What a week...it had all the
emotions of a mission compounded into one little week. In the beginning of the
week we had back-to-back-to-back exchanges with the Zone Leaders, District
Leader and the Assistants and they all went really well and we all found very
prepared people. I think they all wanted to come and see Kenora because it's
the best place in the mission, so who can blame them? Then after Thursday
things took a nosedive and no lessons went through and Elder Pacis got so
homesick he was close to going home. Ugh. He called President and things are a
lot better today...no lunched appointments (no appointments yet), but no fish
either (did go fishing). We did have some things go our way yesterday, as a
family came to church that we had a misunderstanding with, and all is well.
Phew. They invited us over tomorrow night. On a brighter note, we have a couple
of meetings with very prepared people this week which I am confident will go
well. On Friday the branch is having a pig roast where they will be roasting an
entire pig, face and all! The ward I was in in Winnipeg last September (uh, I
can now refer to missionary things I did this time last year) had a similar
activity, but it was a brutally cold, windy Winnipeg day, so this year's should
be much better. Back to the prepared people: 2 or 3 of them said that they
would like to come to church this upcoming week, and Elder Pacis and I were
able to give some service to one by painting a sunroom and helping put together
part of a treehouse. I got to do the drilling, and I really like doing
construction, it’s just really fun. Maybe I really should do construction
management and get in on the action that I would be "managing".
Another good thing that happened this past weekend was that Elder Pacis and I
had a good heart-to-heart talk and it reminded me how I have been slacking in
my nightly prayers. Sure, I pray every night, but I was not COMMUNICATING--but
was more of a one-way conversation, and not heartfelt. So my prayers have been
much, much better and I feel better as a result. So that is very good news
there. Everything gets better when prayers get better, right? Yup.
On to lighter things...I saw
Christmas lights on for the first time this season. This house had them on for
probably a good 5 minutes before realizing they were jumping the gun 3 months,
but I was really glad they did! It is now dark by 7:30 and so we tract for
about an hour in the dark, which is really weird after not having done it for 6
months. Also, there was a member who didn't go to church yesterday because they
were GETTING PAID FOR CAMPING. If it were not on Sunday, how good would that
be?! I don't think there could be anything better! He is a teacher and they had
some kind of paid retreat that he was invited to. Sheesh. Sign me up. Another
member mentioned something about Ford buying Cummins? Is that true? That would
be REALLY weird, but good for Ford. Please include some pictures of the new LW
when you get back! I can't just go on Google or Facebook as a missionary and
look it up or else I would. Ichiro really is having a rough "Ichiro
year", isn't he? Ugh. Eh, I still think his 10 consecutive 200+ hit
seasons is still pretty good. BYU lost to Utah? I can't stand U of U...
It is pretty neat stepping
into more of a leadership role by training Elder Pacis. It helps me look back
at the basics again and really go through PMG one step at a time. Practicing
more helps too. Without going into any specifics, I know that Elder Pacis and I
being companions was not just happen-chance, but was divine. Things will turn
around here in Kenora, it’s just the refiner's fire sort of thing right now.
Because my prayers have been better the past 24 hours, I feel better.
This morning I spent my hourlong
personal study just looking at certain aspects of the Atonement. Sheesh. It
seems that I really have to be guided by the Spirit in learning, or I cannot
focus. Good thing that this morning was guided by the Holy Ghost, because I was
able to look at the Atonement from all sorts of different aspects. Jesus
Christ's Atonement overcame physical and spiritual death, allows everyone to be
resurrected (1 Cor. 15 and 2 Nephi 2), allows Christ to succor us because he
has been through so much more than any of us have ever gone through (Alma 7)
and so much, much more. I drew up this word-web of the Atonement and lots of
the things it encompasses. Sure covers a lot, and as PMG states, "the more
that you understand the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the more you will
want to share the gospel" or something to that effect. Truly, we are saved
by grace after all we can do. We need to show our faith and obedience, but
there is nothing we can do by ourselves to warrant entrance into heaven because
we have all sinned (Romans ?:3), but through Christ's cleansing sacrifice we
can be clean by following his gospel. The parable that Elder Packer uses as
found in the Atonement section in Gospel Principles is still my favorite
way of illustrating the how Christ literally is the Mediator, and how He is
able to help us. Good stuff.
That is great about Halle! Congrats
Halle, sounds like she nailed the interview.
Attached are a few pictures of
fishing. I saw a baby turtle! Last night I saw a skunk rummaging through our
trash, so I am seeing all sorts of wildlife, just not the moose, bear and
timberwolves I am looking for!
Love ya,
Elder Galbraith
Guess what I got at transfers? Marj
Harder from Saskatoon (the 86 year old I baptized) knitted me a wool sweater!
They will go great with my wool socks she knit me...
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