I also worked at applying for school
this week. I have a question, when do I know if I got accepted? Did the
ecclesiastical endorsement come through?
As I approach Christmas on my mission again, I
really love it. I remember one of the best Christmas presents I have
ever received on my mission.
It was a cold
Christmas night in Dash Point and Elder Palmer and I had just spent a
few hours at the Colby's where we skyped with you and also his family.
As the clock reached 5:00,
it was time for our sacred tracting time. Time to knock doors on
Christmas. I was hesitant but not altogether unenthusiastic about the
prospect. I think I was sort of frightened. Our phone rings and we
answer the phone to our Zone Leader, Elder Park asking if they can come
tracting with us. May I mention that I remember feeling a little
discouraged about the work. Elder Palmer and I were often tired and had
just about zero investigators. I think I consigned myself to just being a
mediocre missionary who just wasn't meant to see much success on his
mission.
I went with Elder Hampton that night and he did
something that he almost never did. He said "Elder Lovell, what are you
thinking about? Talk to me about your concerns." Just to paint some more
detail, Elder Hampton is from South Carolina, so when he talks he
sounds like he has just that southern wisdom of a cowboy who just knows
exactly what to reckon about any situation.
I said "Elder Hampton, I feel like I am behind as a missionary. I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do."
He
kind of spat out a chuckle as if to say "nonsense Elder." But he told
me "You are not behind. You're right where you should be."
He asked me some of my thoughts about my
purpose as a missionary. We talked about what it meant to teach people
and how to do that with the spirit. I told him about some of my
weaknesses concerning obedience, and here's where things became very
interesting. I can't remember everything he said that night but here are
the words of wisdom that stuck with me forever after.
He said, "If I could sit down with every brand new
missionary for four minutes, do you know what I'd tell them? I'd tell
them 'do exactly what the key-holder tells you to do. God will
not give you anymore revelation or inspiration than his chosen vessels.
In fact, he'll fight against your own grand ideas for your benefit so
that you don't exalt yourself above your leaders."
That hit me like a brick wall. I realized
then, that I had been trying to start all these new programs in our ward
that were complicated and for lack of a better term they were all just
too much. I realized that if I would just do exactly what my mission
president said, I would be led just as he was, line upon line, precept
upon precept. And Zion would be established. It's not just that Zion
won't be established without unity, it's that Zion can't be established
without unity. It's not in the program.
Continuing on, Elder Hampton taught me this "We have
to be obedient. The Lord cannot bless us if you're not. So one word of
advice Elder Lovell, even if your mildly disobedient, repent in your
prayers but also tell us, your leaders." I was kind of skeptical to that
at first.
"Do I have to tell you?" I said.
"No, absolutely not." he said, "But if you do, we and the Lord will trust you 100%."
I remember that night, we stayed up passed 10:30
watching a short clip of a performance from our mission Christmas
party. It was a dumb reason to stay up. I remember the next day,
repenting and then getting ready to call the zone leaders to let them
know what we had done. Not to confess, but to seek help from them. I
think it was just the prospect of needing to call them that made me want
to change more than ever. I didn't want to call them and show them how
disobedient I was. But I did. Elder Park rebuked us pretty sharply. Then
he told us he loved us and we never stayed up passed 10:30
again. Next, we were consistently being late to sacred finding and
tracting on time. We would call every time we didn't get there on time.
Our zone leaders patiently worked with us until we were there on time
consistently.
Next transfer, I was a trainer. I was a regimented
missionary who was exactly obedient. It was the best gift I had ever
been given. I had come very close to the Savior and experienced so many
miracles.
Anyway, yes, Angie's baptism is this week! On
Christmas! Yay! We are very excited! Then she and her husband are
getting married in the temple in a year! Oh how exciting!
Bishop is getting ready to interview Glen for the
Priesthood! We just comitted him to prepare to recieve it the other day.
He is excited. Last night, he was telling us that the sacrament has
become more real for him and that he is taking it more seriously than
ever before.
Leanna is doing well. We should be meeting with her
tonight. She already is getting answers that the Book of Mormon is true.
The ward already loves her and they haven't even met her. She is just
soaking in information like a sponge. We love her.
A new part member family moved into the ward and
they are great. The member's name is Aundrea and her husband is John. We
taught her husband the message of the restoration this week and he just
said "Woah... I know you know that's true. I'm going to read and pray."
He couldn't commit to a day to be baptized yet but he's doing well.
Remember Dawn? And Julian? I told you about them a
while ago. They all came to church this week! It was fantastic! Lots of
people at church this week!
By the way, here's a picture of Elder Richards and I with all of our Christmas stuff! Yay!
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