Great week!

Yowza yowza yowza, I have got a lot to write this week!

So first off, GREAT week! Lot's of stuff happened and I'm really enjoying the mission. It's always sunny here. We had interviews on Wednesday and I was able to meet with President and Sister Mansell and got some counsel from them. They are so great and truly help so much. Right after interviews we got to go to the temple!!!! That was so great! The Lord really was very generous to me too because I got to watch a video that I hadn't already seen! Great session. 

That night and the next day Elder Leavitt and I were together on exchanges in my area (he's been out as long as me, GREENY POWER). We had a great dinner message and then got to do some quick proselyting in Guthrie until the night was over. Then Thursday started. We got up, made plans and then headed out. Elder Leavitt and I took mostly east Guthrie while Elder Kilmer and Elder Larsen took west. We met a lot of great people but nothing too promising. At about 2 we were still biking around trying to talk to people, we got some names and numbers from people but nothing very promising. It was a bit discouraging when nothing panned out. We headed back to the West side and went to go clean up the yard of a struggling but awesome member. We didn't want to talk to her because she had recently found out she was getting a divorce and had way too much stuff going on for that to be happening (she's very sick, has two kids under 2, doesn't have a job, has some neighbor problems with dealing drugs and other things I can't say). We biked onto her street to find that she was sitting on the porch. She actually waved us down and motioned for us to come over. We started talking and shot the bowl for a while. Eventually she brought up her recent issues with the husband and really unloaded on us. She shared how she was so overwhelmed and felt like she was nothing. Why did all this bad stuff happen to her? She shared how she had done so much good in her life, that she is a good person at heart and so willing to be better, why would God do this. She kept saying how if God would only give her direction, she would do so in an instant. Now this is where I have a hard time finding the words to describe what I felt. I have re-written this part multiple times in my head but this will have to suffice. 

As I listened, I heard and felt the same thoughts and feelings in my life. Obviously she's had a much harder life but I've asked the same questions. Sometimes this life just seems so stupid and we ask what the heck God, I'm doing my best, why won't you give me some direction? Why won't you help me? Why have you abandoned me? 

But then my heart filled and reminded me that we are all sons and daughters of God. I felt and truly know right from that moment that she is so very special to our Father. I have never felt so much love for one person in my entire life and I know it was because it wasn't my own, it was Christ's love I felt. That He is very aware of her and that He knows what He is doing. I don't care how simple that message should be, it's something we forget. We have a divine purpose. I shared that with her and she started to see. Then Elder Leavitt told her how God has a plan for each of us. We may not know the plan but He NEVER forgets us. The Spirit was very strong under that porch. 

That story was long and maybe unnecessary, but it taught me something. A lot of times we tend to forget why we're hereon this earth. We get caught up in this world and get in waaay too deep. Even out on a mission. I loved this General Conference and it truly had some fantastic talks. Great points on faith and invitations to draw closer to Christ. I've learned a lot on what I need to change and how to better center myself on Christ. But I think the most important and meaningful talk to me was Neil A. Andersen's closing to conference. He truly spoke to me when he reminded us how important conference is, how "we don't know everything, but we know enough", and how important it was to heed the words that we had heard. Then he talked about Robert D. Hales and his recent death. The way he put it was something along the lines of "he has graduated from this mortal experience". What a marvelous phrase! What a great way to look at this life and remember that it is merely a probationary state. It gave me a remembrance of who I truly am, who I strive to become and how this life here, although painful and difficult, is so important. 

We are all sons and daughters of God. This life is a hard one. But remember, it is only a small thing compared to what is in store. Until then, we need to prepare, by centering our lives on Christ and helping others on the way. I truly love this gospel and know that Christ is the remedy to our hardships. Love you guys!

Elder Wold