I am still the District Leader. The thing is that I am not leaving a week before the end of the transfer because this transfer is only 5 weeks. I have had leadership responsibilities for most of my mission. During my interview with President Mullen one of the things he said is that I have great leadership potential if I keep stretching myself like I have on my mission. My interview with President Mullen this week also included my exit interview. I received a copy of my flight itinerary and it looks like I will be on the same flight as all of my other outgoing missionary friends that are returning home to Utah.
So this week was unfortunately slow again from a teaching aspect. It seems like there was always something coming up. On Tuesday we received a call to help a member move right after we had finished our studies which was after our morning meetings. Then on Wednesday we went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, and we also had the Stake luncheon, so we didn't get to do too much that day either. Then Elder Herald got sick because he had gone with Elder Sorenson on exchanges and Elder Sorenson was feeling a bit under the weather that day. Last of all, towards the end of the week, I became very stiff-necked - literally. During our weekly planning session I was laying on the couch with my head on the armrest and I guess it must have been a really bad angle because I got a really bad crick in my neck. Then for some reason, I decided it would be a good idea to lay on the other side during personal study the next day to see if that might help stretch it out. I just ended up with a ton of neck pain. In fact on Saturday and Sunday it was honestly kind of hard to turn my neck more than a few inches, so Elder Herald had to check my blind spots and clear me at intersections while I was driving. When I woke up today it seemed to be a little better so I'm hoping it will continue to improve. If it doesn't I will call the mission nurse and see if I should go to a chiropractor, because normally a crick in your neck doesn't last 4 days. So all of these incidents made for another slow week, as well as having interviews to fit into our schedule. On the days we did get out to work though we were really diligent in our seeking with faith.
We also heard from Karen this week. She was the lady we helped over a month ago but she has been out of touch for a few weeks. She asked if we could come by and do a little more service for her, so we moved an entire truck load of paving stones from the back of her truck to the backyard. We also answered a couple of her questions, and just by the way she asked the questions, it makes me feel like she's probably pretty sincere. Her first question was about why people(including her) don't worship on Saturday anymore even though that was the original Sabbath. That's normally sort of a "bash" question depending on where it is coming from, but I think she honestly just wanted to know. When we gave her the answer she accepted it. So we have a teaching appointment with her this Friday and I think once we teach the Restoration she will be willing to pray and come to know if it is true because she really wants to be doing the right thing.
One scripture from this week that I really enjoyed was Alma 9:9-10. It talks about how the Lamanites were slow to remember their forefathers and I thought it was pretty funny. It reminded me of all the non-denominational Christians here who forget all about their predecessors in Christianity. Just like the Lamanites forgot that it was Nephi and Lehi who brought them to the American continent, mainstream Christianity forgets that it's roots are in the Catholic church and the Reformation. Because they refuse to accept that, it makes it really hard to teach the Apostasy to them, and it makes them very stiff-necked and spiritually blind. It just goes to show how they lack perspective. I am glad that our faith focuses so much on having an eternal perspective and understanding the full history of the gospel and scriptures, not just a few chapters or verses that help us to feel good. All throughout my mission I've seen fulfillment of prophecy about what the modern day will be like with regards to religion and it's kind of scary and funny at the same time how accurate it is and they don't even realize it.
We have set a goal to have 12 hours of seeking with faith this week which means about 2 hours a day so hopefully Elder Herald will finish getting over his cold and my neck will continue to improve. Nothing too special is happening this week, but next week is Multi-Zone Conferences and the Mullen's Farewell. The week after that will be my outgoing temple trip so that will be nice. This last transfer is going by so quickly! I can't believe I only have 22 days left ( not that I'm counting, just that everybody else seems to be, so I'm constantly being reminded). Hope things are going well back home and I'll see you soon.
From the West Side . . . .
Elder Cornaby
We also heard from Karen this week. She was the lady we helped over a month ago but she has been out of touch for a few weeks. She asked if we could come by and do a little more service for her, so we moved an entire truck load of paving stones from the back of her truck to the backyard. We also answered a couple of her questions, and just by the way she asked the questions, it makes me feel like she's probably pretty sincere. Her first question was about why people(including her) don't worship on Saturday anymore even though that was the original Sabbath. That's normally sort of a "bash" question depending on where it is coming from, but I think she honestly just wanted to know. When we gave her the answer she accepted it. So we have a teaching appointment with her this Friday and I think once we teach the Restoration she will be willing to pray and come to know if it is true because she really wants to be doing the right thing.
One scripture from this week that I really enjoyed was Alma 9:9-10. It talks about how the Lamanites were slow to remember their forefathers and I thought it was pretty funny. It reminded me of all the non-denominational Christians here who forget all about their predecessors in Christianity. Just like the Lamanites forgot that it was Nephi and Lehi who brought them to the American continent, mainstream Christianity forgets that it's roots are in the Catholic church and the Reformation. Because they refuse to accept that, it makes it really hard to teach the Apostasy to them, and it makes them very stiff-necked and spiritually blind. It just goes to show how they lack perspective. I am glad that our faith focuses so much on having an eternal perspective and understanding the full history of the gospel and scriptures, not just a few chapters or verses that help us to feel good. All throughout my mission I've seen fulfillment of prophecy about what the modern day will be like with regards to religion and it's kind of scary and funny at the same time how accurate it is and they don't even realize it.
We have set a goal to have 12 hours of seeking with faith this week which means about 2 hours a day so hopefully Elder Herald will finish getting over his cold and my neck will continue to improve. Nothing too special is happening this week, but next week is Multi-Zone Conferences and the Mullen's Farewell. The week after that will be my outgoing temple trip so that will be nice. This last transfer is going by so quickly! I can't believe I only have 22 days left ( not that I'm counting, just that everybody else seems to be, so I'm constantly being reminded). Hope things are going well back home and I'll see you soon.
From the West Side . . . .
Elder Cornaby