Dear All,
So this morning, I woke all of the american Elders in the
zone up with a hearty rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" sung
over the phone. It was a great way to start the day. My companion got kind of
annoyed though. Oh well, national pride. I've got my white shirt, blue pants, a
red, white, and blue tie, and my american flag socks on. So yeah. We are also
gonna throw a mini party with the ward mission leader (who lived in Houston for
8 years) tonight.
In terms of the changes, I asked president a few weeks ago
to let me stay here in this area for my last transfer, and he let me do so. I
feel like we have started something good here and I want to keep it up. Our
zone got bigger this transfer, it is now 22 missionaries, and we are going to
go so hard this summer. It's gonna be awesome.
This week was pretty cool, lots of nuts experiences, and
lots of fun. We have been working hard with the Young Men, cause they're on
vacations, so they can come with us and work. It's way fun.
I spent a couple days this week studying Jacob 5. I think it
is my favorite chapter in all of the standard works. Every time I read it I
make like 10 new notes in the margins and highlight a bunch of stuff. I think
it is one of the best parables of missionary work that has ever been written.
Some of my favorite verses:
20 And it came to pass that they went forth whither
the master had hid the natural branches of the tree, and he said unto the
servant: Behold these; and he beheld the first that it had brought forth much
fruit; and he beheld also that it was good. And he said unto the servant: Take
of the fruit thereof, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it
unto mine own self; for behold, said he, this ong time have I nourished it, and
it hath brought forth much fruit.
21 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest
thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was
the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard.
22 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew
that it was a poor spot of ground wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished
it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.
Who are we to judge whom the Lord has prepared to preach the
gospel? Anyone, as long as we are diligent and full of love and charity, can
accept the gospel, if it is the Lord's will.
41 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
wept,and said unto the servant: What could I have done morefor my vineyard?
I love the Lord's attitude here. He loves us and will do
anything and everything to help us "bring forth fruit".
48 And it came to pass that the servant said unto hismaster: Is it not
the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not thebranches thereof overcome the roots
which are good? Andbecause the branches have overcome the roots thereof,behold
they grew faster than the strength of the roots,taking strength unto
themselves. Behold, I say, is not thisthe cause that the trees of thy vineyard
have becomecorrupted?
Loftiness=pride. Beware of pride.
50 But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of
thevineyard: Spare it a little longer.
I feel like this is what our Savior says to his Father many
times, wait just a little, I'll help them out, and we'll see if they can bring
forth fruit yet again.
65 And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away thebranches which bring
forth bitter fruit, according to thestrength of the good and the size thereof;
and ye shall notclear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots
thereofshould be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereofshall perish,
and I lose the trees of my vineyard.
As we repent and help others to do so, we must be patient
with ourselves and with them. We must build up good principles and habits that
will end up blocking out all of the bad stuff we've got inside. If we try to do
all at once and if we are not patient, out discouragement and frustration could
be our downfall.
74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according tothe
commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even untilthe bad had been cast away
out of the vineyard, and theLord had preserved unto himself that the trees
hadbecome again the natural fruit; and they became like untoone body; and the fruits
were equal; and the Lord of thevineyard had preserved unto himself the natural
fruit,which was most precious unto him from the beginning.
75 And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyardsaw that his
fruit was good, and that his vineyard was nomore corrupt, he called up his
servants, and said untothem: Behold, for this last time have we nourished
myvineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done accordingto my will; and I have
preserved the natural fruit, that it isgood, even like as it was in the
beginning. And blessed artthou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring
withme in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments,and have brought unto me
again the natural fruit, that myvineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is
cast away,behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of myvineyard.
"Behold, ye shall have joy WITH ME". I love the
thought that this is not MY work. It is not the President Garcia, the APs or
even President Monson. It is the Lord's and he will bless us with the same joy
that he feels as we come unto him.
I know these things are true, and wanted to share them with
you guys.
Los quiero mucho,
Elder Rawlings
