It's Raining, It's Pouring

I will issue you and the entire family a challenge. Believe me, it will stretch you spiritually. For Family Home Evening one night, come up with some names of non-member friends. It could be a long list. Then Prayerfully narrow the list down to 5 or so and again to 1-2 names. Then make a gift basket and throw in a Book of Mormon. Call the friend and let them know you are sending a gift basket to them. Then after they obviously accept, explain that 2 young men will be dropping the basket off. Tell the missionaries to share a message, say a prayer, and stay only 15 minutes or less!!

Well we have a interesting situation in our ward that I may have already explained to you. There is a man from Iran who moved here on a student visa several years ago. He used to be Muslim but converted to Christianity (the true Christian Church.) His visa expired a long time ago. Well he worked at a gas station in downtown Frisco when I.N.S. picked him up. The sick irony of the situation is there is about 50 other illegals in front of the gas station everyday looking for work. He's about 70 years old, diabetic and they incarcerated him. Needless to say the ward leaders are devastated and the process of getting him out has been taking a few weeks.

What makes the situation very humbling is that if he gets deported back to his home country of Iran - he will be executed for his conversion.

My companion and I were going to go down to the court hearing today to see if he could be released on bond for the time being, however my companion has been in really bad pain. You see, he lost his kidney to cancer when he was 2 years old and he works incredibly hard on this mission, to the point where it is catching up physically. Brother McDonough explained it pretty well at dinner. 'There is a story where a man embarks on his journey. He is in a valley that becomes a canyon. In the canyon he is stopped on his journey by a large choke stone boulder. He cant get past it. The Lord tells him "Elder Walker, push the rock." so he begins to push - for 2 years. The Savior then tells him to stop, he then sees his muscles. The Lord proceeds to tell him to put his hand there, and foot there and he climbs to the top. What you have to realize is that "I never told you to move the rock" and the Savior says to him as he stands on top of the rock "well done good and faithful servant.'

I thought that was pretty cool.

Well my companion has been pretty ailed this past week. So I have taken the opportunity to teach on my own a few times and also read through and mark up my brand new Preach My Gospel that I bought. There is something very satisfying about flipping through an entire book and glorying in all the wonderful highlighted words on every single page. Then understanding the marking system and now the book is personalized. Interesting thought that came to my head is that obviously this is the greatest work we can do in the world yet most of us as members never give enough attention to the 'greatest work's' manual. I'll send a picture on this sweet new gmail account.

We got a way sweet referral this week from Church headquarters. A couple who is less active requested their 9 year old be taught the lessons. The Smith's weren't even on our ward directory but they are awesome! We went to visit them in the evening on Friday but they weren't home. A former investigator that we had dropped not too long ago ran into us as we were leaving the complex. She was, as it seems, a bit upset that we stopped coming by and encouraged us to come by again and say a prayer with her. At that moment the Smith family pulled in and noticed the 2 young men in suits. Sweet!

We helped them move in some furniture and had a great time getting to know them. Their son is actually 7 but they are an awesome family and we went by the next day to teach the Restoration to them again. The Spirit touched the wife very strong. Brother Nesmith came out teaching with us (the first time I have ever been with him) and I asked him in the lesson to testify of how he felt about the prophet today and the book of mormon. He said about 2 sentences each time and I'm not kidding you, they were some of the most powerful sentences I have ever heard accompanied by the Spirit. It was awesome! As Grandpa in his last letter told me (this is a repeat in another email) 5 words with the Spirit are greater then all the knowledge without the Spirit. Glory. They came to Church on Sunday.

Well mom to give you a report on Monday we didn't find our family that I was hoping for however the next day we got the Smith's referral so we were blessed. We haven't been able to contact that much last week but we still did well.

Mortality is a interesting thing. When you compare it to the 'eternal perspective' of things it practically disappears entirely. It is a thought then as to why we are so devastated when health or living is at stake. Now don't get me wrong I am not trying to downplay anything but it does relate us ALWAYS back to the Atonement of our Savior which is something that I am desperate to understand more. Cue in Ether 12.One of the most beautiful moments in the scriptures. Here we have Moroni explaining that 'I cant write that well, the non members will laugh at this. Please make me stronger in writing. I can speak great, why can't it be the same for writing?'

"Fools mock but they shall mourn" (wow)

Then comes the great Ether 12:27 - (now what I have learned I cant explain that well but bear with me)

It is our culture in the Gospel to say 'I'm not good enough or I can't do this or that then we quote Ether 12:27. However to leave that scripture as only that would be to short change the greatness of it. Look deeper. The Lord is always about something much greater...

Lord - "Moroni, you've got bigger problems than your writing to worry about...you're going to die" (weakness that we all have - death) notice how we say 'weaknesses' when it is really a singular 'weakness', death!

Moroni - "you mean...I'm gonna die?"

Lord - "Yes but guess what... You will be resurrected, perfect, you will live again"

Then will weak things (ailments, missing kidneys, sicknesses, missing limbs) be made strong. The Atonement! Beautiful isn't it?

Actually I have to give credit to Brother McDonough on that one, I hoped I explained it well enough.

Jesus is the Christ and His Atonement cant be studied enough. cleansing, becoming, sanctifying, purity, etc etc... weak things become strong and His grace is sufficient for all men if they humble themselves before Him. Cue in Preach My Gospel - My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored Gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end. or in other words, lead souls to the fullness of the Atonement of our Savior.

Love you

Uncle Elder Metcalf

There S'now Place Like Texas!

Way spiritually intensive week... Lots to say, little time to do so.

First of all, Megan's email was awesome, where the heck did she learn to throw down writing like that? That was pretty sweet.

Awesome experiences this week and much needed guidance that the Spirit made sure to hammer into my soul. It was awesome.

On Tuesday we went to the temple which of course was awesome. Sitting in the Celestial room I decided to flip around a little bit and landed on some of my favorite parables in the Book of Mormon, the war chapters. Which ultimately lead to my scripture. If you know what I am talking about. There seems to be some of us that read a scripture and the Spirit hammers the final nail that gives the confirming witness of the divinity of the Book. The scripture for me was Alma 48:17 - that sealed the deal. "Alright, take me" and the papers were sent. Knew what I had to do and also who to become and went for it. It was a big relief to read that scripture having a determined resolution so long ago, to be able to realize that the growth (slow growth) was there and to relax and continue to lose myself in the work.

We had a fireside with Elder Evans of the first quorum of the seventy in the mission for recent converts, investigators, etc... It was awesome! We went down with Felipe and Bro Esserine. Krystin from the 6th ward came down with another member. So perfect. Elder Evans called on Krystin a few times out of the crowd and she was shining with a new member countenance that continues to grow. Felipe was way shocked after the meeting when we introduced him to Elder Evans. He said "you mean I can meet him, he's not like the pope?" Bro Esserine responded perfectly "he's a normal man, with different responsibilities than you." After the fireside we got permission to go to the temple again but this time for Felipe. Right here you would probably assume he got his endowments but such was not the case. However Bro Esserine described it as 'you could see in his eyes as he looked at the recommend desk - how do I get behind there!' We walked around the temple for a bit and then when we asked if he wanted to go into the foyer he was shocked he could actually go in. Immediately he noticed, as did all of us, the highly obvious difference between even the foyer and the outside world. Bro Esserine was talking to him but Felipe completely zoned out. He was staring at a picture on the wall of Christ teaching a young boy. His response after some time was how desperate he is to help his son. Revelation! The temple is awesome, even if you only get a small taste.

Krystin gave a talk on Sunday (yes, she was baptized only 6 weeks ago) and it was incredible. When she finished it was the loudest amen I have ever heard in the wards I cover. She talked about how she got to do baptisms for the dead and when she pondered how huge the eternal impact of what she was doing was. She testified that the whole room 'glowed' and the work she was doing took on a entirely different meaning. Revelation! She felt the difference and it become super personal and powerful. Her talk again was incredible. What the heck? What more could I possibly be learning here! This is so much with all these awesome converts.

Oh but it gets better.

Wednesday it was our turn with Elder Evans, he spoke at our zone conference for several hours and the Spirit really hammered us. It was fantastic! Although I find this new desperation to find my eternal companion and must repent of all my jokes and snide remarks of never wanting to get married. You see, the first 90 minutes or so of his speaking was on eternal companions. He talked about how he encouraged very quickly finding a wife. He was married in 3 months after his mission and also mentioned Elder Scott who was married within 6 days after his mission - then he endorsed it. So now there is some anxiety in me to find "the one." Sorry parents, looks like I wont be living with you until I am 30 and single. Now I'll be living with you until I'm 30, completely married....kidding.

He bore witness that President and Sister Smith were among the best married couples in the entire church and just how incredibly awesome they are. He said to seek for a companion that reminds me of them or their characteristics. (at that point I realized something that was said to me several times - be the one, not just look for the one.) Then he dropped some doctrine that was awesome. The real reason we are assigned to where we go on missions is because we covenanted in the pre-existence to serve with our mission presidents. Wow. Makes sense though. I am very privileged to have such incredible influences in my life. It does lead one to wonder though, it has to also mean that everyone I serve with or around during my mission (companions, other missionaries, etc..) that we probably were good friends a long long time ago. Now that's just speculative but a fun thought. Its fun to fulfill our duties side by side with the ones you really love (which happens almost instantly when you meet them.)

Elder Evans called Elder Walker to come up for the first role play (Elder Evans was the investigator) and of course invited his companion to join him as well (me.) I did not say anything during that role play however I have never seen (outside my own family) such sincerity in someones eyes. It was very intense yet intimate at the same time. I had a scripture in mind as we were walking up to do this role play because I knew there was a chance or opportunity that I might get to testify. I had chosen 2 Nephi 31:20. Elder Evans pretending to be the investigator in this role play explained just how much 'hope' he had in the Savior after Elder Walker introduced the Book of Mormon. (to a General Authority mind you.) Makes me sad that I didn't use the scripture however if you focus on the lesson learned from this it helps me realize that I can trust the Spirit always to guide me in teaching. That scripture I had chosen came to mind before we ever started the role play.

We sat at Elder Evans table during lunch to which the topic of conversation turned to, you guessed it, Felipe, Judy, Anthony and Victor. They remembered him (hope that's a good thing.) but also were excited for the future converts in the 6th ward.

Something Elder Evans did that really impressed me was after lunch he headed straight to the stand and started reading his scriptures. I don't read them enough which should almost be every chance I get.

We had interviews the next day with President Smith to continue the week of awesome teaching. He had something planned but instead spoke on a subject that I don't ever understand enough, us. He went to Abr. 3:22-25 and pointed out the fact of how special and valiant we all were and now are. The fact that we were all in the same room together proved it. He talked on a vastly personal subject of which when pride gets a hold of some of his missionaries (that covenanted to serve with him) to the point that they leave or don't even come out, he said with great personal meaning "its like losing a son..."

My interview went well. President Smith shared some great new insight and also reiterated some of the same things I have been taught about me before I ever met him, Heavenly Father is definitely trying to tell me something. So I will go on and apply it.

As a quick note Bishop Orton will be very happy to know that the first ward was represented well. Sister Barber and I read scriptures back to back for a General Authority and although it may be a small thing, I thought he might enjoy the report. He even called out Sister Barber and her wonderful companion at the fireside, had them stand up, and said "Who wouldn't want to get taught by these wonderful Sisters?" The first ward trained us well Bishop.

Well love you all, sorry I am running out of time to keep typing. That pre-recorded Valentines card y'all sent me with your voices on it nearly killed me. Ahhh it was terribly good.

Love you

Uncle Elder Metcalf

He's Going Where????

So sweet to hear about more mission calls. When other Elders brag about how great their family is I just smile...because I come from the greatest. Metcalf's and Stirland's, how could I ever go wrong with that type of lineage? Awesome. Especially as I hear the fruit of their loins continue to drastically increase.

The Lord tapped me on the shoulder this week (or should I say pounded). On Tuesday night I didn't sleep a wink. I was having really nasty sharp shoulder pains and my stomach was hurting. Tossing and turning was torture so I just sat up in bed and stared at the clock from 4:30-6. It was not-so glorious. Of course I asked for a blessing in which the Spirit directed me back to one simply phrase that had alluded my mind lately. "Listen to your mother." You see, I was told that I needed to take my vitamins and having received a lovely email last week from mother telling me to continue to adhere to the strict commandments of a large vitamin regime as well as staying away from sugar it was pretty obvious the direction that was being enforced onto my mind. I didn't take it seriously and I was suffering the consequences. You better believe that I am living on the pill schedule to the best of my ability now. Needless to say, health has returned.

We had a district meeting where we were trained and practiced the art of making a habit of immediately testifying of restored truth. While we were role-playing, someone would pick a subject in their mind and go outside the door and we would pretend they were a contact. The Spirit is awesome. Every time the role-playing investigator had a question in his mind, the missionary (us) would address the concern perfectly by immediately testifying of a restored truth. Once we departed we put this practice to the test while ground pounding the streets of Frisco. My favorite was a certain door contact. I knocked. He answered. The words came out of my mouth "Hey we're missionaries and representatives of Jesus Christ. Today were teaching how God and Jesus Christ are 2 separate beings, would you be interested?" His response..."I'm catholic" and he slammed the door. Now I don't know if that was necessarily the Spirit or just borderline recklessness on my part. What I do know is that a HUGE difference in false doctrine and a restored truth was immediately addressed instead of standing there, wasting our time beating around the bush.

We got 2 great contacts and interested people that same day. One guy was named Arthur who was about to walk passed us. Immediately I knew there was no way he was getting by without a testimony of a restored truth..."Hey! Have you ever heard of the Book of Mormon? It will really bless your family with some of the most essential fundamentals of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Come to find out, he has been searching for a church that best suits his family, although he is currently comfortable in his, he was more then willing to give it another shot and investigate. Now we just have to get over there when he is actually home.

A bizarre contact that same day was with a lady from Africa that was out on a walk near the ponds by our home. We were already late for our ride to dinner but I wasn't letting this one get away. "Hey! Were missionaries and today were talking about the plan of salvation and how families can be together forever." Her husband had passed away earlier last year...needless to say she was taken back. We tried to get a number and address from her but she is staying with her son-in-law and didn't believe she had permission from him for us to come over. I asked where abouts she lived anyway. When she told me, my eyes lit up. I had never met this woman but I asked her "Is your son Usche?" she said yes. Turns out I already have all her contact information from talking to her son that she is living with, from a contact 3 months ago. Awesome.

I am stoked for Mike! Norway will be awesome. Mike, you are perfect for it. You will bring many to the Gospel truth there. Don't let anyone say anything negative about it or let someone say "oh, that will be a hard european mission" because you are the creator of your own circumstances. Heavenly Father had a gigantic smile on his face when he said 'send him to Oslo! I have great opportunities for him there, greater then he could dream.' You will have the awesome circumstances to face such ridiculous false doctrine (i.e. they approve of gay marriage without hesitation) and confound it all with 5 words of truth accompanied with the Spirit. I actually got that in a letter from Grandpa Metcalf recently. Hmmm, that is a interesting 'coincidence' we are taught about testifying of restored truths immediately and then Grandpa Metcalf sends me a fantastic (they all are) letter about 5 words of Spirit filled truth destroying years of study of anything about the Bible and twisted doctrines. Ahhh Mike you will Love it all. I am EXTREMELY jealous that you will be out and I will be home eventually. Scary thought how fast it all goes... I turn 6 months old on the 26th. ughh, I have just seen the tip of the ice berg!

We are actually (hmm, coincidence?) teaching a girl from Norway who is staying with some members. She is pretty cool but to sum it up, this is her situation 'I like to party, sins are ok, Christ died for mine so why does it matter, I can drink coffee and alcohol... I am not happy.' As we teach her were trying to not scream in her face the restored and obvious truths such as the word of wisdom etc... However Mike, I can not teach the people of Norway like you can. You were called there because Heavenly Father has great things and people in store for you there. Your message is going to drastically change them and bring them to Christ. AWESOME. Learn the Voice of Him so you will be directed. That is my only advice.

Well in other news, We have a family that will be baptized on March 20th. That is 6 weeks away so pray relentlessly for these people! They are so cool. They love the Church, they have felt the Spirit in all of our lessons and they are committed to join. Once again I felt like none of it was my part. She had the date for her and her family in the back of her mind before we even showed up for our last lesson. Great family. They will be very successful in the Gospel because they have felt the Spirit and are understanding the voice of God and how he speaks to them. Could that explain anymore simply how these people are becoming converted?

We have had great lessons with our recent converts in the wards. I cant believe just how much I value their friendships and how badly I want to see them succeed. The converts here that I have taught, I have grown to love in a way that astounds me. The lessons we have been having are usually challenged because I just want to 'hang out and talk' most of the time. The Spirit of course hones me in on my purpose and the teachings become that much greater. We had a lesson with Felipe this past week and I was taking notes from him. I cant believe these converts here, stronger then half the lifetime members! (That may include me). How glorious is it for me to be a part of this great work! (Nehemiah 6:3).

Well I love you all dearly. Sorry for those I don't write back immediately or at all. Dad I have a really awesome present in my mind for you so be prepared.

Love you all.
Elder Uncle Metcalf

Read Nicole's Email First

First of all...

What the heck, my sister is pregnant. I really don't believe it. Not sure how to take in the fact that I will be 'Uncle Elder Metcalf' now. Weird. Well I better be getting a seriously large amount of pictures for the remainder of my short stay in the TDM. I knew there was a real reason behind her quitting her job. Wow, that is weird. I actually thought I might end up winning the inheritance in a few years, but she definitely snuck that surprise in. Mom and Dad, you must be freaking out. Now half your conversations will no longer be 'where's my grandkid' but 'how's my grandkid.'

So much for being the favorite child. It's like in Calvin and Hobbes, my polls just dropped significantly but for good reason! Wow, Quinn and Nicole are pregnant really? Is this some sort of joke? hmmm...

It is heart breaking that I won't ever see the little tyke when he is a really really little tyke. This is why I demand pictures! Well that news makes this week's email totally hopeless as far as grandeur goes because it can't get much greater then the fruit of your loins being increased. How awesome is that! I'm going to be an Uncle. So totally stoked. Hmmm, does that give me more special powers on the mission? I think it does! Awesome. I'm sure I'll be crying my little eyes out as time goes on. I'm sure he'll be raised PERFECTLY as my dear sister has so thoughtfully prophesied. Man, that is really exciting. Congratulations!!! That is the greatest news I have heard...pretty much ever really.

ughhh, my favorite child status is being greatly challenged... Looks like I have to work harder to find a way to get back on top.

The no fear contacting continues to roll on. They have challenged us in the mission to get 140 contacts a day with the promise that our teaching pool will then never run out. It's surprisingly a tough challenge. In Frisco most everyone works during the day so there have been times when we have knocked 15 doors without a single answer at any of them. I have been more successful in talking to others as we pass by them and Elder Walker and myself have destroyed most of the fear within us as far as that goes. Now it's simply attacking the lack of confidence that may be experienced in the really awkward and unusual situations which makes it all that much more fun. Glorious awkward contacts are the key to success around here it seems like. My testimony of tracting grew somewhat today when I looked over the mission email and saw that a couple people that Elder Johnson and I tracted out have baptismal dates. Sweet. Now that fire just needs to be transferred to Frisco.

Our zone is progressing a lot faster and it is getting exciting. Hard to keep up most the time too. Last week we had a single lonesome lesson taught, with a member present, to an investigator and this week we got to 9. Hopefully we will see much more improvement next week.

We have been teaching in a unique situation this past week to a girl who is visiting from Norway. Europeans are not my specialty in teaching, I'll be honest. Kind of hard to tell someone who believes that commandments are just restrictions. Interestingly enough since I have struggled with this myself as the invincible, know it all teenager. However conforming to God's ultimate will for us is something that requires us to destroy our own prideful desires and to repent and come unto His. This is something that has been hard for me. Trusting in God, trusting that He knows what He is doing even though I can not see the end result. Growing up I had the tendency to think 'God's will is almost a scary challenge that requires too much time and effort. Something that I can not or will not do.' On the mission something is ever present with God's love for His children that I have ultimately been teaching to those I meet and to myself constantly. If God were to come down and address this concern to me about worry or pride hurting my desire to do His will, I believe the words He would speak to me would be "My will...is to make you happy forever."

Commandments = Happiness advice from God.

We had a interesting situation and lesson last night with one of our recent converts. Her friends had slammed her really bad with Anti. She was very upset and Satan was winning by filling her with thoughts of confusion and questions such as "did I really feel that?" When we got there you could feel it in the room, she even put her friend on speakerphone who spoke in a sincere voice 'proving' that blah blah blah was not true or didn't happen. Wake up people! God can do whatever the heck he wants. A man parted an entire sea, another walked on water, some healed people on the spot. Has the day of miracles ceased? I say unto you nay! (insert: "O ye Child of Hell"; I love Alma...) How hard is it then to believe that some plates were translated by a prophet. Really that should be small news comparatively speaking. We addressed the situation with a prayer and immediately the feeling changed. She started asking Anti questions, some of which were hilarious. But ultimately we put it all aside that she had been facing and focused on the Spirit. We all left happy. Another huge success we had was the young man we had with us (who I have grown close to in friendship) is noticing the vast difference in understanding the Spirit. When I first was transferred to Frisco he had just got his license and wasn't too totally stoked to help out with the missionary work. Now he recognizes the importance of the Gospel and he, himself gave great testimony of how much better it is to be a 'living mormon' you could say.

Well don't have much else to try and report at this time, oh ya... Nicole is pregnant...not sure if you knew that. Wow...

Love Elder Metcalf