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Life seems exciting for all of us lately!

This past week we found out that the First Presidency is changing up the meetings and trainings in the missions. It is way exciting like most all changes can be. I am not sure what the schedule is for next week but I get to go to a leadership training in Tyler for 3 days and I am not sure what that will do for emails. Heads up.

Anyway this past week has been fantastic. I have Elder Taylor fresh from the MTC and he is from Medesto, California. I don't even feel like I am training. The MTC must also be changing up how they teach things because he already has some fantastic skills and is a very capable teacher from the get go. This past week we have really tackled some fears that needed to be taken care of long ago.

I probably wrote about this before but several months ago my district leader gave a training on "fear and the critical moment" meaning that each day we can either chose to grow or we chose the easy way. This past week I duplicated that training in our own Nacogodoches way to the district. Throughout the week Heavenly Father held me accountable to what I had taught.

In planning one night, I was looking at our map looking for the right area to tract. "Where does Heavenly Father have those that are prepared?" I asked. However the thought then came to me "What area on the map would I most fear to tract?" So we went there. Walking away from that tracting experience was interesting. The fear had been addressed, resolved, and destroyed. So the next area to tract was the next most feared. Gone and destroyed. It is amazing how we can look back at the hard things we have faced and come to find out that they weren't that hard. We seem to make them seem hard ourselves. Those of us with little Faith can massively be blessed when we look at a fear and take it head on.

Another fear I have had is calling part member and less active families. So I started to call less active and part member families. You'll never guess what happened! They answered and we talked. Amazing isn't it? That fear approached certainly paid off last night as we went to a Sister's home that hasn't been to church in 2 years. Just so happens that we ate dinner with the Relief Society president and her family and they volunteered to come out with us. It was a much needed appointment for that sister. She hadn't had any elders over for about 3 years and accepted visiting teachers again.

Saturday night was awesome. I felt like praying for a miracle to happen before sacrament meeting and sure enough the lord in His great mercy answered a prayer. We got to PEC and one of the leaders let us know that a less active who hadn't been on the records was going to become active again and wants her 13 year old son to get baptized. We didn't see them in sacrament immediately but Bro Hughes noticed a young man wandering the halls at the beginning of priesthood. So we went and found him and he came to priesthood with us. He is an awesome young man and we look forward to meeting with them this week.

We also had a 20 year old show up randomly to church and asked us to come over this week. Well turns out he has an 11 year old cousin that wants to baptized as well. What the heck? Now I can almost guarantee you that I will be transferred in 5 weeks because this place is about to explode with converts. I have seen a lot of growth here and none of it is because I did something special other then what any missionary is supposed to do. The cool part about it is that it gives more satisfaction to the work and a stronger spirit to approach a fear and say "Get out of here! Romans 1:16"

And don't get me wrong, I am still scared outta my mind half the time. I have, for some reason, made being bold a thing of fear. Why? No idea. Its what were commanded to do. And of course we have Nephi's words that the Lord will provide a way to overcome all of our fears.

As far as our investigators go, we know we have a lot of great plans in this upcoming week and it will require us to put fears that we have overcome in the past and to move on into new fears, or step into the twilight of our Faith. I know that as I, or any other child of God, does this we grow substantially. Any fears we may have provide the resistance and opposition necessary to gain strength spiritually. Maybe that is one specific way to define Faith. Acting on a fear by attacking it with all our might mind and strength.

Jody is about to make that giant step of attacking a fear called marriage. She is so close it is driving me crazy. Bro Hughes instructed us that it is much better to have a conversation of Gospel topics with her rather then strict formalities. That is something I love about Preach My Gospel, that we go by the Spirit. Probably the biggest reason the Apostles are changing up trainings and how they are done. They want me or any other missionary to teach more powerfully with the spirit. Holy cow there is so much to learn and so short of time to learn it. I know I have already figured out one way... don't be afraid! Good heavens I honestly believe that this is the transfer that Jody will be baptized. It is exciting. It is fears being tackled with confirmations of the Spirit all along the way. I love this family and I love these people. It hurts when progress is hindered or stopped. Whether it be a slam at a door contact or a investigator saying "I didn't read" It hurts. I am way excited to see how the Apostles will help me overcome these fears and challenges. In one way, that is what it's all about.

We don't have to be afraid of anything. We have everything. It's the Gospel and others need it! It cant be taken away from us and it stays with us more the more we give it out.

I love the Book of Mormon... Why oh why cant I get everyone to read it, perhaps its a fear I have that needs to be overcome! Either way I pray the Lord helps me to overcome it.

Love you all dearly. There is great comfort in knowing y'all are stuck with me forever. Cant wait to ride your coat tails into the Celestial kingdom.

love Elder Metcalf