I love the dirty south!! Man, we live in the ghetto.
When I started my mission I was assigned to the 5th ward, a spanish ward, and after 3 months i packed my bags for eagle pass. Now, a full year later, I'M BACK! The 5th ward had to combine with Las Palmas because it wasn't thriving on it's own, so now our area, Las Palmas A, is what the Las Palmas ward used to cover and the ward is comprised of half old 5th ward members! So i'm working a different area, but with many of the same members. There were some sweet reunions at church yesterday when I surprised some families i'd served alongside a year ago. They pretty much all just made jokes about how bad my spanish was the last time they saw me ...
I'm serving with Elder Masters, and I couldn't be more excited for this next transfer. It was sad to leave Elder Gonzalez; i'd grown closer to him than to any of my previous companions, but after everything we'd learned from each other we were ready for a change. Since i arrived to the south side it has been non-stop action. I want more than anything to have success in this area. Elder Masters is a lot like me, very self critical, very goal oriented and he loves the work. So we've been consecrating all of our conversation and time to God and in just the few lessons we've had we've been very bold in extending invitations and explaining the singularity of our message.
It's been a lot of time sitting and planning too. in 3 days we had to do weekly planning, zone planning (after trying to memorize all the names and areas and histories of the new missionaries) MLC prep, coordination with a our high council rep and we drove up to the alamo ranch building for a Justserve kickstart meeting for the south stake.
"Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never had power sufficient to produce the faith necessary until life and salvation." One thing I learned about covenants is that it puts us in the position to be tried and tested by God, to see if we'll be true and faithful in all things. The greater condemnation the greater light of these covenants brings into our lives compels us to be always abounding in good works. We don't accept the covenant, nor the blessing of the holy ghost which leads us back to the father, until we've demonstrated to an authorized representative that we understand and are willing to accept the Lords terms. If we've done that, we know we cannot sin in ignorance, which sin was payed for by the sacrifice of Christ, if we haven't we can only be judged according to the light and knowledge we have received. By making the promise with God, and receiving the full knowledge of his plan, he can then try us until our faith becomes perfect unto salvation; until we can pass through the veil that is between us and God.
Elder Masters helped me this week when he said, "while on your mission, the adversary will bring to your remembrance many things that will make you feel unworthy. if you've repented, ignore him." I took some time to say a closet prayer, to be sure, and as i talked to my Heavenly Father as openly and as freely as i ever have the feelings of my heart. I was blessed to feel his peace, and took time to thank him for the matchless gift and sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ. I felt a greater commitment to be changed. I felt his presence with me poignantly, and i count it as one of my most treasured spiritual experiences.
I love you!
Stay Salty!
Elder Tyler Meidell
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