Well I got over the cold and I think there is now a difference in my eating habits. I seem to react to sugar a bit differently now. We were fed by an awesome Mexican family and there was so much sugar my temperature actually rocked into the mild 101 region. So sugar is gone, I hate it. Last night felt like I had tons of energy while biking to an appointment because I didn't tire out as easily and was going super duper fast but then when the appointment was over and we headed home, I realized that we were receiving help from a 30 mph tailwind that became a headwind. It's getting pretty cold in Texas town this week so I will be making some 'warmer' purchases today at wal-mart.
As far as health and obedience goes, I have tried justifying waking up at 4am for the past 2 weeks like crazy. I am so happy to know that I interpreted it incorrectly but unfortunately shows the lack of brain power on my part. Guess I will look more carefully at a pill bottle that says "4 - A.M." instead of "4:00 AM." We had a pretty good laugh over that one, definitely one of the hilarious highlights of the mission so far. Bro Nesmith overheard and complimented me on my obedience without actually understanding why I had to wake up at 4 AM to take a pill (because the understanding doesn't exist) but I simply replied that it took me 21 years of hard living to understand what 'obeying thy father and thy mother' really means.
I heard about a cultural event that happened in Dad's life on Saturday. We had a die-hard BYU fan sacrifice sooo much by turning off his TV while feeding us. I mean this guy is so die hard that honestly it was very impressive.
I have been teaching a pretty well known Texas Dallas mission object lesson a lot lately known as the 'Rat Trap.' Seems as how object lessons seem to really teach the message, If anyone has solid ideas for teaching missionary principles then by all means, I need your help! I am thinking I'll start using Dad's about the sugar and golf balls fitting in the glass of time in helping our investigators actually come to church.
We had good success this week, mainly the climax was helping someone achieve Celestial glory by doing a temple session on Wednesday. The temple is way cool but I still have a lot of pride for our beloved St George. I still talk about when Grandpa was kind enough to show me around for a little bit and answer my questions. I am definitely one that while we always act on Faith, I always search for the How or Why. Curse of knowledge as we all have it and lack it.
Thanksgiving was way sweet. Although it was sad of course I had a good time and I am still way sore from it. We had a Turkey bowl with the Frisco 2nd ward and although I fumbled the very first 2 plays, I caught the game winner so I had a chance to redeem myself. My muscles were almost as tight as the day after the first time I went snowboarding though so that was a challenge. I limped around like a old man for a while. Glorious.
The members destroyed us with food. We went to one of the gospel principles teacher's house for the first dinner and the food was phenomenal. It was terrible. They had candied yams that were absolutely delicious. Being anti turkey didn't help but it was really good after the first bite. The 2nd dinner was just as good but I hated food by then, as Matt would say 'there was no more room at the inn.' Thankfully my weight has not gone above 190 since I have been here but I must be careful because it is only a matter of time.
We were supposed to do exchanges with the Assistants on Saturday so I got pretty stressed about that considering we don't have a huge amount of work going on and we planned like crazy for it. Saturday was also the day for the blitz in our area so we were up late getting ready for all the shenanigans. The blitz went well and I even set up a points system that included points for 'a good horn honk' 'receiving a water bottle' 'being mistaken as a J-Dub' and 'use of the word Glorious' although they were definitely minor points received for those compared to placing Books of Mormon and New Investigators. The exchanges with the Assistants fell through so that helped some stress disappear but I was disappointed to not get any help or tips from them. We'll see....
We picked up another investigator and he came to church on Sunday, he is way open minded but apparently was pushed too hard by another missionary so lucky for us we know the concern and we'll do our best as far as support goes. He is way cool. He is actually building a helicopter in his garage. Yes, a for real one. Dad will know them as the dangerous kit copters but he is several years away from the final product.
We met with the way awesome family we always meet with on Sunday night but there are some big underlying concerns that we don't even know about. So hopefully we can break through those walls and see the Atonement at work. Something huge I have realized this week is the horrific effects of divorce on peoples lives. Don't want to go into detail but way super sad. Just gotta give our load to the Savior but apparently it is harder with us prideful Americans.
I have been reading 'The Continuous Atonement' outside of our dedicated study times (that is my justification for wandering from the mission books) and although it may be mostly review it is super solid and uplifting.
We had a investigator's husband die a couple weeks ago (I may have mentioned) we tried to stop by but she is busy with family which is understandable and it is way interesting because the first reaction everyone tries to imply in some way is condolences. Yikes. Although maybe its different standards now that I am a 'minister'. One of these days I am going to somehow convince my companion and I to go down to the county courthouse and receive our official 'certificate to legally marry people'. Just as a keepsake of course.
Well things are going well with the companion and transfers are coming up soon but I am sure I will be here for a while which is great by me. Good place to learn to be great.
Thank you all for your help and support.
Love you,
Elder Metcalf
By the way, my 3 month mark was on thanksgiving
Hermana Barber's hump day is this week
Thank you sooo much for the sunglasses.
Help me stay motivated!
Love you all
Sunglasses are awesome.
Where are all my pictures I have been dying to see of you guys!
We watched The Other Side of Heaven today. hopefully I can stay an extra year. I would.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
November 9, 2009
Well I have drawn the conclusion that missions are actually easy. The fact that we are all spoiled makes it hard. Tracting is something I loathe simply because I don't want to do it, not because it is hard. The mission is easy but we make it hard. I look forward to the work of 'un-spoiling' myself and staying humble before my maker.
Yes I love all sorts of books now. I borrowed 'Rough Stone Rolling' from one of the members and it is awesome! I am going to pick up a copy if I get transferred. It’s nice to hear how it is from a different perspective and how much more I want to be like Joseph smith. My idol.
I found out some really great news right outside of my area. Deron Williams’ house is in 'the colony' which is next door to us somewhere. I will have to make sure my district leader gets over there.
We had dinner with a way awesome family and Matt would appreciate them simply because the dad's father is the 'Will It Blend?' guy. We had some way good laughs over that. They even had the transformers from one of the YouTube videos so you'll have to ask Matt about it and look it up.
Teaching is going swell even knowing I am just doing average. We tracted into a retired military captain and it was pretty sweet to look him in the eyes quoting the divinity of the Book of Mormon. He is way solid though because he respects us strongly as young men that are actually doing what we believe in. He nicknamed us the 'ground pounders' which I thought was classic considering he is a tract out.
We finally got to get into one of our eternigators (eternal investigators) house and talked. I ended up teaching the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ to the kids in 20 minutes. Thank heavens for that one lesson we were placed in at the MTC which makes teaching sooo easy. It is basically easier to teach kids then adults because you can get them excited a lot faster. I have high hopes for them this transfer.
We had an amazing zone conference with about 3/4 of the mission there. We had elder Flukengher (sp?) of the area 70 teach what exactly it meant to be saved. Explaining that we are all saved from everything and the effects from the fall when we are born but through our own disobedience we fall and need the gospel for redemption. Also, I saw sister Barber at zone conference. We talked for a while about how weird it is to see the tag on my shirt and how crazy it is that Matt Jamision is planning on submitting his papers this January. That is absolute solid proof that the atonement is for real watching him go through the gospel. Invite him over sometime since I can’t get him to email at all. Zone conference was a crazy stroll down memory lane talking to sister Barber for a while and also getting together with most of my MTC district again, elder Moli, and I swear we have been friends our entire lives. The sisters from my district are slaying it as well; it’s good to hear we are well on our way to the goal of millions. It will happen through posterity and time.
I think I am doing really well and my self worth (not my cockiness) is increasing drastically. I’ve just got work through the motions of spiritually being so down and I will shine big time as I grow in skill, spirituality and knowledge. I think the biggest struggle I have right now is working on our companion unity. You know how I said that I would be 'that companion' that everyone would worry about. Haha maybe that's it but I’m trying to keep my hot headed mind down while we work through our errors. Elder Johnson has set about 4 more dates with people we were teaching in Rockwall so I hope I will be able to see them but who knows. The good thing is that they are entering into the kingdom and that's what really matters.
One very monster of a obstacle that is infuriating me down here is all the Anti-Mormon crap. We had a lady on a blitz try to tell us that Joseph Smith was deranged by illness and I had to shut my mouth because she went on and my blood was boiling. My companion handled it well but she made sure to refer us to the library so we could receive the so called bull crap they call 'truth' around here. I almost back talked her by responding with... "Well did you get to see the books on atheism too?" It is driving me insane! These ignorant deceived children of the devil (as the Book of Mormon 'might' say) is driving me up a wall and I am supposed to take the 'kind,' non offensive way out and let them continue their deceitful lies against the greatest men that have ever lived in this dispensation. Someone please give me good advice on how to defend without the contend. We all know how my p-blessing explains that I will grow in spiritual stature as I defend the doctrines, leaders and the savior himself so let’s get going here! I am ready to grow! But I am still in my tender youth on my mission. Watch to see if anyone is put in your path to shed some light on this problem of defense without contention.
Hmmm not sure what else to write. That just about sums it up. I still love teaching and I love people! So many laughs so far that this is the best my life is going to be. I am looking forward with a positive viewpoint of extreme success and I expect nothing less! I am my father's son (in 2 ways of course) and I am ready to destroy the foundations of hell that have been tormenting me as well as all of my brothers and sisters. I love it! "Shall we all not go on in such great a cause?" (Not sure if that is the actual quote) Alma 48:17 and Romans 1:16. Thank you so much for all of your help. You are loved a lot by me, so much that I can’t even tell.
Love Mark the current Elder Metcalf
We have interviews with president this weekend so I look forward to learning from him one on one. He gave me AMAZING help last time. I have full confidence in him. Not a shadow of doubt I was put here to learn from him as well.
Send pictures with the books! Anything you want to send, send it!
Yes I love all sorts of books now. I borrowed 'Rough Stone Rolling' from one of the members and it is awesome! I am going to pick up a copy if I get transferred. It’s nice to hear how it is from a different perspective and how much more I want to be like Joseph smith. My idol.
I found out some really great news right outside of my area. Deron Williams’ house is in 'the colony' which is next door to us somewhere. I will have to make sure my district leader gets over there.
We had dinner with a way awesome family and Matt would appreciate them simply because the dad's father is the 'Will It Blend?' guy. We had some way good laughs over that. They even had the transformers from one of the YouTube videos so you'll have to ask Matt about it and look it up.
Teaching is going swell even knowing I am just doing average. We tracted into a retired military captain and it was pretty sweet to look him in the eyes quoting the divinity of the Book of Mormon. He is way solid though because he respects us strongly as young men that are actually doing what we believe in. He nicknamed us the 'ground pounders' which I thought was classic considering he is a tract out.
We finally got to get into one of our eternigators (eternal investigators) house and talked. I ended up teaching the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ to the kids in 20 minutes. Thank heavens for that one lesson we were placed in at the MTC which makes teaching sooo easy. It is basically easier to teach kids then adults because you can get them excited a lot faster. I have high hopes for them this transfer.
We had an amazing zone conference with about 3/4 of the mission there. We had elder Flukengher (sp?) of the area 70 teach what exactly it meant to be saved. Explaining that we are all saved from everything and the effects from the fall when we are born but through our own disobedience we fall and need the gospel for redemption. Also, I saw sister Barber at zone conference. We talked for a while about how weird it is to see the tag on my shirt and how crazy it is that Matt Jamision is planning on submitting his papers this January. That is absolute solid proof that the atonement is for real watching him go through the gospel. Invite him over sometime since I can’t get him to email at all. Zone conference was a crazy stroll down memory lane talking to sister Barber for a while and also getting together with most of my MTC district again, elder Moli, and I swear we have been friends our entire lives. The sisters from my district are slaying it as well; it’s good to hear we are well on our way to the goal of millions. It will happen through posterity and time.
I think I am doing really well and my self worth (not my cockiness) is increasing drastically. I’ve just got work through the motions of spiritually being so down and I will shine big time as I grow in skill, spirituality and knowledge. I think the biggest struggle I have right now is working on our companion unity. You know how I said that I would be 'that companion' that everyone would worry about. Haha maybe that's it but I’m trying to keep my hot headed mind down while we work through our errors. Elder Johnson has set about 4 more dates with people we were teaching in Rockwall so I hope I will be able to see them but who knows. The good thing is that they are entering into the kingdom and that's what really matters.
One very monster of a obstacle that is infuriating me down here is all the Anti-Mormon crap. We had a lady on a blitz try to tell us that Joseph Smith was deranged by illness and I had to shut my mouth because she went on and my blood was boiling. My companion handled it well but she made sure to refer us to the library so we could receive the so called bull crap they call 'truth' around here. I almost back talked her by responding with... "Well did you get to see the books on atheism too?" It is driving me insane! These ignorant deceived children of the devil (as the Book of Mormon 'might' say) is driving me up a wall and I am supposed to take the 'kind,' non offensive way out and let them continue their deceitful lies against the greatest men that have ever lived in this dispensation. Someone please give me good advice on how to defend without the contend. We all know how my p-blessing explains that I will grow in spiritual stature as I defend the doctrines, leaders and the savior himself so let’s get going here! I am ready to grow! But I am still in my tender youth on my mission. Watch to see if anyone is put in your path to shed some light on this problem of defense without contention.
Hmmm not sure what else to write. That just about sums it up. I still love teaching and I love people! So many laughs so far that this is the best my life is going to be. I am looking forward with a positive viewpoint of extreme success and I expect nothing less! I am my father's son (in 2 ways of course) and I am ready to destroy the foundations of hell that have been tormenting me as well as all of my brothers and sisters. I love it! "Shall we all not go on in such great a cause?" (Not sure if that is the actual quote) Alma 48:17 and Romans 1:16. Thank you so much for all of your help. You are loved a lot by me, so much that I can’t even tell.
Love Mark the current Elder Metcalf
We have interviews with president this weekend so I look forward to learning from him one on one. He gave me AMAZING help last time. I have full confidence in him. Not a shadow of doubt I was put here to learn from him as well.
Send pictures with the books! Anything you want to send, send it!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Frisco 2nd and 6th
I've been over my patriarchal blessing I still cant believe what's expected of me and I know it's going to take a lot of work to get there. I can't have anything holding me back. Not in the least degree.
It was super sad leaving Elder Johnson and my new comp is Elder Stetler from Layton. He is way solid but we didn't get off to a great start the first couple of days (he reminds me of a combination of Seth and me 2 years ago....sooo yaaa) but we are way solid now. I tried to jump into this area as a know-it-all elder but it didn't work out so well. I still have to build up a pool of experience for all the work Ii need to do although I do have complete faith if the situation calls for me.
We are teaching a pastor from the church of Christ who is way solid. He has the triple already so the last time we were there we talked about the gospel in the days of Adam and how baptism was also instituted before Christ. Although the focus always needs to be on the big picture and not necessarily just the small issues.
Lessons are not as frequent here - we have about 5 a week compared to Rockwall's 20 (although they actually split mine and Johnson's last area and now he is a zone leader).
It was way heartbreaking to leave Rockwall still. After developing those way good relationships with the people I got to teach and be a part of their life it is crazy that they just move us so far away. Good news is that they set more baptismal dates for some awesome people we were teaching. Hopefully someday they will be willing to transfer me back to Rockwall although now it is called the 'richardson east' zone.
Like I said earlier, this week has been weird just because it feels like I am starting a completely different mission in a new world. I guess it should be like playing with legos and the fun part is to start from scratch and build up.
I am now officially riding my bike and i really do not like biking as of late! my entire body is sore but that's the news from that. Now my motivation to develop even stronger relationships with the ward for rides has jumped to a new peak. Why is it that whenever and whatever direction we are biking in there is a head wind the is consistently laughing in my face? Oh well, thine afflictions shall be but a small moment...
We tracted a super rich neighborhood yesterday in which we met the 3rd highest selling romance novelist, a sports athlete agent for the Dallas area, and the CEO of Cadbury (sorry, he didn't take the Gospel). It's so sad when those doors slam in the face, we don't disagree that they all will be going to some degree of heaven but the full potential of the individual will never be tapped. I officially really do hate tracting...
Dan just sent me a way solid letter though about tracting the HELL out of my area so the work must continue. Hopefully I can return some more promising results soon.
We had stake conference and our mission president spoke, the man is unbelievable. He gets invited to all these interfaith meetings with upwards of 300 people and by the end they all are asking for the Book of Mormon. I don't want to brown nose in anyway but I need to figure out how to be like that! So sweet.
love your son,
Elder Mark
New address:
2845 Starshine Drive
Little Elm, TX 75068
(I'm pretty sure I'll be here for at least a few months)
my phone number is... just kidding
It was super sad leaving Elder Johnson and my new comp is Elder Stetler from Layton. He is way solid but we didn't get off to a great start the first couple of days (he reminds me of a combination of Seth and me 2 years ago....sooo yaaa) but we are way solid now. I tried to jump into this area as a know-it-all elder but it didn't work out so well. I still have to build up a pool of experience for all the work Ii need to do although I do have complete faith if the situation calls for me.
We are teaching a pastor from the church of Christ who is way solid. He has the triple already so the last time we were there we talked about the gospel in the days of Adam and how baptism was also instituted before Christ. Although the focus always needs to be on the big picture and not necessarily just the small issues.
Lessons are not as frequent here - we have about 5 a week compared to Rockwall's 20 (although they actually split mine and Johnson's last area and now he is a zone leader).
It was way heartbreaking to leave Rockwall still. After developing those way good relationships with the people I got to teach and be a part of their life it is crazy that they just move us so far away. Good news is that they set more baptismal dates for some awesome people we were teaching. Hopefully someday they will be willing to transfer me back to Rockwall although now it is called the 'richardson east' zone.
Like I said earlier, this week has been weird just because it feels like I am starting a completely different mission in a new world. I guess it should be like playing with legos and the fun part is to start from scratch and build up.
I am now officially riding my bike and i really do not like biking as of late! my entire body is sore but that's the news from that. Now my motivation to develop even stronger relationships with the ward for rides has jumped to a new peak. Why is it that whenever and whatever direction we are biking in there is a head wind the is consistently laughing in my face? Oh well, thine afflictions shall be but a small moment...
We tracted a super rich neighborhood yesterday in which we met the 3rd highest selling romance novelist, a sports athlete agent for the Dallas area, and the CEO of Cadbury (sorry, he didn't take the Gospel). It's so sad when those doors slam in the face, we don't disagree that they all will be going to some degree of heaven but the full potential of the individual will never be tapped. I officially really do hate tracting...
Dan just sent me a way solid letter though about tracting the HELL out of my area so the work must continue. Hopefully I can return some more promising results soon.
We had stake conference and our mission president spoke, the man is unbelievable. He gets invited to all these interfaith meetings with upwards of 300 people and by the end they all are asking for the Book of Mormon. I don't want to brown nose in anyway but I need to figure out how to be like that! So sweet.
love your son,
Elder Mark
New address:
2845 Starshine Drive
Little Elm, TX 75068
(I'm pretty sure I'll be here for at least a few months)
my phone number is... just kidding
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