Strange and cryptic subject line I know, but I will explain
a little bit later. Anyway, this was a great week! I figured a lot of things
out this week. Idk how else to explain it haha. It was just a solid week of
finding and figuring out some internal battles I was having. But anywho let's
dive into the week, shall we??
So, this week was full of finding with very little teaching
appointments. We did however find 1 new investigator and 4 other potential
investigators who seem pretty promising. We just need to set up appointment
with him for them to be considered new investigators. The new
investigator’s name is Connie. She's
super cool. We found her while knocking
doors in our area. She said she was busy
and said she'd be able to meet with us next week, but she seemed pretty
interested. We gave her a Book of Mormon
and bore testimony of the Savior's earthly ministry in America. Hopefully she
will start to progress. There were 2 really solid potentials we are going to
focus on. We found them while doing a bunch more door knocking. They were outside
their apartment and they kept taking photos of each other outside holding the
keys. I looked at Elder Serassio and he said, "Bet you they’re new move
ins." I promptly responded back, "Well what made you think
that?" We chuckled and went and talked to them. Their names were Nancy and
Kayla. Super nice girls. We talked a
little bit about their relationship with God and if they had belonged to any
particular religion. Like most people they said they grew up Catholic but
really don't practice. We talked a little about Jesus Christ to gauge what they
knew about him. They said they believed that he was the son of God. So, we
quickly went in and talked about his ministry in the America's. Caught their
attention and said we could come back. We didn't set an exact time, but we are
in communication with them over texting. So, we will see where that goes.
We had a lesson with Daniel! (the one who was drinking while
we were sharing the message) He let us back in! He was playing Madden 2k18
(football video game). We talked briefly
about it and then we asked if we could share another message about how we can
increase our relationship with God. He got all excited and shut off the Xbox
and grabbed his scriptures. So, we shared AN AWESOME lesson about Alma 32 and
things we can do to increase our faith in Heavenly Father. There wasn't any
booze around to hinder the spirit and boy was It on abundance. He loved it and
said he would be interested in coming to church this next week. We invited him
to read and pray every day to see if he notices a difference in his week. He
said he would and then asked for places to start in the Book of Mormon. Of
course, we gave him a ton and then had him say the ending prayer. It was a super
solid lesson.
We weren't able to meet with Michael this week (science and
religion guy) He didn't answer the door. We aren't gonna give up
though!
Diana is still rocking it. Still on track for the 3rd of
February. We had a lesson with her. Our final one over video chat. (Quick pause
here while I express my gratitude for technology as a missionary. Being able to
have the constant communication with her AND be able to have video chat lessons
with her was such a freaking blessing you have no idea) Before she showed back
up to her apartment we decorated her door welcoming her back and gave her some
welcome home candy on porch step. It's good to have her back. :)
Funny stories of the week before I dive into what I mean in my subject line. We did exchanges with Crescent City this week (love that place) on the way back there is a place called The Trees of Mystery with a giant Paul Bunyan outside and of course a Babe the Blue Ox as well. We stopped and took photos..... The bull however....... Was very...... Correct in anatomy if you catch my drift..... Yes.... I took a photo with the testicles of a giant blue bull...... I will make sure to attach the photos. Second funny story of the week. After we got done with decorating Diana’s door we passed by an apartment with a box full of Dr. Peppers outside. We looked at a sign it had attached, and it said, "take some, leave it, I don't care. It's free s***. Do what you wish" after laughing hard I then commandeered all of the Dr. Peppers. I haven't had soda in probably 5 months..... But man was it good to be reunited. Haha I know it's terribly unhealthy, but you all know me and my family. :3 I'm trying to be better, but when there is a box of free doctor peppers I can't pass up the opportunity :)
Anyway, let's get to the subject line. So, I had the
opportunity to see the devotional last night for Young Adults. (We are YSA missionaries
and we had brought an investigator, so we were totally allowed to go.) President
Uchtdorf and his wife talked all about our adventures in mortality. And it was
awesome!! It taught me so much about what God cares about and what he doesn't
care about. It made me realize that it's the little things that matters. As
long as we are faithful. In the Doctrine and Covenants chapter 62 there is a
line that president Uchtdorf said that kinda blew my mind and helped me get
over myself a little bit. It says "5 And then you may return to bear
record, yea, even altogether, or two by two, as seemeth you good, it mattereth not unto me; only be faithful,
and declare glad tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, or among the
congregations of the wicked". Sometimes
the decisions we make in life don't matter to the lord (and if they do he will
make it known). We should just be "anxiously engaged in a good
cause"(DC 58:27) and "be faithful" as it said previously.
Now to kinda tie it in to why it struck me. When we went to the temple. I had 2
questions (realizing now they probably weren’t the best questions but they were
questions I felt like I needed answering.) Many of you know that my sister is
getting married on June 16th. I'm so happy for her, but we ran into a problem
my release date previously the 12th of June was changed to the 19th of June due
to transfer scheduling. So, I needed to know should I go home a bit early or do
I stay out. Second question, what the freak am I going to do with my life after
the mission? I figured this would be good
questions to ask the lord since this was my last temple trip. So, I had a few
options in mind and all I was asking the lord was to pick from the 3 options I
had. Well, to make a long story short while in the celestial room praying my
guts out, I did in fact receive an answer. It came into my mind in the form of
a scripture I had previously liked.... D&C 58:26 "For behold, it
is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in
all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he
receiveth no reward" and like that my temple revelation ceased..... I WAS
SO MAD, I was so upset! So frustrated, the entire ride back home I felt like it
was such a waste of a temple trip. Was this God telling me he really didn't
care? I was in such a bad mood for 2 weeks because of it. So, after thinking it
was a waste, I made a decision on my sister's wedding (I will be coming home
the 15th of June) and I still have no clue what to do for my career. (I still
have ideas but I'm not thinking about it anymore.) It wasn't until last night
it made sense and I truly understood, what really matters to God.
This wasn't him telling me he didn't care, this was a loving
Heavenly Father letting me spread my wings and make a decision, I mean, that is
why we came down to this earth right? All he cares about is the eternal
progress of his children. All he cares about is us coming home to him. All he
cares about it making sure that along the way home we help others join on the
path. Everything else doesn't truly matter in the long run. He will make use of
us with whatever we decide to do in this life. President Uchtdorf mentioned
(and I'm paraphrasing) "sometimes we wish we had a planned out itinerary
for our life, but would we really want that? Someone telling us where we need
to go and how we need to act? No of course not. Mortality is the greatest
choose your own adventure book ever!" It really made me take a step back
and list what's important to God and what's important to me. And make sure that
they matched. Although it's important I make good choices and work towards a
good career and stuff, God will always help me out and guide me. A quote
president Uchtdorf used was by Steve Jobs (again paraphrasing..... Sorry)
"You can't see how the dots connect ahead of you, only backwards is when
you see them connect" (I butchered it I know) it's true. Ahead is foggy
and unclear, it's only after the fact, that you see how God guided you throughout
your mortal journey. So even though I'm still incredibly nervous about the
future, I know as long as I do the little things perfect, big things will come.
And I know this to be true, because the spirit of God told me. And I have seen
it already. I know this church is true and I know that we have a loving Heavenly
Father who deeply loves us and cares about us and our salvation, not necessarily
what we have for breakfast or in what order we need to study in. He cares about
us his children. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. And it IS in
fact another testament of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw.
And I know it. Temples are the house of the Lord and I leave this with you in
the sacred name of Jesus Christ, our brother and savior, Amen.
Love you all! Have an awesome week!
#LightTheWorld
Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field
Cheers!
-Elder Riley Field
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