"What is this place?" Elder Stock asked in the back seat of a Nissan Rogue, Carl's Jr. wrappers sprawled across his seat (he cleaned them up later, don't worry). The three missionaries stared out over a vast expanse of desert flavored mountains. In the midst of a valley of them lie a huge city, hidden from the world and the mission. "Is this......?"
"Kamloops...." they all said in unison, stunned at the mystical sight. Smoke curled from chimney-tops and the skyline erupted over a sluggish river called the Thompson that cut through the valley effortlessly. The team descended into the city, soon thrown into the pits of the city centre and fighting through crowds of cars and pedestrians. Their adventure continued as they drove through a labyrinth of suburbia to reach the Church building. There, they found a Frenchman and a supermodel from Las Vegas who also happened to be missionaries like them. Elder Stock burst out of the car, his Carl's Jr. wrappers falling at his feet. The imaginary spurs on his slip-on dress shoes clicked as he swiveled to face the two elders in the parking lot. A rogue street-born bible basher flew toward him. In one punch, he was on the ground with John 3:5 stamped to his forehead. "What's your name, boy?" he asked the supermodel missionary. The sound of wind filled the air in the intense silence. A tumbleweed must have rolled by.
"Elder Anderson.." he spoke back.
"You ready to see miracles?" asked Elder Stock.
"Born ready..."
And with that they were conveyed in the Spirit and teleported from multitude to multitude in the city of Kamloops and preached the gospel to every creature that they could. Needless to say, it was incredible.
In reality, we went on exchange out to Kamloops. It was truly awesome. I absolutely love being a missionary with every fibre of my being. We have been seeing so many miracles here in the Vernon Zone and are grateful each and every day to the Lord for allowing us to be His representatives. This is the Lord's work, and He is ever at the helm of it.
This week, I was interviewed by my beloved mission president, President Burt. It was such a revelatory experience and caused me to rethink my life in a very good way. Needless to say, that man is inspired of God and is called of Him to lead this mission. I know that by the power of the Holy Ghost.
We also had the opportunity to have our zone meeting combined with the Kelowna zone. It was so Spirit-led and I feel that each and every missionary in that chapel could feel the direction that their Father in Heaven wanted them to go in. And that our missionary purpose was more fully engraved upon our hearts as a result of the meeting. We talked a lot about how true conversion is our purpose. How if we are really, truly converted to Jesus Christ and His gospel, then we will fulfill His commission to do His work in His way.
I've learned a lot in my studies this week about personal revelation, as I have literally been given lesson plans from the Holy Ghost himself to deliver to my investigators. I have also learned a lot about the Lord and being a truly converted disciple of Him. And I am always drawn back to Peter, and his example.
In Christ's ministry, He taught that He was the bread of life, that only through Him could we return to the Father. After this sermon, some of His disciples left Him--perhaps not understanding the majesty of His mission, perhaps offended by his boldness--and He turned to the twelve whom He had chosen, and asked, "Will ye also go away?" And then, in a moment of faith and conviction, one of many in Peter's apostolic ministry, he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:67-69).
Are there times in our lives where we are faced with that harrowing question from the Lord? "Will ye also go away?" Does the crowd from the tree of life surging to the great and spacious building ever get to your head? If it does, then turn around. And say with Peter, "thou hast the words of eternal life", and then follow Him. I know that being His disciple is hard, awkward, uncomfortable, and taxing on every part of our heart and soul. But I also know that it is worth it. I know that this Work is eternal, and that our Savior, Jesus Christ lives and loves each of us. That His Atonement is real and can help you. I know that the sacrament is sacred, and that we can find peace with that ordinance each week. This is the Lord's kingdom once again restored to the earth! This is the truth! Let's go proclaim it!
Have a great week, everyone!
Elder Stock
Lazy p-day selfie 'cuz you have no pictures in the week...
The accounting board at the zone meeting. Let's go baptize!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment