What a great week!
I had a goal for about four days straight last week in which I took two
ppls trays each meal and meet 4 NEW people. After just the couple days of
doing that I found I had several new friends and I love helping them
out! A lot of my pics this week or just with a few of those individuals
who I could track down at the gym. So, in the first pic I'm standing next
to Elder Clark and Elder Farley, Clark is Black Superman haha! Anyways,
those two guys left this past week and, my goodness, did they leave an
impact on me! They were my zone leaders, and i really got along great
with them, and learned so so much! I'll miss them, but if any of you are
going to McAllen Texas anytime soon, say "Hi" for me. Speaking of McAllen,
that is where our brand new CCM Pres is from. He is an awesome old man
whose humor is so aged it just WORKS! hahaha! I was busting up when he
was expressing his distrust for iPads during our last devotional. He is
awesome and he served in Buenos Aires so I will talk to him when I can and
try to learn what I can, although the text book might be dated.... ;)
So,
with all the changes that occurred this week, we got new zone leaders
and I love them too! (They are in the pic with me and my companion and
they both have glasses) I have been blessed to work close with them
because this past Sunday I was called as District Leader, and man that's
been a wonderful, though rather challenging opportunity. My district is
amazing and we are pretty close, but there are a couple problems and a
couple individuals who seem to espouse those problems, so now being the
one who is supposed to solve those issues is like solving a giant Rubiks
cube that spontaneously moves when you are not looking.... I am aware
that that analogy probably makes no sense but neither do most of the problems I'm
working with! hahaha!
Really though, I have really enjoyed
learning to lead, and moreover, learning to lead with love. Nothing else
works, and I am pleasantly surprised to find that I have been more
humble now than I was say a week or two ago (although saying that
probably just ruined my efforts haha).
I was
pretty worried when they called me because that very day I saw a few
people who were going to be somewhat difficult to work with, but I have
seen tender mercies as I am learning to serve and love, and get out of
my own head. One such time occurred a few days ago as I studied the
scriptures while pondering on a certain individual I had to speak with.
The zone leaders said if I couldn't help fix some behaviors then I would
have to send him up to them and beyond, and I really didn't what to
have to do that, especially because I knew that he wouldn't truly listen
to their words and would likely land himself in more trouble. SO,
thinking on these things, I came across the story of Ammon, and that
being the name of the individual aforementioned, the Spirit prompted me
to take some diligent notes haha! I prayed for charity and obtained it,
and then I pulled him aside and what followed was, for me, a miracle. I
just looked at him and felt a strong desire to love and help him, and
began to understand that that truly is my only calling and role. I
opened are little meeting with a prayer and prayed for him, then we
turned to Alma chapters 17 and 18, and I pointed out some similarities
he had with Ammon. I told him plainly that I could see that potential in
him, and that if he were to study and mirror the traits of Ammon he
could become like him. Of course, my words to my family now can't equate
to the whisperings of the Spirit then, but I am pleased to say that he
was visibly touched, which is NOT a usual occurrence for him haha! He
told me that his father (like myself) had read that account while on his
mission, and then and there decided what to name his first son. He also
told me his patriarchal blessing said he was named Ammon for a reason,
and all these things were a great confirmation to me that I had actually
followed revelation, and as the scriptures say we were "both edified"
by the Holy Spirit. He said he clearly sees why I am where I am right
now, and that he appreciates me. I know that it was not me, in fact my
initial approach plan probably would not have worked, actually no, it
WOULD NOT have worked, he told me, cuz I told him what it was hahaha!
Man, I really don't have words to describe these wonderful little moments,
and I hope I am not sharing things too personal, but these are the
fabric of which the tapestry of my time here is made.
I
was also blessed to give my first priesthood blessing of comfort to an
Hermana in my district who was struggling, and that too has edified and
humbled me greatly! I am so grateful to the Lord for what He's allowing
me to do, and more importantly, what He is teaching me through it.
I
feel like I sounded really prideful and self-absorbed in those past few
paragraphs... but that is the opposite of my intent! The secret to
success, in blessing others lives, and in finding my own personal joy,
lies in losing myself in their lives. When their problems become mine,
my problems become none.
On a much lighter
note family, I FOUND MR. INCREDIBLE!!!!! He's the guy in the pic with me
whose in fighting stance, but yeah Elder Henderson IS him! Don't tell
anyone, supers are still illegal. ;)
Also, as I
again beheld those marvelous work bikes, the nostalgia of Nacho Libre
overcame me and before you know it BOOM! I was on one of them hahaha!
Also
a brand new batch of new ppl came in today and I love meeting them all
because I have found the secret to joy is to try to share it with those
around you. These people are WONDERFUL, I will miss them all, but I am
so grateful to be with them, play with them, learn with them, and work
with them.
Hope this made sense...
Love you family!!!!!! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
...and
love you friends! You all back home are a big motivation for me to keep
working hard and to become more converted to Jesus Christ. That change
is day by day taking place and I truly love it. I am the better and the
happier for every ounce of me that I give over unto him.
Talk to you next week! :)
