Week 52

Ya know,

It's been a minute, but thats alright.  Not a whole lot going on, as is anticipated.  We're in contact with some friends again, made some calls and set up some appointments, we met with a former friend who dropped us when I got into the area, but decided they wanted to start meeting again, we read the book of Mormon with them and they want to get back on track to be baptized, good for them!  We've been playing lots of baseball, maybe I mentioned that, we found some equipment in a church (that isn't being used) and we go out to the park most days to take turns batting and running bases.  Another elder in the apartment had his spikeball set, from home, shipped out so we've been playing some of that too.  It's really hot outside, over 100 degrees for a few days at a time haha but it's fun.  I got a good tan going.  I sweat a lot.  I feel good.  I met the President this past week, we had an in-person interview, he's a sweet man.  His wife is fun.  It might be weird to be thrown into this sort of situation but I'm sure they'll be fine.  We spent some time making a music video, I'm playing guitar in it, very softly, I was mostly jus tagging along so I could say I put something on Facebook.  We watched a devotional, Elder Clayton and his wife spoke.  His wife said something really interesting, she said that people are motivated by 6 things, on a spectrum, it looks like this:

Force, Fear, Punishment/Reward, Duty, Faith, Charity.  

To do all things out of charity is the goal, but it is also perfection.  That is what Christ did.  For one reason or another, we waver in the reasons we serve God.  I like this list, I think anyone can evaluate themselves upon this standard and ask "why do I do this?  Why do I read scriptures?  Pray?  Minister?  Go to the temple?  On a mission?"  You'll notice once you get to the "reward" part of the spectrum, things are positive, you do things for a positive reason.  All of which are noble, and it's best to be on that side.  Sometimes we are afraid, sometimes we don't want to be punished, but hopefully, we all take steps to do things simply because we want to be charitable.  Just because it helps other people.  I'm not there, but I'm happy.  I want to be there.  Life is weird.

Keep me in your prayers, I appreciate the sentiment.  Pray for the world.  Summer is gonna close soon, hard to believe I'm coming up on August again.  I hope you all have time to love.  Enjoy the pictures.

Ka-chow

Elder Gneiting