G'day,
Hope you're well. Was an interesting week on the front lines. Had some pretty unique activities that mixed things up a bit. Always pleasant.
The Missionaries in the Menlo Park area had our interviews with President Smith this week. He checks up on us, makes sure we aren't dying, and counsels us about any trouble we are having in the work. He mostly just gave me a rundown of the work he's been doing with missionaries throughout the mission. Main takeaway from our conversation; have fun and enjoy the work!
We also went up to the Oakland Temple this week. It was so unspeakably wonderful. The veil between here and heaven is so very thin in the house of the Lord. I understand my purpose for being so clearly in that place. And it helps that I got to see a couple friends from home that recently came to this mission. Twas fun.
My dearest companion Elder Douglas had some sort of medical emergency this week. The poor child was down for the count for about three hours after eating some classically questionable Chinese food. And so, for three hours, I sat studying and pondering over the scriptures. It ain't much, but it's something…
This week I also had the delightful experience of laboring among the Russian people of the Palo Alto area. Elder Bullock, who served in St. Petersburg, came into our area to teach some Russian referrals we had received from some local Sister missionaries. We talked to a variety of individuals and experienced a small taste of these people's culture, which I will cherish forever. The richness and diversity of God's children and their mortal experience always testifies so powerfully to me that each of us have perspectives and spiritual gifts that we can use to profoundly bless one another. Truly all people and their unique gifts are desperately needed and desired in God's church and kingdom on the earth.
On many occasions I have felt that the hardest part of being a missionary is me. My own shortcomings, mistakes, and imperfections can sometimes become deeply discouraging and even overwhelming. After making the same mistakes again and again, myself and each of us might feel that we simply cannot change. But it is precisely because of these bleak moments that God our Father has given to us, through His Son, divine assistance and power, or in other words Grace.
The Bible Dictionary teaches us, "It is through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts."
At some point in our lives we may find that we have tried with all our heart and soul to make the changes we want to make within ourselves in order to become the people we know we can become. And many of us will find that we will still have fallen short of that potential. So, God has given us grace. The power to change those things that we simply cannot change on our own.
I testify that to God, we are enough. He loves us exactly where we are and exactly who we are. And He also loves us enough not to leave us that way. He has given us the power we require to become all that He knows we can become. In short, he has given us the power to become perfect, as well as the strength to endure the perfecting. I witness that through Jesus Christ's grace we can become more glorious, more beautiful, and more brilliant than we could ever imagine if we will receive it.
Music?
Mixing it up with the tunes this week. Finally sending in some approved missionary songs…
All Creatures–Kings Kaleidoscope
(Wait for it…it's good I swear)
Now Let Us Rejoice–2022 General Conference
(Might have to find this on Youtube)
Stay fresh you crazy cats,
I miss you heaps, truly.
Elder Winegar
Hi Brothers and Sisters,
It's been special lately. Good? Bad? Who knows. Special.
Two of our good friends are preparing to be Baptized as of this week! Their names are Andy and Jerry. Andy is from Nicaragua and knows our friend Dencell who was baptized last year. They are getting to be good buddies and it's really wonderful. Like for real.
This week we had many wonderful opportunities for service. We help set up a nice succulent yard sale. We dug out a sump pump from a foot of mud under the pervasive stench of sewage. And we cleaned out a good gentlemen's home with a very, very severe roach infestation, and I don't use that word lightly. Gonna have to burn some clothing after that one…
Our friend Raj came to church with us and then afterwards he took us over to his home where we gave his father a Priesthood blessing for some health issues that he is struggling with. Afterwards, we sat down and enjoyed some authentic Indian meals with the family. It was exquisite and I will never forget "mom's" cooking (nobody on the block knows Raj's mom's name, everyone just calls her "Mom").
This week I have been immensely grateful for the wealth of knowledge and power found in the Scriptures. One particular story in the Book of Mormon that stood out to me this week was that of Nephi building a ship for him and his family.
The prophet Nephi suffered immense ridicule and hardship because of the doubt and faithlessness of his brothers. But despite it all, he trusted in his God and he was not let down. Amidst his travails he remarked,
"And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannotainstruct me, that I should build a ship?"
As we reflect upon the multitude of mighty and magnificent miracles that the Lord has worked among His children throughout time, we, like Nephi, will realize that the same God who by the faith of his people has subdued kingdoms, moved mountains, calmed seas, healed diseases, and even raised the dead, most certainly has the power to ease our burdens and deliver us out of the bondage of our own unique circumstances. After all, did not he send his only begotten Son to descend below all things?
I testify that the challenges we face, however big they may seem to us, are more than manageable to our omnipotent and perfectly loving Father above. As we trust in him I promise from the very depths of my soul that he will never, ever fail us.
Music?
In order this week if you will:
Honest Man–Fat Night
Hate That You Know Me–Bleachers
Cheers Darling–Damien Rice
Hero–Regina Spektor
Elevator Days–The Backseat Lovers
Address Your Letters–The Backseat Lovers
Plain Jane Heroin–Theo Katzman
Goodbye.
Elder Winegar
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