You just never know.

     So months ago, I was speaking to a young man at my job.  I just happened to mention that my wife and I had recently converted to  the Mormon faith.  He seemed surprised and said that his girlfriend was Mormon and that he was thinking about asking her to marry him.
     I mentioned offhand that if he really wants to marry her he would have to convert and be Baptized so they could be sealed in the Temple.  He kyouind of laughed and nodded.  We later had other conversations about the faith and my experience with the church, but I never gave that first talk much thought.
     So last night, I found out that the young man had gotten Baptized the Saturday before.   Needless to say I was incredibly happy to get this news.
     I have no idea if my simple testimony had any effect on sh as the happened, but it just shows how it is possible to have an effect on people's lives through your honest testimony.  Speak truly and from the heart in everything you do and who knows what you might accomplish.

Courage and determination rewarded.

    Sometimes I encounter situations and people that completely renew my faith in, well, pretty much everything.  Since beginning this long trek (Almost a year now), I have seen and experienced things that made me realize that there is kindness and justice left in the world.   Recently, I had the pleasure and honor of experiencing yet another.
     Recently I met a young Elder just out from home on his first mission.  I found out that he was actually experiencing a couple of test missions to make sure he could actually serve a full mission due to health reasons.  From the first day I met him, it was obvious that his health was not the best in the world.  This young boy had ever reason to simply have stayed home and never tested himself or his limits.
     During the 6 weeks that he was here in our ward, I witnessed an amazing young man who truly believed in his faith.  His determination to do God's work no matter what was astounding.  I also had the pleasure and incredible honor of watching him grow in strength and confidence with the help of his amazing companion.  He went from shy and uncertain to a firmly confident man. 
     On his first night  here, I accompanied this young man and his companion while they visited people.  I also had the honor of going with the young man on  his final night visiting.  The change between the two times was astounding.   On his first trip he barely spoke and allowed his Companion to lead the way.  On that final night, after a brief bit of help from me, he confidently led an eager couple of investigators on an inspiring meeting.
     So, once he left on the second test mission, I followed his progress very carefully.  I prayed the entire time that everyone else would see the amazing strength and courage of this young man and allow him to serve a Full Mission.  Well, I found out this week that he has been approved for a full mission!  I am told that he read his approval in front of everyone and everyone cheered.  Now this young man will be serving the Church for many months to come and I am certain that everyone will be much richer for meeting him.  I know I am.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Learning while Teaching

     One of the things that I truly enjoy as a member of the Church is going on rides with the Missionaries as they visit the various families that they keep an eye on and give lessons too.  Every chance I get, I volunteer to drive them on Splits and really look forward to the trips whenever I get to go.  Besides watching the Missionaries work so hard at helping people, I have my own personal reason for going along.  I guess it could even be considered a selfish reason and I hope Heavenly Father has it in his heart to forgive me this one small bit of greed.
     When I ride along with the Elders on their weekly trips to visit Investigators or Members of the Church who haven't been as active, I find the chance to reacquaint myself with my own newly rediscovered Faith and it helps me strengthen my beliefs and my faith by watching others find their way to the Church and to God. 
     It has only been about nine months since my Wife and I were Baptized and officially joined the Church.  Heck it was only a few short months before that when we first started investigating so my faith is still a very new thing.  Even now, there are sometimes I question the choices we have made and the steps we have taken along this Trek back home to God.  I guess I wouldn't be human if I didn't have the occasional doubts.
     When I watch the Elders working with people who are struggling with the same worries and doubts that I had/have and slowly lead them through all of that fear and darkness, I find my own Faith and Beliefs strengthened and renewed.  When I see the Investigators learning and understanding, I grow in my own understanding of the Church and its many gifts.  Every person we talk to and every person they teach helps me become a better Christian and a better person.
     I have come a very long way in a very short period of time and the peace and hope the Church and God have given me is something that not even the greatest words can ever describe.  I struggle everyday to be worthy of the gifts that have been given to me and some days I fail.  I fight every day with doubts and fears and some days I lose that fight.  No matter how hard my struggles are, I always find my way back to my faith and am renewed every single time.  The trips I make with our Missionaries and the people we meet help give me the strength to fight those battles and find my way back home again. 
     The Missionaries are always so grateful when I drive them on their visits as if I am giving them the greatest gift in the world, but sometimes I wonder if they realize that it is they who are giving me the great gift?  I hope they know this.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Sow what you would reap.

     I know I keep going on and on about how spectacular our Missionaries are and how much they enjoy helping every one they meet without expecting anything in return besides a smile and thanks.  Well today was the day that I set up the flower garden in front of our new house and two of our Elders came over to help me.  They showed up early in the morning and worked for several hours digging up the beds, planting the flowers and ground cover and then mulching everything and getting it neat.  I thought all of my readers might want to see them in action and see the results of their hard work.  Shout out to my Elders!  Great work guys!

Missionaries, the Best of Us.

The Field Is White

     So you all have heard me go on and on about the amazing young men and women who are the Missionaries of our Church.  I have extolled how amazing they are and how much I admire them.  To me, the fact that these young people voluntarily leave their homes and family so that they can go where ever they are needed is astounding.  I sometimes wonder if I would have had that kind of courage when I was their age.

     Two things got me really pondering the Elders and Sisters who work so hard all of the time.  We had to say goodbye to two of our Elders since both members of the same duo were transferred today.  I think that is easily one of the hardest things about being Mormon and spending time with these incredible kids.  No matter how much you may wish otherwise, eventually they will have to leave.  You become incredibly attached to them in a very short period of time and then you have to say goodbye.  So Elders Garber and Anderson said goodbye today with hugs and pictures.  The other was the weekly blog from the amazing young girl in the pictures.

    She is the daughter of a very dear friend who is currently on her Mission a very very long way from home.  She is living in conditions that are a far cry from the ones that she experienced growing up.  (Cold water showers from a bucket.  Brrrrr.)  Given the almost insane level of entitlement so many young people have today with wanting the latest Iphone or the hottest new tablet, I think most people would be amazed that she would willingly give all that up for many months to leave her home and family so that she can help others.

     I jokingly tell people that even if one day I stopped believing in the Church and Heavenly Father, I would probably stay in the Mormon Church.  Even if I somehow came to feel that our Modern Prophet did not receive revelations from God, I would keep attending Church and doing everything I could to help.  

     The reason for this is that (and keep in mind I have had experiences with many different faiths over the decades) the Mormon People are some of the kindest, most loving people I have ever met.  They go out of their way over and over again doing everything they can to help people, even people not of their faith.  From almost the day they are born, they are taught that the best way to live a good life is to help others.  I see this everyday when ever I am with anyone of my Faith.

     I am new to the Faith.  It has been less than a year since my Wife and I were Baptized.  I admit that I have not seen everyone in the Church and I concede that there are probably Mormons out there who may be just as jaded and dishonest as the rest of the world.  Matter of fact, the law of averages pretty much promises that is true.  However, all of the people I HAVE met and all of the things that I have experienced so far along this Trek have been amazing and uplifting experiences.  I wouldn't trade a moment of it for anything in the world.

     As long as our Missionaries are among the first people that everyone meets we should be pretty well off.  As long as they are the ones that continue to be shining examples of our Church and Our Faith, I think the best examples will always be set.

     If you want to read about someone who is truly amazing, read Hermana Gisseman's Blog and you will truly be inspired.

I say these things in Jesus' Name

Amen

Our Greatest Ambassadors...

If there is one thing I truly love and enjoy, it is going out with our amazing Elders as they reach out to people and try to help them learn more about the Church and the way we members are. I don't get to do it nearly as often as I would like but every trip is a sheer joy and I welcome each chance I get. I always tell people that the Missionaries are the best ambassadors that we have for the Church and all of its wonders. Every trip I take with them just proves that over and over again.

The other night was one of those amazing trips. We went to visit a lovely woman from Romania who has not been in this country for very long. Her English was excellent, but sometimes difficult to understand since she often found herself not knowing a specific word in English. The entire time, her very young daughter was running around the room at full tilt making noise and just generally being a small, energetic child.

During the first few minutes, I could sense the woman's unease. I could tell she was uncomfortable. I wasn't sure if it was because there were strangers in her home, her discomfort with not having perfect English or the living tornado that was her daughter. She seemed very nervous with us being there.

The Elders shined in this situation. Elder Garber distracted her daughter by playing with her doing a puzzle over and over again while Elder Anderson and I talked to her. Occassionally, I would switch out the Garber while he answered some of her questions. After a while, she opened up and relaxed to the point where she talked about her previous faith and asked very insightful questions about the Mormon faith. By the time we left, I really felt like the Elders had made real progress in helping the woman find her way back to the family that she never knew she had.

For anyone who has never had the chance to watch all of our amazing Missionaries work, you have truly missed something amazing. Their faith and devotion shines through each and every time they speak or act. They teach those around them not just with their lessons, but with their many deeds. They work so hard and generally the only reward they get is a smile and a handshake. Sometimes they don't even get that.

I see the Missionaries on the “front lines” every single day rain or shine, hot or cold. The first or last thing they ever ask is “Is there anything that we can do for you?” They genuinely wish to help every one they can and sometimes get grumpy when they can't. Don't even get me started on how grumpy they were the first time I shoveled the snow off my walk myself instead of having them to it.

The messages and lessons the Missionaries have are important beyond words and help those who listen to them. However, it is their selfless deeds every single day that get them close enough to people to allow them to try to teach them. I doubt the Church would be where it is today without our Missionaries working so hard every day. I am very grateful for them.

Saying Goodbye is never easy.

I think that one of the most amazing things about my new life as a Mormon is getting to meet so many young and dedicated Missionaries. In the few short months that we have been a member of this family, we have had the honor of meeting a dozen or so dedicated young men and women who have left their homes and families to spend time in the outside world meeting and helping so many more families. The Elders and Sisters that I have had the honor of knowing have done so much for us and made us smile on many occasions. I can honestly say that we probably wouldn't have made this Trek without their wisdom, patience and sheer love of life.

Conversely, I also feel that the Missionaries are also one of the hardest things about being a Mormon. You welcome these amazing kids into your lives and make them part of your family. You share meals with them and listen to them as they try to teach you all the things you need to know. You learn to love each and everyone of them for the sparkling bright individuals that they are. You welcome them into your homes and hearts. Then, inevitably, they have to move on.

The life of a Missionary is one of change. They stay where they are needed for a short time and then they move to a new area where people might need them more. It is difficult to get so used to them being around, knowing full well that eventually they will be called to serve somewhere else. It is their mission to serve and they will go wherever they are needed.

I suppose the easy thing to do would be to not get attached. One could meet these young stars and not form any sort of connection to them. Listen to what they have to say and perhaps learn what they have to teach, but not really get to know them. Knowing human nature as I do, I am sure there are people out there who do just that. I guess it is the safer way to deal with the eventual loss when they leave.

Since we started this Trek last year, I have met a lot of interesting young men and women. Some I have gotten to know well enough, but a select few have truly touched me and my heart. They have become a part of my extended family and will always be a part of that family for as long as they wish to be. I made these attachments knowing very well that the day would come when they would move on, either to a new Mission or even back to their own homes. I knew it would sting when they had to leave, but I knew that not having known them would have hurt a lot less.

Recently I said goodbye to two dear friends, Elders Brown and Wray. They shared my heart, my home and my food. They made me laugh and smile. They taught me and made me think. They are now off in other areas helping people the way they helped us. I miss them and the house feels a little empty without them coming over on a weekly basis. I still wouldn't have missed knowing them and wish them the best. Whoever got them is extremely lucky.

Amen