Good Morning, friend, family, and other relative acquaintances! This is your favorite missionary from the Colorado Fort Collins Mission once again, the ever charismatic, charming, and completely humble Elder Z.S.Weber. It's great to hear from all y'all again. A lot has happened this past week, but before we get to all of that, may I just say that summer has officially come...and DANG! Is it hot or what?! I mean, seriously, this past week we saw the temperature gage on our car go up to 108 degrees! It was only for a few seconds, but DANG! That is hot! We're still expected to work in this infernal heat that has swept over the state, but worry not. Though the heat is great, the work has actually been pretty good here.
So, without further ado, let us begin!
To start us off, let's go back to Tuesday this past week. Now, some of you might remember that for the past few weeks, Elder Pember and I have been struggling in finding a new place for us to call home. Well, after searching and begging and pleading for a new home, we finally were able to move out of the McKenzies' and find a new place to call home. Where are we, you might ask? Well, because both Wards are still struggling in finding us a member that can house us, we have moved in with our Zone Leaders, Elder Fraser and Elder Jackson. This is my first time living with other Elders while on my mission. It's actually been pretty nice, as we all have studies together in the morning and have nice discussions. These discussions range from principles of the gospel, to who we think would win in an Avengers vs. Justice League, to possible date plans for after the mission.
Along with great studies and discussions with my friends, moving in with the Zone Leaders has proven to be good for me and my companion in more ways than I first thought. For starters, we live above-ground now, so when the sun rises at 5:45 in the morning it helps to wake us up at the right time. Also, every morning at 6:35, the Zone Leaders work out, having this huge six-day rolling plan set up to, as they say, 'get pumped!' So, pretty much every morning now we are working out...though we might not do the Zone Leader workout with them. I'm not saying that I can't do it, or that I won't do it...I'm just saying that I did their chest workouts on Thursday, and my right arm is still kind of sore...
Along with moving in, Elder Pember and I were able to get out and enjoy the warmth of the summer as we went out and tried to find some new investigators for the Prairie Ridge Ward. We have a pretty good teaching pool for Taft Canyon, and though things could be better there, the sad truth is we pretty much have nothing going on in Prairie Ridge. So, this week we dedicated ourselves to finding in the Prairie Ridge area. The work was slow, but enjoyable, as we mostly walked everywhere. Unfortunately, there weren't many people that were interested in talking with us. In fact, there were several occasions where we were walking down the sidewalk, saw someone walking towards us on the same walk, who then cut across the street to avoid talking to us. However, we were able to share a few short messages about the temple.
The best thing from this week, however, was our chance to finalize our plans for our investigator, Kathy Williams. Things have been really going well for her, and she is really excited for her baptism coming up. Wednesday, we were able to drag the District Leader over to our Church Building so that he could give Kathy her baptismal interview. Just as we had expected, she passed with flying colors. However, as we were setting up the program for her baptism with her, we found a few small problems. Nothing much, just that pretty much everyone that needs to be at her baptism (i.e. Ward Mission Leader, Relief Society President, Bishopric Member) would be out of town. So, we've moved her baptism from the 2nd to the 9th. Still, it's really exciting!
Well, that's how my week went! All in all, not all that shabby, if I do say so myself. Along with the work done, and the experiences...erm, experienced, this week has also been a great week of spiritual growth and enlightenment. Which means...It's time for another session of the Spiritual Thought!
This thought was inspired by a baptism that Elder Pember and I attended this last Saturday. After the woman had been baptized and had her short welcoming into the Ward, the Bishop had asked her to bear her testimony, or share about her journey to her baptism. While she said that she didn't have much of a testimony to share, as with most people who share their testimonies it was profound and beautiful, even as it was simple and sweet. As part of her testimony and journey towards baptism, she shared a song that her grandmother taught her when she was a young girl. Years later, she translated the song from Spanish to English, and it took on new meaning for her. With her permission, I include a verse of the translated song;
Lord, you looked into my eyes,
And smiling, you called my name.
In the sand, I left my boat.
With you, I will look for other seas.
(Pescadores de Hombres; lit. Fishers of Men)
This song refers to the story of Peter and his brethren. Peter was a fisherman in Galilee, and had dedicated his life to fishing. I'm certain that, though probably not the most profitable work to be invested in, it was a work he took much pride in and was pretty good at, if the patience he shows whenever he goes fishing in the New Testament is anything to go by. Yet even though he loved his work, there came a time when a different work called his name. The work he had previously done wasn't as successful or fulfilling as it was before, and I imagine he was looking for something more in his life. And that was when our Savior met him and extended the call to throw down his net and become a fisher of men. (Matthew 4:18-20)
Now, let's return to the woman who told me this song. At that time in her life, this young convert felt as though her faith based off of the Catholic Church was the boat in the song. It had fared her well throughout her life to there, yet she couldn't help but feel as though something was missing. Slowly, her nets stopped catching fish, her sails lost their wind, and her boat ended up stuck on the sandy shore. She needed something more in her life. She knew she wanted to follow and believe on Jesus Christ, but the faith she aligned herself with at that moment wasn't filling her needs as well as she had hoped. It was at that time that she decided to seek out her answers—seeking that eventually led her to the missionaries, and through them, God in His glory.
There may be some of you who read these messages that are struggling with your faith. You love God, and seek to follow Him at all times. Yet sometimes, you can't help but feel as though there is something lacking in your worship. Something is there, you know it, yet it is just beyond your reach. My counsel to you, my brothers and sisters in the spirit, is to ask your Father in Heaven what He would have you do. His desires are always good, and He knows best what is best for you. Perhaps He will give you strength to fortify your ship, new purpose within your ship. Or perhaps His counsel will be to set your net aside and "look for other seas." I cannot speak for you. All I can say is that I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints truly is His restored church on the earth today. And if you choose to come and join us, we will welcome you with arms open wide as a brother or sister "who was lost, and is found." (Luke 15:32)
Now, for those of you my friends who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and who struggle with your faith as well, may I direct your attention to the counsel of one of the apostles of the Lord? "At the beginning of [a river rafting trip], one of the experienced river guides reviewed important safety instructions, emphasizing three rules that would ensure the group’s safe travel through the rapids. 'Rule number one: stay in the boat! Rule number two: always wear a life jacket! Rule number three: always hold on with both hands!' He then said again, with even more emphasis, 'Above all, remember rule number one: stay in the boat!'" (M. Russell Ballard, Stay in the Boat and Hold On!, October 2014 General Conference)
There will be times in our lives when our seas get rough, when the storms are all about us and seeking to sink us into the depths of the ocean. At those times, there may be some among you who think it would be best to find a better boat to weather the storm in. My advice to you is—get away from that railing and stay in the boat! First of all, it's absolutely ridiculous to jump out of a ship in the middle of a storm, seeking for a larger vessel that may or may not be there. It's an entirely different situation if you can see the vessel, and it actually has a safety line thrown out for you before you've even jumped out into the waters (cough cough The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), but that's not what we're talking about here.
Second, and I hate to burst bubbles here, but there is no better vessel to weather the storms of mortality in than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! It is the Lord's church, and He is the Master at the helm. With a man as perfect as He is, someone who has proven more than capable of calming the seas and the sailors time and again, why do you doubt? Let us stay in the boat, stay in this ship we call the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and hold on with both hands. Though the waves may be fierce, and the force of the wind might cause us to fear for our lives, remember another group of Saints that feared a similar, yet more literal death. At that moment, the words of the Savior to them and the seas is the same counsel He gives each of us—"Peace, be still." (Mark 4:39)
This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
—Elder Z.S.Web
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