Week 89 – The sun is still shining people

Yep, definitely another week of a mission roller coaster. Things have been going good lately though. WE have been able to get a lot of things done. The only bad part is, we still have so much to get done! This week we have really been on that pavement trying to find those people to teach. Our schedule pretty much just goes all week of teaching at night, finding during the day. I love it! I love being able to talk to so many different people and be led to those that are willing to listen. One of those ways we have used lately with all the festivals Edmonton has is just to ride the train and talk to people. Sometimes you kinda feel like you are on a soap box, but we have a good time with it. I can just imagine what it would have been like back as Christ was teaching and the multitudes would gather to hear his message. I want those multitudes! Or in the early days of the church where they really would get up on a box and just start preaching! If we did that we would probably get a lot of stuff thrown at us!

We were able to really work with Josephine again this week. She really is receptive to the spirit and she knows how to receive answers to her prayers. We just need to have that be where she will always stay true to that revelation she receives and not try to justify and find a way around these commandments. That part has been hard, but she is getting there. Commandments are given to us by a loving Father who sees things in an eternal perspective. He gives commandments to us to protect us and allow us to live a life that is worthy to return to his presence. We can't look at commandments as do's and don'ts. They are guidelines to lead us to eternal life. I look at commandments compass in our gospel journey. We have the scriptures to be our map as they show us the route, but the commandments help us stay on that route and not to miss the scenery along the way. 

A neat experience with a guy we talked with probably 2 months ago now. We have tried by this guy named Eric repeatedly, but no luck. I remember the day we met him we knocked his door and we had a good conversation, no doubt, but nothing happened. But as we went down the row of houses and continued to knock there was something we said that stuck with him. On our way back down the street he came out from the house to the street to talk more. This week as we saw him again he just said how grateful he was for that but how lately he has been struggling a bit spiritually with the different things that are happening. It provided yet another opportunity to testify of God's love and the power that the Book of Mormon can have in our lives as we immerse ourselves in those pages. He was so grateful for what we had given him. One of the big lessons I learned from this was you really won't know who will accept your message because just by looking at the guy, you would never expect him to be open to religion at all! 

We were able to continue to work with a bunch of these members who haven't been able to make it out to church as much. We have a few that are returning to full activity and that we are able to help them really set their sights on the temple. That is what this work is all about. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, “Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should be gathered is the holy temple” That also comes from the scripture in Alma 26:5 "Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted." I tell you, this plan is a beautiful thing! There is nothing that can replace the blessings of the temple in this life. It is absolutely essential, I am sure of it. 

Had some more exchanges with Elder Winnie from back home and that was a blast as always! Every time I do anything with him it still blows my mind that we are serving together! Never in a million years do you imagine some of these things that happen! He is a great elder though with a firm desire to work, but really is himself as he does it. It is just fun to be around him and have that friendship! Gosh, life is good! I need to go do some fun things though! I love you all! I'll talk to you all soon! 

Love, Elder McFall

Out for Lunch

Elder Winnie and I