Tuesday, October 11, 2011
You know... some days are pretty priceless. I have a real struggle lately, just missing my son. It's been bitter-sweet helping Weed get Elder Cache Man ready to get on his mission. Every little thing that he did was re-living my last moments with Jake. Even the morning that the Cache Man was going into te MTC, I went down to Jake's room where Cache was sleeping, and there Weed and Race were, Weed snuggled in with Cache and Race in a chair... just being together.
I did what any normal Auntie would do... I climbed in bed with him, too! As we talked about memories and laughed, it was all I could do to not cry. I remember lying in that same bed just a few months ago, doing the same thing. Talking about memories, then checking if _________ had been packed, and what about ___________? Then thinking to myself, "I can MAIL him anything we may have forgotten, but what have I forgotten to teach him? Is he as prepared as he should be?"
Weed asked me the same things. My quick response was, "No!" We didn't teach them near as much as they have already known before.
It's supposed to get easier, but it just doesn't. Then comes a letter like this... and I can do this a little longer!
9/26/11
Dear Mom,
Hey! Guess What?.... I'm on the San Juan Islands! I just barely got transferred here! It is totally awesome over here. I get to see the Puget Sound every day. And almost every day we get on a ferry to get from one island to another. My new companion by the way is Elder Palfreyman. He is a way awesome guy from Logan.. HE has been out for almost four months now. He loves to ride dirt bikes, ski, mountain bike, and watch movies. Me and Elder Palfreyman quote movies all the time and they are the same ones that me and Jessi would quote all the time. Movies like "Blades of Glory", "Happy Gilmore", "Napolean Dynamite", you kind of see where all of this is going, huh? Hahaha! So, we hit it off right from the very beginning.
Anyway, we cover four main islands. They are San Juan (which we live on), Lopez, Orcas and Shaw. We cover two branches. One on San Juan and the other on Orcas. We went to Church on Orcas yesterday and there were like 15 people there! I'm used to huge wards full of screaming kids! Elder Palfreyman told me that almost every Sunday we have a responsibility in helping the branch. We do anything from blessing the sacrament to teaching a lesson, etc. We go back and forth to each branch for Church. We go back and forth every other Sunday. The members are way awesome! Especially the Bowman family. They are a middle aged couple that are kind of less active but they LOVE to have the missionaries over and help them out with anything. Something that was pretty funny is what happened at their house my second day here.
Elder Palfreyman told me that we were going to an investigator's home to teach the Word of Wisdom. So when we get there I met the wife and hisband and got to know them for a bit. Then we started to teach them about the Word of Wisdom. As we were teaching the lesson, me and Elder P were drinking this sparking cider stuff. But then we got into the subject of alcohol. We told them that we don't drink alcohol and the wife was like, "Oh! I thought that you Mormons could drink a little bit but not alot." We told here that we don't drink any. So she told us that she was so sorry, but the drinks we were drinking were like 15-20% alcohol in it. I was sitting there thinking to myself, "Are you kidding me?" So, we told her that it's OK, that she didn't know. So we went on with the lesson.
While we were teaching, they told us that they weren't really interested in baptism anymore. So, Elder Palfreyman was getting more and more frustrated with them saying, "Why? You guys were so excited to get baptised!" He then got more and more angry telling them that they are wasting our time. I tried to keep things calm, but then he called them idiots and stormed out. Hahaha. I was like, "Is this really happening?" I told them that this is NOT how missionaries are supposed to act and that I was so sorry. I went outside to get Elder Palfreyman and the couple followed me out. Then they and Elder Palfreyman started to fight again... and then Elder Palfreyman said, "Can we eat dinner now?" Then they all started to laugh and the husband said, "I met my wife on my mission!" I was like, "Are you kidding me?" THEY TOTALLY PLAYED ME!!!!! Anyway, they are totally awesome and we are really trying to get them back to Church.
So, I'm definatley going to miss Harbour Pointe, but I was getting kind of ready to leave. I think that six months in an area is enough for anyone. I took some pictures of some really influential people in my Harbour Pointe experience before I left. I didn't baptize anyone in that area, but I totally know that I made a difference there. I have found a person who was praying in his heart for the truth in his life right as we ran into him. Since he was 21, we gave him over to the Single Adult Elders, but now he's on date for baptism. I have been a part of Brother Hesby being on date. And there are other things that I know have helped the ward become better.
I know that a mission isn't about getting the most number of baptisms, but I know that I have "lifted the feeble knees and hands that hung hopelessly down." (see D&C 81:5) I'm not al all trying to boast, but I know what Heavenly Father has helped me do. So I feel that He and I have done these things. It's also crazy to see all of the awesome things that confirm your testimony out here. I, at times, have had my testimony attacked and weakened, but I have also had it made stronger.
I have met a ton of people in my last area that say a ton of bad things about the Church. I'm not gonna lie, some of it made me ask some questions and think a little. But this I will never forget and I will always know... The Book of Mormon is true and really is what it says it is. I know this because of what it has done for me and also all of the tons and tons of confirmations that it's true. And because of it's truth, that means that Joseph Smith really did see what he said he saw in that grove of trees. I know that Heavenly Father would not bring forth something as awesome and awe inspiring as the Book of Mormon to a liar and and evil person. There's no way!
I don't care what anyone says about the Church. No matter what anyone says negatively, it always comes down to whether the Book of Mormon is true or not. And seriously, it is true or it is not. Every question can be satisfied on a spiritual confirmation by the Holy Ghost that the book is true. We don't need every question that we have answered... that's not why we are here. We are here to see if we will do ALL that God commands us to do. The biggest part of that is loving one another. (see St. John 13:34-35). Truth seeking people will get an spiritual confirmation that the Book of Mormon is true and I think it's a whole lot harder for people to get that confirmation if they're not honest, open minded and sincere about it. Yes, we are supposed to questions things, but for the Spirit to truly teach us, we need to open our minds and more importantly, our hearts.
Mom, thank you so much for all of the Spiritual advice that you have given me in the past and especially since I've been out here on my mission. I have, and still keep learning, new and awesome things about how everything works. I see how tons of the Church organizations work, I know now tons of stuff about history and information about the Gospel, and tons of other fun and awesome stuff!
But the most important thing that I have not learned, but I have re-confirmed to myself, is that this Church is not a fairy tale, but it is REAL. No joke, we have spirits that live and grow. There has to have been a pre-existence because why else would we feel that we know someone without ever seeing or meeting them at all in our lives? Why do we have these stirring thoughts and feelings that tell us that there is more to life than just this? Why do people have feelings about the Gospel as not foreign, but familiar?
Again, I know that there is a loving God that is the literal Father of our Spirits, that families can really be together forever and that we are created for things so much more than we can possibly comprehend.
There's my two cents on the Gospel. But remember, this is all true or it is not. And the way to know the truth is by reading, pondering, and praying about the Book of Mormon. And that process to find the truth of the book, HAS to be done with a humble and open heart, a sincere desire to know the real truth, and with the intent to obey the answer that you receive from Heavenly Father.I love you, Mom!!! Tell the family hi and that I love them and that I know that the Church is true because I have read, pndered and prayed about the Book of Mormon and even applied and tested it's teachings. My testimony isn't perfect, but it is perfect enough.
Love,
Elder Lynam
I did what any normal Auntie would do... I climbed in bed with him, too! As we talked about memories and laughed, it was all I could do to not cry. I remember lying in that same bed just a few months ago, doing the same thing. Talking about memories, then checking if _________ had been packed, and what about ___________? Then thinking to myself, "I can MAIL him anything we may have forgotten, but what have I forgotten to teach him? Is he as prepared as he should be?"
Weed asked me the same things. My quick response was, "No!" We didn't teach them near as much as they have already known before.
It's supposed to get easier, but it just doesn't. Then comes a letter like this... and I can do this a little longer!
9/26/11
Dear Mom,
Hey! Guess What?.... I'm on the San Juan Islands! I just barely got transferred here! It is totally awesome over here. I get to see the Puget Sound every day. And almost every day we get on a ferry to get from one island to another. My new companion by the way is Elder Palfreyman. He is a way awesome guy from Logan.. HE has been out for almost four months now. He loves to ride dirt bikes, ski, mountain bike, and watch movies. Me and Elder Palfreyman quote movies all the time and they are the same ones that me and Jessi would quote all the time. Movies like "Blades of Glory", "Happy Gilmore", "Napolean Dynamite", you kind of see where all of this is going, huh? Hahaha! So, we hit it off right from the very beginning.
Anyway, we cover four main islands. They are San Juan (which we live on), Lopez, Orcas and Shaw. We cover two branches. One on San Juan and the other on Orcas. We went to Church on Orcas yesterday and there were like 15 people there! I'm used to huge wards full of screaming kids! Elder Palfreyman told me that almost every Sunday we have a responsibility in helping the branch. We do anything from blessing the sacrament to teaching a lesson, etc. We go back and forth to each branch for Church. We go back and forth every other Sunday. The members are way awesome! Especially the Bowman family. They are a middle aged couple that are kind of less active but they LOVE to have the missionaries over and help them out with anything. Something that was pretty funny is what happened at their house my second day here.
Elder Palfreyman told me that we were going to an investigator's home to teach the Word of Wisdom. So when we get there I met the wife and hisband and got to know them for a bit. Then we started to teach them about the Word of Wisdom. As we were teaching the lesson, me and Elder P were drinking this sparking cider stuff. But then we got into the subject of alcohol. We told them that we don't drink alcohol and the wife was like, "Oh! I thought that you Mormons could drink a little bit but not alot." We told here that we don't drink any. So she told us that she was so sorry, but the drinks we were drinking were like 15-20% alcohol in it. I was sitting there thinking to myself, "Are you kidding me?" So, we told her that it's OK, that she didn't know. So we went on with the lesson.
While we were teaching, they told us that they weren't really interested in baptism anymore. So, Elder Palfreyman was getting more and more frustrated with them saying, "Why? You guys were so excited to get baptised!" He then got more and more angry telling them that they are wasting our time. I tried to keep things calm, but then he called them idiots and stormed out. Hahaha. I was like, "Is this really happening?" I told them that this is NOT how missionaries are supposed to act and that I was so sorry. I went outside to get Elder Palfreyman and the couple followed me out. Then they and Elder Palfreyman started to fight again... and then Elder Palfreyman said, "Can we eat dinner now?" Then they all started to laugh and the husband said, "I met my wife on my mission!" I was like, "Are you kidding me?" THEY TOTALLY PLAYED ME!!!!! Anyway, they are totally awesome and we are really trying to get them back to Church.
So, I'm definatley going to miss Harbour Pointe, but I was getting kind of ready to leave. I think that six months in an area is enough for anyone. I took some pictures of some really influential people in my Harbour Pointe experience before I left. I didn't baptize anyone in that area, but I totally know that I made a difference there. I have found a person who was praying in his heart for the truth in his life right as we ran into him. Since he was 21, we gave him over to the Single Adult Elders, but now he's on date for baptism. I have been a part of Brother Hesby being on date. And there are other things that I know have helped the ward become better.
I know that a mission isn't about getting the most number of baptisms, but I know that I have "lifted the feeble knees and hands that hung hopelessly down." (see D&C 81:5) I'm not al all trying to boast, but I know what Heavenly Father has helped me do. So I feel that He and I have done these things. It's also crazy to see all of the awesome things that confirm your testimony out here. I, at times, have had my testimony attacked and weakened, but I have also had it made stronger.
I have met a ton of people in my last area that say a ton of bad things about the Church. I'm not gonna lie, some of it made me ask some questions and think a little. But this I will never forget and I will always know... The Book of Mormon is true and really is what it says it is. I know this because of what it has done for me and also all of the tons and tons of confirmations that it's true. And because of it's truth, that means that Joseph Smith really did see what he said he saw in that grove of trees. I know that Heavenly Father would not bring forth something as awesome and awe inspiring as the Book of Mormon to a liar and and evil person. There's no way!
I don't care what anyone says about the Church. No matter what anyone says negatively, it always comes down to whether the Book of Mormon is true or not. And seriously, it is true or it is not. Every question can be satisfied on a spiritual confirmation by the Holy Ghost that the book is true. We don't need every question that we have answered... that's not why we are here. We are here to see if we will do ALL that God commands us to do. The biggest part of that is loving one another. (see St. John 13:34-35). Truth seeking people will get an spiritual confirmation that the Book of Mormon is true and I think it's a whole lot harder for people to get that confirmation if they're not honest, open minded and sincere about it. Yes, we are supposed to questions things, but for the Spirit to truly teach us, we need to open our minds and more importantly, our hearts.
Mom, thank you so much for all of the Spiritual advice that you have given me in the past and especially since I've been out here on my mission. I have, and still keep learning, new and awesome things about how everything works. I see how tons of the Church organizations work, I know now tons of stuff about history and information about the Gospel, and tons of other fun and awesome stuff!
But the most important thing that I have not learned, but I have re-confirmed to myself, is that this Church is not a fairy tale, but it is REAL. No joke, we have spirits that live and grow. There has to have been a pre-existence because why else would we feel that we know someone without ever seeing or meeting them at all in our lives? Why do we have these stirring thoughts and feelings that tell us that there is more to life than just this? Why do people have feelings about the Gospel as not foreign, but familiar?
Again, I know that there is a loving God that is the literal Father of our Spirits, that families can really be together forever and that we are created for things so much more than we can possibly comprehend.
There's my two cents on the Gospel. But remember, this is all true or it is not. And the way to know the truth is by reading, pondering, and praying about the Book of Mormon. And that process to find the truth of the book, HAS to be done with a humble and open heart, a sincere desire to know the real truth, and with the intent to obey the answer that you receive from Heavenly Father.I love you, Mom!!! Tell the family hi and that I love them and that I know that the Church is true because I have read, pndered and prayed about the Book of Mormon and even applied and tested it's teachings. My testimony isn't perfect, but it is perfect enough.
Love,
Elder Lynam
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)