Dear Mom, Dad, Eric, Belle, and Coffee (who I still have yet to
meet),
I can assure each of you that I am the furthest thing from trunky at this late stage of my missionary experience. The son
may be setting, but that (like Elder Ochoa stated), is merely a sign that I
must adjust my course, and ride faster to avoid the repercussions of not being
where I need to be when the sun sets (or the storm comes). My pace is
only quickening as time draws night to a close.
It's honestly humbling to have this role in JiaYi at this time. This is the longest I've been without baptizing
since the very beginning of my mission. We're working hard to help out
this area which has only baptized one in the last year. It's been the
most challenging area of my mission, but that doesn't mean we are not going to
see success soon. We are working with two families that are lovely.
We met with one this morning. I wish you could meet them.
They are young and the father just wants the gospel to help his family,
but is apprehensive about reading and praying daily. I wish they could
see the blessings that the gospel has brought to our family and know how it can
change lives. We are close to baptizing in many ways, but our
investigators need to just make that commitment to really learn the gospel.
They need a greater desire. I'm grateful for the miracles that I've
seen here already. We will help this place be stake. And while
baptisms are low, we've already helped three men pass Melchizedek Priesthood
interviews and one more who is just waiting to actually meet with the Branch
President. We've seen a lot of success, but not a lot of baptism yet.
It will come soon.
You all are so great and I love you all more than you can possibly know.
I'm grateful for your constant support and expressions of love to me
throughout my mission. I've never doubted that you have been taken care
of while I've been out. I know at this time Dad is facing many
difficulties with regards to occupational pursuits, but I KNOW without a shadow
of a doubt that the Lord will provide. The Lord gives us "mountains
to climb" that we may become better, stronger, and trust in him more (see
Elder Eyring's April 2012 address). This, most certainly is a mountain
that the Lord has given to you to grow. As I have been more aware of
these "mountains," I have seen many of them throughout my life. I've
seen where I have grown and where I have stumbled in my hike to overcome them.
I've also seen where I have given up and turned back the other way when
the trail become too steep and my faith was not enough. I will never do
this again however. Whether on the brink of bankruptcy or at the depths
of despair, I will never forsake what I know. This church is true.
It will guide us through our stormy times. Do not fear, for the Lord is
with us, even to the end of the world.
I cannot believe my eyes. Nate has returned. I can't fully
wrap my mind around this foreign piece of information. To think that
Nate, one of my favorite people in the entire world is no longer in Russia, but
instead in the United States gave me a chill throughout my entire body.
Seeing his picture and hearing his story gives me the strangest of
feelings. I can't imagine the day that I return. Like I told Eric
this week, I'm attempting to build a 100 foot-thick cement barricade around my
testimony and my new-found/strengthened standards. I pray that I don't
come off has holier-than-thou or self-righteous or any of those unfortunate
things. I want to be pure and stand steadfast in what I know is right no
matter what, but I don't want to be rude or condescending. I'm just
grateful that I have a family who shares these standards already and is already
on a much higher plane of spiritual sensitivity than I. I'm just trying
to catch up.
Thank you for your prayers on my behalf and on behalf of JiaYi. I'm so grateful for them and I feel them every day.
I know that we will baptize because it is the Lord's desire. I also
know that this place will become a stake before the end of next year and the
blessings will be large and magnificent to these people. I want nothing
more than to be a tool in the hands of the Lord for the rest of my life, and I
know that JiaYi is the place to be right now for just that. I will
dedicate all of my time and attention on the task at hand. I want to do
the Lord's will and be on His errand. I don't know if I've fully squared
away my career pursuits and desires on that front, but I know that I want to
serve the Lord in any way shape and form that the Lord asks for the rest of
eternity. I just want to do what I'm doing now, (but with my family
beside me), forever more. I wish missionary was a profession.
SELECT CLASSES NOW! I fear that it has already opened and many
classes are already gone. Please pick as soon as humanly possible.
I know you're busy and just got back. Don't feel rushed, but please
please please find time.
The idea of spending the holidays with you upon return sounds lovely.
I can't wait to share the true meaning of Christmas with each of you at
that time. For now, I am focused and razor sharp. I assure you that
I am far from slowing down and my mind is as crisp and focus as the day I
arrived in Taiwan (if not much more so). We will baptize and we will
establish the church here. I love you and can't wait to see you when that
time comes. I imagine it's much like our family on the other side of the
veil waiting for us. They're excited, but can wait.
I love this gospel. The talks of conference have inspired me to be
a better person. I feel as though that I need to repent and come closer
to Jesus Christ. I have felt that I must improve and prepare for a
family. I don't know how quickly I will pursue the course of marriage
post-mission, but it is clear that I want a family of my own very badly, but I
understand that much preparation is required. I must establish myself
(education, occupation, etc.) in order to have a truly happy family. The
Lord has His hand in this and like my patriarchal blessing states (don't post
this online), "...and by the spirit you shall know her
immediately..." I was particularly impressed by several talks,
specifically Elder Uchtdorf's about imperfect members, Elder Dube's about never looking back, but always pressing forward, and
Elder Eyring's tender testimony. I love General Conference.
Thank you all for your support. I love you so much. I would
love a written letter from each of you BEFORE I return home (hand written is
the best of the best). You have much time, but it would really mean a lot
to receive this from you all. I would also love it if it included your
testimony again. I would love to have your testimonies written on paper
by your own hand that I may keep forever and know that my family gave me these
on my mission. I would love this.
- Elder Woolsey
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