A funeral, 2 people
with baptismal dates, and a wedding reception. Oh and a temple trip!! Yea the
MTC did not prepare me for so many odd encounters on my mission.
I never thought
I'd even go to a funeral and I've already been to two. But I had a great
experience while I was at the funeral for a recent converts' wife. I was
assigned to read psalms 23. That scripture is interesting by itself but it's
much more relatable when you replace me, my and I. with your own name or
the name of those who haves past away. The scriptures have a way of conforming
to our needs. Right now when ever I read the Book of Mormon it is always about
missionary work.
I love missionary work
although it's tough. In some ways I miss the MTC because everyone was mine own
age. And everyone went through the same challenges as I did. It was easy to
relate to everyone. And I felt comfortable. And here I'm with a 21 year old
every single moment of the day. I mean he graduated back when I was a
sophomore. I just don't feel 100% comfortable when the guy next to me has done
this longer and knows much more than I do. But I know that I should never
compare myself to anyone else, that's Satan’s way. Gods’ way is though service
and helping others. So I need to forget myself and get to work. That's been my
biggest struggle since I've been out here is focusing too much about myself and
not focusing on the reason why I'm here in the first place, “To serve God and
the invite all to come unto Christ.”
With that being
said we got 2 new investigators with baptismal dates. Which is awesome. It's
amazing how the Lord works. The mission president told us that as we focus on
the LARC's (less active/recent converts) and love them opportunities will open
up. And that is sooo true. It's amazing how things pop up and your day’s plans
are instantly thrown away. It feels like its daily were things pop up and your
plans change instantly. Like funerals, weddings, procrastinating leaders that
spring meetings on you days before they happen, or when your miles are cut and
you find out you only have 11 miles per day. You always stay on your toes when
you're out here.
Anyways I also had the
opportunity to go to the Orlando temple this last week. It was beautiful. I
love how we can retreat to the temple when we have a need to feel peace and
comfort. I love the temple and its fun to teach about the temple to LARC's and
investigators.
The biggest
lesson I've learned this week is that we should always be grateful for our
blessings. And we need to drive to be more humble. This last week we went to a
LARC's house and we step out and the ground is covered in cigarette buA
funeral, 2 people with baptismal dates, and a wedding reception. Oh and and a
temple trip!! Yea the MTC did not prepare me for so many odd encounters on my
mission.
I never thought I'd even go to a funeral and
I've already been to two. But I had a great experience while I was at the
funeral for a recent converts' wife. I was assigned to read psalms 23. That
scripture is interesting by itself but it's much more relatable when you
replace me, my and I. with your own name or the name of those who haves past
away. The scriptures have a way of conforming to our needs. Right now when ever
I read the Book of Mormon it is always about missionary work.
I love missionary work
although it's tough. In some ways I miss the MTC because everyone was mine own age. And everyone went
through the same challenges as I did. It was easy to relate to everyone. And I
felt comfortable. And here I'm with a 21 year old every single moment of the
day. I mean he graduated back when I was a sophomore. I just don't feel 100%
comfortable when the guy next to me has done this longer and knows much more
than I do. But I know that I should never compare myself to anyone else. that's
satans way. Gods way is though service and helping others. So I need to forget
myself and get to work. That's been my biggest struggle since I've been out
here is focusing too much about myself and not focusing on the reason why I'm
here in the first place. To serve God and the invite all to come unto Christ.
With that being said we got 2 new
investigators with baptismal dates. Which is awesome. It's amazing how the Lord
works. The mission president told us that as we focus on the LARC's (less
active/recent converts) and love them
opportunities will open up. And that is sooo true. It's amazing how things pop
up and your days plans are instantly thrown away. It feels like it's daily were
things pop up and your plans change instantly. Like funerals, weddings,
procrastinating leaders that spring meetings on you days before they happen, or when you miles are cut and you find out
you only have 11 miles per day. You always stay on your toes when you're out
here.
Anyways I also had the
opportunity to go to the Orlando temple this last week. it was beautiful. I
love how we can retreat to the temple when we have a need to feel peace and
comfort. I love the temple and it's fun to teach about the temple to LARC's and
investigators.
The biggest lesson I've learned this week is
that we should always be grateful for our blessings. And we need to drive to be
more humble. This last week we went to a LARC's house and we step out and the
ground is covered in cigarette butts and their house is practically
broken. The lady that we meet with is a
grandma and her daughter which is 17 is a mom of a 2 year old and a lesbian.
She lives with the lady that we talk to, along with her girlfriend. The feeling
is so strange and demented there, that I don't enjoy staying there for too
long. The lady that we originally came to talk to, told us that she gets her
money from being a tattoo artist. In my mind I figured that all hope was lost.
I start to think, how am I helping. Isn't there a better way that I can spend
my time? Just then she talks about how grateful she is for all the blessings in
her life and how prayer has blessed her life. That experience humbled me real
quick. Who I'm I to judge another. I need to love all and keep an open mind
about everyone I meet. Although it was hard to feel the spirit in that home. It
was still present. While we drove home I stepped back and realized just how
grateful I was for all my blessings. I also realized the lessons I still need
to learn and grow from. I love my LARC's.
I know that as we forget ourselves and get to
work great things will come to past. I know that as we fallow Christs example
he has set for us we can become more like him and we can be guided by him. And
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
I love you all and
would absolutely love to hear from all of you, your emails make my day.
I love you all,
Elder Tyler Coley
2 nephi 25: 23-26
2 nephi 31: 11,12
Psalms 27: 14
Jeremiah 2:10,12
Jeremiah 7:23,2
Orlando Temple
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