Letter from CA

Subject: No one warned me how little time you have out here.

I just realized that Jordan Robinson gets home this months! You mentioned Elder Gillman and that was well over 6 months ago when I was with him.

 

Its so scary how quickly things are changing! I mean the mission isn't THAT stable but at least you can get to the new area and know what it is that you are going to be doing there.

 

Speaking of: I feel like we have had a ton of new people that we have started visiting. But then yesterday no one came to church. We have a weird schedule where we go to Sunday School, EQ/RS, then the sacrament. So of course yesterday was the day that all of our investigators didn't come, and even the few that did come left before sacrament meeting. Something Elder Broadbent told me waaay long ago is ringing true today. "Don't stress the numbers because when they are down, you love faith and get discouraged. And when they are up, you get prideful." Were working hard trying to talk to everyone and get things done here.

 

Yesterday I had the opportunity of doing the baptismal Interview for a sister named Ana. I was told how Baptismal Interviews are some of the best times of your mission but I didn't believe it. Its amazing to me how within 20 minutes I went from just meeting this sister to dang near tears as she told me how much the Lord has changed her and how grateful she is for the Gospel in her life. President Weidman has said form day 1 that he loves me and I never understood why he would say that in our first conversation. But the Lord, contingent on if we want, give us the opportunity of feeling a fraction of the Love he has for his children.

 

This week has been insane, Weve had to do 4 exchanges in the past like 10 days. Which doesn't sound like much but each one takes space out of 2 days. And we still have another 4 to do -.- I love being with other elders don't get me wrong but I just wish It didn't involve taking so much time out of my area. But life goes on right?

 

We found out recently that Juan Zaya can't be baptized. He is SO solid and Its heartbreaking to hear but hes going to need another surgery before he can even think about baptism.

 

Last thing: I want to share a story I heard in the beginning of my mission. Its called the Secret of the Eagles. Its based on the scripture found in Psalm 103: 1-5 (pic included) I wanted to share this because 1. I really liked it and 2. its my planner cover this transfer. (because we peasants here in Los Angeles still have planners.) I always start out by reading the scripture. Which its a random little story without much explanation so it makes little to no sense by itself. UNTIL you know the story of the eagles. When an eagle gets about 15 years old they face a decision of life or death. Their feathers get so heavy they can no longer fly, their claws get dull so they can no longer use them. And even if they could their beaks grow into a curl so they cant open their mouths. So the ones that want to live have to fight. They usually perch themselves waaay up in the mountains where they wont be bothered and begin this 2-3 months process. Just like how we have trials and things that hurt here in this life, eagles have to suffer for a time to be able to continue and progress. They have to beat their beaks against rocks until it breaks off the curl. Then wait for it to grow back and harden. With their new beaks they rip out all of their claws. Which then can grow back sharper. Then with new claws and beaks pluck out all of their old feathers. Even thousands of years ago the psalmist knew the secret of the eagles. and saw the beauty of the Lords creations. Comparing their story to that of us. Christ died for us. He knows every pain we will face in this life. Unlike the eagles we have a way to be freed of our burdens because God so loved YOU that he gave his only begotton son. "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's"