Greetings from planet
EVERYONEDRINKSCOFEEANDHASANiPHONE!
So I have spent the last week getting used to
working in YSA. We teach only young people (obviously). They have really good
questions and are very open, the problem is that they are too open to any cool
idea they find. All in all it is much faster paced than Sherbrooke.
The weirdest part is the English. I have gotten
so used to french that sometimes I have a hard time knowing what to say. Also
it is hard to stay within the simple doctrinal truths of Preach My Gospel when
my vocabulary is several thousand words rather than several hundred. All in all
though I really like it.
On Saturday Elder Castrejon gave a baptismal
interview for the sisters' super boss investigator, then that same investigator
gave a ride the next day to our most solid investigator, Marcel, and during the
car ride (without prompting and without us there) invited Marcel to Institute,
the ward volleyball team, and church the next Sunday, and got him to agree to
dress with a tie next Sunday. It was the most amazing display of fellowshiping that
I have ever seen, and the guy isn't even a member yet. Apparently this ward is
known for amazing fellowship.
That is awesome that you guys were able to go
experience what me and Jordan did! I'm 100% certain you guys weren't poops like
me. I wish I could have taken that trip after my mission. I think I would have
appreciated it more. I'm learning out here that I have a talent for being
positive and happy. It is weird. I find myself the one smiling and bouncy and
ready to shrug off a trial. The best part is that rather than be upset with
myself, I am so grateful to The Lord for blessing me with the strength to
change. My next goal is to be outgoing and willing to talk to anyone. My
inspiration is Elder Messinger. He is our roomate and zone leader. He is an
even bigger nerd than me (we have a lot of fun talking) and was apparently the
shyest person ever at the beginning of his mission. Now however he has worked
himself to the point where he has no fear talking to anyone. My goal is to be
like him.
So no one in my new apartment has the right
cord, so I can't send pictures for a while. I haven't been taking too many
lately anyway.
I can't wait to hear Tanner's call. I am sure
he is coming here. There is no better mission than the Canada Montreal Mission,
and Tanner is surely one of the best the Lord has got right now, so he will
come here. That is my guess.
As for Jordan, keep it up. I have had a very
powerful week spiritually. I have begun to learn more about what the atonement
means. I used to think the Atonement was there to help me feel better when I
mess up, but I am beginning to understand that it is there to help me BE
better. If I do not have goals of self improvement and if I am not asking the
Lord to help me improve who I am, I am not using the Atonement. I am not
washing my garments clean in his blood. The feeling better part really comes
when we can look back at our mistakes and realize we are not the same person
that did those things. A part of that has been learning to see the Atonement as
a means of progression, and not just a solution to the problem. So the point of
all this Jordan, is that the goal is not to pray to God and suddenly become a
missionary, but to pray for strength as we strive to change and become a
missionary. Also a big part of this is accepting progress made, rather than
focusing entirely on what is left to improve. Setting goals that are possible
but still stretch us is probably one of the most important skills to learn. I
am still not good at it. I really wish I would have listened when my parents
tried to teach me all this. I guess I was just too proud at the time. Humility
is really the key to everything. If we are too proud to change, we can in no
wise inherit the kingdom of heaven.
I'm starting to preach now I'm sorry. I'll
stop. So that is what I have been learning this last week. I love all you guys.
I can't wait until all three older kids are out at the same time! What a great
opportunity to be providing the Lord with three full time servants at once! I
am so proud of our family, though I guess I was the only one anyone had to
worry about, and I ended up coming out. I can honestly say that I came out
because I knew I was supposed to, but I have stayed out because this is where I
want to be.
Love
Elder Hardy
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