Week 17

Ooh boys and girls

It's been a good week.  Tuesday I had an exchange with Elder Crane from Colorado.  He's way cool and did a summer semester at BYU and we might've met before serving together - crazy right?  Anyway, we rode our bikes all over this tiny town called Waterford, he's a Spanish missionary there so I got to practice what little spanish I remember from high school, and Duolingo, from that morning's language study.  Sadly, most of our teaching appointments fell through and we kept running into english speakers.  However, one lesson was complete spanish, it was sick cuz I was able to follow the entire lesson and what little I offered still brought the Spirit.  Maybe next time the gift of tongues will kick into first and I'll spit straight español.

Since Christmas music is a staple for Elder Pendleton, he has a USB thumbdrive plugged into the Maliblu with over 800 songs, basically any conceivable rendition of every Christmas song.  One of those happens to be Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by U2, so I've had my music fix until next year.  Elder Pendleton also showed me his favorite frozen yogurt place, Super Mama's.  That action started a chain of daily ice cream intake, a habit I'm now trying to break.  It was tasty, but not very nutritious.  This week we had zone interviews with the President.  It was pretty nice to talk, to gain some encouragement, and to remember I always have someone to call on if I feel like it's getting too hard (especially if I'm personally struggling).  I've been working hard at being a better companion, and a better missionary, but that only comes as I rely on Jesus Christ.  

I've had many opportunities this week to better my understanding of Christ's atonement as I explained it to those we visit.  The atonement is infinite.  The sins have been paid for.  The deed is done, death will not overcome!  But we have to accept it, otherwise, the healing won't begin.  The change won't happen.  It's not easy to rely on him, but it's necessary.  When you labor in his vineyard, when he really is the boss, you begin to see that picture more clearly, his commands are a little more direct.  Learning to rely on the Savior is work in itself, how do I recognize when God is answering prayers?  How do I let go of guilt while still truly repenting?  Many of these questions that we have won't be answered for a very long time, after stretching our patience and testing of our faith.  I studied a lot about meekness this week, and about "enduring well".  I think I complain a lot, so first: my apologies for that.  Second:  I'm working on it. 

I don't want to complain, I want to be like Jesus.  Do my future children want a complainer?  My future employer?  My wife?  My Father in Heaven? I doubt it.  The beauty of "working on it" means I can take it one step at a time, and be reasonable with myself.  You all can, too.  The time, however, is always now.

"It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule".

Love y'all

Elder Gneiting