May 6, 2013 E-Mail!

Okay so umm.. I only have one of these left after this.. not cool.


Well I guess it's okay cuz then I'll be in more instant communication with all you guys so that'll be cool too I guess.


It seems like you don't have much to say about your companion, how's it going? Are you finishing strong? Has the mission had any 18 yr. olds come yet? Is it hard to train a greenie and be a DL? Is a greenie a little like dealing with Deacons as a Priest?

Haha it's going really good! Overall I'm pretty sad to leave cuz I think the ward is finally starting to get their stuff together. We feel the overall spirits of the ward picking up and it's been cool to see. This past week our church attendance jumped up from 126 to 176 and it wasn't even any special sunday. We had a total of 17 less-actives and investigators at church so it was super awesome! Of course I'm finishing strong! Two weeks ago we had interviews with President. And here's the story... So we walked in just as another zone in the mission was finishing and so I started chattin it up with my batch cuz i heart my batch. But he's like don't worry President will give you a talk about being trunky... haha So I was like okay whatever. So it came time for my interview and it went pretty good. I always enjoy getting to spend time with President. Over the course of the interview he didn't mention like anything at all about trunkyness... So I was like okay.. Then as we ended with a prayer he was like just remember.. sprint to the finish. Finish strong! And I was like of course president. You won't have to worry about me. And he replied, "I know. That's why I didn't spend too much time on it during the interview." So with that I was honored by that and even more motivated to finish strong. I've heard of far too many great missionaries here that don't finish strong, and then thats what their last companions remember them as and I'm like that's really too bad cuz they were actually a really good missionary. So yeah... that's not goin be me. But yes. My comp and the ward and everyone are teasing me about how soon I'm going home. Training and being a DL isn't too bad. I don't treat him as a greenie. I have him take the lead in essentially everything. He just can't quite teach as much as me yet. But he's way good. We get along super well as well so it's always a lovely day in the neighborhood.


In other news, it's stinkin hot here. hahaha


So I just wanna share one story from this week. It was awesome! So we're visiting with a recent convert who is also less-active. So we shared a lesson about our baptismal covenants and about how important it is to take the sacrament. At the end of the lesson she finally opened up to us about why she's really not coming to church. She said she was offended and hurt by things said to her. She feels that we're the only ones that care about her. She was crying as she told us. She loves the Savior, wants to do what's right, but just said that she's essentially lost the desire to go to church over what had happened. As she ended her story, she looked up at me and said, "Well that's it. That's why I don't want to go to church. I feel like I am closer to the Savior here on Sunday than at the church. Is that a sin?" As she looked at me waiting for my answer, my heart went out to her. I was grateful for having enough love to listen, and try and empathize with her. She only wants to do what's right. And as much as I wanted to tell her that everything is okay. The Savior loves you and understands that that's why you're not going to church. I was guided by the Holy Ghost and had to tell her of 4 truths that I know to be true. 1. I know it really hurts when others are mean or inconsiderate towards us, but I know we have a Savior and Heavenly Father who love us more than we can imagine. 2. I know the Savior experience unkindness everyday of His life. He suffered it and persevered, and will be able to help you overcome these emotional pains. 3. I know that weekly partaking of the sacrament is a commandment that we should observe and follow. and 4. I know that you will come to see the sacrament as the best medicine to heal our spiritual and emotional wounds. As I thought about the experience later, I remembered Elder Hollands quote in PMG, "If you listen with love, you need not wonder what to say."


So I don't have any crazy stories for you about chickens running around our apartment but umm I do go home in a couple weeks. That's a pretty crazy story, huh? haha


Hope you guys have a great weeks!


Love
Elder Michael Gadberry


Pictures
234 -- My favorite political campaign here for no reason whatsoever. All the campaigns drive around blasting re-makes of popular songs to make you wanna vote for them. It's pretty crazy and different than America
235 -- That's like the Philippines original White House.. We walk by it at least twice a day.
236 -- Airplanes fly over us allllll the time. A constant reminder of what ultimately will come to pass