You are still digging ditches full of poop.
Yup. We did a service project this week; on Wednesday, Mc'Carthy Zone went to a JHS as they needed some work done. Mc'Carthy District (mine) volunteered to dig the ditches. Little did we know that that meant digging a drainage ditch out of a swamp made from, yes, poop. Kinda blunt, but there's really no nicer way to put that. Haha. The swamp smelled terrible. To make things better, I volunteered to 'pioneer' the path, as no one else could stand the smell. I never thought all those terrible skunk roadkill experiences in Texas would ever benefit my life in such a way; hahaha. Regardless, I ended up learning how the Poop Smith must feel, from Homestar Runner. It's doable, so long as you remember not to use your hands for anything, because, yes, we did not have gloves. I'll put pictures of all this up soon as I get a decent cafe that allows Picasa.
Once we finished the ditch, we joined the others and piled rocks to help stop erosion in an area. It was really f-u-n because we had to haul the rocks from some kinda quarry thing down the hill (the entire school compound thing was on a hill, with classrooms scattered here and there).
After that, we did some weeding (with cutlasses, of course), and finished things up. The leader pastor guy of the school (almost every school here is lead by a pasture, instead of a Principal) thanked us for all the hard work we did for them. He said it was very inspiring to see so many young men willing to do the Work of Christ for people, regardless of their faith, and really appreciated all the help we gave them. It was awesome to do something so nice for people; it really was a great feeling (regardless of what went into doing it hahaha).
Yup. We did a service project this week; on Wednesday, Mc'Carthy Zone went to a JHS as they needed some work done. Mc'Carthy District (mine) volunteered to dig the ditches. Little did we know that that meant digging a drainage ditch out of a swamp made from, yes, poop. Kinda blunt, but there's really no nicer way to put that. Haha. The swamp smelled terrible. To make things better, I volunteered to 'pioneer' the path, as no one else could stand the smell. I never thought all those terrible skunk roadkill experiences in Texas would ever benefit my life in such a way; hahaha. Regardless, I ended up learning how the Poop Smith must feel, from Homestar Runner. It's doable, so long as you remember not to use your hands for anything, because, yes, we did not have gloves. I'll put pictures of all this up soon as I get a decent cafe that allows Picasa.
Once we finished the ditch, we joined the others and piled rocks to help stop erosion in an area. It was really f-u-n because we had to haul the rocks from some kinda quarry thing down the hill (the entire school compound thing was on a hill, with classrooms scattered here and there).
After that, we did some weeding (with cutlasses, of course), and finished things up. The leader pastor guy of the school (almost every school here is lead by a pasture, instead of a Principal) thanked us for all the hard work we did for them. He said it was very inspiring to see so many young men willing to do the Work of Christ for people, regardless of their faith, and really appreciated all the help we gave them. It was awesome to do something so nice for people; it really was a great feeling (regardless of what went into doing it hahaha).
We also did some kind of "rehearsal" for our Zone Christmas song thing, but I'm not about to go over that, other than the fact that the District of Mc'Carthy Hills is in full agreement that we wasted 3 hours of our time, while people came up with a terribly complicated, jazz/rap rendition thing of First Noel. No one wants to sing out. And now I end my saying therein, so as to avoid negativity....
The next day, Elder Jones was hit with some kinda 24 hour flu thing, so we had to stay in. He slept like a rock, and I finished my Book of Mormon Challenge reading thingy, so it worked out nicely.
Later, on Saturday, we met some kind of crazy Jamaican guy, who had some freaky crazy ideas about religion and stuff like that. It was honestly the most utterly baffling thing I have ever heard in my life; he kept claiming to have learned with some Arabic learning society, recognized around the world. He also liked talk about some translation from Arabic, based on words and stuff in the Bible, and used it to come up with some bizarre ideas. I now think I have an understanding of what Alma and others felt, wherein it states that they were "astonished beyond all measure" (Alma 31:19). It was truly an interesting experience, to put it nicely; haha.
Finally, on Saturday, we were able to baptize Nii. It was great! He was truly prepared by the Lord. Apparently, a member lives near his workplace (he's a barber), and invited him to Church. He brought Nii to Stake Conference one week, and then brought him to Church the next week. We starting teaching him, and he took it all very well. When we taught him the commandments, he had no problems, and just desired to follow God and live a happier life. He told us that, as he read the Book of Mormon and lived the commandments, he could already see the changes in his life. He said he just felt a lot more peaceful, and a lot happier. It was really awesome to be able to teach him and help him come unto Christ!
Anyway, that's about it. We have Christmas Conference tomorrow, so let's hope that goes well.
I found this part in the Book of Mormon, and I really like it. Hopefully it will touch someone out there, and move them to follow Christ more fully.
The next day, Elder Jones was hit with some kinda 24 hour flu thing, so we had to stay in. He slept like a rock, and I finished my Book of Mormon Challenge reading thingy, so it worked out nicely.
Later, on Saturday, we met some kind of crazy Jamaican guy, who had some freaky crazy ideas about religion and stuff like that. It was honestly the most utterly baffling thing I have ever heard in my life; he kept claiming to have learned with some Arabic learning society, recognized around the world. He also liked talk about some translation from Arabic, based on words and stuff in the Bible, and used it to come up with some bizarre ideas. I now think I have an understanding of what Alma and others felt, wherein it states that they were "astonished beyond all measure" (Alma 31:19). It was truly an interesting experience, to put it nicely; haha.
Finally, on Saturday, we were able to baptize Nii. It was great! He was truly prepared by the Lord. Apparently, a member lives near his workplace (he's a barber), and invited him to Church. He brought Nii to Stake Conference one week, and then brought him to Church the next week. We starting teaching him, and he took it all very well. When we taught him the commandments, he had no problems, and just desired to follow God and live a happier life. He told us that, as he read the Book of Mormon and lived the commandments, he could already see the changes in his life. He said he just felt a lot more peaceful, and a lot happier. It was really awesome to be able to teach him and help him come unto Christ!
Anyway, that's about it. We have Christmas Conference tomorrow, so let's hope that goes well.
I found this part in the Book of Mormon, and I really like it. Hopefully it will touch someone out there, and move them to follow Christ more fully.
"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.
But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.
Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.
Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God.
Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.
Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.
Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.
And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith.
And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.
And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.
And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.
And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil.
And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the promise that these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles; therefore the Lord hath commanded me, yea, even Jesus Christ.
And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;
And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.
Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.
And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness" (Ether 12:6-28).
For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.
But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.
Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.
Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God.
Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.
Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.
Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.
And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith.
And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.
And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.
And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.
And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil.
And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the promise that these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles; therefore the Lord hath commanded me, yea, even Jesus Christ.
And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;
And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.
Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.
And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness" (Ether 12:6-28).
If we exercise faith in Christ, even if only a little, we will be given great blessings. Faith comes from having a hope for a better life, a hope for happiness, a hope for joy. If you have this hope, then dwell upon it, and read the Book of Mormon. Read Alma 32; it will teach how to exercise faith, make it grow, and develop it into something greater. Doing so is the only way by which we can have real joy and happiness.
I bear my testimony that I know these things are True. Read the scriptures; go the Church; pray to God. And as you pray, ask Him, in the name of Christ, if these things are true. And if you do so, with humility and an honest desire to do His will, and partake of His joy, which joy never ceaseth, but endureth all things, even until the end shall come; if you have a sincere desire to do His will and partake of this wonderful joy, He will manifest the Truth of all these things unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Even so, I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This Gospel is True! This Work is Great!
--Elder Collings
good old texas roadkill.... theres no smell quite like it.
ReplyDeleteIf I were there, I'd fashion a hand-drawn cart with a sink, soap and water on it. I'd install a timer that went off every 10 minutes. Then I'd wash my hands every time it dingued.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, and I'd pull that cart around behind me everywhere I went--of course.
ReplyDelete