So I just finished off my sixth week in the field which means I've just finished filling up my first planner--or would have if we weren't having a seven-week transfer like I said last week!
Anyways, the baptism. It got postponed. Smoking is a killer addiction to quit, especially when we're on the right path and the Adversary is doing everything in his power to stop us. Sister M is still going strong but she still has to go two weeks without smoking so the baptism isn't going to be until February 9th. But that's okay because its still the most important thing in the world to her!
In other news, I'm getting pretty sick which is just swell, but Elder J was sick exactly a month ago so I suppose its my turn now. This week has actually been a pretty rough week. The hardest part of missionary work, it seems, is finding people to teach. Because tracting or street contacting is next to useless. I think the statistics are 1 in every 1000 doors knocked, someone gets baptized. Whereas 1 in every. . . 3 or 4 persons, I think, that is referred by a member gets baptized. So our focus right now is trying to get into members' homes and get them fired up and excited about missionary work so we can help them realize that the Lord is putting people in their path who are ready to receive the Gospel and all that is standing between those people and the Gospel is the members' desire to just go and do it! It might take a little while but we're pretty sure that if we can provide some powerful lessons with the members we're going to see some real powerful results, just not immediately.
That's probably the lesson of the week: patience. Learning to work on things with all your effort now so that you can see results later. Its a pretty difficult lesson to learn but as a missionary you can really see the value of it. Especially as the weeks seem to grow shorter and shorter. Before I know it I'm going to be counting transfers instead of weeks!
We had an exchange again this week which was actually pretty awesome. Elder W came to my area and Elder J went with Elder S and it was a pretty great day. We didn't have tons of success but we had a lot of fun and we learned a lot. Elder W and I seem to be on the same page pretty frequently, we actually tend to reply to questions simultaneously which is pretty amusing. That night of the exchange we went to teach a lesson with Sister M and Brother W, this absolutely AMAZING man who is the only member in his family, whose wife is dying of cancer, who has an amazing testimony, went with us to that. Well the lesson went swell and all, I took the lead--which wasn't unusual. I've been taking the lead in lessons most of the time just because I don't think about it. Anyways, yesterday at church Brother W paid me probably the greatest compliment I could have received. He said to Elder J and me, "This missionary was prepared the other night!" and I asked him what he meant. He said that he was impressed at how prepared for my mission I was because of how short of a time I had been in the field.
Make sure those pictures of us at the N's and the H's (stormtrooper helmets and lightsabers) get put on facebook or something for all to enjoy! The N's and the H's just love us so much. We actually had a dinner appointment with the H's early in the week and then Friday night we were going to go share a lesson with them and they ended up feeding us again! That was the night they had to show us the Storm Trooper helmets that their son, L (who is on a mission in Magna, Utah), owned as well as his room which is a shrine to all nerdery--which Elder J and I absolutely loved. And get this--CALLEY HE HAD A DARTH REVAN COSTUME AND WE WOULD HAVE WORN IT BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME!!!!!!!!!! ...I'm pretty sure L and I would be great friends.
Oh, so I guess its been super freezing out west. Well, we finally got our portion of it this week. Last week may have been 75 degrees, but its been below 30 most of the week and down to about 15 at night and super cloudy and we actually had our first ice storm this week. It was SO bizarre. Because I guess due to the humidity that it isn't cold enough to snow even though its below freezing. So it rains and then freezes onto everything. EVERYTHING ends up covered with inches of ice. The trees and other plants were absolutely gorgeous when the sun came out the next day and they were all iced over and the pine trees were crystallized. SUPER miserably cold because of the humidity and all, but it was pretty gorgeous too.
This week has really been pretty awesome. Rough as far as getting new people, but its been an amazing week of learning learning and learning. When things get difficult its always easier when you remember that the Lord is always taking care of you if you're on the right path. That's all you need to remember and even the hardest trial becomes surmountable. If you're doing your part, the Lord will take care of the rest. And frequently that means he'll send miracles. But something I may have said before that David A. Bednar said was that the Israelites who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant and came up to the River Jordan, they were promised that the river would part, just like the Red Sea. But they came up to it with the Ark and it wasn't until they had stepped into the river and gotten their feet wet that the miracle happened. If you read Alma 60, Captain Moroni says the same thing. He thinks that Pahoran is refusing to send his armies aid against the Lamanites and he rebukes Pahoran, reminding him that just because God delivered them from bondage before didn't mean that he would go and fight the Lamanites for them if they refused to help themselves. If we want miracles we have to get our feet wet. Its that simple. So work as if everything relies on you and have faith that it all relies on the Lord. Then we know that everything that happens is for our own benefit. And that's my soapbox to family and friends for the week.
As far as piano music goes, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE if, wherever it is located, someone could send me the Prince of Egypt book, Come Thou Fount sheet music (its the full choral arrangement for like the MoTabs), Nearer My God to Thee and Army of Helaman and Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief sheet music (they're all super beautiful arrangements I miss), and anything else that sounds like a great idea to send me because I know I have tons of music. Speaking of piano music, did I tell you a member of the ward is going to teach me to play the piano entirely improvised? Or at least the basics so I can do the improvising I already do but actually do it well? I'm super excited. Some night this week they're going to feed us and then he'll teach me. I'm so so so so so so so excited. I'm also going to teach Elder W and Elder S to play the piano! Woo!
Calley--I haven't received that package you were talking about at Christmas. So I hope it didn't get lost.
Chris and Anne--yes I did get the cookies in the MTC which was wonderful. I have the tupperware and I plan to send it home to my mom when I next make it to the Post Office along with everything else. Also, yes that is the Elder Warner who is my district leader! He's from Orem so it all fits even if he doesn't know who y'all are!
Grandma Penny-- I got the letters you sent via the Hills! I'm sure your talk went just fabulously. Wish I could have heard it!
Alrighty! I love you all! Thus ends this weeks' update of the Adventures of Elder Adams in Kinston--the Land Where the Weather Can't Make Up its Mind Whether its Going to be 15 Degrees or 75 in January!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
A Few Photos
Brother H. sent this one of an apparent storm trooper in their home. I recognize the tie.
Sister N. sent this one of the elders outside the church on Monday.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
January 21 Email
And thus begins my sixth week in the field! Usually it would be the last week of the transfer this week but because of when Christmas was, the previous transfer was cut short a week so it was only 5-weeks and this transfer is 7-weeks. And my training is 2-transfers so, I'm like halfway done with training. Its crazy.
I cannot believe that you coordinated for my birthday though, Mom! That was kind of awesome and it was super amazing to have my Snow Tunnel Cake as tradition dictates every year--along with cheesy potatoes. Thank you all so much, everyone who chipped in to get me that GPS. Its actually better than Elder J's GPS and so we take it around more often than his! I named it Joanne. She's a classy lady. The H's are just about the best and they seem to really like me and they gave us all SweetFrog (a frozen yogurt place) giftcards and it was just fabulous to spend my birthday with the H's that night.
Other awesome news: I GET TO BAPTIZE SISTER M THIS WEEKEND!!!!!! I'm so excited. We had her baptism interview on Saturday night and then asked her to choose who would baptize her and who would confirm her, preferably a ward member so as to build ward unity/friendships/etc. And she asked me to do the baptism and Elder J to do the confirmation. She says, "You two were the ones who found me and have been with me since the beginning, so you better be with me here at the end!" I'm so excited. Its going to be so great. We actually got three investigators to church this week, including Sister M and it was just so exciting. Word is getting out that I play the piano so Relief Society grabs us for their opening exercises so that I can play their opening hymn, and Brother H seems to really really like me so he brings me piano music I can photo copy and he asks me all sorts of questions about playing music. Its so great.
The week itself has been pretty difficult though. Very few lessons, we haven't been able to meet with very many people and its just been difficult. Though we had our first Zone Conference this week which was amazing. Elder P of the 70 came to that and it was just such an amazing Conference. We learned so very much and have applied it and found results so quickly. I played the piano for that as well. It amazes me how few people play the piano or sing or anything out here. Apparently little to no one has musical talent out here so when I'm here to play the piano they all get super excited and are super grateful. Anyways, Elder P described his job as being President and Sister B's visiting teachers, which I thought was amusing, but it was just such a great conference and they really taught us all so very much.
We've been fed SO much this week. Lunch and dinner, every single day this week, someone has fed us. Its been almost ridiculous. We're always so stuffed. But we're working out in the mornings though so I guess its all just fine. I'm still the same weight I was when I entered the MTC so I'm not complaining too much. Its mostly just been another week in the field though, nothing else particularly life changing to report.
Tell Mawmaw thank you so much for Pawpaw's scarf and the candy.
Steven, oh my goodness at the chocolate.
Calley, still haven't received the second package you said you were going to send for my Birthday (you told me about it around Christmas, I think?). Hoping it didn't get lost somewhere.
Thank you all for pitching in for my GPS. I'm so so so so so so so so grateful for that. Thank you for that. Its going to be so very helpful.
As far as the copyright thing goes, I've no idea about that whatsoever and have heard nothing about it so . . . whatever you do, that's fine with me I guess. Though I have received some letters from friends asking why they aren't getting my emails so if you could send a mass email to all those addresses I gave you and link them to the blog or whatever it was you're using, that'd be great.
Also, mom if you could get a 3-year driving record copy for me and get that faxed or mailed to the Mission Office. My Drivers License # is 197302409 and the Mission Office fax is (919 850 0897)
Well, I love you all! Write me! I'll write ya' back!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Cody's Birthday
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| 20 birthday candles. |
Sister Hill from Kinston 2nd Ward sent me these photos that they took of Cody's birthday. They had him and his companion and 2 other missionaries over for dinner that night and had a party for him. She made him a snow tunnel cake with the recipe I sent her. He has had a snow tunnel cake for his birthday for as long as we can remember. They also had steak and cheesy potatoes-another recipe I sent her. I sent his birthday package to their house because things are taking so long to get to him with having to go to mission home first and then to him. They held it for him and she even wrapped it up so he could have something to open. We sent him a GPS, a tie for his Tie of the Month club, some vitamins, tea tree oil and a chocolate orange. She sent me a great email with the link to all these pictures and said that he had a great time and they were so glad that they could feed the missionaries that day. This is what she put at the end of her email.
"I just got your email saying you have seen the pictures so disregard the above paragraph!! But...NO, I didn't hug him...Jeff did it for me! HE is WAY too obedient to have a female hug him...and that is a great thing! For example...all of a sudden my kitchen emptied out tonight...all four missionaries ran outside...I walked to see where they were going...they had all rushed out of the house because my husband had gone to get something out of his car...THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THE HOUSE WITHOUT A PRIESTHOOD HOLDER BECAUSE ONLY ME AND MY DAUGHTER WERE IN THERE! It was hilarious because she and I were both busy doing something else...we didn't even know Jeff had gone out!
Anyway...what a great group of elders we have! Thanks so much for sharing him with us...and if it is any reassurance there is not an unhappy bone in that boy's body! They are gone to an appointment with an investigator now. They are really rocking and rolling this area! Have a great night!"
I told her to give him a great big birthday hug from his momma and so that is what the hugging part is about. All of her emails say how happy he is and how funny he is. It sounds like from his letters and the Hill's emails that really is happy and doing well.
Photo Opp
Brother Hill from Cody's ward sent this picture to me last week. He said that he saw them out tracting and so he told them stop and let him take picture. I asked Brother Hill if they were cold because Cody looked humched over but he said that he was just being goofy-typical Cody! He said it hadn't been that cold. I was grateful for that! Of course this week it got really cold and one time I looked on my weather app for Kinston and it showed snow!
Monday, January 14, 2013
January 14, 2013 email
It will be official on Thursday! I'll be a month old in the field, but I'm already six-weeks old altogether! Can you believe it? Its still so ridiculous to me that its already been so long!
CONNOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I looked at my watch for the date the other morning, saw it was the eleventh and went, "WOAH! Connor is 16! That's ridiculous! He's getting so big!" Well, buddy, I'm glad to hear you're doing well! Sorry I can't/couldn't be at your ordination to a Priest. You're so lucky to get the opportunity to become a priest, be able to bless the sacrament, and even baptize someone! That's a big deal! You're a good man, Connor Mckay Adams! And I love you! You're going to be an awesome priest and an awesome missionary one day! I love you!
We started doing Insanity, with me leading it of course, on Saturday morning. We get up at 6, start at 6:10 over at Elder W and Elder S's apartment down the street, and we all destroy ourselves physically to start the day off. Its going great and we're all loving it! I've got to do something to keep from gaining 50-lbs. Elder G, one of the President's assistants started here in Kinston and said he gained 32-lbs in his 6-months. I'm not gonna let that happen, though if Brother H keeps taking us to King's I'm going to be in trouble regardless.
The weather here is ridiculous. Just as soon as I got my package with the thermal Gs in it, it decides to warm up. Like seriously warm up. To about . . . 70-80 degrees during the day. Its so weird. Its apparently supposed to get miserably cold here soon but still! Its still pretty warm. What's strange is how when it rains it gets super cool but then as soon as the rain stops it warms up so much. Its so strange. We've also had TONS of fog this week. Calley, how in the world is fog formed and stuff like that? I need to know. My useless trivia supply was lacking in that area and I was disappointed in myself--and my companion was surprised that I didn't know as well.
Well, my fourth-week in the field yielded just about as much as the previous week--not much, but we still had some awesome experiences. Monday night we continued to teach Sister M, Sister J, and Brother M, once again at a member's home--this time the A's. We get there about 7:30, sit down at their dining room table to have the lesson and then BAM! The power went out. Apparently someone had ran into a power pole with their car somewhere in Kinston and the entire city was out for about 2-hours. So we just broke out a bunch of candles--scented and unscented-- and had our lesson by candlelight! It was actually a pretty great experience and teaching those three (its time-consuming to write out all three of their names in our planners and stuff so we usually just write and refer to them as "MJM" or as I prefer "JM^2" (Jay-Emm-Squared)), they totally make up for our lack of success with anyone else during the week. Just two days previous we had given them all blessings to help with the Word of Wisdom, but we usually meet with them three times a week or so. Anyway, we were teaching them how to receive revelation through the Book of Mormon and how they could find strength by studying the scriptures. The lesson was going great. But Sister J stopped us for a minute because she had something she wanted to share. And she looks at me and says that she did what we asked, she went home and wrote about her experience when we gave her a blessing. And she started to tear up as she explained how everything I said in that blessing pertained exactly to her situation and exactly to the things on her mind and exactly to what she needed. It was such an amazing experience. I can't believe how blessed I am to be able to be a part of things like that.
The next few days yielded very little, but Thursday we had a "Training Meeting" where President and Sister B, their assistants, and all the training missionaries and their trainers in the east half of the North Carolina Mission came. It was wonderful to see three of the awesome friends I made in the MTC, but the Meeting itself was extraordinary. We learned SO very much. And we taught each other so very much. President and Sister are just so wonderful. I know without doubt I'm in the right place at the right time--confirmed once again!
We taught just Sister M that night, the other two were unavailable because Brother M had a death in the family and had to go help with funeral preparations. Once again an amazing lesson and this time in the H's home. Sister M is just on fire. It doesn't matter what commandment we give, what we teach, or what we invite her to do, she does it and does it willingly. In fact she had cut down so much on cigarettes, going from about 20-22 a day to 5 that day, in preparation to be cigarette free starting on that Saturday. She has to be cigarette-free for two-weeks prior to her baptism and she's doing it! One day at a time! And she told us how the Book of Mormon almost follows her around the house as she works so she'll pick it up and read a little, set it down, doing something, and see it and start reading again. But then she told us something just awesome. She said that a year ago she had been feeling very lost and she said that she prayed for the Lord to guide her to a church so she could know what she needed to do. And then she said, once again, she knows that her prayer was answered when we found her at Brother M's that night a few weeks ago. Sister M is just golden. I love her. I can't wait until her baptism on the 26th! If you could, pray for her to have the strength and continued desire to not smoke so she can be ready on the 26th. Because other than that she is SO ready!
When I was in the MTC I had the opportunity to watch the recorded video of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's family and his program/talk they gave at the MTC over Thanksgiving. I think I mentioned it before. Anyway, he said something in it that was so thought-provoking. He said, "Why are we the ones who have been chosen to receive this Gospel and to receive the honor of sharing and preaching it to every kindred, tongue, and people?" Then he said he didn't know the answer to that question but to ponder it, and think about how massive a calling and honor it is to be able to serve the Lord. That's something that has been on my mind all week--why have I been so blessed as to receive so many huge revelations (seriously big ones too), amazing experiences, and sacred spiritual gifts? Why do I get the opportunity to serve and love these people? Why did the Lord wait so long on me to turn around and find a better path? And why did the Lord fight so hard for me to be where I am right now when I see other people go through similar circumstances and end up in far worse places? I still don't think I have an answer, and I highly doubt I'll get one for a while--though I know if its the Lord's will that I will in fact receive an answer. But I decided it gives me hope. It gives me comfort to know that even as imperfect as I am, that the Lord still trusts me with so much. Nephi in the book of Helaman isn't a prophet, or at least he doesn't receive all the keys and authority of a prophet for a while. In fact, he is just a missionary, who goes about preaching repentance, doing good, and performing phenomenal miracles--and then eventually the Lord tells him that he will give unto Nephi the power to command the trees, the mountains, and oceans, that he will have the power to smite the earth at his word--because the Lord knows that he will not do or ask for anything contrary to the Lord's will. And then he also received what we refer to as the Sealing power that allows us to have eternal families, thus making him a prophet. But what hit me most about all of that is faith. We have to have faith (and then act on it) in the Lord, and then he will in turn have faith and trust in us. If we trust the Lord, he'll trust us with greater and greater responsibilities, authority, people, blessings, and happiness. . . that's pretty amazing. All of our relationships are two-way streets. So if we can just learn to trust the Lord, we'll be trusted by him. So we know we're on the right path, that we're doing good, and we'll receive more and more and more until we become like him. That's the beauty and power of the gospel. You receive more if you want more. If you don't want more, you lose what you have. Its that simple.
I've learned so much. And its crazy to me how much the Lord has changed me in such a short time. Things aren't easy. In fact there are times when I start to think its getting hard, but I really do love it here. And the end of the day I realize I don't want to be anywhere else.
I love you all so much! I got letters from Kim and Dalley and oh, by the way, Mom, that letter you sent through DearElder that also emailed to me? I didn't get that until Friday so . . . I don't know when you sent it but it sounds like it took forever. Also, those kashi granola bars and stuff you sent? Those were awesome. I loved them. A lot.
Just so you all know, you haven't had fried chicken until you've gone to King's BBQ. Brother H eats there literally every day for lunch. And its so good. But you can feel your arteries clogging as you take each bite. Additionally, I don't want to ever go home until they get a Bojangles out west. Chicken and biscuits. So good. . . we get fed so well here. You'd think the trial would be missionaries not ever having enough food, but in reality our trial here is having WAY too much food. Everyone makes sure we're taken care of and we eat at a members' home like four or five times a week if not more. Its always good stuff--though we did eat Tilapia the other day and it was . . . really not my favorite.
Go read your Book of Mormons. In fact, go read 3 Nephi from like chapter . . . 9 to the end. I just finished 3rd Nephi and wow. There is so much good stuff in there. Its amazing. And go into your reading with a question, having the faith and belief that you'll get an answer--you might now, but you WILL eventually get an answer and you WILL learn more than you would have, I promise you that.
I love you all! Write me! Tell me what you learned in the Book of Mormon or something if you have no idea what to say!
CONNOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I looked at my watch for the date the other morning, saw it was the eleventh and went, "WOAH! Connor is 16! That's ridiculous! He's getting so big!" Well, buddy, I'm glad to hear you're doing well! Sorry I can't/couldn't be at your ordination to a Priest. You're so lucky to get the opportunity to become a priest, be able to bless the sacrament, and even baptize someone! That's a big deal! You're a good man, Connor Mckay Adams! And I love you! You're going to be an awesome priest and an awesome missionary one day! I love you!
We started doing Insanity, with me leading it of course, on Saturday morning. We get up at 6, start at 6:10 over at Elder W and Elder S's apartment down the street, and we all destroy ourselves physically to start the day off. Its going great and we're all loving it! I've got to do something to keep from gaining 50-lbs. Elder G, one of the President's assistants started here in Kinston and said he gained 32-lbs in his 6-months. I'm not gonna let that happen, though if Brother H keeps taking us to King's I'm going to be in trouble regardless.
The weather here is ridiculous. Just as soon as I got my package with the thermal Gs in it, it decides to warm up. Like seriously warm up. To about . . . 70-80 degrees during the day. Its so weird. Its apparently supposed to get miserably cold here soon but still! Its still pretty warm. What's strange is how when it rains it gets super cool but then as soon as the rain stops it warms up so much. Its so strange. We've also had TONS of fog this week. Calley, how in the world is fog formed and stuff like that? I need to know. My useless trivia supply was lacking in that area and I was disappointed in myself--and my companion was surprised that I didn't know as well.
Well, my fourth-week in the field yielded just about as much as the previous week--not much, but we still had some awesome experiences. Monday night we continued to teach Sister M, Sister J, and Brother M, once again at a member's home--this time the A's. We get there about 7:30, sit down at their dining room table to have the lesson and then BAM! The power went out. Apparently someone had ran into a power pole with their car somewhere in Kinston and the entire city was out for about 2-hours. So we just broke out a bunch of candles--scented and unscented-- and had our lesson by candlelight! It was actually a pretty great experience and teaching those three (its time-consuming to write out all three of their names in our planners and stuff so we usually just write and refer to them as "MJM" or as I prefer "JM^2" (Jay-Emm-Squared)), they totally make up for our lack of success with anyone else during the week. Just two days previous we had given them all blessings to help with the Word of Wisdom, but we usually meet with them three times a week or so. Anyway, we were teaching them how to receive revelation through the Book of Mormon and how they could find strength by studying the scriptures. The lesson was going great. But Sister J stopped us for a minute because she had something she wanted to share. And she looks at me and says that she did what we asked, she went home and wrote about her experience when we gave her a blessing. And she started to tear up as she explained how everything I said in that blessing pertained exactly to her situation and exactly to the things on her mind and exactly to what she needed. It was such an amazing experience. I can't believe how blessed I am to be able to be a part of things like that.
The next few days yielded very little, but Thursday we had a "Training Meeting" where President and Sister B, their assistants, and all the training missionaries and their trainers in the east half of the North Carolina Mission came. It was wonderful to see three of the awesome friends I made in the MTC, but the Meeting itself was extraordinary. We learned SO very much. And we taught each other so very much. President and Sister are just so wonderful. I know without doubt I'm in the right place at the right time--confirmed once again!
We taught just Sister M that night, the other two were unavailable because Brother M had a death in the family and had to go help with funeral preparations. Once again an amazing lesson and this time in the H's home. Sister M is just on fire. It doesn't matter what commandment we give, what we teach, or what we invite her to do, she does it and does it willingly. In fact she had cut down so much on cigarettes, going from about 20-22 a day to 5 that day, in preparation to be cigarette free starting on that Saturday. She has to be cigarette-free for two-weeks prior to her baptism and she's doing it! One day at a time! And she told us how the Book of Mormon almost follows her around the house as she works so she'll pick it up and read a little, set it down, doing something, and see it and start reading again. But then she told us something just awesome. She said that a year ago she had been feeling very lost and she said that she prayed for the Lord to guide her to a church so she could know what she needed to do. And then she said, once again, she knows that her prayer was answered when we found her at Brother M's that night a few weeks ago. Sister M is just golden. I love her. I can't wait until her baptism on the 26th! If you could, pray for her to have the strength and continued desire to not smoke so she can be ready on the 26th. Because other than that she is SO ready!
When I was in the MTC I had the opportunity to watch the recorded video of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's family and his program/talk they gave at the MTC over Thanksgiving. I think I mentioned it before. Anyway, he said something in it that was so thought-provoking. He said, "Why are we the ones who have been chosen to receive this Gospel and to receive the honor of sharing and preaching it to every kindred, tongue, and people?" Then he said he didn't know the answer to that question but to ponder it, and think about how massive a calling and honor it is to be able to serve the Lord. That's something that has been on my mind all week--why have I been so blessed as to receive so many huge revelations (seriously big ones too), amazing experiences, and sacred spiritual gifts? Why do I get the opportunity to serve and love these people? Why did the Lord wait so long on me to turn around and find a better path? And why did the Lord fight so hard for me to be where I am right now when I see other people go through similar circumstances and end up in far worse places? I still don't think I have an answer, and I highly doubt I'll get one for a while--though I know if its the Lord's will that I will in fact receive an answer. But I decided it gives me hope. It gives me comfort to know that even as imperfect as I am, that the Lord still trusts me with so much. Nephi in the book of Helaman isn't a prophet, or at least he doesn't receive all the keys and authority of a prophet for a while. In fact, he is just a missionary, who goes about preaching repentance, doing good, and performing phenomenal miracles--and then eventually the Lord tells him that he will give unto Nephi the power to command the trees, the mountains, and oceans, that he will have the power to smite the earth at his word--because the Lord knows that he will not do or ask for anything contrary to the Lord's will. And then he also received what we refer to as the Sealing power that allows us to have eternal families, thus making him a prophet. But what hit me most about all of that is faith. We have to have faith (and then act on it) in the Lord, and then he will in turn have faith and trust in us. If we trust the Lord, he'll trust us with greater and greater responsibilities, authority, people, blessings, and happiness. . . that's pretty amazing. All of our relationships are two-way streets. So if we can just learn to trust the Lord, we'll be trusted by him. So we know we're on the right path, that we're doing good, and we'll receive more and more and more until we become like him. That's the beauty and power of the gospel. You receive more if you want more. If you don't want more, you lose what you have. Its that simple.
I've learned so much. And its crazy to me how much the Lord has changed me in such a short time. Things aren't easy. In fact there are times when I start to think its getting hard, but I really do love it here. And the end of the day I realize I don't want to be anywhere else.
I love you all so much! I got letters from Kim and Dalley and oh, by the way, Mom, that letter you sent through DearElder that also emailed to me? I didn't get that until Friday so . . . I don't know when you sent it but it sounds like it took forever. Also, those kashi granola bars and stuff you sent? Those were awesome. I loved them. A lot.
Just so you all know, you haven't had fried chicken until you've gone to King's BBQ. Brother H eats there literally every day for lunch. And its so good. But you can feel your arteries clogging as you take each bite. Additionally, I don't want to ever go home until they get a Bojangles out west. Chicken and biscuits. So good. . . we get fed so well here. You'd think the trial would be missionaries not ever having enough food, but in reality our trial here is having WAY too much food. Everyone makes sure we're taken care of and we eat at a members' home like four or five times a week if not more. Its always good stuff--though we did eat Tilapia the other day and it was . . . really not my favorite.
Go read your Book of Mormons. In fact, go read 3 Nephi from like chapter . . . 9 to the end. I just finished 3rd Nephi and wow. There is so much good stuff in there. Its amazing. And go into your reading with a question, having the faith and belief that you'll get an answer--you might now, but you WILL eventually get an answer and you WILL learn more than you would have, I promise you that.
I love you all! Write me! Tell me what you learned in the Book of Mormon or something if you have no idea what to say!
FYI
So I learned the other day that the emails that missionaries send are in fact copyrighted by the church and they are not supposed to be sent out via email or social networks with personal or private information in them. So in the future if you see just initials where there should be names know that I edited the letter and changed the names to initials to protect the information. You just never know what could happen and we wouldn't want Cody or any of the people he writes about to have any trouble over something that was in writing.
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