So I'll begin with the business. This morning I went a bit of a spending spree (a Texas state flag and some sharpies set me back nearly 50 bones) however the intentions were good. So I made a note card last week on what I should write you guys and things that happened throughout the week so that is why my last email may have been slightly more organized. However the note card this week makes absolutely no sense whatsoever half the time. Case in point, the first thing I have on the list to write you about says "Megan and I: Enos" so if anyone can interpret that, you have the gift of translation.
This past weekend was one of the most important days of my earthly existence and I waited until this week to tell you about it so I could attach a picture. Elder Johnson and I hit a pretty big milestone that I will brag about. We taught our hundredth lesson last week! Pretty sweet. We have done splits every week and I had the privilege of teaching the awesome kids of Stacey Peters in our ward (she was baptized on the 26th last month). Her kids, Sonya and Jaycee are super solid and I taught some of my favorite lessons with them. Every time I got to go over, half the time we couldn't stop laughing. Sonya was mentioning how sad it was the people in China eat Cats and Dogs so I asked her mom, "do you think if you eat a cat in China it would land on its feet in your stomach?" I have no idea why that is funny but we all proceeded to tell a 100 different jokes about eating cats after that. (they were feeding us dinner at the time ironically.) Both girls after seeing the blessing of baptism in their mom's life set a date to be baptized. They are now officially members!
The fact that I'm being transferred pretty much devastated me. We are having a ton of success and I can not believe how little time it takes to develop strong relationships on the mission. How dare they transfer me! Ok, I'm kidding. I know that this will continue for the next 22 months. So I said my goodbyes to the Peters family last night and Stacey gave me a hug (shh don't tell) which was great. I got their emails and I'm sure that I'll get to see Stacey go through the temple half way through my mission. (she is already doing baptisms for the dead).
So after that great weekend, anything other then seeing people being converted is almost worthless out here. But I will continue toreport.
Our last baptism before the Peter's kids was Holly and she is way solid. She is a 14 year old missionary. She was going through the scriptures with her step dad and reading the ones that she really liked. He asked her "where's that scripture?" she then promptly introduced the Book of Mormon and long story short he came to all 3 hours of church yesterday and the family asked if we could teach them tonight one last time before I got shipped out. Wow, so I hate to say it dear family but I am going to have a way harder time leaving Rockwall then I am when I left on my mission. (don't get mad, families are forever).
So one night when we were on splits this past week we got into our first doctrinal debate. I had an awesome member with me (he isn't afraid to admit he is the 'loud Texan' type). The guy we were teaching has been reading up on his Anti (a very popular thing to do around here) and approached us with the concept of us ourselves becoming deity. Mike (the member) jumped in before I could ever get air in my lungs and bore his heart and soul about the ultimate happy ending of the plan of salvation. He made some very good points one of which was 'could you imagine serving God and learning EVERYTHING throughout eternity and not being able to use that knowledge? That is hell and damnation to me, I can not think of a worse form of torture.' Also we expressed the relationship between God and us. It is the same as father and son (or daughter) except perfect. This seems like such a obvious principle to me and I can't believe how sheltered I was in Utah to the fact that sooo many people disagree!!! So Mike pretty much gave the lesson as one giant testimony which as a greenie helped me learn how to 'guide the conversation' (I failed miserably). Still, awesome points and I need to never be a wuss (as any of us under the covenant should be) to declare the TRUTH.
In other weird news, I totally prophesied the future in my dreams the other night. In my dreams I was riding Charlie (arctic cat) in the middle of winter on Brian Head alongside a bunch of skiers. When I woke up I brushed it off and didn't think much of it other than wow, I am weird. That same day we were 'decorating' our next transfers planners and when I finished putting the stickers and tape around to protect it I saw the true meaning of the 'vision'. I had taped on the back of my planner covering the whole thing a picture of a snowboarder riding down a huge mountain and on top of that picture I had placed a sticker of a cowboy riding a bucking bronco. HA! Ok so maybe that doesn't mean I am a seer but I thought it was funny.
Love
-Elder Metcalf
PS - Whenever you tell people what my address is, just give them the mission office address. I will always have it forwarded to me from there. I'll be sure to let you know what the new one is.
The gospel is restored, Joseph Smith is the prophet, the Church of Jesus Christ is the only true church on earth. It is the only religion based on revelation. A church without revelation is like a ocean without water.
Love you again
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
A Tearful Goodbye
Every time you feel bad about not going to Lake Powell anymore, take a look at a mountain right outside of your window for me. The flatness is almost depressing in a way.
Well first things first. My companion is presumably infected with strep throat and I do believe I am in the early stages of catching it again... If possible please send amoxicillin ASAP. If I don't get it, great. But I can keep it as back up. The Lifty jacket is my favorite and I wrote Lance about it so hopefully you get in touch soon because the weather is way more crazy down here. One day it was 85, the next it is 45 and the humidity makes it biting cold. The cold down here is way different than the cold in Utah. 45 was super hot when snowboarding, but quite the opposite trackting in Texas.
My companion is one of the greatest missionaries in the entire world for sure. He really set me up to have a incredible first transfer so I give all the glory to him and I am happy to ride his coattails and learn from the best. He made huge sacrifices to get here (his family has been saying he is going to hell since the day he was baptized).
We had a way disheartening weekend, we had so many members and appointments fall through to the point where we were expecting this week to be the greatest week of our missions because what goes down, must come up.
Earlier this week we were doing companionship study (or at least trying) when the next thing we knew, we were 'caught away in a vision' until the fridge clanked and woke us both back up 20 minutes later. We were so delirious that we proceeded to hum and drum the "we will we will rock you" song. Way random but way funny. I think it was Uncle Jeff that told me I would know if I was doing a good job as a missionary if things would sometimes end up like that. I'll consider it a pat on the back. We got a super good referral, a guy from Wyoming whose son was just baptized. The best part other then him accepting us and the Gospel is the fact he has been a ski bum for the past 20 years. Perfect.
Hopefully I can be here to teach some more but this is the last week of transfers... I assume I'll be driven out of here into the lone and dreary world as well so it is very possible that my last day could be next Monday, if you send anything to my Rockwall address, please do it quickly (or the mailbox will continue retaining it void).
We trackted into a lady at a place we call 'Happy Country trailer park'. Not too promising but the point is she had a cockier spaniel which made me sad. Dad, that dog better be alive when I get home. Nothing other than wanting to go back to my old and lazy life is bothering me about home. Its crazy being thrown into the fire like this but if I were to go back home I realize that I would fall into the same lazy routine which makes me virtually worthless so I am happy to stay out and thrust in my sickle! (it builds character).
So I visited a less active guy who is crazy good at inventing things. I told him I would hit up dad about his patent about a casket that is made from recyclable materials and reuse plastics since everyone is going green. He is looking for that 'in' in the industry so maybe I could hook up a multi-million dollar idea. His other products are about to take flight in that direction.
Its crazy to see success like what Elder Johnson has been doing in the richest county in Texas but it goes to show that the field is white already to harvest. No excuses. We have a couple baptisms coming up this weekend which I am way excited about. Elder Johnson and I have been doing tons of splits so I have had the opportunity to teach them on my own and see the growth a little bit (they were way ready by the time I got there). So I'll be sending out some more pictures next week! I gotta figure out how to hook up a camera to the library computer since I have forgotten how to do everything of the world already.
The swine flu is infecting about a third of our teaching appointments which is way sad. Definitely something satanic about that flu I would imagine. Hopefully they get a solid cure out there before it really gets super dangerous. Everyone here trashes on President 'BamBam', it's hilarious but I don't want to talk politics, just thought that was funny.
A family we are teaching finally got their tickets to fly back to Guatemala this coming Sunday which is way sad. We thought for sure our prayers for a miracle of them staying so we could see them baptized here would work out.
My confidence in trackting shot up a ton this past week. Finally learned how to relax (a little). So it is getting lots easier. Whoever said missions are hard is lame. "Do something you like for work and you'll never work a day in your life." I am just making it hard on myself sometimes. Our ward mission leader is at Lake Powell right now, he made me angry when he was telling me how excited he was to go! Lame.
Other then that, send some pictures or something. I forgot what y'all looked like.
Love,
Elder Metcalf
Well first things first. My companion is presumably infected with strep throat and I do believe I am in the early stages of catching it again... If possible please send amoxicillin ASAP. If I don't get it, great. But I can keep it as back up. The Lifty jacket is my favorite and I wrote Lance about it so hopefully you get in touch soon because the weather is way more crazy down here. One day it was 85, the next it is 45 and the humidity makes it biting cold. The cold down here is way different than the cold in Utah. 45 was super hot when snowboarding, but quite the opposite trackting in Texas.
My companion is one of the greatest missionaries in the entire world for sure. He really set me up to have a incredible first transfer so I give all the glory to him and I am happy to ride his coattails and learn from the best. He made huge sacrifices to get here (his family has been saying he is going to hell since the day he was baptized).
We had a way disheartening weekend, we had so many members and appointments fall through to the point where we were expecting this week to be the greatest week of our missions because what goes down, must come up.
Earlier this week we were doing companionship study (or at least trying) when the next thing we knew, we were 'caught away in a vision' until the fridge clanked and woke us both back up 20 minutes later. We were so delirious that we proceeded to hum and drum the "we will we will rock you" song. Way random but way funny. I think it was Uncle Jeff that told me I would know if I was doing a good job as a missionary if things would sometimes end up like that. I'll consider it a pat on the back. We got a super good referral, a guy from Wyoming whose son was just baptized. The best part other then him accepting us and the Gospel is the fact he has been a ski bum for the past 20 years. Perfect.
Hopefully I can be here to teach some more but this is the last week of transfers... I assume I'll be driven out of here into the lone and dreary world as well so it is very possible that my last day could be next Monday, if you send anything to my Rockwall address, please do it quickly (or the mailbox will continue retaining it void).
We trackted into a lady at a place we call 'Happy Country trailer park'. Not too promising but the point is she had a cockier spaniel which made me sad. Dad, that dog better be alive when I get home. Nothing other than wanting to go back to my old and lazy life is bothering me about home. Its crazy being thrown into the fire like this but if I were to go back home I realize that I would fall into the same lazy routine which makes me virtually worthless so I am happy to stay out and thrust in my sickle! (it builds character).
So I visited a less active guy who is crazy good at inventing things. I told him I would hit up dad about his patent about a casket that is made from recyclable materials and reuse plastics since everyone is going green. He is looking for that 'in' in the industry so maybe I could hook up a multi-million dollar idea. His other products are about to take flight in that direction.
Its crazy to see success like what Elder Johnson has been doing in the richest county in Texas but it goes to show that the field is white already to harvest. No excuses. We have a couple baptisms coming up this weekend which I am way excited about. Elder Johnson and I have been doing tons of splits so I have had the opportunity to teach them on my own and see the growth a little bit (they were way ready by the time I got there). So I'll be sending out some more pictures next week! I gotta figure out how to hook up a camera to the library computer since I have forgotten how to do everything of the world already.
The swine flu is infecting about a third of our teaching appointments which is way sad. Definitely something satanic about that flu I would imagine. Hopefully they get a solid cure out there before it really gets super dangerous. Everyone here trashes on President 'BamBam', it's hilarious but I don't want to talk politics, just thought that was funny.
A family we are teaching finally got their tickets to fly back to Guatemala this coming Sunday which is way sad. We thought for sure our prayers for a miracle of them staying so we could see them baptized here would work out.
My confidence in trackting shot up a ton this past week. Finally learned how to relax (a little). So it is getting lots easier. Whoever said missions are hard is lame. "Do something you like for work and you'll never work a day in your life." I am just making it hard on myself sometimes. Our ward mission leader is at Lake Powell right now, he made me angry when he was telling me how excited he was to go! Lame.
Other then that, send some pictures or something. I forgot what y'all looked like.
Love,
Elder Metcalf
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Texas
This past week went well although we lost our standing as top teaching companionship, but we still doubled the average for lessons taught. Tracting is one of the most loathing experiences I have had so far. First some pentecostal lady started accusing us of being a cult who doesn't believe in Christ and then doors just start slamming. Oh well, I realize who I am and it's gonna be a sad day at judgment. I imagine the conversation going something like this...
God: remember those Mormon boys that knocked on your door?
pentecostal holy roller lady: ya, they started talking but don't worry I slammed the door and didn't let those people say another word
God: so what did they even say to you that was so bad?
pentecostal holy roller lady: they ...uhhh... first they asked me uhhh... how my day was going
God: did you reply?
pentecostal holy roller lady: of course not those crazy Mormons, I slammed the door as they were trying to talk to me!
God: oh yes? what else did they say when you were slamming the door?
pentecostal holy roller lady: uhhh.... have a nice day...
God: Telestial for you!
Ok maybe that wasn't as funny as I thought it would be, kinda sad really. I am surprised at how detrimental it can be to see people fight back against missionaries. Lucky my trainer is super knowledgeable on defending and proving the church and the gospel by the bible of all things.
We had a blitz up in Wilie and I got to go out with Elder Laub, the district leader who is a stud. We went to a trailer park somewhere up in there where doors kept slamming of course against the crazy Mormons! Luckily we knocked into a guy who was way receptive and will now be taught. My pride was boosted a little since we won the blitz even knowing it was all the skill of Laub. Hopefully that goes well for them.
We were teaching a couple where the husband fell away at a early age and the wife is catholic. When we got into the plan of salvation she was shocked to see at how much the bible corresponds with the correct truth of the 3 heavens, paradise and prison. It was awesome. Too bad he simply is just soo passionate about football that he can never find time to get to church.
We set 2 more baptismal dates this past week with the children of Sandy. They are totally stoked on it, which was obvious since they asked us when they could be baptized. One of the girls testimony was awesome on how she had seen her mom's baptism and felt the spirit and now wants it for herself.
We have another great friend in the ward who's wife comes off a bit atheist which is unfortunate. He really wants to pay his tithing but his wife is against it and the bills are in the way. He is awesome though so we are helping him in whatever way we can.
I'm trying to write a record of what actually happens in Texas rather then preach to you again. It's starting to get cold down here and the humidity just bites you whenever skin is exposed. Time really does flyby though. I'm practically sick of writing emails now but since I have to make a weekly accounting to those financing my endeavors in the first place it isn't too hard.
I'm still hovering around 185 but the members feed us so well that it is only a matter of time... the average weight gain is around 20-35 pounds so I am warning you now that more then likely I will hit that 200 mark easily.
Well until next week I make an end to my writings
Love your son
Mark
God: remember those Mormon boys that knocked on your door?
pentecostal holy roller lady: ya, they started talking but don't worry I slammed the door and didn't let those people say another word
God: so what did they even say to you that was so bad?
pentecostal holy roller lady: they ...uhhh... first they asked me uhhh... how my day was going
God: did you reply?
pentecostal holy roller lady: of course not those crazy Mormons, I slammed the door as they were trying to talk to me!
God: oh yes? what else did they say when you were slamming the door?
pentecostal holy roller lady: uhhh.... have a nice day...
God: Telestial for you!
Ok maybe that wasn't as funny as I thought it would be, kinda sad really. I am surprised at how detrimental it can be to see people fight back against missionaries. Lucky my trainer is super knowledgeable on defending and proving the church and the gospel by the bible of all things.
We had a blitz up in Wilie and I got to go out with Elder Laub, the district leader who is a stud. We went to a trailer park somewhere up in there where doors kept slamming of course against the crazy Mormons! Luckily we knocked into a guy who was way receptive and will now be taught. My pride was boosted a little since we won the blitz even knowing it was all the skill of Laub. Hopefully that goes well for them.
We were teaching a couple where the husband fell away at a early age and the wife is catholic. When we got into the plan of salvation she was shocked to see at how much the bible corresponds with the correct truth of the 3 heavens, paradise and prison. It was awesome. Too bad he simply is just soo passionate about football that he can never find time to get to church.
We set 2 more baptismal dates this past week with the children of Sandy. They are totally stoked on it, which was obvious since they asked us when they could be baptized. One of the girls testimony was awesome on how she had seen her mom's baptism and felt the spirit and now wants it for herself.
We have another great friend in the ward who's wife comes off a bit atheist which is unfortunate. He really wants to pay his tithing but his wife is against it and the bills are in the way. He is awesome though so we are helping him in whatever way we can.
I'm trying to write a record of what actually happens in Texas rather then preach to you again. It's starting to get cold down here and the humidity just bites you whenever skin is exposed. Time really does flyby though. I'm practically sick of writing emails now but since I have to make a weekly accounting to those financing my endeavors in the first place it isn't too hard.
I'm still hovering around 185 but the members feed us so well that it is only a matter of time... the average weight gain is around 20-35 pounds so I am warning you now that more then likely I will hit that 200 mark easily.
Well until next week I make an end to my writings
Love your son
Mark
Monday, October 5, 2009
Howdy
well we only have like 10 minutes because were going to the Texas fair in Dallas today for P day, apparently the schools all have a day off down here for the fair, its huge. this year i think the big hit is 'fried butter' don't ask. don't worry Matt, they will be serving fried oreos as well! i got to read all of your emails too so thank you for that. i miss st george getting freezing and the first thing that always came to my mind was "yay! i don't have to mow the lawn for a few months!" although i bet dad was disappointed that there would be no more character building for a few months either.
we helped a 14 year old girl named Hayley get baptized in between sessions on Sunday. her dad has been a convert for a year (the one that looks like mark hadley) and just went to the temple so it only took just over 2 weeks of teaching to commit her. being 14 we weren't too sure how well she would take the Gospel in her life but much to my humblement she bore an awesome testimony about the Gospel and the church. elder Johnson and i contribute a lot of it to her young women's group. the fact is that missionaries only teach lessons and direct the rest of the conversion to the proper ward functions and leaders. if members would step up their level of love like what they talked about in conference the difference would probably triple the conversion rate. but that goes to show that missionaries are only full time and once you know the Gospel is true, you gotta scream it! i thought of one of my interesting analogies the other day, when i was working at park city a kid wrecked on a 45 foot jump right in front of me. he was seizing and probably dying. from the time he wrecked until patrol got on the scene to assist him and call for a life flight was about 10 minutes. he suffered 10 full minutes of his brain starving for oxygen and there was nothing i could do about it because i didn't have the knowledge to help! well i don't know what happened to him but now you know why i went to school to become a certified EMT to gain that knowledge, and believe me, it was used while working at brianhead. the moral of the story is that we all have the best knowledge of all time to heal and save peoples lives/souls. what do you think God will say to us at judgment day when we didn't raise our voice or give aid to this without the real and true healing and saving power of Jesus Christ? i never realized how important and substantial this work is until i was outside of my comfortable life. what a honor it is to be here serving others. just remember that it is better to share and be rejected then to never share at all. and i came up with that because while my comp was getting his haircut a lady started talking to me about who i was and why i was in Texas. of course i gave her the usual rundown but i never asked her if she wanted to know more or if we could stop by and share our message. wow, the regret and frustration i feel simply sucks... i am a full time missionary for crying out loud and i let fear of man come before God! do not make the same mistake.
as far as conference goes elder holland, elder scott, and bro callister of the 70 really brought it home and threw down how it is. callister destroyed the jehovah's witnesses which my companion was sooo stoked about. when elder holland sat down i just said "yessss..". that is who i want to be and will be. to stand before God at the judgment bar and confidently testify that the Book of Mormon is true.
gotta go, sorry
love you all
-elder metcalf
sorry if that was too preachy, my memory is shot as you all know so i cant really remember what else happened this week. i'll just let you read my journal i have been keeping everyday since i left when I'm home. we had lots of investigators watch conference and it all really helped them want to know more or if we could stop by and share our message.
we helped a 14 year old girl named Hayley get baptized in between sessions on Sunday. her dad has been a convert for a year (the one that looks like mark hadley) and just went to the temple so it only took just over 2 weeks of teaching to commit her. being 14 we weren't too sure how well she would take the Gospel in her life but much to my humblement she bore an awesome testimony about the Gospel and the church. elder Johnson and i contribute a lot of it to her young women's group. the fact is that missionaries only teach lessons and direct the rest of the conversion to the proper ward functions and leaders. if members would step up their level of love like what they talked about in conference the difference would probably triple the conversion rate. but that goes to show that missionaries are only full time and once you know the Gospel is true, you gotta scream it! i thought of one of my interesting analogies the other day, when i was working at park city a kid wrecked on a 45 foot jump right in front of me. he was seizing and probably dying. from the time he wrecked until patrol got on the scene to assist him and call for a life flight was about 10 minutes. he suffered 10 full minutes of his brain starving for oxygen and there was nothing i could do about it because i didn't have the knowledge to help! well i don't know what happened to him but now you know why i went to school to become a certified EMT to gain that knowledge, and believe me, it was used while working at brianhead. the moral of the story is that we all have the best knowledge of all time to heal and save peoples lives/souls. what do you think God will say to us at judgment day when we didn't raise our voice or give aid to this without the real and true healing and saving power of Jesus Christ? i never realized how important and substantial this work is until i was outside of my comfortable life. what a honor it is to be here serving others. just remember that it is better to share and be rejected then to never share at all. and i came up with that because while my comp was getting his haircut a lady started talking to me about who i was and why i was in Texas. of course i gave her the usual rundown but i never asked her if she wanted to know more or if we could stop by and share our message. wow, the regret and frustration i feel simply sucks... i am a full time missionary for crying out loud and i let fear of man come before God! do not make the same mistake.
as far as conference goes elder holland, elder scott, and bro callister of the 70 really brought it home and threw down how it is. callister destroyed the jehovah's witnesses which my companion was sooo stoked about. when elder holland sat down i just said "yessss..". that is who i want to be and will be. to stand before God at the judgment bar and confidently testify that the Book of Mormon is true.
gotta go, sorry
love you all
-elder metcalf
sorry if that was too preachy, my memory is shot as you all know so i cant really remember what else happened this week. i'll just let you read my journal i have been keeping everyday since i left when I'm home. we had lots of investigators watch conference and it all really helped them want to know more or if we could stop by and share our message.
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