Monday, August 5, 2013
I remembered pictures today! This one is from the last Sunday at the MTC:
And finally one of Elder Charles and me. I
even cut my hair myself:
I've really tried to write some letters, but
all of the Elders just want to play soccer all day on P-Days so I never get any
time. I haven't gotten your letters or the shirts yet, but hopefully I will today. I'll still have a lot to talk about though, so don't worry.
The gear shifter on my bike snapped off the
other day, but some members drove us down to Bike World and they replaced it
for free since we bought it from them. So that was awesome. I'm doing well. The members are feeding us well, and I haven't gotten sick or had any
injuries.
This week has been insanely busy because we got
a couple mini missionaries. I don't know if they do that in Spokane, but the
young men and women from 16 to 18 who live down here get to spend a week with
the full time missionaries in other wards. We got Lico and Saul, and they were
pretty awesome. It was stressful, though, because we divided our area in half
and I took either Saul or Lico by myself every day. I had to plan and be in
charge and not get lost and everything. It was only my third week and I had to
be senior companion! It was really, really hard, but the only way to grow is to
be stretched. I absolutely had to rely on the Spirit with everything we did.
The power of the priesthood is huge. God really
has given His authority and the the responsibility to act in His name. I have
given a couple blessings already (in Spanish), and I don't think I mentioned
it, but my first Sunday here I confirmed a husband and wife that had been
baptized just before I got here. They're awesome. We're hoping I'll get to do
my first baptism sometime this month. I'm so grateful to have so many
opportunities to bless others with the power of the priesthood, and I'm
especially grateful to Dad for being a worthy priesthood holder all these
years, leading our home and helping us grow up strong.
I think maybe a good missionary goal for
back home would be just bringing people to Church. I say that because it's what
we're struggling with right now with our investigators. We can invite them and
remind them and make sure they'll have a ride, but it's so much more effective
when friends and families bring people to Church. So I guess we can all work on
getting people to Church this week.
A conference talk that has really helped me out
this week is Elder Holland's "Lord, I Believe." Nobody in the Church
has a perfect knowledge of everything, and everyone is going to go through
difficulties, disappointments, and sorrows. But if we rely on and are true to
the faith we do have, even if it's no more than a desire to believe, then we
know that all things are possible, and if we endure, our knowledge will only
increase. It comes step by step, little by little, but as long as we're
progressing, that's what's important. We have to have patience with ourselves
and with everyone, because we all have shortcomings. The Lord knew we would all
have shortcomings, but he also knew we could overcome them, if we rely on Him.
I love all of you and I'm praying for you every
day. Keep working hard and don't let you weaknesses or worries hold you back.
The Church is true!
Con mucho amor,
Elder Young
