Greetings All!
I hope you have had a wonderful week since the last time I’ve written. Mine was nothing amazing, but it was good.
Drum roll please! After six months of serving in this area, I’m shipping off tomorrow to somewhere else. Perhaps it will be a move to an exotic place, like…Kansas. At least they have cars out there.
It’s funny…last transfer we moved in with the Black Forest elders. We moved from the Vinyard apartment. Now the Black Forest elders are moving to the Vinyard apartments which makes them about one more mile farther from their area. That’s a little confusing, but I guess that’s what the Mission President wants.
An “outsider’s” comment was made which basically said that my e-mails/posts were lacking in susbtance. So perhaps I should add some substance…
I struggle out here a great deal at times. Some days my dedication is less than enough for me to get things done. I get bogged down with the issues of those whom I am trying to lead to Christ and sometimes even bogged down with the system as a whole. As a convert I have a tendancy to question things more than I think others do. There are many out here who have had a vision when they were in pre-school of bicycling around trying to convert the masses consistantly for two years when they “grew up”. I did not have that vision. In fact I still don’t really have that vision of myself. Perhaps that’s not right, but it is the truth. In fact I have really been made aware of my weaknesses while I have been serving.
To describe people like me, Elder Richard G. Scott, of the 12 Apostles, said, “In a powerfully spiritual environment, they resolve to do better, to change their course of life, to set aside debilitating habits. They are very sincere in their determination to change, yet they are soon back doing the same things they resolved to abandon.”
He went on to say, “Converted means to turn from one belief or course of action to another. Conversion is a spiritual and moral change. Converted implies not merely mental acceptance of Jesus and his teachings but also a motivating faith in him and his gospel. A faith which works a transformation, an actual change in one’s understanding of life’s meaning and in his allegiance to God in interest, in thought, and in conduct. In one who is really wholly converted, desire for things contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ has actually died. And substituted therefore is a love of God, with a fixed and controlling determination to keep his commandments…True conversion will strengthen your capacity to do what you know you should do, when you should do it, regardless of the circumstances.”
I am not there yet, and serving a mission has proved that point in many ways.
However the scriptures say, “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27).
There are many which are spiritual giants who seem to be able to make the right choices 100% of the time and never regret and never look back. I an definitely not one of those spiritual giants. So along with my purpose to “find, teach, and baptize” I am also seeking to turn my “weak things…strong” and thus be able to, after my mission, remain a worthy and active follower of Christ.
I will work on this and I ask for your prayers to help me along the way. Thanks for allowing me to share this with you. Hopefully it’s a little more susbtance to chew on…I know it is for me.
Well…that’s about all for now. I’ll let you know about my new assignment next week. Until then…May the Force Be With You.
God Bless,
- Elder Joel A. McDonald Jr.
Colorado Colorado Springs Mission
Just a little incentive to get everyone out and preaching the Gospel.
