Week 40: I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

This week was pretty straightforward.  We had a few lessons and service opportunities.  It is now officially Christmas time and it's strange to see Christmas lights on palm trees and no snow on the ground.  Today it was 82°F so it threw me off a bit.  It'll be my first Christmas away from snow and the mountains.

We were able to teach Mark a few times.  We met at the chapel with a member, Brother Duffee.  We taught him the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation.  He received it well and has read the Book of Mormon.  He is a stud.  He's progressed so much in the little time that we've known him and we are excited to see where he goes.

Zone Training Meeting was this week and there were some great trainings.  The thing that stood out to me the most was the training on hope.  They talked about the kinds of circumstances that would cause us to be discouraged.  We all go through a lot of hard things. Physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion.  No matter what our attitude is, our circumstances will stay the same.  When we have a positive attitude, we are able to endure with more joy.  I've been trying to implement that to my life.  I know that my circumstances won't change, but if I think positively and thank God for every single thing, I will be happier.  I know that to be true for everyone.

We went to a place in Inverness in the Lecanto area on Saturday.  We were with our whole district putting together Christmas presents for less fortunate children.  It was really fun because we actually had the names of the kids and their interests.  We were able to pick out things they'd like and wrap them.  One kid named James really wanted Pokémon items.  Elder Adair and I hooked him up with a bunch of Pokémon pajamas, cards, a backpack, and a stuffed Squirtle.  It was super fun and rewarding at the same time.

Last night was the Church's Christmas Devotional.  They were broadcasting it at the stake center in Eustis.  We weren't able to go, but Brother Duffee took Mark to watch it.  I am so impressed with how the ward has helped and welcomed Mark.  He needs friends and the ward has taken over.  I am humbled to see the love they have.

"Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.  And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—" (3 Nephi 27:13-14)

That's all I have to report on.  Have a great week y'all!

Elder Poulsen

Chef Bad-Boi-Yeet with the Sisters

Last P-Day in the wilderness

Leesburg Zone

Week 40: Matthew 17:20

This week, I was pondering about humility and how we come to obtain it.  I thought about how sometimes we only rely on God if things don't go our way.  Only if we want something.  Sometimes we rely on God in good times, without having a circumstance to bring us to humility.  In an inspired scripture study, I came across Alma 32:12-16 which says, "I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.  And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.  And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?  Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.  Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe."

I apologize for the fat chunk of scripture, but it really hit me and went along perfectly with what I was pondering days before.  I started thinking about my own life and when I was compelled or not compelled to be humble.  I've taken it upon myself to not only humble myself when things don't go my way, but in all things.  Always doing the right thing no matter what.  I know we are truly blessed beyond comprehension when we follow God in turmoil and prosperity.

Elder Poulsen