Things were interesting this week. We had Christmas Conference, which was awesome. We ended up singing The First Noel in a somewhat normal manner, so it wasn't too bad. Oh! Mc'Carthy District wore our suits to the Conference. Everyone - including Pres. Smith - thought we were crazy. It was nice though; I was hardly even sweating. Even better is that it means when I get back I should be able to wear my leather jacket in the summers now! Haha.
Anyway, it was fun. We had a talent show kinda thing in the middle, during the lunch. Elder Bills and Elder Beeston played "God Bless Texas", which was awesome!!!! They then went into the Boot Scootin' Boogie, and had about 9 other Elders come up and dance to it. Elders Afu, Tui, Anderson, and some others did the Haka (New Zealand version, me thinks), which was amazing, too. I have videos of all this, but I have no idea how to put it all up on the net, I'll work on it and update everyone.
As for the rest of the week, our apartment was hit with a bad illness, which first took out Elder Cobbinah, and then later Elder Jones. Elder Jones had been sick a wee bit the week before, but this time it got really bad. He was suffering paa most of the week, and finally near the end had to just teach the necessities and then crash. So, we weren't able to go out much. BUT! We were still able to baptize someone one of our investigators.
Isaac Nii Pobi Ahene (fun name!) was baptized yesterday, as well as Steven Alote from Mc I area. Isaac had a language barrier problem, but he overcame it. It was interesting; when we first starting teaching him (referral from Bro. Adams), he wasn't very interested. He learned with us, could hardly understand us, and came to Church once. But he then basically stopped. We had to pull his Baptismal date as he wasn't "bringing forth fruit meet for repentance", or however that scripture goes. This caused him some alarm; he was quite disappointed that he couldn't be baptized if he didn't do what was required of him. He said later that it was interesting, and hard for him as all the other churches around here just let you break the commandments, so long as you accepted Jesus as your "personal savior." He wasn't aware that the Church of Jesus Christ requires true commitment to God. After we pulled his date, he started coming, learning, and reading, and now BAM! He's baptized. It was crazy; we didn’t foresee him turning 180 like that. I think, once he realized that he had to do more than just profess the name of Jesus Christ, he understood that this was truly a Church dedicated to Christ; and, with time, gained the testimony that it truly IS Jesus Christ's One True Church. It's really awesome, especially because he has a wife and a little girl, who will be following his example.
Anyway, I am looking forward to Christmas! I noticed that during Christmas we sing about "Peace on earth, good will toward men." This peace was mentioned at Christ's birth. Never before have those things been given towards men; peace is something that comes in and of Jesus Christ alone. As He Himself said,
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
I find it significant that we remember this peace at this time of the year. Peace is something we all want. As I serve here, I learn more and more just what it means to have 'peace.' It's not having no problems in your life. It's not having all your problems taken care of. It's not having smooth sailing through all your cares, sorrows and worries. The single mother caring for 3 children in an unfinished home is never at rest. The father of a family of 4 having to scrap together a living through selling used tires and fixing what few bikes he can get a hold of certainly has just as many problems as everyone else. The tailor trying to afford his children’s schooling so they can live a better life than he, while yet trying to feed his family does not have money rained down on him from above, and have the waters of his life flatten like glass and all his work done for him. The drunkard does not suddenly have alcohol become a thing of the past, and thus allow him to spend his money on clothes, shelter, and soap to wash his clothes, something of which he could not afford when drinking.
Peace is knowing that no matter how violent the storm rages, your boat will never tip over. Peace is knowing that no matter how dark life gets, your Guiding Light will never falter. Peace - true Peace - is something that can only come from Christ. This is something so many fail to realize. They search for Peace, and instead find worldly relief.
Worldly relief is not the answer. Relief is temporary, faulty, imperfect. It has no promise; it merely has a blinder from that which is going wrong. So many go searching for Peace, and decide that booze is just as good. So many go searching for Peace, and figure money will grant it. So many go searching for Peace, and instead take the easier roads that yet lead to dead ends.
Christ is the only means by which True and Everlasting Peace can come.
His road is not an easy one, but it is an absolute one. It will never fail; it will never capsize.
This is what we celebrate during Christmas. This was the mission of Christ; to give unto all men that Peace, through His Atonement. And this is why the Book of Mormon was given unto mankind. The Book of Mormon "puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come" (Introduction, Book of Mormon). Christ taught, with such plainness and simplicity so as even a child might understand, what we all MUST do to gain peace in this life, and eternal salvation in the life to come.
All must do these things, or they cannot have that peace. Christ was born so that we might know what we must do to have this wonderful Peace. For, as it is said,
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of government and peace there is no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this" (2 Ne.
19:6-7).
As we celebrate this Christmas season, remember why we have Christmas.
It is to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the only One who can bring us Peace. No bottle, no currency, no wage, no work, can ever replace the everlasting Peace and happiness, and overwhelming joy that He gives unto us willingly, so long as we do what we must to in order to gain it.
It is there for all of us. All He asks us to do is "Come and see" (John 1:39).
I pray that we will all trade our vices, our pains, our sorrows, and our cares; that we will trade all that pains us this Christmas Season, for the wonderful joy and happiness that can only come from truly knowing Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father, the Prince of Peace. Go to His Church; go to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Follow His simple request: "Come and See". And receive of this gift so readily He gives to us all.
I love you all. May you all be blessed this Christmas Season. Read the Book of Mormon, and read about our Savior, Jesus Christ.
This Gospel is True! This Work is Great!
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--Elder Collings
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