A new year and all is well

How can you describe just how personal the mission is to someone?

How do you describe a single ounce of joy to someone who hasn't been here?

How do you convince someone they need this in their lives, being the greatest privilege in our existence?

Simply stated is the reply I can only come up with...you cant.

Felipe and Vanessa were baptized and confirmed yesterday and quite frankly gave me more meaning in my life then I ever thought possible in my existence. This week has been the most fulfilling week of my life. I cant describe it! Like the story of trying to explain how the Spirit feels or how salt tastes to someone who hasn't experienced it. Felipe and Vanessa got up in sacrament meeting and bore their testimonies. Simply put (yet again) this is one of those mission stories that will have a huge impact on eternity. Vanessa's mom, in Brazil, quit smoking and went to Church. With all the testimonies her mom felt, she recognized the Spirit and bore her testimony (mind you this is the first time she has been to the true Church) and when she was done, they were all in tears. We were all worried about whether Vanessa's mom was going to have a good experience or not going to Church yesterday but the Lord took over making it to the point where words cannot describe. Felipe's son is coming to live with him soon and we already have someone his age (17) in the ward excited to meet him. The 17 year old in our ward has basically turned around. About 2 months ago, he was kind of hesitant about driving us around and helping us with appointments. The Lord showed him what missionary work really is (something you cannot describe in words) and now he is excited and well on his way to become a missionary monster. He even ditched a date at the last minute to help us get to Felipe's and Vanessa's baptismal interviews.

This work is the most fulfilling of my being!

His mom came to the baptism (it was a massive turnout, the Chapel was full) and afterwords thanked us so much for helping her son get motivated for missionary work. We didn't do anything! The Lord has us all, personally at His attention.

I cannot tell you how amazing the baptismal service was! We had 8 other missionaries there, that were involved in some way (all the Sister's were crying, fantastic). Bishop was on a high all day long and it was so fun to work with him. You bet there was a big hug at the end of the service.

Felipe surprised me big time at the end of Church and before his baptism. He has been so incredibly accelerated by God and His Spirit that I still don't really understand the impact he possibly has in his future. He said he recognizes another characteristic of this true Church. It is a Gospel of leadership. I didn't fully understand that until a week ago and here Felipe has it already internally figured out by the Spirit! Heavenly Father is accelerating them for a purpose... it's going to be exciting to watch. However, don't get me wrong, it's always pending on the keeping of commandments so pray for them frequently!

GLORIOUS.

We taught them 4 nights in a row this week preparing them (who am I kidding, they were prepared and living the commandments before we showed up) for baptism. Felipe was joking around about how he is getting rid of all of his way nice Wine by tipping random people like the cable guy. We had Bishop Martin with us during that teaching appointment and Bishop commented that we shouldn't provide our fellow brother's and sister's with sin! The next night we had a lovely "pouring the wine down the drain" party and Felipe had a big smile (as always) when he was doing it. Vanessa is a phenomenally spiritual individual. She knows the true Spirit.

Well who the heck cares about anything else that went on this week.

We had an incredible zone conference and President Smith helped me out so much! He is a very big, if not THE, reason I was put in Texas. Quite an amazing man of guide and very guided. He knows, He listens, He obeys, and for that reason I have every ounce of respect for my President.

Zone conference gave us perspective on our goals. We had 750 baptisms in our mission in 2009 (its gone up about 100 each year for 5 years) and President let us know how great we all are. "everyone in this room has divine characteristics" he said, and proceeded to tell us that for 2010 we have a small goal that should be easily eclipsed. 950 this year. That translates to 10 per companionship so Elder Stettler and I are well on our way. SWEEET. I love reaching goals and potential.

As Grandpa Metcalf says (and what I bore my testimony on at zone conference) 'May the Lord make you equal to every challenge'

I'm way too excited. Glory, Glory.

This morning really summed it all up. I was reading my patriarchal blessing and listening to the MoTabs. Quite frankly I was so at peace that I was feeling a bit selfish and daunted by the task of being a missionary. The hymn "I know that my Redeemer lives" came on and I stopped reading and just listened. 'what comfort this sweet sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives' how do I explain this in words to all the people I am supposed to talk to? How on earth am I going to be able to complete the task of bringing others to the Living Christ?

I cant.

It's bigger then me. However, the Lord makes us equal to every challenge based on the commandments and His will. I suppose my greatest task at this current time is to figure out the best way to testify to each person as an individual, of how I know that my Redeemer lives and pray that the Spirit will fill in the gaps but more importantly, their hearts.

It's a big task...how do you prepare for each person who is so much more individually diverse then the next? The Spirit will know. My job is to learn, listen, and obey His voice. It takes work...so delicate are the promptings.

Well I love you all, I am way preachy in this email but I'm pretty euphoric from this previous week.

Thank you for all your letters, love and support. I definitely need it and love it.

Love Elder Mark


Thank you sooo much for your love