Well this week was a super fast week, that got over with
before you knew what happened.
“The greatest test in life is not to endure the storms but
to choose the right while they rage.- Henry B Erying”
Been here for 6 months and have not gone through the phone log
and called all of the numbers. My
companion suggested that we should do that one morning. So we make a lot of calls to potential or
former investigators. We didn’t finish
it in one morning, so whenever we got spare time we would try to call them
throughout the week.
Like all weeks, we had some lessons cancel on us, were able to teach a few lessons, and had a
lot of good ol’ finding.
One night heading home from visiting a less active I wasn’t
sure how to get back to the flat. I had only come from the flat to this area-
never from this area back to the flat.
So on the way back, I knew how to get so far… so what we did is we went
to where we knew, then it was enlightened in my mind where to go next. Then we
went there, and then it was enlightened once again about where to go again. So
it was a good learning thing to me that is relatable to the gospel. We may not
know why we are doing a certain thing in our life, or why this is
happening. Or what we are going to do in
life. But if we go to where we know and just keep going. Like how we are to
learn line upon line. If I were to just sit down and say I have no idea where
to go, then we would get nowhere. But I went where I knew, and I trusted in it,
then when that was done, we went a little more knowing where to do. So once we
do what we are commanded then God can give us more.
It’s related to another story. One evening we were walking
towards an area, and we felt that we should go to another place. So we
did. We went there tracted and nothing
happened. Not one even "maybe." It was not
successful. And for a long time I was like why was there a feeling prompting us
to go there. And this week I realized it. I felt that the reason we were to do
it, is a test in a sense. To see if we would follow promptings. So God would know
if we were trusted to get more promptings in our lives. Really learned a lot
from that “unsuccessful tracting experience.”
Another day we had a meeting in London. We thought it was to
get our iPads, but not. It was a member
of the area presidency who spoke to us. He was really good. One thing he said
is “Everyone has a hard time on their mission.”
And another thing he said, “You live a minute for a minute, but you
reflect on it for a life time.” He talked about how we are here on earth to
prepare our heavenly homes. He shared a story
about how a son was asked to build a house for his dad. The son was like my dad
doesn’t need a house he has plenty of houses. But he went ahead and did a
little shortcut here and a little shortcut there. To make it faster and cheaper. Long story short, he got the house done. It
was an ok house, not the best- it had cheaper carpets, cheaper walls, cheaper
everything. The son said to his dad, it’s
done. And the father said here are your keys. Congratulations, I had you build
a house for yourself... And how we are
here to build our own houses that we shouldn’t make shortcuts in it. When we
make shortcuts here all, we are doing is shorting ourselves of some amazing
things we will learn or prepare…
The evening of the meeting, I met an elder who was like –
hey Elder Stevenson, I followed your blog. I am from another country and
followed your blog for a few months before my mission. It was good, got me
knowing what to expect. Then his
companion was like- wait, what? That’s you. My mom follows that every week and
tells me what goes on with things. I was
like wow! That’s crazy!
This is my last fall in England- crazy to think that. On an
exchange this week we were talking about how fast time has gone. And the
memories that we have had since the beginning of our missions. So I got some fun fall photos.
Another evening we had an appointment with a less active. I
was committed I was not going to accept
a “no” to coming to church this week. We
had a lesson about “come join with us” by President Uchtdorf and it was really
good. At the end of the lesson, she was
like – alright we will think about it. But they didn’t come. We will be seeing
them again though. Not giving up.
Sunday was the Primary Sacrament Meeting program. It was super good! The kids are amazing at
their testimonies of things. My new favorite song is “The Family is of God.” God gave us families to help us become what
he wants us to be. Amazing song! ! They
really did good.
Here's a link to a video of the song.
https://www.lds.org/friend/online-activities/videos/music?lang=eng#the-family-is-of-god
The other day President came to town to interview our two potential
baptisms. They both passed. One of them also asked me to do the
confirmation. We ended up making another quick
trip to London as well. What a good day!
This week while studying I learned about the gospel of Jesus
Christ. After we are baptized we receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost. The question was asked in a book I was reading-why
it is given after we are baptized. So
Hummm… The reason is this. No unclean thing can be in the presence of God. And
the Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead.
No unclean thing can dwell in His presence. So we must be baptized, to
have our sins washed away so we are clean to have the Spirit of God with us.
That is also why when we sin the spirit leaves, because no unclean things can
dwell in God’s presence. So once we repent it may come back. But only after we
become clean again. Something that was very interesting to learn about, and
ponder about and receive insight about such things from the Spirit.
I am studying the New Testament and will probably get done
with that about December time. Right when we start reading the Book of Mormon
as a mission. Then after we get done with that I will have about 2 months left
in this mission, so I plan to read the Doctrine and Covenants again. Just a fresh read through it from the beginning
of my mission till the end. My
scriptures have been getting really marked up. It’s actually quite fun to go back
and see the things that have been marked in them.
Thanks for all of the emails, letters and love.
Love, Elder Stevenson
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