This week we have been all over. We have done quite a bit of traveling in the office to help the mission. We got to take a field trip to Maryland again to pick up some more Chevy Malibus. I let elder Moran drive this time. There is no tiwi monitor and I drove last time. It was pretty fun to cross the Potomac and look into Virginia and into Maryland. There were a few things we brought to missionaries that they didn't really need. So the senior couples visit all the apartments and do apartment checks and they sometimes request things that they don't really need. There were some elders that had reported they needed a dresser, so we brought it to them, but they just told us when we were there that it was the senior couples who requested it, and they didn't really need it. We are preparing for our mission tour this week. Elder Arnold needs a bunch of stuff for his visit. I have to get a hold of some wireless microphones and a lapel Mic. We also need two projectors and need 2 churches worth of tables. We have to call some seminary teachers to ask if we can take their tables for 2 days.
This week we had elder Neil L. Andersen visit the mission along with Elder Gifford Nielsen and presiding bishop Cuassé. We got to take a picture as a mission with them and got to hear each of them speak. I got to shake each of their hands as we entered the Chapel to listen to their talks. Elder Anderson talked a lot about memorizing scriptures that resonate with us. As we read and study we should keep those scriptures that stand out to us and mean something to us close to us. We can recite them in hard times and we can keep them with us in the eternities. He told us that we should be getting to know the youth and teaching their friends. He talked a lot about how many youth there are and how each of them has friends who could be taught. My only problem is that when I think back to when I was 16-19 I wanted nothing to do with the missionaries. I think it is difficult for kids in high school to have faith in an unseen being or higher power, especially with the antireligious views of society. In our parents youth 80%of youth believed in God but now only about 60% accept a higher deity or God. I thought of how hard it will be to get to become friends with the youth and gain their trust. I remember how I thought missionaries were just robots or cookie cutter people who all just taught lessons and invited people to hand out book of mormons (which didn't spark my interest in the slightest). How can I reach out to the youth in the ward and not have them feel like it's an extra burden or task to add to their busy lives. In my youth I could only think of sports, girls, and what protein I wanted to use after lifting the gym, with no time or space for religion, how can I get into the lives of these young people and get them to introduce me to their friends... that's the task I am trying to figure out.
Elder Gifford Nielsen, in stake conference, talked about how we can light the world. We all have a light that shines, how can I share that light with others and help others share their light. He talked a lot about prayer and how there is profound power in prayer. When we ask sincerely and with faith+patience we will receive an answer.
So far I'm just trying to keep focused on my mission. Keeping focused on giving all of myself to moving the Lord's work forward. Trying to seek answers to my personal prayers and his plan for me. If you've got extra time this week shoot me an email even if it's quick. I only get emails from about 2-3 people.
Calvin
