Guys!
The mission has been going great. Elder Padilla and I have been killing it here in Robles. We have two baptismal dates for this week, and we have two more who want to get baptized but first we have to marry them, so this is interesting learning how to get people married because we have to do everything... so I hope we can get it done right. But it would be so awesome if from a year from now I could go to their sealing.
Today we had an awesome Christmas party at the mission home and sang some songs, ate some food, made some crafts, and just got to see some old friends from the CCM which was really special. Our President of the mission gave a really powerful testimony and made me motivated to work harder here in the work of the Lord.
Elder Padilla and I have been doing LOTS AND LOTS of walking. It just so happens in the places we walk, there are LOTS AND LOTS of vicious, scary looking dogs that love to chase us, so that has been terrifying lately. Some of these dogs are huge. Like literally they could be a horse. It is terrifying.
I am really loving the mission. It was a hard learning process at first, but now I have finished my capacitación and I am excited to keep working hard in the Lords work. Nothing is more important than what I am doing right now, so that is a little bit of pressure. But I have been really developing a lot of love for the people here, and actually worry about them so much and really want them to progress. It is sad when we can't find people who we think are good, but I know the Lord has everything planned out, we just have to do everything to figure out His plan for the people here.
This time of Christmas is really special. At first, I was sad that I am missing Christmas back home. But after this week and lots of prayer and scripture study, I realized that I am actually in the best place I could be for Christmas. Literally the Savior sacrificed so much, and maybe I am sacrificing a little bit being away from my family and friends, but I am gaining so many blessings from being here in Peru that I am really not sacrificing anything. I get to experience a love that I never really have felt before, and learning, in a better way, how to love as He loved. This time of Christmas is extremely special because it is the birth of literally the point in time that changed the fate of eternity. That is why this holiday is my favorite. Because we celebrate the most important time. The Birth of our Savior.
I love you guys so much!
Hi Elder Mcgreer,
ReplyDeleteGreat to read your update and I think your perspective on Christmas is awesome. I really liked Christmas on my mission and people also seemed more interested in talking about Jesus Christ during the season.
I also walked a ton in my mission. I wore through quite a few shoes and finally ended up going with shoes I didn't like just because they would last a long time. Congratulations on the committed baptisms and it's great to see people you teach accepting the gospel. In Germany, much of our time was witnessing and finding. When we as missionaries thought success and righteousness is somehow connected to baptisms, it always made us feel inadequate. As I thought on it more and as I've gotten older I've realized that by relying on "evidence" like a baptism to determine how good of a missionary I am, then I am relying on the flesh, not the Spirit. If I am obedient and following the promptings of the Spirit, I'm trusting in the Lord and not seeking a sign. I think it's a tough thing to remember and I think because we're mortal we are constantly drawn to look for signs or rely on the flesh. I think the same is true whether you're on a mission or an old man like me.
I have to tell you that I am pleased for you that you are sacrificing your time and comfort to help the Lord with His work. You will be richly blessed. Remember, you are acting in faith right now. You're showing your faith by your actions and like a muscle, you'll only get stronger the more you "exercise." May the Lord bless and keep you!
- Adam