Well I am on a really frustrating computer in Tavua, Fiji, but I am so happy to be able to write to all of you today. I wasn't able to email yesterday due to the fact that we were travelling from Suva back to the west. This week we had mission tour where all the missionaries in the whole mission come together and we got to hear from Elder Michael F. Watson from the quorum of the seventy. He is so fascinating, if you remember him, he read the statistics for Conference for probably 30 years. It was really cool to have him here in our mission. Something he talked about was how important it is that we let the things we teach get inside our hearts and not just be in our mouths and our minds. We should be making a permanent change while we're on our mission. Not just a two year change.
That was something I was wondering about before our mission conference. I have been thinking about what I will do when I return, not that I'm trunkie or anything, but it's an important question and I always plan ahead. So I was thinking about how I was before my mission, and I didn't make bad choices but I definitely could have, and I have weaknesses that make me afraid that someday I might get angry or ashamed and turn away from the truths I have learned on my mission. So this week I was studying and praying and I kept recieving piece upon piece to help me know how I can be sure I never fall. One scripture I liked was Helaman 5:12. I was reading this morning and something I found in one of my old study journals reminded me of my question. Elder Watson had told us, "You need to get it here [pointing to his heart]." The quote was "Pondering is the link between the mind and the heart." I think really reading and praying combined with deep pondering and feeling the spirit make it so that we can be strong enough we can't fall. I love the scriptures and the Living prophets, Apostles and leaders of the church.
This week was kind of frustrating while we were in our area because we had a lot of fall throughs and I got really worn out just going back and forth this week. We did have one lesson with a lady named Bibiana. She wants to get baptized so badly, but she isn't married yet. Her husband is a member, and he wants to marry her but he is still not divorced. So the sherrys are helping them so that soon hopefully they can get baptized. I really hope I can see Bibiana get baptized.
This week as part of our conference we were able to play sports for an afternoon. The whole thing was very relaxing, which I needed because I have been moved into a kind of high stress place, but I can definitely deal with it. I'm fortunate to have dealt with high amounts of stress before, I've learned that the best thing you can do is to exercise and just breathe when it gets to difficult. Trust in the lord and work your heart out and it will always work out. I'm excited because Bibiana's son will get baptized this week. He doesn't count as a new convert because he is eight and his father is a member. It will be a really great thing to help their family though.
I'm headed to Rakiraki today to do another baptismal interview. I am really excited for the elders in Rakiraki! They are having so much success. So are we, but in a different way.
Well I love you all and I hope to hear from you all soon!
--
Elder Paul Leland Hill
Fiji Suva Mission
No comments:
Post a Comment