Elder Halstrom with Elder Galbraith
Seems like things are hectic and busy back home. I will
include my family in my prayers, especially Auntie Sharon.
Life has been non-stop and I don't think it will ever slow
down from here. I haven't been to bed before midnight for a long time. Oh...you
probably want to know who I am serving with now. Well, Elder Deeble is from
Campbell River, BC, on Vancouver Island. Elder Deeble and I put in a total of
something like 23 or 24 hours on specific travel arrangements for missionaries
coming to Winnipeg and leaving. 13 new missionaries are coming in and 5 are
leaving, Elder Skinner is one of them. By the way, Elder Skinner is with a zone
leader from Coaldale, AB for the last week of his mission as I am now with
Elder Deeble full-time. Elder Skinner was difficult to "figure-out"
but I really learned a lot from him. I think I learned the most from Elders
Butterfield and Skinner of my companions so far. Elder Skinner's family is
coming Thursday and will stay with him in the Winnipeg area until Sunday.
Anyway, back to this week. Busy busy busy. President Paulson gave a going-away
fireside last night to members of the stake in Winnipeg. It was spirit-filled
and inspiring as he shared many miracles that occurred while he served as
Mission President for the CWM--the best mission in the world. In his words,
"our mission should be so good that anyone who was not called to the Canada
Winnipeg Mission would be disappointed that they were going to nothing more
than the 2nd best mission in the world." He is right. This is the best
mission in the world. Speaking of President Paulson, I do appreciate the advice
that you gave me with the incoming Mission President and allowing him to lead
the mission. I fully intend to let the Lord's called representative do what he
has been called to do. But like I said, I appreciate the good reminder. PMG
chapter 4 mentions a similar principle at the end of the chapter.
Another exciting thing happened that I know you will like.
President Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy came and
visited Pres. Paulson a few days ago and toured the Mission Office and---my
apartment. He was very impressed, and Pres. later commented that our apartment
was immaculate. Oh ya. I shook Pres. Hallstrom's hand, took a picture of him
and chatted for a bit. Haha...oh...Dad...you are going to love this...Pres.
Hallstrom mentioned that he had been in the Calgary Mission that morning and
had just landed in Winnipeg. Sister Paulson (also there) mentioned my parents
were born in southern Alberta and he asked where. "Mom born in Raymond,
raised in Cardston..." He knows a lot of people from both places, many people
in the church do...then I mentioned go-ol' Vulcan Alberta. Vulcan seems to come
up a lot lately. He chuckled and said that he had been talking about Vulcan,
Alberta about 3 hours prior because all the missionaries in the Calgary Mission
seem to love getting a picture in front of the Star Trek spaceship in Vulcan
and that Vulcan is something of a special place to be. Again, from a General
Authority. Ha. Go Dad.
To give you a brief outlook to my next few weeks: this week
is transfers and complete chaos. Next week is when the new mission president
comes and President Paulson leaves, the following week is ZLC, the following is
Manitoba Zone Conference and interviews, the following is Saskatchewan Zone
Conference and interviews...I am really looking forward to giving it my all and
doing my best to have no regrets. I so greatly appreciate your support, but
please don't mention things like finishing or ending my mission. That is in the
back of my mind.
Jessica and family had a rough week but a few of our Chinese
investigators had good weeks where they progressed well. They are starting from
square one. Literally.
I had a few interesting insights while reading from the
"war chapters" of the Book of Mormon. I really wanted to gain
additional understanding about what lessons these chapters contain in them. For
any who read this and are unaware, the Book of Mormon has about 20 chapters
describing a civil war. The Bible similarly has many war chapters, and I am
completely confident that all of these war chapters in sacred scripture are
included for many reasons, not just to describe war. In the war chapters of the
Book of Mormon I thought they can be likened to the church under attack from
the Adversary. Some weaker forts (people, groups, congregations, etc.) may give
way--even some strong ones too. New cities were erected in old times in defense
of the enemy, and new people accept Christ's restored gospel. God will win this
spiritual war, but we are being proven now and how devoted we are to God and
where he is on our list of priorities.
I know God loves all of His children and that Jesus Christ
as a resurrected being taught the people in the ancient Americas. I know that I
have felt the feeling of the Holy Spirit, whose peace and joy are undeniable. I
stand as a witness that God lives and people mock me for it. Too bad. Standing
for truth never was easy in the scriptures, why would it be now?
Love you all,
Elder Galbraith
Hard at work planning transfers
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