Dear Family and Friends,
Transfers
this week brought a new elder into our apartment. (I am lucky enough to
be in one of three mission houses that has two companionships living
together). Elder Chamberlain moved in to be companions with Elder Smith,
AND they are our new Zone Leaders! So that's exciting, but it's not
even the best part. Elders Chamberlain and Smith are both from Holiday
Utah and Elder Christensen and I are both from Logan Utah. Needless to
say there is a lot of love and we are all so excited to be serving and
working our hardest to bring people closer to Christ.
As we went through this week we had very high goals and standards hoping to keep momentum building from our best week the week before. With that way of saying it you already know where this is going. We felt like we hit a brick wall. Plans did not work out, everything that we thought and prayed to be able to accomplish just seemed to be falling apart. The only thing that we had going for us was that we were both determined to keep working. A couple of times we had to stop and pray that we would end up where we needed to be. If there is one thing that I learned this week, it is that prayers are answered. We may not have had the member involvement that we wanted. But we as a companionship grew closer together through these powerful and trying days. Not only that, but at the end of each day looking back we had great success, just not the way we planned it. Now looking back over the week, we had a great week and thought it seemed like we didn't get a lot done, we had just about as much success as we did the week before! The Lord helped us find three new investigators! And THREE (not all new ones but still) investigators showed up at church this Sunday. That may not sound like a lot, but this ward has not seen that many new faces in a while.
Church
was a whole other deal. While Elder Christensen was playing a piano
solo, I got called out to give a blessing (the first of three over the
course of the next two hours) to a recent convert who has been through a
rough week too. He was questioning his testimony and seriously thinking
about not coming back. His family kicked him out when he got baptized.
The family he lives with is in the Ward and the dad was there to help.
We had a good talk and one of the most powerful blessings I've ever
heard was given to him. That brings us to Monday.
This young man, while still struggling I can only imagine, came out
with us to do splits. He went to two investigators who are both in some
serious life situations, and even potentially fatal circumstances. This
was the eye opener. One is leaving a gang and they are not happy about
it. The other is caught up in so much addiction he is slipping into
despair and losing a hope for this life. This is what power the
adversary has. He will not let up. He will not stop trying to fight
against everything that is right and true. This Testimony is what I want
to share: I know that the darkest hour comes always before the ray of
light. Just as it did when the True Gospel of Jesus Christ was about to
be restored in this dispensation, in the moment when despair was ready
to overcome and sweep away all hope, a pillar of light came into the
grove of trees where a young boy was ready to begin this great work. I
know that our Savior will allow us to struggle and despair, only so that
we can fully understand and comprehend the fulness of Joy and happiness
that only He can give. Everyone has trials. Everyone will be pushed
through things that they are not sure that they can bear. This is
happening all around us and by listening to the Holy Ghost, our
companion in promise, we can all be instruments to help up those that
are down. Doctrine and Covenants 76: 22 "And now after the many
testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony last of
all which we give of him, that HE LIVES." Galations 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Helaman 5:12
"Oh remember, Remember, ..." These scriptures have helped me so much
and have pressed on my mind so much this wee and I felt prompted to
share them.
I
love you all so very much and I hope that you can each find a brighter
ray of light in this coming week through the gift that you have the
privilege to carry with you. Remember, and open your eyes to the miracle
of life and understanding. I'll look forward to hearing from all of you and I hope that this Christmas Season is Merry and white (OR at least bright for those of us that don't get so much of the white :P) Until next week!
-Elder McGarry
