Point A to Point B

Monday, April 8

 

I can't believe I'm starting the last week of the transfer, time just flies by.  This week has been awesome, and also kind of hard.  I've been a sick little ducky this week, which is unfortunate. Being sick as a missionary has got to be one of my least favorite things.  You still have tons of work you need to do, a lot of stress on your mind, and you just have to suck it up and do it anyway.  Obviously if you're sick enough you need to stay home and sleep/rest/not get other people sick.  But I don't think I was sick enough to justify not working, so I just worked like normal only it was a lot harder and more uncomfortable.  Not fun, but that's ok, it's all part of the experience, right? :) 

 

This morning I woke up feeling a bit better than I have been feeling, so that's good, I'm on to the recovery!

 

We've had tons of miracles this week!  Including the Miracle of Life! That's right, we had a baby! Well not literally 'us', but Rachel and Mitch did, and we got to go visit them in the hospital and see them and the baby :)  When the baby was born, they asked them what her name was, and they told them they hadn't decided yet, haha so they have 1 week to decide! We did our best to provide helpful options.  I suggested they name her "Elder Lonas", which I thought was a winner.  They politely declined. 

 

Wasn't conference great?!?! In case any one who isn't a member is reading this, and I haven't already given an explanation, we have General Conference every 6 months, where the Prophet and his apostles give inspired talks, so we know what Heavenly Father needs us to know today, in our day and age, because we face very different trials than they did 3 thousand years ago :)  I loved Holland's talk on Faith, he's a Boss. 

 

This week went by crazy fast, we had conference, ZLC ( I have no clue what happened in the meeting, I was just blowing my nose the whole time, and trying not to be too disgusting) and interviews and stuff to take care of, So I feel like we didnt have enough time to do everything we had to do.  We had to really focus and put out heads down when we WERE working to make up for lost time.  Meetings and stuff are good, they definitely help us, but sometimes I wish I could just work 24/7 for 2 years without distractions and stuff. 

 

 

Final thoughts, And I apologize if I've already talked about this, but it's been on my mind again recently.  I think we often make the mistake of looking at life, and the things we do in life, as a getting from point A to point B scenario.  Which is stupid.  Especially considering that point A and point B are often the same place.

 

In the grander scheme of things, we began with Heavenly Father, and we intend to return to Heavenly Father.  Before a mission, we begin at home, leave for 2 years, and then....go back home again.  Or even going on a run, we often run in a loop.  So if your only goal is to get from point A to point B, then everything in between is just an irritation, and honestly the most efficient shortcut would be to just not leave in the first place. 

But if your goal isn't about getting to a certain point, but about becoming something, than everything that is in your way becomes, instead of an irritation, a means of achieving your goal.  Like a steep hill on your morning run.  If you're trying to get back to the car, then the hill is a bad thing, because it's in your way. If you're trying to become a better runner, than the hill is what's going to enable you to do that.  Challenges on a mission, or in life, are the same way, I think.  Good stuff to think about.  Thornton and I would talk about this some time, and as we've dealt with different challenges this past week its been on my mind again.  It's all part of Heavenly Father helping us become who he wants us to be :) 

 

Life is really good, as a missionary I feel blessed way more than I deserve. 

 

Love, Elder Lonas!  

 

P.S.

So remember the guy from my last letter who gave me pizza and told me that God wasn't real? So I didn't mention this part of the story last time cuz it wasn't relevant.  On the way to our appointment (and we were running late) we realized that it was TWO HOUSES outside of our area.  Our ward split a couple months ago.  We're running late though, so we decided to go to the appointment anyway, and afterwards refer it to the Sisters whose area it is now in -  my old buddy Sister N, and she's follow up training Sister T. 

so after the appointment, I call them up, and I tell them that technically we have a referral for them, but he isn't really interested, and I give them a quick rundown, and they're like "no thanks, we find plenty of people who aren't interested on our own.  " hahaha, touche.

 
Then a few days ago, we hear about their miracle.  I won't tell you the full story because I have a headache from typing (still sicky)  and it's long, but basically, they tract into him, they get to teach him the first lesson, and now he is softly on date to be baptized.  It remains to be seen how his lessons will go, but whether he's ready right now or not, it's pretty cool :) 

 

He asked Sister N, "What's in it for me to know if God is real?  Why would it matter?"  and Sister N (who sometimes she forgets she is 22, not 5) said,  "wellllllllllll (probably in a high pitched sing-songy voice)... the only way I can think of to describe it to you, is that it will make your spirit smile!" 

 

Haha you should have seen the face I made when I heard this story...

 

I guess sometimes the spirit inspires you to talk like a child, because something about that answer clicked with him, and they were able to teach the first lesson. 

 

Pretty crazy I think. Coincidence? I think not!