Something I've determined, though, is that you should always keep a record of what happens in your life. Whether it's a photo, a journal entry, or a random sketch of the things that happen in your strange little life, it's important to keep a record so that you don't forget. Your mind is an open chasm, filled with energy, ideas and memories. However, if these entities are never tied to something solid, they'll be lost forever, hidden among the stuff. Call me crazy, but I've been using all three of my suggestions for everything from daily events to personal revelation to video game ideas. Really, my records are all a complete mess, but nothing is wrong with that as long as it all can be remembered.
Anyway, I'm done discoursing, so I guess you can tune back in now.
This week was pretty interesting. For one, it was filled with a lot of those expected-but-unprepared moments. This tuesday, we had to go to the Poliicia Federal in Porto Alegre so my companion could renew his passport (lucky duck is going to France with his family). So, in order to avoid the several hours of train and bus to get there, we paid one of the members to drive us there. What I didn't know, though, was that he would also bring his children along. So, sitting in the back, with two-year-olds in carseats on both sides, I sat there drifting into madness for the hour drives there and back, with the constant "wake up missionary" and poking fingers with each passing minute. X( Okay, it was terrible then but it's absolutely hilarious now. I'm laughing just thinking about it. Still, next time I get the front seat.
Second, we have a new closet that's been sitting unassembled in a box for a few good months, and being unable to contact those who do so, we decided just to do it ourselves. o_o Wasn't the smartest idea. Just to make a short story even shorter, lots of time, still haven't finished, weakest closet I've ever seen. Really, I'm just ashamed thinking about this one, lets move on.
Third... well, lets just say recipes are not meant to be mixed.
Now, for the final event I'll discuss. We had a baptisim this week! However, we had almost lost her. We'd been working with this investigator for weeks, helping her understand the doctrines and realize that she's been prepared for baptisim for some time now. She'd left for nearly a month on vacation and returned this week, so we jumped on the opportunity and invited her. Success! But that's not the real story. The day of the baptism, we called her early that morning to remind her about the details, when she told us she'd been sent a messenger who told her not to get baptized. o_o Of course, our feelings sank into our guts, but we set a time to visit her that day. She described to us how she'd been shopping and struck up a conversation with a random stranger about how she was getting baptized. The man then warned her and said more or less that if she got baptized right now, she'd be damned. >_< So, we had a lot to talk about when we arrived there later that day.
In the end, she got baptized that night, but I want to talk about why. The answer, the feelings of God and the power of testimony. One of the most powerful and undeniable things we can bear is a testimony of faith grown through diligence and spiritual witness. When a testimony is given, nobody can deny it, but more important is that when we testify of truth, the Holy Ghost confirms that truth within the hearts of those to whom we testify. The true difference between the missionaries and the stranger on the street was simply this. We need to recognize that when we feel bad, strange, or confused, these feelings will never be sourced from God but from the devil who seeks to lead all men astray. We must learn that all truth, all righteousness, all things from God are witnessed with power and joy in the hearts of those who would recieve it.
I guess this stems into a double challenge for all of you. First, always be aware of the feelings in your heart, the guidance you recieve, and the witnesses you feel. Second, never be afraid to bear testimony of the things you believe and you know, for sometimes they are the source in which souls are changed or comforted.
Thanks everyone for all your love and support. As well, thanks for enduring all the weird letters. ;) Continue to be awesome and all that you are, and I'll do the same.
Elder Angus
Photos!
-Baptisim! \'o'/
-My old wallet
-My new wallet (x2) ;P
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