promised that IF we obey what the Lord has asked, He is absolutely bound to bless us and prosper us. We will be blessed and prospered perfectly according to our needs. We have a Heavenly Father who knows us perfectly, that loves us infinitely. So then what really holds us back from obeying him? She admits that she knows that what we share is absolutely a commandment; she knows the importance of obeying. She has a tear of where to place her priorities. We can say just have faith, have faith, but that is tough! Her baptism date is now September 26, she is excited about that and set it herself. Yeah, it is a ways off but no need to rush. 

I was able to go on a little exchange with Elder Laceste, you should all remember him! I served with him back in Bearspaw for 4 1/2 months. It was the greatest! It was just like old times. It was really fun to be with him and teach with him again. Crazy to think, he goes home in like 2 1/2 weeks. Who would have thought. Time has been flying by lately, July will be over before we know it. 

We had a language missionary training this last week for all the language missionaries here. I remember when I came out on my mission the only language we had was Spanish, and about 6-8 missionaries. Now we have Tagalog, Spanish, Mandarin. Our total is about 24 now and growing. It is just crazy to me! The lord needs to hasten the work and hasten the way he reaches to his children. It makes me think of the beginning of Acts, where the apostles just after the day of Pentecost. They are filled with the spirit first, this is what then enables them to "speak in cloven tongues" and began to teach and testify as guided by the spirit. I love the reaction of, as it says, the devout men of every nation. At this point they speak in the tongue of each present and they marvel. This is exactly what we are seeing. The gift of tongues is real! Now you probably expect me to say I can speak Tagalog and life is just great, not quite! I am working on it though! What I do know is that regardless of our language abilities, it is the spirit that allows each hearer to hear the words that sound familiar. If we trust solely in ourselves, we will reach but a portion of our full potential, if we trust in the Lord and rely on the spirit, they are miracles just waiting to happen.

Thanks for everything! I hope you all have a great 24th of July! I'll have to do something wild!

Love, Elder McFall