February 10, 2014

Hola Familia y amigos mios!

Last week was great! Elder Hicks and I seem to be working together better than ever before. Even now that I'm not quite the timid unsure greenie I used to be while he was training me, we are still learning loads from each other. We have just been feeding off each other's desires to work hard, and MAN things are changing for the better! I already got used to his little quirks and he had already gotten used to my humor etc, so we just jumped right in to the work and the needs of the people here in Prescott Valley. We still have our weaknesses and such but we can solve issues so much better now. 

An example- we had all our lessons fall through one night, so we were going around trying to find people at home. We were having no success teaching or finding, and finally someone came out and talked to us. But it started to get late, so we said goodbye and got in the car to head home. I sat there for a couple minutes because I was kinda ticked that we had just stood outside for 20 minutes in 30 degrees talking about nothing! Well once I calmed down, I talked to Elder Hicks about it. He agreed we had wasted a perfect opportunity and failed to fulfill our purpose, and he kinda started to beat himself up about it. Well, I loved and trusted Elder Hicks enough to take the initiative. We stopped proselyting for the evening and did a hardcore analysis on our purpose, and on our goals and plans to fulfill it in everything we do. Instead of coming our of that depressed because we had failed, we were both pumped because we had created a plan to succeed! The next day we began implementing our plans and tasks to achieve our goals, and we started loving what we were doing! As the week went on we had more success and more energy about the work. I have a real testimony of goals, and of failure, and of the ability to rise up and move forward through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I used to let little things about other people bug me, especially companions, but I think I realized what a waste of time it was to worry myself about something I can't control. The time spent being annoyed is time that could be used helping someone else. That is the main thing I learned this week. If I can stop thinking about ME and I, I can give so much more. We had a couple crazy days this last week with so many appointments, so many calls to make and things to do, and I stopped and thought for a second in the middle of it all. I was loving it! Serving others will always be better than serving myself!

We had an awesome lesson with M. J.  and her husband last night. We brought The Family: A Proclamation to the World. After the lesson, Elder Hicks and I just sat there in complete love for that family. The Spirit was so strong when we testified of our own eternal families, and I felt an increased love, desire and gratitude for the opportunity to be with my family forever. We invited to pray about the decision to be baptized. This morning, M. texted us saying she got work off to come to the Gilbert Temple Open House with us this Thursday! So now we can go, we are stoked for them to be able to feel the Spirit in The House of The Lord! 

T. J. is still solid. Her and her husband  have totally changed in the perspective of preparing for her baptism. Now they are looking forward to the temple and an eternal family. It has been so cool to see. They have some pretty troubled teenage kids, too. The shy daughter asked me if her horse could be sealed to them in the temple....I didn't want to crush and dreams on that one so I told her she would see her horse in heaven. Haha The dad,  actually went in and cut the cable to the Xbox his sons were playing because they wouldn't come into our lesson. Pretty crazy! But awesome that they see how much their family needs the gospel.

Well, that's about all the news! I hope all is well at home and that people are planning to achieve! If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It is so true. :) I love you all! Have a fantastic week.

Elder Collin Christensen