Spencer's Take 2, Semana 5

Monday, June 9, 2014

 

This week has been a week of learning! This week in district meeting we chose the Christ like attribute of patience to work on and better ourselves in. This week has been a weird one. We have about 5 people who are progressing smoothly, but even with all of them it has been a challenge to meet our goals for lessons taught. This was not just a problem for my comp and I, but everyone in the district. It became obvious to us all that the Lord was clearly teaching us patience!

 

On Wednesday we contacted a referral we received. A nice girl came out and talked to us for a little bit until in the background I saw emerging from the house what appeared to be her older brother. He took the card we had given his sister and threw it at our faces. I was seconds away from being emergency transferred for beating this guys face in. Luckily I had my head on straight and walked away rather than follow my urges. After that encounter I was at my low point of the week. I was pissed. Rather than stay mad I began to think what was wrong. Why weren't we finding the success that we want? Then it hit me. I would not say by any means that elder Acevedo and I are disobedient missionaries but I for sure cannot say that we have been 100% obedient. I related this situation to one very similar that I found in wrestling. In wrestling, you lose matches. It happens to everyone. But why? 1) your opponent was simply just better that time, that day. And 2) you did not do everything you could have done to win. I found that if you lose a match because of number 1, you have no reason to be frustrated and mad. But, if you lose because of number 2, you should be mad. You have no one to blame but yourself, so be mad at yourself. As I remembered this previously learned lesson, my anger quickly shifted to myself. This new week Elder Acevedo and I are going to try to improve in this. We are going to try our darndest to do all in the way of the Lord. During one of these past mornings, in my personal studies I read Alma 56 which is where you find the story or the 2000 stripling warriors. As we read, the stripling warriors fought with such bravery and strength that not one of them was injured. They were blessed with such skill because they never doubted the Lord. They never doubted the Lord's reasoning in any of His commandments, they were obedient, no matter how strange the Lord's way may seem. I know that as we follow the example of the 2,000 stripling warriors and doubt not, we will be blessed as they were. Probably not with bow staff and num-chuck skills, but for example, the ability to share the gospel with the power of the Holy Ghost!!!!!!

 

Enough with that spiritual stuff.... this week we started to get into the spirit of the world cup! Elders Acevedo, Dawson and I bought these album books where you can buy stickers of the players of the teams and put them in the book. It is seriously so much fun! Today I spent what would be the equivalent of $20 on the stickers! I got about 45 packs :D We are going to trade as we make empanadas and flan in celebration of elder Dawson's birthday!

 

I am loving every day here in Jujuy! I know without a doubt that this is where I am supposed to be. With the same surety I know that this church is the true church of God on earth! I love this gospel and the blessings that are the fruit of living according to His word. I love you all so much and pray for you just the same. 

 

Con mucho amor y un besito por cada uno de a ustedes,

Elder Spencer McKee