June 22, 2015

GETTING TRANSFERRED ON WEDNESDAY TO KENT ISLAND. So don't send anything in the mail this week to my current address :) wouldn't want Elder Wilson getting too much love hehehe

I'd never been in a pie eating extravaganza contest before this week's Stake party. Let me tell you, the roar of encouragement while shoveling an apple pie literally face-first paired with a belly full of missionary meals (Yes I'm well-fed, Mom <3) threw me down a tornado of adrenaline. Yeah a little girl won the whole thing. Not gonna lie, I was a bit contentious.

Speaking of tornados, one flew through Poolesville on Saturday during Dinner. That was about 10 miles away, but still Elder Wilson's phobia was interesting to see in action xD The thunderstorms bombard us constantly. Summer's just beginning, too! Who knows what's in store for me on the Eastern-most island of the mission during the main heat of summer. crabcrabcrabcrab

It's a bummer that I'll miss Jamin's baptism this Saturday, but honestly Jamin should have been baptized yeeearrrrrssss ago! Whenever we teach lessons it's pretty much just question and answer games since he has been taught every lesson for the past 4 years. Elder Wilson will do a great job carrying on, though. The life-changing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ blows my mind. I haven't come across a time in the past 9 months where I thought, oh I've already seen this before. Every principle, every word, every light of inspiration given to morph lives is applied personally and originally for the person receiving Jesus in that moment. The personal relationships people form with Him enhance every hope filled dew drop from morning to night. I've seen work stress dissipate, loose rebellious families knit together, addictions fly out the window; you name it. Hope floods your horizon when you set your gaze on love.

Our Elder's Quorum president picked us up Wednesday night for a team up. We plopped right in to his car, ready for whatever home teaching appointment he had planned. He drove for awhile, silent and void of whatever conversation we tried to stir up. Finally he rolled into a gas station in the middle of nowhere. Step by step we followed him out of the car, into the open field, and to the borderline of a dense forest. He turned, smiled, and said, "Watch this."

Without a second glance he was bending into the bush saying, "Anyone home?" With no choice but pursuit we follow into the heart of darkness to find a whole tent village under a clearing in the woods. A bald fellow with a skull necklace gets out of a tent and as soon as he began talking I knew he was a genius. Brother Mcphee, a less active member of the Urbana Ward, has been homeless for two years. He knows Anthropology like nobody's business and tells some stories that will rock your world. We trekked back to the gas station where Brother Mcphee discussed how he takes care of the other homeless people that steal and dive in drugs, all while they hate him. Oh and get this. He gives out Books of Mormon everyday to the homeless. He's a true die-hard missionary through and through. The inclination to judge this man based upon his social standing and family conditions would have flipped love on its back for the takedown. The love Brother McPhee has found for God has come through helping those around him who hate his guts.

Love in all its aspects refines and reproves us day by day until we finally learn. It takes an act of faith to leap into the loving arms of Christ, an act of change that puts our old selves away and keep our eyes directed to Him. Baptism cleans us of our previous shell of mortality with the Holy Ghost guiding our every action to clean our internal vessel. But it is only by love that this cycle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ fuels our ambition to change. Truly care for tomorrow and tomorrow will care for you.

NEW ADDRESS: 112 North Commerce Street, Centreville, Maryland, 21617

xoxo

Elder Burgess