Week 49: In the Big Inning

It was a pretty difficult week.  We seemed to hit a wall with contacts and didn't have any teaching appointments.  I've also been struggling to fall asleep.  I've been running on fumes everyday.  The work moves forward regardless.

On Friday, we were finishing up our finding time before we went to dinner.  We were at an apartment complex in Wildwood and were going to stop by thus lady who has seen missionaries before.  While we were walking up to the door, a teenage boy walked by and I told him that I liked his shorts.  We started talking and it turns out, this kid is dang good baseball player.  Good enough that he's been scouted by MLB teams.  I told him that God loves baseball because it's talked about in the first verse of the Bible (In the beginning...).  His name is Alberson and he's from Venezuela.  We talked to him about what we do and why we're here.  He thought it was really cool and said he'd love to hear what we had to say.  It was really awesome talking to him.  He's a good kid and has good in his heart.  It got me thinking.  This area is full of older folks, and many of them are great people, but too many are mean, too set in their ways, and won't even take the time to be nice.  All of the younger people I've met out here have been nice and genuine.  It reminded me about how God has commanded us to be as children.

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)

Last Monday, Elder Taylor and I were writing emails at the chapel in Belleview.  I looked at my watch and realized that we were going to be late to dinner.  We called the family and told them we'd be late.  We left right away and realized that they were the furthest they could possibly be.  We ended up being an hour and a half late.  We felt so much remorse for being late.  We walked in and there was definitely an uncomfortable feeling.  We knew that we had let these people down.  We started to talk to them and were genuinely investing in them, and the whole feeling of the dinner changed. We messed up and let them down, but we did our best to help them know that we were apologetic.  We left them with a prayer, our testimonies, and the Spirit was strong.  I know that love and the Spirit conquers all.

"Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing." (2 Nephi 26:30)

Have a great week!

Elder Poulsen

Golf Range

Olive Garden

Week 49: Romans 1:16-17

A particular missionary once told me that I should only study Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon. Those are both great, but doing so would rob me of the wonderful resources that are available. I took this into my heart and decided to study some of the Old Testament. I read the book of Daniel because I absolutely love his story. In the first few chapters, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are all taken to Babylon. They refuse to follow the traditions of Babylon and stick to what they know is true. In turn, they are blessed with increased knowledge.

"As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams ... And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." (Daniel 1:17, 20)

"Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter." (Daniel 2:20-23)

They were wiser than all of the well learned men of Babylon. Relating it to myself, I know that even though I don't know everything, I know enough. When I stay faithful, God will consecrate my efforts and will increase my knowledge. I know that to be true for all of us.

Elder Poulsen