Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The Advent of Hope or Teaching DAD a lesson











PARENTALS!!!

Well, well, well. I'm doing well. This week was kinda a rough one because Elder Wood and I were both rocked with sickness. It unfortunately took us out of the loop for a couple of days. I really do not like being sick out here. I always feel like its a poor excuse. I don't know if its right, but I sometimes pray to either get better, or to get sicker so I don't feel bad about staying insideIt's kinda weird, but I just hate staying in doors.

Besides that, the week went pretty well, given that many appointments fell out. We only taught 7 lessons this week. We had more planned, but like I just said, many appointments fell out. Champion is a perfect example of this. Three termine fell out with the kid. I don't know what's going on. He was so promising when Elder Duvall was here. But Elder Wood and I think that he's been spending a lot of time with a new Mitbewohnerin. It's ok, we'll find out what's going on and see if we can't help him in some way. Other than that this past week has been getting Gesund and setting up this week. It's packed with appointments and we have about 25 contacts that need to be talked to. I'm so excited. Elder Wood is a great companion and we are about to get some serious good work done.

Tonight we are eating with a part-member family. The Husband isn't a member, but he is making some serious progress. He's been investigating for a long long time now and has seen miracles, he just need to take the leap of faith.

Speaking of faith, that is another lesson I learned this week. Even when we belong to the Church and have made our leaps of faith, we still have to strive to stay in the faith. I've kind of noticed myself slipping a bit with scripture study and reading. I've just been so busy planning for other lessons and running around to get things done that I haven't really had time to study for myself or just read and enjoy the scriptures. I'm in the middle of 'The President Challenge' as I have dubbed it, but set it aside for a few days in order to get everything done that needed to be. I could honestly feel a lack of something. I could still feel the spirit this week, but it was just harder to focus or get personal goals done. I gained a stronger testimony of study. It really is the fuel to the missionary fire. If we don't study and convert ourselves, we will never be able to help with the conversion of others. Study is so important to keeping me personally focused on the task at hand. I love the scriptures. They are litterally a Godsend.

Like I said this week is going to be good. We have a lot planned and I'm excited. We'll see how it plays out. It's time for me to kick it up another notch and charge forward. I want so bad to be a successful missionary. I need to reach my goals!

I've been thinking a lot about a lot of things lately. I have seen and met so many different types of people here on the mission. Happy, sad, suicidal, careless, homosexual, transsexual, angels, demons, wise, and otherwise. The thoughts/questions that most occupies my mind is this: What made this person the person he/she is today? And, how can I help them change for the better?

I have walked in the homes of hundreds of different people from different backgrounds and cultures and lifestyles. All have been looking for something that they are unable to find. At the beginning of my mission I thought that some people were hopeless and waists of time. But now I know that they aren't. They can't be. No one I have met is so far gone that they are hopeless. The Lord God will give another chance. He has to. 2 Nephi 19 through the next few chapters speaks about Israel and how they will fight against each other. But there is a phrase that is repeated again and again. "For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still." That is our phrase of hope. It is for everyone.
Some people who I know and you know can't find a light in themselves. But it is there. There are good things about everyone, we just have to find beauty in different ways. But it is there. Once the light is found, it needs to be fueled. Hope and encouragement needs to be given. Why? Because the Lord will not give up on us as long as we are here. We cannot give up on others. That's what I've learned out here. It is possible for everyone to come back to light. It's sometimes harder for others. But they can come. If there is no desire, they are lying. There is always a desire. We must find the God in everyone. Once found, it is our job to help that part grow until it can sustain itself. It's a hard job. But it's possible. I've seen people overcome things out here like addictions. I've seen a homosexual man be baptised. I've seen drug lords walk away from their lifestyle. I've seen excommunicated members fight to come back to the fold. I know that they have a lot to overcome. Everyone has his own mountain, but everyone needs to be taught the gospel from the beginning -- that God is our heavenly Father and that He loves us.

I love this work. I love being here in Germany. I'm not what I want to be. I need to be better. I need to communicate better. I need to do that what is expected of me. But it all comes back down to desire. It needs to come from within, but others can help me to increase my desire. We are all in this together. I feel that if I give up on someone, I give up on myself. No one is so far gone that they can't ever come back. No one. I have to believe it. If I don't, I might be damned.

A lot is on my mind. I guess its a bit of cabin fever. Staying inside has never been good for me. But, yes Mother, we did have Thanksgiving. Two times sogar. It was fun. For district meeting we cooked a goose and two ducks. I made veggies and other Elders made potatoes and a plethora of other things. It was good. We had it in the kitchen and just talked about what we are thankful for and how thankfulness plays a part in missionary work. I liked the idea. Our district leader sure is an inspired guy. That, or he's selfish.

And alo, Mother, I got the card, thank you.
I miss you both terribly. This past Sunday was the first advent. That means I talk to you in just over 3 weeks. Be Happy! I love you. I miss you. Have hope. Everyone has a chance, even if they've had one before.

LOVES

Elder ChArnett
Blogger's note: Once again, our mostly perfect and diligent son didn't send photos. Thanks this time to Sister Wilson for emailing some photos at our request. The sisters that are now home have really come through for us. Thanks to both of you and keep them coming. You have been very kind to the overly-photo wanting parents of the "Hotdawg in Hamburg". Photos boy, photos! Send them. Also, just as a frame of reference, Chad's message on Hope was a not so subtle sermon to his Father. It was in response to an email he received from a now "Hopeful" Dad. There was a time in his life, when I taught him things.

1 comment:

Sandra said...

I came because of the title and to my suprise I find another Missionary blog. My third. How exciting! I'll be back.

Take Care
From
NewYork :)