Well... You about summed up how I feel about the Broncos
going to the Super Bowl! THE BRONCOS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!! i can't
witness it :/ BUT THE BRONCOS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER
BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last night, every door we knocked on we asked how the game
was going. ;) Both Elder G and I are Bronco fans. :D
Our Stake Conference was so incredible too! Best part was
that I was able to see some folks from Arkadelphia that I haven't seen in
almost a year, including an old investigator that is finally preparing to be
baptized!!
Tell Sam to start practicing his basketball outside cause in
9.25 months I'm comin for him! :)
The count down has begun :P haha jk Really though, January has been SOOOO LOOOOONNNNNGGGGGG! I
hate that I can see the finish line. I was JUST getting enthralled enough in
this work that I forgot about all things at home! haha.
Now for a review of this last week:
This week I had opportunities to learn patience, not with
others, but with myself. I had to realize I wasn't perfect and that sometimes
things don't always work out the way I want them to-- even if I asked, worked
hard, and asked again. My weaknesses were seen clear as day and I wanted so
badly for the Lord to take them and make them strengths. I gave them to Him. I
gave Him time. I couldn't figure out why He hadn't made me strong in them yet.
I soon realized that the word "time" isn't limited to a day, a week, or a month. For all I know it could mean two years or even a life time. He just wants us to keep trying, be diligent, and continue in patience with an eye on the prize.
I also realized that when you pray for patience, you get the
trials (opportunities to grow) that come along with learning it. There is so
much potential here. We feel like we have found it but then it falls through
our grasp. We have felt knocked down time and time again. We are bruised and
bloody but for some reason we have found a way to stand back up.
Ultimately I have found it through Christ and His infinite
Atonement. Recently I have found it through the scriptures. We listened to a
talk by Hank Smith, that you gave us for Christmas, this last week and in
it I learned that just like an investor in the stock market, a diligent student
of the scriptures will only profit if a person takes the time and effort to
invest: "The more I invest, the more I profit," he said.
He also asked, Are your scriptures a souvenir or a practical tool? How do we individually treat the scriptures in our life? Do we display them and cherish them like a souvenir without actually using them or are the scriptures used often in our lives to inspire us and bless us like a well-worn tool?
Honestly, a month ago, I was concerned for myself when I get home off my mission in regards to reading my scriptures everyday. I know I need to. But let's be realistic... With life in the way, I see myself being so easily distracted. Watching ESPN or sleeping in can and will appear more attractive than reading the scriptures. Quite frankly this disturbed me. I don't want to fall back into the real world.
If it wasn't for hearing that talk... I don't know what would've happened to me upon return to the real world. But, now, I have such a greater understanding of the scriptures and I have truly learned to cherish them. I am excited to see how this will affect not just my life, but the work here too. I am "holding fast" to the iron rod and I am learning to do hard things.
I will eternally be gratefully for this opportunity to serve and to give full dedication to the work of "the salvation of thousands, the saving of souls, YES!" (Mission song)
-Elder Wheatley
p.s. I LOVE YOU MORE than the Broncos being in the Super
Bowl!!!
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