Well everyone this is my 2nd week in Barrie, Ontario. This place is very different than home for sure. The weather is usually 25-20 degrees Celsius and all ready I got sun burnt, HURRAY for being so white (not)! There are so many different kinds of people here already I have spoken with Catholics, Protestants, muslims, coptic (Egyptian christian), several christian faiths, buddists, atheists, and more! I am very certain that 90 percent of people here smoke and drink, this is a collage town and has 3-5 bars per street in my area downtown. Our apartment is luckily across the street from the grocery store, barber, post office, and the lake. Our favorite place to tract is a trail by the lake so peaceful, surprisingly there has been quite a few people there who like to stop and talk.
One couple we talked to enjoyed talking to us and the husband has read many different bibles, and asked "how would you describe God?" I took the challenge head on. "We believe that God created us in his own image and he has a body of flesh and bone." He liked the answer then sent a curve ball, "In Ezekiel:1 it describes what many believe is God, and it makes it sound alien like with spaceships, what do you think?" as we read the passage and the description of it, the spirit helped in my answer. "The thing the comes to mind is not God but a cherubim. It makes sense and I'll search for an answer." later that night I discovered Ezekiel:10 held the answer and shared it with him the next day. I was so excited to answer his question and wish to talk with him about it soon.
The first week of the mission was so hard!! But through the Lord, my companion, Mission President, and my family I was able to take a breath and move on. My growth has been great and though I get nervous talking with some people, I am able to do quite a bit which is exciting. Me and Elder Baumgartner started doing split contacting which gets us on our toes when we talk to some people by ourselves.
Later today we are doing an exchange and I will be going to Orillia with Elder Taotau till tomorrow exciting!
One miracle happened for us in week one, as we were going door to door knocking we were about to leave when a young man Alec came up on his bike and said "Hey I'm glad your here, this is my house come sit down." We were shocked, and we taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ and committed him to Baptism. Right as we pulled away he was reading the Book of Mormon, we freaked out! Unfortunately he has yet to come to church but we are still seeing him though.
Thank you all for all your prayers and letters! please continue to send messages to me it brings a smile to my face each time.
To my Dad I wish to say HAPPY FATHERS DAY, I love you so much! I want you to know how much you have helped me in this process, even though it may look small you have been motivating me the whole way. I send you the biggest email hug. ps. I am now expecting those fuzzy peaches you took from my box. haha!
Josh, Brigs, Noah and Lola kids the church is true, I want you to know that as you work hard with the Lord and say your prayers, read your scriptures and go to church you are then spiritually filled and it is so important. I think of you kids a lot and miss your faces, remember I love you and can't wait to hear from you soon. Challenge for you: this week draw me a picture of your favorite Book of Mormon story and send it to me in the mail!
Mom and dad, the Lord is here, he is helping me as I learn and grow. He has comforted me and is still increasing me daily as his followers to gather his sheep. By tonight I will have finished the book of Mormon again and will move to the Bible next, I am also reading "Jesus the Christ" and "Our Heritage" Great books and so helpful.
I felt the same way as I read Moroni: 1. Though I am with a companion, the world is scary and the adversary wishes to destroy me, but I will not deny the Christ I am his missionary and took upon me his name to share for the aid in our Heavenly Father's plan " to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
I love you all and have each of you in my prayers, never lose the faith!
Love Elder Muirhead
No comments:
Post a Comment