This week was a great week. There were quite a few setbacks but it's better to look up. It's better to look forward.
A lot of appointments fell through. We didn't nearly
accomplish most of our goals for lessons or for our investigators.
Church attendance was kind of low There is a lot of potential for
everything but it seems like everything is in a standstill.
Despite all of this things are still fine. The
baptism went wonderfully. It was such an amazing experience for the both
of us. The Spirit was so strong. The ocean felt great. Words can't
really describe how I felt.
Being here in Villaba has made me realize the
importance of the priesthood. The 2 baptisms we've had have both been
young boys. We've been working really hard to find families and
potential priesthood holders. We've found them but now the task is to
help them understand and accept the Gospel. Our branch has been without
an Elders Quorum President and Branch Mission Leader for half a year
now. Our Branch President is probably the best in the entire world. He
is giving his all in serving everyone and simultaneously preparing his
family to go to the temple in April. He's only been a member for 6
years, but he has such a firm grasp on the Gospel and truly does magnify
his priesthood.
My thoughts have been very clustered lately. Somehow
it all revolves around Charity. Haven't quite made all the connections
just yet but it is a subject that has been on my mind lately. In cebuano
its gugma nga putli or pure love. I've been thinking about how true it
is. It is the pure love of Christ. It's loving others the way God loves
us. It is a Christlike attribute that I don't yet have but I am
striving to work for.
On Tuesday we had a district meeting about Charity. I
never really put a whole lot of thought into why I came on a mission
before. Last year my thoughts were oh everyone else is putting in their
papers I should do the same. Everybody else is getting a call I should
get one too. I've realized that that is quite a pathetic reason to come
on a mission. I was reading in my journal about the week before I came
on my mission. I wrote about a family scripture study we had about
courage. I had written 2 Tim. 1:7. Basically there are two reasons to do
anything. One you can do it out of fear. (Fear of punishment that
you're not going to fit in with your peers or not fulfilling priesthood
duties.) Or you can do it out of Love. I've been trying to change the
way I think about things. About the way my Father in Heaven loves me.
About the way He has a plan for me. About His expectations for me. About
my expectations for myself and who I want to become; not what I want
to be when I grow up but who I really am.
I read a great talk called the Fourth Missionary.
What I've learned from it is that this isn't a sacrifice. God gives us
everything we ever have. We can CONSECRATE ourselves to Him. It's not
about the 2 years. It's about giving your whole will to the Lord and
surrendering all of your righteous desires and wants for His will. We
can serve with our might and strength but it doesn't mean a thing if we
don't serve with all of our heart and mind.
Big growing week this week. I have a long way to go
still. But that's part of the plan, Everyday we make choices that bring
us closer or further from our Father in Heaven. Choices that help us
become more or less like Him.
All in all, I am feeling great. I love my area I love my companion I love my mission president. Life is really good.
Love you all
Elder McGuire
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