Dear Mom,
I am doing pretty good this week. Father in Heaven definitely
likes to put me to the test sometimes that is for sure. The motivation has
returned, I guess being trunky is a real thing.
We went and saw “Children
of Eden” at RHS, have you seen it? I can’t remember. I actually have not seen
the show, but I really enjoy one of the musical numbers in the show called
"lost in the wilderness". I believe it is sung by Cain. I really like
it.
Will you be
calling/skyping/FaceTime for Mother’s day any idea? I actually have no idea
what it will be like for the mother’s day thing... We still have to work all of
that out. My guess is face time if we can do it. If not it will be skype, we
will see. I will do the phone call the day before to set up everything. So
don't worry about that. It will be weird because of the short amount of time between
the Mother’s Day call till I will see you all again.
Do you still hear from
any of your friends now that they are home from the mission? I am not hearing from any of those hoodlums.
They all have lives now, so I don't even really expect an email from any of
them. I haven't been in contact with hardly any of my friends from before the
mission. Which I don't blame them, I am sure they are super busy, plus it is hard
to write when you are at home. Trust me.
How has the mission work
been this past week? The mission work has been going pretty well. I will probably
talk about that more at the end.
How long does your
companion have left in the mission? Are
you still getting along and do you work well together? Elder Labrum still has a
year on his mission. We get along alright yea. I feel we work pretty decent
together. The lessons are a lot of me talking, he is really and I mean really
quiet. There are lessons where he doesn't say a single word... I even stop and
look at him and wait, but I can't wait for too long or the investigator gets
uncomfortable. He talks in some, and not in others, so I think he is working on
it. It might be that he is not super comfortable with the language. I am
trying to think of a way to help him grow as a missionary.
How was our blitz of the
other area of Frankfort? Explain to me
do you go there and stay overnight with the Elders or what? Is it part of your
district? It was really good, we
did a lot and I mean a lot of service, which isn't what we were expecting, but
it was really good anyway. Except the fact I got fried that wasn't cool... Oh
well. Frankfort is striped right now, so both Spanish and English. We went down
to help the Spanish work, although not much of it was done. That is okay
though. It was still really good though. Yea so blitzing is where we go work
with the Elders of that area to help strengthen it. Yes we stay with them in
the apartment for the days we are there. This will be something we do more
frequently, so it should be good. So pretty much we go down there and change
companions and work in their area to help build the area. It usually only lasts
over one night, but we did a long one with 2 nights so three days. That is
pretty much it. So blitz both companionship's work in the same area, and exchanges you split up and work in the two different areas with a different
companion. Does that make sense? It was not part of my district, I am kind of
over the Spanish work in the area, but not really, I am a source of help for
the Spanish elder there.
I told him that a new
sister in our ward who just moved here from the Midwest got up and bore her testimony on Sunday
and talked about how in their old ward you had to shoulder your way up to bear your
testimony. We have talked about this
before, why outside of Utah the members really love to bear testimony and there is a constant flow, but here
sometimes there are not very many people who do. I wondered what the difference is and what his thoughts
on it were. Okay so as far as the testimony meetings go. I have put some
thought into this. So many ask what is the difference between the saints in
Utah and the saints in other places around the world? In my opinion… First, I
think sometimes it is just dependent on the Ward/Branch. There are many other
things too. So I will talk about a few of them. First off, Members of any ward
or branch or unit of whatever size around the world, stop doing what I do all
too often, and that is comparing yourself to others!!! So what if the guy next
to you was a Bishop or Stake President once, it does not mean his testimony is
more valuable than yours! Get that out of your head right now! You are a
beloved son or daughter of the Great and Eternal Living God! You are special
and unique to Him!! So quit thinking my testimony is of little worth, you never
know the impact you may have on those around you. Second, you can only grow
your testimony to a certain point without sharing it!! That is why we are
COMMANDED to be "Every member a missionary!" If you do not share what
you have, all you are doing is letting it rot in the corner. Testimonies grow
in the act of sharing them! If you don't have one or it is weak, it does not
matter, Heavenly Father and The Christ have both said, that the gospel will be
preached by the weak. I am so weak, at times our faith falters, that is
alright, but do NOT let it hold you back. Peter walked on water, and then
doubted and sank, but after his faith faltered he got back up and tried again
throughout the rest of his life! He denied the Lord 3 times, but he testified
of his love for him three times as well. He then lived his life the best he could,
I am certain with mistakes along the way, but he did not let his weakness hold
him back. If he would have let his fear and doubt hold him down, there would
have been no chief apostle, no rock, only the shadow and fading’s of a great
man. So do not let your fear and doubts stop you from bearing the slight
testimony you have. Every person has a testimony of something, so use it.
Third, Many will say, when I feel inspired I will go up. Of course there are
times and seasons for all things, but if you are not willing in the first place
to bare your testimony, then why would he urge you to go against the very gift
of free agency he gave you and bare a testimony. If you are not willing he will
not make you! Today is the day of decision. So where do you want to be? We all
dream of greatness whether that is in the courts above or the earth below,
either of them do not come by sitting and waiting! Faith is a principle of
action! Testimonies are so precious no matter the strength or size, they all
have worth, and they are all written in the books of records in Heaven. My
testimony has faltered at times in my life, as has everyone's I believe. Even
Joseph Smith, we have three sections in the D&C of him asking God some very
deep and saddening questions. We are all weak in one way or another. Ether
12:27 states it perfectly. 27 And if
men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto
men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for
all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves
before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become
strong unto them. So do not let it stop you. Fight for what you want, because it
is the only way you are going to get it! These apply to everyone including and
maybe especially me. So those are some of my thoughts on that subject.
How are lessons
going? Teaching many people? Things are going pretty good, we are really trying
to still find more people to teach. So I hope and pray we may continue to find
more. I have a few goals I wish to accomplish before I come home, that are very
personal to me. I hope and pray that I may obtain them. We actually got a
referral from a member!! It was awesome and I haven't gotten one of those in
what seems like forever! It was for her soon to be mother in law, also we got
invited to the wedding of her soon to be sister in-laws kind of thing... The
sister of her soon to be husband. Anyway we went and at first it was a tad
awkward, but after a few moments I relaxed and was able to talk to a lot of
people. We have three appointments from it this coming week! So that was
awesome! They are such a great family with a lot of potential! So we are hoping
that they will have a desire to come to church, investigate and be baptized! Their
names are Maria, Vicenta, Daniel, Guadalupe, Perla, and Aurelio. I hope it all
goes well! So if you could add your prayers for them that would be amazing! So
that was the big thing for the week! We have another wedding to go to this
Friday which will be awesome!! So that should be great. It is of the member who
gave us the referral!
Anyway this has gotten long. I love you so much and hope that
things go well for you this week. Remember those daily prayers both when you
get up and go to bed! ;) hahaha. Oh so tiny spiritual thought. Do not put a
restraint on God for there are none! Do not doubt His potential to lift you up,
to guide you, and to bless you. He loves you and is in the details of your
life! So don't put limitations on Him or on yourself, for you have that same
seed of divine potential, I mean our spirits are the literal off-spring of God!
So go out there and fight for what you want and believe. He will not fail thee
nor forsake thee if your desires are righteous. Anyway I love you so much and
hope you have a great week! I am also excited to talk with you on mother’s day!
Love, your son, Elder Paxman
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