8.4.14 - Cuando me Bautice

The song, "when I am baptized" translates to "cuando me bautice," and during the baptism of Liz and Gaby we sang that as the opening song. As we expressed musically how we wanted our lives to be as clean as earth right after rain, we started to see a few rain drops fall through the open door to the gym that looked through the open door to the kitchen and through the glass door that led to outside. By the end of the song the rain had crescendo-ed  and the spirit sweetly testified of the truthfulness of the ordinance. The rain only lasted a few minutes and it was dry by the time everyone left 45 minutes later.

We just received our transfer calls last night and they are very exciting on the border! President said 28 missionaries went home this week (including Elder Ferry who lived in my apartment) and something like 28 new missionaries came in. So Sister Vivas (from Reno) is staying in Eagle Pass and training a new missionary. Sister Shaffer is leaving Eagle pass and training a new missionary. Elder Goodman is staying and training, and Mora is leaving to... who knows... I'm guessing Austin. Elder Olsen is staying in Eagle pass and training a new Elder. Woo! Super excited for him. He's going to tear it up. I am leaving Eagle pass, doubling into a new area (which means both of the last missionaries are gone and I'll have to work off of whatever notes those missionaries leave me) I'll be training a new missionary and I have been assigned to be a district leader. All I can say is... I have faith that God will show me what to do, because I don't know, haha. Whoever I'm going to be serving with, I already love him. Elder Burdge will be staying in Eagle Pass.

The work this week was pretty great. We got ready for the baptism, and didn't really teach too many other lessons that weren't to recent converts. Nearly all of the recent converts in Eagle Pass moved into our area and so we're just attending to a lot of needs. We're trying to construct a smooth transition for the people that have been recently baptized from the stage of relying on us to lead them along the straight and narrow path to have them rely on the strength of the branch. They're all progressing, at very different paces, and I'm very proud of the faith their showing in staying strong, because some very hard trials have come into a few of their lives.

One of the most shocking parts of being a missionary is being introduced to the happiest and ugliest aspects of life. As a minister of the Gospel and a representative of Jesus Christ we've set ourselves apart from the world, and for that reason we can administer to the needs of God's children who are caught in the jerks and trips of the world. It's requires an increase of faith first on our part to be able to trust in the blessings of the Gospel enough to invite a family we love, without enough money to get by, to leave the work they have and look for another that will allow them to keep the Sabbath Day holy by not working on Sunday when work is sparse. We have to develop faith and testimony enough ourselves in the comforting power of Christ and his mercy and love, to invite a family to either marry or separate from a loved one who is not willing to live the law of chastity. When these families live the commandments, miracles are wrought before their eyes in small and simple ways. When their faith falters, like Peter sinking into the ocean when he leaps out from the boat to walk to his savior and is dismayed by the winds and waves around him, the world drags them down into sorrow and frustration.

I would plead to these people to keep their eyes perpetually fixed upon the savior. To covenant with him and yoke themselves to him because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. With eyes, vision, willpower, what have you, fixed on him the tempests do not surprise us, they cannot overtake us. He has the power to calm the seas. Let's show our faith in him.

Trials may not go away, but the grace of God can strengthen us to support our heavy burdens and find not only peace but joy amidst times of hardship.

I love this Gospel. I love our Savior Jesus Christ. He is the only one who could take upon himself our pains so he could forgive us and succor us according to our needs.

I love you! Stay Salty!

Elder Tyler Meidell

7.28.14 - Damage Control

I'll just jump into it!

The "real Slim Shady" baptized his mom Saturday night. When it's a baptism week ... stuff hits the fan. After it all, the baptism had a really great turn out, "J" got her under the water in one dunk and she, just like everyone who gets baptized, look like a different person. There is light in her face and happiness in her eyes.

I went on an exchange with Elder Goodman and I found a 50-pound melon.

I'll jump back out of it.

I'm sorry, I don't know what happened ... the week just flew by.

I feel like we're doing a lot of damage control with recent converts as they make all of the necessary adjustments in their lives to live latter day saint lives. There are lots of hills and valleys of faith and lots of hills and valleys commitment. Each of them are moving at very different paces with very unique circumstances.

My studies this week centered on agency. I loved a comment made during the Priesthood session of the last general conference. Elder Randall said that agency is your power to become. So true! We have a tremendous gift, given to us by God, with which we first chose before this life to come to the earth and receive mortal bodies. Agency is our ability to choose Christ. Adam and Eve progressed our ability to make correct decisions when they partook of the fruit and gave us the knowledge between good and evil. We couldn't be agents for good, without there being a wrong path to follow. We will be judged by our works and our desires, and our works and desires are the results of our decisions, meaning our decisions make up who we are. God will see our mind and our body at judgment and have a history of everything we ever thought or did.

The council I give is to educate your agency so you can make choices that will lead to your own salvation. Come to know the Truth I touched on last week, and what things Christ admonishes us to do so we can be saved, so you can exercise your agency accordingly. The power is in each one of us to make decisions, and ultimately to make the greatest decision, to keep our second estate and choose to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Then, to live everything that is implied by accepting Jesus Christ as our savior.

It is so worth it. We're not really living until we're living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you so much.

You are the Salt of the Earth - Stay Salty!

Elder Tyler Meidell