Hello Everyone!
It's been a really great week. We had zone conference on Friday, and it feels like christmas came early! We got tracting logs, family home evening kits (I've been wanting one of those for a long time), and the office elders whipped out a really slick system for reporting progress in the mission. It's cool because it integrates across the entire mission, so graphs update live as the mission updates itself. It's aimed at helping us set more effective goals each transfer and then working to fulfill those goals. I couldn't have programmed something better. ;)
Weather report for the week: It's been freezing, floating around 4 degrees C with 20 km/h winds running down off the mountains. And, it's humid. But, we're happy and healthy, so don't worry about that. I've added scarves to my wardrobe selections, so we're starting to move up from just the splash of color on a tie as we hit the christmas season. Maybe I'll look into sweaters and argyle socks sometime, but I really don't care - as long as it keeps the wind out. Elder Bown, surprisingly, has had a harder time. I actually feel really great when it's cold, but he's been feeling it cut to the bones lately. It could be because of something I haven't shared with you all yet. He's...vegetarian! We've been cooking w/o meat for a while now, and I'll add it onto my food as a garnish afterwards. I'm making do alright, an it's stretching us to higher vistas in cooking as a mission. I just worry for the day when a member dishes up anything Czech (they always use meat) in front of him. We'll see what happens in the coming weeks. In the mean time, salads are popular here in Liberec.
Baptisms are too! We extended a baptismal commitment to Soner, the Turkish German, last week. He's living a lot of the commandments already, and we'll be getting him involved with members soon enough so that he can start building that testimony that is so critical to true conversion. Baptism doesn't mean anything unless there is pure intent behind it. Otherwise, you can get the same effects by going swimming. Not a whole lot otherwise.
In addition to that, we went finding last night (after watching the priesthood session from Conference - Elder Uchtdorf is such an excellent example for everyone) and the first man we had a conversation with said he too has been feeling the push of a divine hand but hasn't known what to do. He knows us as missionaries, somewhat, and we are going to teach him tonight. He's also well established with expectations, knowing that one of the consequences of learning with us will be baptism. Stay tuned for the next two weeks of exciting progress with him!
Otherwise, I'm really happy and healthy. I'm learning a lot, my companion is too (he crashes every night, it's kind of funny how hard he's getting pushed), and we're both seeing miracles coming from the hand of the Lord.
In working here, it's becoming clearer and clearer how much of the work is our part and how much is His. Really, we just need to provide a working context for Him through which he gets his business done. We aren't here doing things for ourselves or for anyone else, for that matter. We're here for Him, and doing what he wants done. He knows who needs teaching, he knows how and why. I think it extends beyond to "real life" in that when we are doing the things that the Lord has in mind, when we are 100% aligned with his will and act on it 100% diligently, then the blessings come and they come in large measure. That is where the 100% rate of progress appears. That's a high percentage!
Good luck as we head into a new month! I'm really glad you're all doing well at home and that you're all doing so well with school, work, and the other mix of things going in life. I'm excited to see what happens in the coming days and weeks, and hope you are too! Keep praying for the missionaries - we feel it in very real, direct ways, and I hope you all get a feel for what's going on out here through these quick letters home. It's all true, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Elder Brent Anderson
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment