So, it's a new year! It's also 2012! It's insane to think this year is finally here. I mean, it came without ribbons; it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags! But it did come with pancakes and butterscotch syrup; haha. We had a nice dinner we made from scratch! It was delicious.
Anyway, new year, same glorious gifts. This week was incredibly hard, because everyone was "busy" due to Christmas / New Years, so we didn't get to do much teaching. Elder Beaufeaux was also sick; kinda funny, actually. He was fine, and very hungry. Then we went out to teach, and ended up helping someone pound fufu. He pounded small, then had to sit down, and then eventually had to book it to a bath stall thing (hard to explain how they work here; kinda like a shower stall with a pipe; I'll send a picture later or something) and spewed all over. Luckily this was at Bro. Akosah's place, so they didn't mind. I just cleaned it all up, then we went back to the apartment and he died in bed for the day. Saturday, the mission home sent some people to overhaul clean the apartment and prepare it for painting next Monday! That will make things look nice.
Not much to put here. A slow week means small blog. What I would like to share is something that Pres. has been talking to us about: being more pure. I mentioned last week - or I thought I did - that Pres. has asked us to be more pure. He says we're working hard, and working smart, but we need to purify ourselves, so that we can "magnify the Lord" (Luke 1:46). We're working on that. One thing Pres. shared this week was concerning our use of time:
"There came a time in the ministry of the prophet Alma that he gave up his duties as the 'chief judge' and devoted all of his time to serving as the 'high priest over the church' (Alma 4:18). While each of us have followed a similar pattern as we have given up the good things we were doing at home and have entered the mission field, there may be more we can do to spend our time more wisely.
Anyway, new year, same glorious gifts. This week was incredibly hard, because everyone was "busy" due to Christmas / New Years, so we didn't get to do much teaching. Elder Beaufeaux was also sick; kinda funny, actually. He was fine, and very hungry. Then we went out to teach, and ended up helping someone pound fufu. He pounded small, then had to sit down, and then eventually had to book it to a bath stall thing (hard to explain how they work here; kinda like a shower stall with a pipe; I'll send a picture later or something) and spewed all over. Luckily this was at Bro. Akosah's place, so they didn't mind. I just cleaned it all up, then we went back to the apartment and he died in bed for the day. Saturday, the mission home sent some people to overhaul clean the apartment and prepare it for painting next Monday! That will make things look nice.
Not much to put here. A slow week means small blog. What I would like to share is something that Pres. has been talking to us about: being more pure. I mentioned last week - or I thought I did - that Pres. has asked us to be more pure. He says we're working hard, and working smart, but we need to purify ourselves, so that we can "magnify the Lord" (Luke 1:46). We're working on that. One thing Pres. shared this week was concerning our use of time:
"There came a time in the ministry of the prophet Alma that he gave up his duties as the 'chief judge' and devoted all of his time to serving as the 'high priest over the church' (Alma 4:18). While each of us have followed a similar pattern as we have given up the good things we were doing at home and have entered the mission field, there may be more we can do to spend our time more wisely.
Soon after Alma gave up the judgement-seat he wrote the following: 'I have been wholly confined to the judgment-seat, having had much business that I could not come unto you' (Alma 7:1). As I have thought how I can be more pure and more effective as a mission president I have committed myself to less "business" in the office and more time working with you, our investigators, and the members of our districts in the field. Sometimes our lives can become cluttered as we get caught up in allowing things that are good to get in the way of things that are better and others that are best. Elder Dallin H. Oaks once said: 'We have to fore go some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ' (Ensign, Nov. 2007).
President Ezra Taft Benson taught a similar principle in the following:
'When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.' (Ensign, May 1988, p. 4.)
One of the characteristics of the truly great missionaries is that they spend their time focused on things that really matter and that make a difference in the lives of their investigators. In addition to eliminating all of those things that simply waste time, please give some thought to how you can spend time more wisely and make sure you are spending your time doing those things that will help accomplish your true purpose as a missionary.
I pray each of you will join me in working harder, smarter, and in striving to be more pure." (Pres. Judd, Good, Better, Best, Jan. 2, 2012)
I testify to what Pres. Judd has said. In companion inventory this week, Elder Beaufeaux and I felt we needed to work on improving our use of time. One thing that we mentioned was, at first, we asked "What do we need to fix?" We then went over those things, to bring those areas up to where the rest of our being was. We then said "What can we improve?" We then looked at what we could do to push ourselves above where we already were. I think that is key to this life: true progression. Often we look at our lives and see what we need to 'fix;' those things we do that are below where we should be at. So, we work on bringing those things to the level they should be at. But so often, we stop there. We fix them, and then enjoy our status quo. We need to remember that "this life is the time for [us] to prepare to meet God" (Alma 34:32). We cannot be satisfied with where we are at. We must desire to progress on to perfection. Nephi taught us this when he said "Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!" (2 Nephi 28:25). Further, Christ gave us our expectations when He said "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48), and again "Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am" (3 Nephi 27:27). Our goal is not just to fix what we feel is wrong, as pertaining to the level we are already at. But we are to continue onward towards perfection, that we may be "perfected in him...that by his grace [we] may be perfect in Christ" (Moroni 10:32).
I know these things are true. I would exhort all of you to reflect on your lives, your last year, and your doings, and look at what you feel you should "fix." The look at the future, at the upcoming year, and look at what you feel you can improve on, what you can do even better than you are already doing. Ask yourselves, "What can I do to be closer to God today than I was yesterday?" If we will do this, and pray about it, and then act upon the promptings we receive, I know that we will find ourselves with greater peace and clearness in our lives. Our direction will be made brighter, more clear, and we will feel God's love in our hearts more powerfully than before. And in so doing, we will be able to impart of it to others more frequently and freely.
I love you all! I pray that you all have a wonderful New Year. Might I also suggest that we all start the year off by beginning the Book of Mormon? Start reading it today, and you can easily have it finished before the end of the year. Few things will bring greater blessings into your lives than the consistent and daily study of that wonderful Book. I testify that it is true, and that all the promised blessings the prophets and Apostles have given concerning the study of it are true, and are yours for the taking if you will simply perform the labor needed to pluck it.
Take care, and happy new year!
PS: Got this fun announcement from Pres. Judd as well!
" Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Stephen E. Snow of the Presidency of the Seventy have invited The Ghana Accra Mission to attend a special meeting with them in February. They will also be speaking at a special devotional where many of our investigators and new members will be able to attend. More details will be forthcoming as they become available." Elder Holland already came to Ghana Feb. 2010, and Elder Oaks came like, Apr. 2011 or something - funny, cause I was there for that! But I can't remember the exact month. Point being, that's 3 General Authority visits in 3 years! That's an incredibly rare blessing for anyone, but especially Ghana! I'm excited.
I testify to what Pres. Judd has said. In companion inventory this week, Elder Beaufeaux and I felt we needed to work on improving our use of time. One thing that we mentioned was, at first, we asked "What do we need to fix?" We then went over those things, to bring those areas up to where the rest of our being was. We then said "What can we improve?" We then looked at what we could do to push ourselves above where we already were. I think that is key to this life: true progression. Often we look at our lives and see what we need to 'fix;' those things we do that are below where we should be at. So, we work on bringing those things to the level they should be at. But so often, we stop there. We fix them, and then enjoy our status quo. We need to remember that "this life is the time for [us] to prepare to meet God" (Alma 34:32). We cannot be satisfied with where we are at. We must desire to progress on to perfection. Nephi taught us this when he said "Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!" (2 Nephi 28:25). Further, Christ gave us our expectations when He said "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48), and again "Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am" (3 Nephi 27:27). Our goal is not just to fix what we feel is wrong, as pertaining to the level we are already at. But we are to continue onward towards perfection, that we may be "perfected in him...that by his grace [we] may be perfect in Christ" (Moroni 10:32).
I know these things are true. I would exhort all of you to reflect on your lives, your last year, and your doings, and look at what you feel you should "fix." The look at the future, at the upcoming year, and look at what you feel you can improve on, what you can do even better than you are already doing. Ask yourselves, "What can I do to be closer to God today than I was yesterday?" If we will do this, and pray about it, and then act upon the promptings we receive, I know that we will find ourselves with greater peace and clearness in our lives. Our direction will be made brighter, more clear, and we will feel God's love in our hearts more powerfully than before. And in so doing, we will be able to impart of it to others more frequently and freely.
I love you all! I pray that you all have a wonderful New Year. Might I also suggest that we all start the year off by beginning the Book of Mormon? Start reading it today, and you can easily have it finished before the end of the year. Few things will bring greater blessings into your lives than the consistent and daily study of that wonderful Book. I testify that it is true, and that all the promised blessings the prophets and Apostles have given concerning the study of it are true, and are yours for the taking if you will simply perform the labor needed to pluck it.
Take care, and happy new year!
PS: Got this fun announcement from Pres. Judd as well!
" Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Stephen E. Snow of the Presidency of the Seventy have invited The Ghana Accra Mission to attend a special meeting with them in February. They will also be speaking at a special devotional where many of our investigators and new members will be able to attend. More details will be forthcoming as they become available." Elder Holland already came to Ghana Feb. 2010, and Elder Oaks came like, Apr. 2011 or something - funny, cause I was there for that! But I can't remember the exact month. Point being, that's 3 General Authority visits in 3 years! That's an incredibly rare blessing for anyone, but especially Ghana! I'm excited.
--Elder Collings
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