Unto the Last Hour

Hello fam and squad! 

This week has been one of the longest, but most fulfilling weeks of my mission. (And life for that matter...) I just love being a missionary! 

Last p-day was pretty crazy! We got a bread recipe from Sister Badger, and spent the day making bread! It was so good! We're now learning how to be temperate in our consumption of said bread. This week we've downed about a loaf a day... Yeah. 

Tuesday was ridiculous! We were able to teach Randy that morning, he's on date for Feb 24th, and is super solid! Great lesson! The rest of the day was spent with lesson after lesson falling through, making for a super long day! We were then able to teach Jenny, and she made us dinner! She's amazing. 

Wednesday we spent a ton of time knocking, and literally no one listened to us. It was brutal. Thankfully it was sorta warm, so that was good. 

Thursday was a cool, long day as well. This was the first district meeting where I was able to give a full training, and I loved it. My district is amazing! I couldn't ask for a better group of people to serve around! But some schedule stuff happened, and the meeting got moved around, and we missed some appointments and stuff. By the end of the day I was so tried. 

Friday was awesome! We taught Jenny again, at the Skinner's home, and they fed us. The food included pasta, garlic bread, and bacon. Basically the best situation that could even occur. 

Saturday was crazy! We tried by a bunch of former investigators, and basically everyone had moved. Then we realized that if Jenny was going to meet her date of the 24th, she needed to be living the Word of Wisdom today! So we called her up, and had an impromptu lesson. Funny story though, she wanted to meet at starbucks... We managed to meet at Subway instead, but she still bought Sweet Tea... Awkward. 

The lesson started off pretty rough, but once we stopped trying to justify the commandment, and taught boldly, she really started to accept what we were saying. By the time we were done, it was easily the most power WOW lesson I've ever taught. She has SO MUCH FAITH! She went home and disposed of all her coffee and tea. She's amazing. 

Sunday was equally awesome! Jenny and her two kids came to church, so did a whole Less Active, Part Member Family we've been teaching... It was awesome. 

The point of all the detail about finding and the difficulty of the week is to showcase a principle I've been learning. I've really started to see the difference that can come when we just endure. I made it a goal this week to work harder when things get hard. I think God made it a difficult week to test my resolve. To make matters worse, there wasn't a lot of obvious success until Sunday. Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers until the very last hour, but I know that he does answer them every time. 

Alright, here's a poem. 

Sometimes things don't go as planned, 

Our foundations feel like sand, 

In these times, I oft lose hope, 

And in that sand, I cling, I grope. 

Or when I struggle to find those sheep, 

That flock with which I'm trusted to keep. 

But despite all the efforts I've made, 

Those flocks are scattered, I'm left, afraid.

It's in these moments, filled with fear, 

I want to give up, hide, disappear. 

But when I endure, till the last hour, 

Somehow, someway, God grants my power.

The lesson learned, from trial and pain, 

Work with joy, through the mud and the rain. 

He grants to them, who cheerfully strive, 

 The power and strength, in God, to thrive. 

Love you all! Sorry for the long letter. You're a saint if you read this far! 

Have some pictures! 

Making bread.

A great example of the general Midwestern attitude towards those who bring the good news of Christ... 

Our District, about to consume our Spirit Fruits... Sister Badger determined that I am a Cara-Cara orange. I can testify that those oranges are delicious to the taste. I'd encourage you all to partake of said fruit. 

Our District, just chilling. (Note from mom: I think he's missing climbing things..)

More bread making