Week 97 – Last Transfer

Holy smokes people! I am running out of time. Today my last transfer of my mission started, that is too weird! I really don't feel like I should be at this point already, I just am going to do absolutely everything in my power to finish strong and get everything I need to done. I have been so blessed so be here in Alberta and be serving these great people. Over these next weeks, I really am going to be doing absolutely everything I can to cherish them and bless as many lives as possible. This week we definitely had some highlights though! One that I will start with would have to be what I talked about with having Elder James B. Martino of the second quorum of the seventy come and tour our mission and provide training. Through that we had a lot of discussion on a few different topics. The trainings also came from President and Sister Manion, as well as Sister Martino. The ones I think I will share with you though, well my thoughts from it are first from President Manion and Joy in missionary work. He revolved this all around Charity and how if we truly possess Charity, we will be willing to sacrifice in our lives. Joy, comes from absolute obedience and desire to follow the Lord. Joy, comes from us giving of ourselves freely to this great cause. Joy, comes from us following with our heart and mind committed to a single cause and goal. He contrasted Joy, to happiness, and how Joy is greater and is a feeling our Heavenly Father has for each of us. Elder Martino talked a lot about how we can work with the members of the church, so I hope you all perk up for this one! He brought the story from Alma 8-12 really about how Alma went about teaching the people, and although he was in incredible missionary, he didn't see success, until he involved Amulek., From my understanding, Amulek is like unto a less-active member of the church, or someone who had previously been involved with the church but who had fallen away. Alma, was so disheartened that he left the city of Ammonihah after attempting to call them to repentance but getting rejected. Goes back, Amulek receives him, Alma then blesses his house, his family, his friends, and teaches Amulek. They later go on to preach to the people, the people enjoy Alma's teaching, but they aren't converted until later when Amulek preaches, at this point the people are "astonished". It really just hit home how valuable the members of the church are, the other ways we can use them through this whole process of finding, teaching, and fellowshipping investigators and returning members into the church. It is a pattern that works, as simple as that. The other would just be the life of Peter, the chief apostle! This one I could go on and on about. But I am pretty sure Peter is my hero, that is all you get out of me today! 

I saw and taught Kennedy Mukebezi again this week! Since he moved back into the ward we are working to continue to help him in his progression in the gospel. He said something at the end I thought to share with you though. We talked about the blessings of the gospel to wrap things up, and then he said, you know Elder McFall, you said the day you met me and gave me the Book of Mormon I would never regret it and you promised me that my life would be blessed. I really have seen that so much, I have seen so much good come into my life ever since I joined this church. It kinda just hit at that moment how real this work truly is! The blessings are absolutely real, this is the Lord's church, this is all a huge reality. He is a good man, I love him dearly! 

So remember Josephine Morondoz, the Filipino lady I was teaching and got onto a baptismal date? Well this upcoming weekend she will be baptized and confirmed a member of the church! She has asked me to do the confirmation next Sunday, I am so excited! I really am! It is going to be the coolest! She has come so far and done so well. This is definitely a great step for her and one that I know she knows she needs to make. I'll send pictures next week!

We had our Stake Conference this last weekend, it was the best! I love stake conferences! Just to hear inspired words from leaders that are absolutely called of God, and just the spirit that you can feel there. I think we take for granted all the opportunities we do have to receive revelation. I think we only really sit down and listen to the words at General Conference with the intent of receiving revelation, but what about Stake Conference, what about each week at church? These are choice opportunities. The answers don't just come from the words that are spoken, in fact probably most the time it isn't what someone says, but what you actually hear. Something to think about! 

We had transfers today, I will no longer be with Elder Winnie and Elder Nelson, but my new companion will be Elder Bateman from California! He is a good guy, I have known him since he came out. We should be able to just do the good things up here! I am really excited! 6 weeks though, really weird starting my last transfer today! I can't believe how fast time has gone. I mean I am super excited to see you all again, truly. But man, I love this place. I absolutely love my mission so much. Got to make every last second count. I'll talk to you all very soon!

Love, Elder McFall

Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Martino