Week 48-Patience and a Challenge

"...Imagine all the people living for today."

Buenos dias, family!  Again, this week's been: crazy.  Insane.  Ludicrous.  Impossible.  Improbable.  Highly confusing.  And Wonderful.

...And, like usual,  I'm low on time. :(  But we'll see what I can throw out there:

Ha, mom!! You've GOT to stop tuning in to my spiritual frequencies!!  This is just crazy.  You mentioned in your email the following quote:

"A good traveler is not intent on arriving."

...You hit the nail dead on the head there for what I learned this week.  This entire month, the focus for the mission has been Chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel, which is all about developing Christlike Attributes.  (Phenomenal chapter: PLEASE study it sometime soon!)  As a part of developing "trainings" on this topic, I went through each of the listed attributes and assigned each member of the district to speak about the attribute that I noticed most in them.  Elder Heuer's was patience.  When I asked him to speak for two-minutes, he asked, "What does Preach My Gospel even say about patience?"  So we turned to that section on Page 120 and read the following:

"Patience

'Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.'

Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do God’s will and accept His timing. When you are patient, you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and hopefully. Patience is related to hope and faith—you must wait for the Lord’s promised blessings to be fulfilled.

You need patience in your everyday experiences and relationships, especially with your companion. You must be patient with all people, yourself included, as you work to overcome faults and weaknesses."

Judging by the nervous glances he was sending my way, I could sense Elder Heuer was getting uncomfortable: And I knew the reason.  He looked at me and said sheepishly, "...I think you should work on this one."

So this week has been rough.  I used to think of myself as a patient person, but the more I've focused on this virtue, the less I fit its definition.  I'm jumpy, antsy, fidgety, and always want to be going somewhere in a hurry.  (We've noticed it most with my ability to have the car started and in gear before I've even completely found my seat.)  It's impacted the work in a number of ways (some good, some bad), and it needs to stop.

Ever since that companionship study, the world doesn't seem to be moving in slow motion anymore.  I enjoy being who and where I am.  I'm more peaceful.  Granted, I've still got a long way to go: And the blessings I'm seeing already won't let me stop.

I'd like to issue a commitment that I might have asked for once before, but it's helpful no matter what's going on in life:  Will you complete the Attribute Activity found on page 126 of Preach My Gospel, select an attribute you'd like to work on, and study it daily for an individually-determined period of time?  If you do, you'll be able to see Christ more in your lives, because your life will become His.  He'll be able to draw closer to you than ever before, and you'll know how to let Him in.  I know that as we fulfill the commandment to "be ye therefore perfect," we will be more confident in ourselves and discover entirely new facets of the Atonement.

...So will you?  I love you all, and am eternally grateful for the gratitude for eternity you've given me.  I hope to live more for today by basing my daily decisions on that eternity, remembering always that there's a lot of time for a lot of improvement.

Have a great week!
-Elder Jared D. Larsen

Week 47-God's Infinite Love

"I have confidence in sunshine; I have confidence in rain. I have confidence that spring will come again!  Aside from what you see, I have confidence in me!"

Well, another week's gone by, and Elder Heuer and I realized last night that this transfer is already half-way over; weird thought, all things considered!  Has time flown by the same way back home?

Speaking of time flying by, I should really be flying myself... But I wanted to share maybe a thought or two I've been having lately.

My thoughts have been focused so much on the Atonement and the reality of God's infinite love for His children (Mom, your comments were both very timely and very appreciated: Thank you!!).  Oftentimes I find that when I get so caught up in micromanaging my own time, or when I find myself lost amidst the very details of my own existence, I grow careless in my thoughts about my Savior and Father.  My every flaw seems to scream, "How could He love me?", and my thoughts grow more negative.

It's easy to "know" that God loves all of His children.

Occasionally, it's difficult to "feel."

But that's where the Atonement comes in.  A couple of weeks back, Elder Heuer and I were stopped at the chapel in Fort Macleod to pick up some new tires for our ever-aging car when a member snagged us and asked for our opinion on the drapes she was hanging in the Young Women's room.  We chatted for a while, and she introduced to us the new youth theme for the year:

"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness." (Moroni 10:32)

This Sister had recently enlisted the help of a graphic artist in order to create a fashionably designed logo with this as its theme, and she gave both of us a copy of the finished product.

The more I've pondered on this theme (and the verse that comes after it), the more I've come to fully realize that our imperfections are what allow God to show us His omnipotence in its fullest.  What greater miracle could there be but God excusing our inadequacies and frailties because of love?  Where reason would contradict, God steps in and allows love to make up the difference.  And what does he ask of us?

Perfection?

No.  He asks, "Love God with all your might, mind, and strength" (Moroni 10:32).  Again, love steps in where justice would hold sway.  God's love is unconditional: He asks that ours for Him be the same.

Well, we really should leave.  I love you all very much, and it's only as I draw closer to Christ that I realize what it really means for me to love you.  And it's changing every day. :)

Have a great week!

-Elder Jared D. Larsen

Week 46-Good Learning Experiences

"Birds flyin' high: You know how I feel!  Sun in the sky: You know how I feel!  Breeze *blowing at an uncontrollable and sometimes frightening velocity* on by: You know how I feel!  It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's new life- for me.  And I'm feeling good."

Hello, hello, hello, mi familia!  It sounds like things are going well back home, for which I'm glad; here in Pincher Creek, "it's been a really, really messed up week" that Elder Heuer and I are glad to have behind us.  A lot of good experiences, a lot of learning experiences, and a lot of "crazy." I'll tell you about some of each.

First: a good experience.  Lately, I've been having Elder Heuer take the lead in a lot of our lessons so that he gets used to creating more of a "lesson" atmosphere than a "home teaching" atmosphere (not to diss on home teachers, but our calling is a little bit different).  He got fed up with it and asked me to take the lead in the next couple lessons to show him how it's done.  I accepted the challenge, and quickly found I'd gotten out of practice in just a couple weeks as we taught the first.  He and I laughed about it afterward, and went to the next: a lesson with the Syversen family.

Brother and Sister Syversen have been less-active for... well, a long time.  They're elderly, and have innumerable health problems: To which they refer whenever we invite them to attend church with us (or, really, whenever we invite them to do anything).  I started out the lesson by asking them if they'd come to church on Sunday.  After receiving the same response, I asked what their goals were for eternity, and they were rather taken aback.  After a moment of stunned silence, Sister Syversen said something along the lines of, "to be together forever."  After we asked her why she wanted that, she told us she simply felt like she couldn't exist without her husband.

So we began to teach them the Plan of Salvation: Pre-Earth Life, The Creation, The Fall and Agency, and Our Life on Earth.  Brother Syversen referenced repeatedly the necessity of putting God first in our lives, and Sister Syversen told us she felt our purpose in life is to find happiness.

So we taught them about temples and the marvelous sealing ordinance, and how it would be able to provide the one thing they both wanted more than anything else.  I bore testimony of the sealing power, and the Spirit was strong.  I referenced what Brother Syversen had said about putting God first, and reminded them of the sacrifices they'd made in their lives to strengthen their marriage: Because the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty.

I told them that such sacrifice is required in putting God first if we are to ever hope to attain the blessings of eternity, and invited them to set a date by which they'd like to go to the temple to be sealed.  They agreed.  I asked them if they were willing to show God they were "putting him first" and make the sacrifices required to have an eternal family by attending just sacrament meeting.  Shocked again, Brother Syversen responded positively, and said, "Well, honey, is it finally time?" Sister Syversen persisted with, "It depends on what kind of night I have."  We assured them that, if they were truly committed, God would provide a way for them to attend church.  They relented with a, "We'll do our best." 

...They didn't come to church.  We were definitely sad, considering that's the best I've taught to a commitment in a long time.  But it was also a learning experience for what we have to do in order for God to be able to help us.  Nephi was fully committed to "go" and "do" whatever it was the Lord had in store for him: it didn't depend on the quality of sleep he had the night before.  And Laban was delivered into his hands.  Similarly, God can help us - in our day - accomplish our righteous desires.  But God doesn't work with our conditional statements, because He's the one who sets the conditions.

I guess that experience will have to count as both the "good" and "learning:" And perhaps next week I'll tell you a "crazy."

So Northern Lights: No such luck here!  That was actually one of Elder Heuer's first questions in the car ride home, and I told him that there was one occurrence a few years back where they'd been spotted within our mission boundaries, but for some reason they don't come down past Edmonton.  But if they're seeing them in Denver, I don't know what's going on there!

Mom, it sounds like you're forming your own Individual Mission Plan!! :D :D  Thanks for joining the ranks of the Lord's Army.  Is there anything I can do to help out?

I've been thinking a lot about the 14th as well.  It'll be weird to spend such a monumental anniversary in what's likely to be a foreign town with yet another stranger named "Elder," but in reality, it's the second-best situation to be in when remembering such a day. Whatever you end up doing, just do something Dad would be proud of. :) 

Well, I should probably close out; I've got a few more emails to write, some groceries to purchase, and we've got reservations at Boston Pizza for 1:00 (Zone P-day in Pincher Creek today)!  I love you, pray for you, and hope you have a good week!

Love,
Elder Jared D. Larsen

Week 45-Q&A

"525,600 minutes..."

Another "winderful" week in Pincher Creek, another email home, and the first of the new year! I'll do my best to answer some questions.

Yes, our New Year's Eve celebration was epic. :) I don't think I've ever had a Nerf war that intense- or ever! So definitely it was a good experience.  Albeit slightly different to be asleep when the new year rang in. :P

The stereotypes surrounding the kindness of Canadians definitely have legitimate social foundations: Although, being a missionary tends to slant the entire experience.  When people view us as actual human beings, they're nicer than I think I've ever experienced anywhere else I've been! On the other hand... Some people aren't as fond of representatives of Jesus Christ as you might be inclined to think.  But that's how He lived, too.

What have I enjoyed most about being a missionary?  That's such an unfair question!! :P  That's the weird thing I've noticed about missionary work: Every experience, positive or negative, that I have is stored in a positive, spiritually uplifting light.  Nothing seems to truly throw me for a loop.  I guess that might be my favorite part about being a missionary...  But as far as a physical thing, I absolutely love all of the meetings!  I know that's probably a little weird, considering that was distinctly my least favorite part about ever serving in a quorum presidency, but there's so much opportunity to learn, grow, and seek revelation and counsel when you're gathered with others united in the same work of salvation.  I'm finally starting to understand what it means: "where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you."

As far as areas I want to serve in: Not Calgary.  Anywhere but the big city.  I want to stay here in the South as long as possible.  I mean, if I do go up North (highly likely), I'd be happy- but it's apparently a really rough transition for anyone who was born in the South.

The drive between Pincher Creek and anywhere is just about the same: Boring and long.  I didn't realize how spoiled I was to have the some of the only mountains in the mission in my first area!  Everything out here is flat lands.  Unless we get to go out to the Crowsnest Pass. :)

If I were serving in Cardston, I would be able to attend the temple every transfer: But I also know some missionaries who have had it approved to skip out on lunch and go do Initiatories instead.  Which would be fantastic.

Aaand.... I still don't think I'll need boots.  My feet don't get cold for some reason.  I'll be okay. :)

Um... I need to get on the run again... But I love you, and I'll write next week!

-Elder Larsen