Another Transfer Week

(Note: This entry is from Elder Dilling’s May 23^rd email)

So transfers have once again come and gone.  The opening sentence of Dad's email to me was perfectly fine.  Many people here actually tend to say "mijo".  Mas sim pai voce estava bom.  How was my Portuguese? I've been reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese a little when I have the time.  Pronunciation is the hardest part for me.

Anyways, all is pretty good here.  I liked your opening paragraph, because my spiritual experience this week was gonna be just that.  So on Sunday I was doing my studies after church, and since I've been trying to finish the Old testament before I get home, I found myself in Isaiah (I've been bogged down there for like 3 months).  And I came upon a couple of verses that I liked a lot:

Isaiah 55:10-11

  

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Now you must understand that very few are the scriptures in Isaiah that I understood.  So yeah.  Anyways, I just kinda pondered that scripture a little bit, and applied it to myself as a missionary.  And just how most Spanish people will let us in because we're sharing a message about Christ, and because we speak the word of God.  So because of that last verse I just thought about how even in those hard times when the success we want (whatever it may be) isn't coming, there really is a purpose in the work and everything we do and say as representatives of Christ will fulfill its purpose.  It won't "return unto me void".  And this is more or less what the spirit brought to my mind.  It was pretty cool, just a nice little pat on the back with a "just keep doing what you’re doing, it's good."

As for your question though about me in comparison to my district, my area is struggling the most.  But I'm excited for the future.  And I'm gonna get at least one more baptism before I go home.  Now for what has gone down this last week as well.  On Saturday we had a somewhat surprise conference with Elder Rasband who as it turned out, served here when he was a young missionary, and also served as a Mission President before being called as a General Authority.  He just talked to us about his experiences here, and told some cool stories.  It was really pretty cool.  Then on Monday we got the call that Elder Head was leaving and going upstate.  And that I would be getting a "new" companion.  My companion’s name is Elder Colton.  He's from The LA area, and I'm pretty excited to get to serve with him.  But not only that, if you couldn't tell by the "new" I'm TRAINING!! crazy.  I can’t believe I’m gonna be training for the second time.  I feel like I just barely got away from my last greenie.  But nonetheless I'm excited.  He seems way cool, and I'm just way excited to have a companion that'll help me "finish strong".  Not that I'm getting trunky or anything.  It'll just help me stay focused.  I'm also gonna try not to tell him when I'm finishing.  But we'll see how long that lasts for.  I'd send a photo, but I forgot my cord today, so that’s not gonna work out till next week.  Thanks for the pics though, I was kinda forgetting what Canada looked like, especially the mountains.  All I see all day are 5 story buildings. 

But yeah, my journal writing is better.  I've written every day since the beginning of March.  I just need to work on the subject matter now.  I have trouble writing about more than the surface stuff.  But all in all it is pretty good.  Anyways, that’s about all I've got for this week.  I'll let you know how training is going next week. 

Much Love, Carson