Winner!

Finally, it is like the weight of the world has rolled off of our shoulders and turned into outstanding joy.

The Fox family was baptized on Saturday and confirmed members on Sunday. The baptism was incredible. Matti the 13 year old requested to bare her testimony at the baptismal service and although it is too personal to write via email, it was one of the most powerful testimonies I have ever heard. We had to get 4 people to welcome the family into the ward and it was like a zone conference with a quick talk after quick talk from the primary, relief society, young women, and the bishopric. Elder Hall and I are pretty stoked. This week we had to go on exchanges so we could get the last baptismal interview done for the family and later that night, I found out that my companion volunteered us both for a special musical number (pretty sure the last time I did that was singing "Armies of Helaman" with Lance and Vaughn). Summer chose the song and we had a great time. It is interesting what a mission does to someone to get them out of their comfort shell. It is beginning to get comfortable being uncomfortable! There was so many people at the baptism that we had to move from the relief society room into the chapel which I think is a great problem to have. I had the privilege of baptizing Summer and Landon and I was way nervous the whole time leading up to the actual baptism because I desperately wanted to get everything right the first time. I think I asked Summer 5 times if she wanted to do her hair in a bun just so there wouldn't be any floating. Lucky for all of us everyone went right down and right up first try. The support for this family is outstanding. We are in a great stake and I we had people from at least 3 wards there helping out. An interesting thing too is that there is an excommunicated member that she knows who distanced himself from the church but showed up at the baptism because he was apparently really touched by the Fox family.

Sunday they all were confirmed. Elder Hall and I gave them all the Holy Ghost and it was a bit intimidating at first being in a ward with 300 people present standing in a circle with a bishop and stake president. I have learned a great lesson about pausing for the Holy Ghost. It is amazing the difference in all things when we pause and wait to see what the Holy Ghost has to say. Something I wish I would have learned much earlier in life (Yes, dad is smiling right now, I know). As the confirmations began, I said things that were very surprising. I knew the Lord wanted the one boy I confirmed to serve a mission and influence others to be baptized as well. Summer was way stoked on that. For the rest of the day I felt like I could prophesy the day and the time of the 2nd coming. We have stake conference next week so it was fast and testimony meeting when they were all confirmed. The entire family bore their testimonies! Summer's was absolutely perfect. She began by praising and giving love for the Bible then went on to how much she loves the Book of Mormon. She also thanked Heavenly Father for calling Joseph Smith as a prophet. Each child that bore their testimony mentioned how grateful they were to be Mormon! Ahhh how I love the testimonies of others.

Anyway I am not quite sure on what to write about for the rest of the week because there was one thing my mind was focused on. We had another baptism scheduled that fell through because of some serious concerns - things I have never dealt with the entire mission. It really softened my heart towards issues of the world and the problems people may face. He is waiting for God to take away this problem before he gets baptized. Unfortunately he does not understand the meaning of the Gospel! As Brother Hughes in Nac would say "If anyone of those people in our congregation tried to walk on water, they would sink." We will continue helping him realize how much more help he can receive with the awesome gift of the Holy Ghost.

I am pretty stoked to get this investigator pool refilled now. Please pray for our wonderful recent converts. Time to cement them into the Gospel.

Love Y'all and thank you for your prayers and support

Elder Metcalf

I finally figured out why this should be the most successful week of the mission so far - my mom wrote and said she is praying for all my investigators!

Yes, anyone who reads this please pray heavily for Robinson and the Fox family who are all getting baptized this Saturday. Elder Hall and I are experiencing the 'pre-baptism' stress so we both have been on edge a bit. Although we both admit that we secretly love it. This week has been awesome. There is nothing like holding multiple baptism and confirmation forms in one hand that are all signed and ready to go!

So anyway that is about the highlight of the week and I could end my letter now... However the financial support system would probably fail if that were to happen...

This week has been pretty awesome because it means we are that much closer to this weekend. Many more spiritual experiences have been remembered and will be recorded in the journal today. A highlight was Family Home Evening last night with the Fox family when the 6th ward Bishop walked in to introduce himself. He really brought the spirit with him. In my mind I asked 'Do I carry the Spirit in a similar way with my calling and commission? If not, then why not?' Summer has been really awesome and her testimony is strong. It is super humbling as a missionary to see how the Holy Ghost can really change someones life so quickly with several (or few) spiritual experiences. I have been so determined to help others receive those types of experiences on their own and I think it is finally working. "Whatever you focus on, happens." When we went over to the Fox home to help them get to church yesterday one of the sons yelled when he answered the door "The Mormons are here!" to which his older brother replied "Dude, don't say that. Were Mormons now too." "Oh ya, that's right!" he responded. It was hilarious and touching.

The adversary is working the hardest I think on this family as far as thwarting their entrance into the kingdom more than any other I have seen. It is quite remarkable. There is obviously something special about them otherwise he wouldn't go to such great of an effort. However as Summer expressed her concerns, my reply was "Were always fighting a little harder." I think the example of the Lord saving the fishermen in the 4th watch and being born on the day the Nephites were scheduled to be executed is a great example. He lets us go to the edge until we have to walk into the 'twilight of our faith.' Most certainly the Fox's have walked into that small dark tunnel with greater light on the other side and have had some incredible witnesses afterwords. It has been a pleasure to see.

We had the Stake President come teach with us on Tuesday night and we met Summer at the church without her kids. She had some interesting questions, ones I had no idea how to answer and basically waited for President Wright to answer. However, the memory of the fact that I was called by God for this kicked in and I began to teach and respond to her questions through the Book of Mormon. Something you must understand (as I am sure most of us do at some point) is how inadequate I was feeling at that time. President Wright read me, I know he did. He taught off of what I taught which gave great comfort. At the end of the lesson when we were leaving, he paid me one of the greatest compliments that a missionary can receive, "Elder Metcalf you are a really great teacher and I mean that." Believe me, I don't say that to brag but to get across the point that he was close to the Spirit enough to tell me something that he felt that I needed to hear.

Another big time spiritual experience was with a young man named Robinson. He has been taught for a long time now. We even turned him over to the Assistants to teach because we really couldn't get him to progress all that well. One of our branch presidency members went over to his home and resolved some big concerns that we wouldn't have been able to because of the extreme trust he has with that member. So we started back up teaching him again and the lesson was powerful and the date was set. Shows how far someones charity and concern really does go.

Well family, I feel I received a prompting to pray for the neighbors so keep up the good work of fellowshipping them! You are too good of a family not too help others receive the restored Gospel as you already have.

This work is definitely real and very true

Love Elder Metcalf

I warned Bishop Hamblin when I first got in the area, the last 2 Bishoprics I have served with ended up being replaced. He laughed a bit, yet was replaced yesterday by our ward mission leader of all people. This caught both Elder Halle and me off guard but we are stoked. It is awesome to have someone in charge who is so missionary minded already.

Now for the huge news. We are in an interesting predicament with the family we have been teaching. Turns out she lives across the street from what is actually our area. So she belongs to another ward because she is off the boundaries by 1 home. We got news that she has to transition to the new ward eventually but after she received such a strong confirmation in sacrament meeting yesterday with Bishop Thomas being the new Bishop, it was a little difficult to have the heart to break it to her. So we haven't yet. Lucky for us, the stake president is teaching her with us on Tuesday and that is what we think would be the best opportunity... Hopefully I don't get into to much trouble. President Smith directed us to, no matter what, keep teaching her and although they may go to a different ward, we would still be the missionaries. It nearly broke our little hearts yesterday after a lesson when she started tearing up explaining how hard it is going to be when we get transferred. We have had many concerns to help her overcome but on the other hand, some excellent spiritual experiences. I opened up to Hebrews 10:32 before we finally left.

This week was full of much 'data collection' as we prepare for yet another stake president report. The leadership thing is starting to test me more and more. As I am sure all of us have faced frustrations as we take leading roles in certain situations, it is funny when we remind a companionship 3-4 times of things we need and when we need them by, and they space it, or have no idea what we are talking about! However, I have caught myself a couple times and have needed to ask "am I doing this with charity or anger?" Thank heavens for the gift of the Holy Ghost to give us even the smallest 'heads up' in life when it can make all the difference of trust or friendship.

We had a meeting with all the missionaries in the zone and the stake president. This is the 2nd time that this has happened. Something remarkable that I picked up on immediately the first time was that president Wright, even in a 'adminstrative' meeting, spends the first half (if not more) of the meeting talking about the gospel. I later asked "Is this something you always do?" He responded to something like 'I find that in church business meetings that getting the spirit first is essential.' Since that first meeting I have applied this a lot. For example, while setting my goals or working to set them, I found that instead of diving right into it I read a chapter from the Book of Mormon and the goal setting became much more smooth.

We had dinner with the Harty's this week and we picked up the missionaries in the area that were actually assigned to their ward (yes, the Harty's are not in our actual area) and on the way over they debated who should give the message. I felt an impression and acted on it "I'll give it!" and sure enough, my favorite 3rd Nephi 11 lesson was used. A special lesson for very special people. I will tell you, there is no other chapter of scripture that has had a more dramatic impact or personal meaning than that one. The savior and redeemer of the world, a God himself invited the entire nephite crowd to come forward and He met with them one by one. I would imagine that He called everyone by name as well. Powerful.

I also gave my training on Tuesday and it went really well! I couldn't have been assigned a better topic- the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion. That is what its all about. Elder Bednar says something like, everything in the Gospel is intended for us to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Well anyway, I will hope to update you more on investigators as soon as we find them all this week!

Pray me some luck!

Love, Elder Metcalf

snow

I must be a curse for Texas or something because for someone that doesn't like snow as much as I do, Texas keeps getting these 'massive snowstorms.' We had our car parked by President Smith's for a while so we were on our bikes for a bit and it brought back quite a few memories going through the snow. It was actually quite a lovely experience really.

This week I received some awesome miracles and witnessed many as well. An interesting one was our training and interviews on Wednesday. Due to the lack of time, Elder Hall and I determined that we would combine both our trainings into one super training about goal setting. We based all our thoughts on the talk by Elder Oaks "Good, Better, Best." We put the final touches on it then headed to the stake center to get everything ready and to brief the district leaders on some administrative topics with the Assistants. We got back into the room with everyone then President Smith came. We got started, sang, prayed and President felt impressed to give a few words. About 3-4 minutes into it he says "There was a talk given by Elder Oaks about 'Good Better Best, much like our goals there are good ones, better ones, and the best." What made this even more remarkable was the assistants had spoken with Elder Hall before the meeting about Good Better Best. It is truly amazing to say that we were all literally on the same page. We gave our training and it went very well. Essentially it was three parts. 1- A good goal is a set goal 'i.e. I will baptize 11 people!' 2- A better goal is a defined goal 'this is how I will baptize 11 people. 3- A best goal is a living goal 'I will evaluate my goal every week. Again, 1-Good=Set it, 2-Better=Define it, 3-Best=Live it. I thought that was awesome.

My interview with President was great. We immediately got into my goals for the year and he quickly commented on how I would be leaving. Ugh... Although as we began talking about the Fox family and their baptisms he was very excited and asked how they were found. I hesitated a bit but then gave the story about how on a Tuesday night we went to wal-mart to buy lunch for trainings the next day and that she approached us. I hesitated because I was a bit worried I was confessing to my President that I was shopping on a non preparation day. He quickly explained "Elder Metcalf, this is a classic example of following the Spirit in which you had no idea you were following the Spirit. I wish missionaries would understand this and not ask the typical question if they are following the Spirit or not. You had a need and followed it." I just thought that was kind of cool.

Tuesday we had an Assistant exchange with Elder Hubbard that went very well. We knocked 2 doors before getting in a home and committed someone to baptism (he dropped us though unfortunately). Elder Hall and I noted how spirit filled the exchange was after it was over and it was interesting how we noted that in situations like that, when you are expected to perform at a high level of missionary stardom, we step up to the plate. It is funny to note however, that when we began the exchange, our first activity was to take a 40 inch flat screen TV from one missionary apartment and deliver it back to the member that loaned it out. (It was the TV we used to watch Toy Story on Christmas Eve.) I asked Elder Hubbard if he has ever returned a TV on an exchange, to which he responded with a smile on his face, "No."

We also had zone leader council on Tuesday which was awesome. Elder Rice became a zone leader and we talked to each other every chance we got (we served around each other in Nac for 6 months.) He served a transfer in Nac after I left so I was naturally inclined to quiz him about the Bennetts, the ward, the investigators and the missionaries. Of course the most exciting topic was to hear about the Bennetts since we cant exactly communicate too frequently. Another extremely important note was the goal for baptisms in the TDM was set. 1000 for 2011! It was crazy because as he posted the graphic that was made up to represent the 1000 goal, it looked so very familiar. Another interesting miracle this week was with a future missionary in the 7th branch. Elder Hall asked me to randomly call him to help out with a teaching appointment we had that day. I asked how things were going as he is about to serve his mission in a couple months and I felt something. I asked "You're probably experiencing some doubt, right?" Turns out he had been conned in by the adversary to watch some anti movie. It was funny to see how we were alike as we were getting ready to serve. I asked "Did you feel that if you watched it you would gain an advantage because you would know what opposition was out there and would know how to defend it?" He said yes and then explained how he began to overcome the opposition he had gotten himself into with deceiving thoughts and questions. Later that night we had a lesson and as everyone was leaving (we just happened to be in the Bishop's office) he stopped and talked alone with me and went into more details about how he regained to spirit. For some reason the spirit was extremely strong and very touching. I felt impressed there was something that Heavenly Father wanted me to learn or know so I continued asking questions. My companion came in and the 3 of us talked briefly and then left the room. Still, I felt there was more that I needed to know. I asked him for a blessing, which he later explained that when I had asked he personally felt it had to be done immediately. He gave, by the spirit one of the most profound and needed blessings I have ever received. I made many notes which would be inappropriate to write in this setting. As we finally parted ways and we were driving home that night I felt deep gratitude for what my Heavenly Father had shared with me and noted how interesting it was that when I walked into to the Church, I felt there was nothing that I needed, but walking out of the Church I felt extremely edified.

Now on to the topic of most importance! Summer and her family our doing well. They are experiencing tons of opposition which is to be expected considering her entire family is about to take a huge step of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. She didn't make it to church on Sunday because she was sick and the snow became a major distraction for the kids. We went over to her home during the 3rd hour and spoke with her about some concerns she was having. When we left shortly after, she expressed gratitude and a desire to read the Book of Mormon before Family Home Evening during the night. She said that as soon as we left the opposition began. She got distracted, lost her Book of Mormon and couldn't find any of the 4 we gave her. So finally she picked up a Book of Mormon reader and said just by flipping to a particular page she got what she needed. It was awesome. They are still on board. Well I will continue to battle the snow and Satan for the day with some proselyting.

I thank you again for your awesome support.

Love you! Elder Metcalf

Well this week was full of lazy missionaries taking many naps. We had the flu, so there is not much hesitation in reporting that so far! It was super interesting when we would rest up the whole morning and afternoon then go out in the night to teach a few appointments. The spirit would come into my body and quicken it when I would teach yet toward the end of the lesson it was game over. Luckily things weren't too bad, I think it was relatively minor. When we did get feeling better to the point we were confident to go out and tract, our hot water heater broke. Let me tell you about how long I would survive serving outside the states without a water heater... We used some other missionarie's heater nearby, but Sunday we braved the ice cave and jumped in. I have never had my breath taken away quite like that! Although I can only imagine what some foreign serving missionaries are thinking to themselves right now! (Yes, my foot and rear end are a bit sore from being in a car so long.)

Summer and her family are doing awesome! Super miracles yesterday when they all came to church. She wanted to meet with Bishop beforehand and it went very well. The sacrament was awesome and the testimonies were outstanding. Later in the evening when we taught Summer at one of her member friend's home, she explained that she had received her conformation. One thing she also pointed out was that when we teach or when she attends church, she feels great and on board but when we leave, the confusion builds up. It was a great opportunity to bear testimony of the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. She is pretty excited. The spirit on Sunday pretty much wiped all of us out, it was glorious! Since we opened the Book of Mormon and read with her, the concerns seem to have dissolved away.

It does remind me most especially of a valuable lesson that still sticks with me from before the mission. I don't think there is ever some fear or doubt that enters into a future missionaries mind. When I expressed this to Lance, he looked at me and asked "Mark, did Lehi sail to the Americas?" to which I responded "Yes." After that, concerns and challenges seem to melt away. How grateful I am for the insurmountable power of the Book of Mormon. It is the ultimate healer and assurance other than probably those of the Godhead.

I am giving a training this week on goals to the zone so I feel it appropriate to share my own since I am going to challenge the others to share their goals with family as well. Before I do that, I have to share how much I love the brotherhood I have with other missionaries. Elder Hall and I often have deep doctrinal conversations and joke about how after the mission we will probably still call each other todiscuss our points of view more than likely with giggles. As for goals go, I have a goal to help 11 of my investigators be baptized this year before I come home (yikes!) I need y'alls help in being held accountable for it. Now, anyone can ask dad when it comes to running if it needs to be broken down first before shooting for a marathon, so in efforts to spiritually qualify for this I have broken down the basics to this (which I think I have already shared). "Each week I will evaluate with a willing mind my four key relationships then I will set goals and make plans of what needs to be done to purify my heart and refocus my life." If you remember President Uchtdorf's talk from conference (namely "what does it have to do with flying an airplane?") you will understand why I have chosen this. So I am excited to put this into practice. Like Matt said, this is it. I am in the final quarter, my skills and knowledge are at the top. Time to dig the heels.

I must praise my dear mother at this moment. We had a couple of nights without a dinner and when I opened up the perfect present (other then the book) namely that of a George Foreman grill, I was quite pleased. However, the real climax of the gift came the next day when I discovered much to my pleasure and excitement, the very chicken seasoning I had craved earlier in the week. The chicken was bought, grilled and devoured which led to the missionary's happiness. Sometimes I do believe mom is so in tune with the spirit that her son's cravings 1000 miles away can be relayed and mom's love (and seasoning) always pull through.

I was quite surprised in a lesson on Saturday in which the spirit used me. It is interesting when you get called to teach on the spot (always appreciated though as a missionary). It was 9:15 and I needed something to be taught quick. I pulled out 3rd Nephi 1 and read about the poor followers of Christ who were about to be killed by the unbelievers if the sign of Christ's birth was not given. I asked the group "How would you feel being a Christian and being told by the unbelievers that they were going to kill you if this so called sign didn't come?" The answers brought in the spirit and broke down the wall that is so often between us and the scriptures. I read on the very day they were to be killed, the sign was given. Now I asked "What would it be like for it to come down to the wire like that?"The answers again were awesome, these people and their insights teach me so much. I finished "Now, in our own lives, our Faith in Christ and His Gospel often comes down to the wire. We are always taken to the very end when the pressure is on and the opposition seems as maximum as it can be. What will you do? Surely we may not ever be tested as unto death like these people but will be brought to commandments, choices, words, and decisions that will try us at times that are like the people that we just read about."

How awesome is the Book of Mormon!

Read it.

Love Elder Metcalf

Christmas was pretty sweet. unfortunately my companion and i both got pretty sick which required many bathroom breaks. They asked us to pass the sacrament the following day but i had to take off halfway through the song. Tis the season! the gifts were awesome, still the book is genius and the best gift ever!

ok ok now on to what everyone wants to hear, mission experiences and investigators!

We taught the family that we are hoping to see baptized in January and i was prompted to teach my favorite lesson ever. Keep in mind that i have only taught it 3 times because of how special it is to me. Basically unfolding 3rd nephi 11 by putting us right into the story. "what would it be like to be on the coastline when rita or katrina struck? That is just like what happened to the nephites!" We got to about verse 11 when i asked the mom what she would do if she saw 'a man descending out of heaven and announced he was Jesus Christ.' her response was, "i would probably fall on my face" read the next verse i asked and she went on to read "and when they had heard this they all fell down." at that point the spirit was pretty tangible in the room. a few moments later i bore my testimony about how awesome the book of mormon is.

As i have thought about this during my much thinking time while being under the weather, i have understood just how much value there is knowing the book of mormon is true. When i think about all the times i have tried to get people to listen to our message either through tracting or contacting by using bible references and so on i ask myself why? am i trying to convert others to the bible or the book of mormon?

Christmas dinner, we had a humbling experience with a returning active in the 7th branch who just got out of jail. He had no family and no friends for Christmas so we all went out to dinner. It was like the movie 'A Christmas Story' looking for a place to eat until we stumbled on Golden Corral. We had a long dinner, talked about family, the plan of salvation and other principles. as we parted ways, elder hall and i gave him just a small gift bag, really of things that had been given to us. It may have been his only Christmas gift we suppose. We do know that he has a relationship, a special one with God, but we hope just maybe he will remember a lonely Christmas as a good one with the missionaries.

We are pretty stoked for this upcoming week, I hope we can get feeling better. i will do my best to make my emails longer but for now i am tired and need to write presidente smith!

love y'all. thanks for the phone call it was awesome, especially as i have bragged about hearing a couple of babies slobber on dad's phone

love elder metcalf