Week 101 – It's a great day to be alive.

I love life. With that in mind, I am not really sure how to describe the week that we had. It was good, definitely one of those goods where you have to really take a look from the outside and determine that by what the Lord tells you. We made some great progress with Jessi, and that would be for one specific reason. Well for this to make sense I will tell you a story. So we went over to Jessi's this week to just get something put in order, we haven't really been able to meet her, she has been real dodgy, just not really showing commitment. We really have been looking to figure out what is going. Well we go over and you can tell something is a bit off, but nothing serious. Well she opens right up and just explains her concern and what really has been keeping her back. Just a lot about feeling inadequate and not wanting to be a hypocrite by going to church when she is still making all of these mistakes. We explained more fully the doctrine of going to church and helped her to recognize that she isn't doing this for us, we don't invite her to do anything out of obligation towards either of us, but all in an effort to help her have greater blessings in her life. The part that helped all of this come together and she opened up, she was just a little drunk, enough to take that edge off. Looks like there are blessings to alcohol sometimes... Okay not really! But hopefully when we see her again, which is tomorrow, she won't be too embarrassed about all of that. 

Saw Kennedy this week. He has been struggling that is for sure. He now moved again, but once again in just a terrible environment. We start teaching him and then his roommates are smoking weed in the other room. I just want to help this guy, I really do. He has such a good heart and a desire to do good, just needs a helping hand. The members are absolutely key as there are things that we just simply can't do as missionaries to help others out. We talked about a few ideas to help him to feel the power of his conversion to the Lord once more, to rekindle that flame of testimony of the restored church of Jesus Christ, and he really does want to get things going. I think the thing that will make the most difference at this point is just going to be helping him develop those daily patterns. There is much to be learned from the Lord's Prayer, but the part I want to just mention is how it says, "Give us this day our DAILY bread." Just like the children of Israel, we can't store up a bunch of manna and hope that it will keep and we will be alright. We need a daily habit of scriptures and prayer, those are a bare minimum, for us to experience true conversion and really receive all of the Lord's intended blessings. Kennedy came up to the stake Halloween party though, that was great. We dressed up as missionaries, pretty original! 

There is a good brother that lives in the area that I just don't know what more I can do for him. I met him when I first got to the area and have seen him all through different times since I have been here, his name is Eric, by the way. He keeps his faith burning bright, regardless of the many challenged that have come his way. He extends a helping hand, just for that person to turn around and burn him in the end. Yet all through this, he knows that God has a plan for all things. Well we stopped by this week when prompted by the Spirit, to find him cleaning as they got evicted from the place they are living. They are now homeless. He can't work due to medical reasons, doctors order, and his wife is doing her absolute best but still just need to catch a break. We just got talking on his porch as we usually do and I just felt such a love for this man. He is a rough guy, wears like Black Sabbath t shirts, beard, smokes, listens to heavy rock music, yet I simply see him as a son of our Heavenly Father, who is doing his best in his situation. It just gave me such a testimony that God will put us through trials, this we know, but really the test is how we respond. That is what defines Character, I believe. When things are tough, when the pressure is there, what choices are you going to make? Of course, Eric isn't perfect, but he maintains a faith and a desire to follow the Lord. Now if we could just get him to follow the teachings of Christ the way we know it. Every time we see him he talks about what a blessing it is and what a the breath of fresh air we are. The day I met him, gosh I still will never forget that. I am going to miss these people up here so much. So many connections with people, not even investigators, but just the people you run into in your daily activities.

Things with Brother Fisher, our less active we have been working with since I got here, well they are coming. I have been pushing so hard to get things in order for that family. They need the blessings of the temple, I know this without a doubt. There is no sacrifice for the temple that isn't worth making. The sealing blessings that have come through the restoration are absolutely real. This is a life of covenant keeping and making. I am grateful for that. I know I won't be here for that great step, but I can do my very best to support them even when I return home. 

Not too much else. Lots of thing to do I tell you! Two weeks my friends. Got to get this all in order! I love you all! I'll talk to you soon.

Love, Elder McFall