"Know Thee, the only True God"

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I am so grateful for your letters and support, and also for your challenges that you share with faith to overcome. This week for me has been interesting as well as challenging with a lot that I've overcome. It is so great to be alive :) My Companion is doing so awesome. We are getting to know each other better every day, and training is teaching me so much!

We had a zone training this last Friday. That's always fun, and inspiring. I have been studying a lot about revelation and recognizing the spirit this week. Having revelation is not only recognizing that the spirit is touching you, but know what it is trying to say. I won't talk about it too much but Revelation is so Important. Why do we tell children "Say NO to Drugs!" Well it's so that when they come to that moment when they have to make the decision for themselves and it's only their friends around and they are all doing it, they know why they don't want to. That is like preparing ourselves to receive revelation. We are taught to "Listen to the Still Small Voice!" It is an invitation to receive revelation and it will, most of the time, only be you that has to make the decision. Then we must ACT. I like to say and have said many times these past few weeks, We have to get our feet wet! Moses didn't part the Red Sea just by standing on the banks. He walked into the Sea. So too, we must walk into the biggest of our obstacles and face them with Faith that God will bring Miracles about. (D&C 8:2-3)

 

The thing that stood out to me most this week though was about the Character of God. We have the ability to come to know our Savior and our Father by our own contemplation, study, and prayer. But let me be clear, there is No substitute for actually going and doing the things we learn. If we want to know God we Must serve our fellow brothers and sisters (Mosiah 5:13). I know My circumstances are ideal for that, and I am so grateful. As we learn how to serve even those who may hate us or cause us grief, then we know little piece of the feelings Christ had when he said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." The Character of Christ is so unfathomable at times, but we learn it by experience. We do not learn it by reading it in a book. We will not learn it in an instant when we returns to live with us again. It is learned by constantly remembering him and striving to act the way that he would act in every circumstance. I have come to better understand this principle this week by choosing to listen to the spirit and trying to be more spiritually sensitive. Another big part of this learning for me was through fasting. We further relieve the burdens of the oppressed and loose the bands of wickedness as we Fast and put off our own needs. I am better understanding what it really means to Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness. The work here in Alamo is moving forward. We are constantly pushing forward. We have had progress with Less-Active members who have not had much progress for years. That is exciting. We are always struggling to help people come to church, members and non-members alike. For me it is comforting to know that amid the greatest struggles come the greatest blessings. I feel blessed beyond measure, more than I ever could even deserve. And still the Lord only asks that we do our very best, a very miniscule and meager repayment for what he has done for all of us. By doing these things though, we truly come to Know our Father and his Son whom he did send. (John 17:3)

 

I send my love and admiration. I am going to try to get back to those of you who I have not by next week. Know that I do read your letters and I'm so glad to hear from you all :) One special note too, Jennifer (My little Sister) Good luck in the MTC tomorrow. Get ready to write a lot of notes and listen to the spirit! It will become your best friend in No time :) I Love you and wish you the best at the beginning of the rest of your life.

 

 

I hope you all have a great week!

 

​Ayoo' Aniinishni​

Elder McGarry 

Beautiful Alamo in the "Eye" of the storm :)

Elder Dunn making mush for Blue Corn Tamales ​(I cut the kernels off the cobs)

Gratitude

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I am so grateful today. I woke up, I had a lot on my mind and I kind of felt weighed down a bit, I'm not really sure why. The best I can say is that there was just a Lot on my mind, as I already said. But that was not going to satisfy me for a day, I want each day to be one of joy and excitement. This past week has been wonderful. We have had miracle after miracle.

 

We have been able to find new investigators just waiting to be found between the cracks of where we already frequently visit. We gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to the sister of an investigator that we teach who we met at a Birthday party. She asked me what the word of the day was, and we had just finished reading about King Benjamin, a classic favorite of many who have read the Book of Mormon. We told her that He was a prime example of a Christ-like leader. Not only did he teach the ideals of righteous living, but he practiced them to near perfection. He lead by example, the only way that a true leader will ever be able to make any lasting impact. We related how we as individuals and people have a great duty to act in the best way we possibly can and to help other do the same. She told us that she reads the Bible every day one page in English and then the same page in Navajo. To follow suit we were able to give her an English and a Navajo Book of Mormon and promise great blessings and a knowledge of our Savior and his Love for all of God's children.

 

The blessings of the Gospel are not something that are a convenience. And while they are often convenient and they do bring great security and comfort to lost and pained souls, they are much more that that. The Gospel is our eternal Nature. All we are doing is finding out who we really are. Have you aver wondered why the spirit is so strong when you sing such a simple song as I am a Child of God? I have, and I am glad to say that I am slowly finding out more and more why, each day. I am grateful that I woke up with so much on my mind because it reminds me how merciful and patient God has been with me. I'm grateful that I have such a loving family and group of Friends that are sensitive to the value of what is real as apposed to what is programed into our mortal minds of false expectations of the world, and decaying moral values that seem to be the "in" thing to do. I send my love for each of you and I hope you have a great week!

 

Ayoo' Aniinishni

 

Elder McGarry

 

Reflecting, Early Mornings for Transfers!

Another ​"Monsoon" rainstorm that left behind a massive rainbow