Hello, hello! :)
Wow, what an amazing week we had here in New Jersey! We are definitely blessed.
We worked hard and we found 11 new investigators this week, we are super excited to start working with them.
On Tuesday we had Zone Training that we were in charge of and President Vai Sikahema (Stake President, former NFL player) made an appearance.
In our Zone Training, we really focused on a chart that we were taught about a few weeks ago which discusses how high expectations and high love can produce miracles if we have that for each other, our areas, and ourselves. I will try and attach a little chart at the end. I have a very strong testimony about loving others, loving the area, and just going and doing and letting nothing get in your way. I have been blessed with some incredible miracles on my mission, one of which I will share in a bit. #letmorebecomewhoyouare *kick when you don't want to kick, stroke when you don't want to stroke* JUSTDO
(Zone Training with Pres. Vai Sikahema)
(Our Election Day pic Voting for Christ.)
On Wednesday we had a mission tour where one of the Seventies, Elder Cordón, came and visited us. The guy is amazing and so funny--we learned a ton. Where to begin on what he taught us.
He taught us how true faith leads to mental and physical action. Elder Cordón focused on remembering who we are and what we are called to do. He discussed how Moses was going against a world superpower, Egypt, but he was shown the worlds and knew that Egypt was simply just a speck according to all that he had seen which gave him significant power to "beat" Egypt. Moses knew he was a Son of God and because of that, he could expect to accomplish the impossible. He discussed how we need to invest in others like Christ invested in us and that we need to treat people with the potential they have. He focused a lot on our choices--the big and small ones we make and how they open the doors of opportunities.
My personal favorite was when he quoted Neal A. Maxwell: "God does not care about our abilities, he asks about our availability, then if we prove our dependability, he will increase our capability."
On Friday, we had a mission leadership conference where Elder Cordón continued to teach us. He taught about the significance of having a vision, making goals, setting plans and then executing. He talked about how there are three types of workers. One who lays down bricks, one who builds walls, and one who builds cathedrals - we must have a vision in mind at all times or else we forget the true purpose of what we are doing. This can apply to all aspects of life. He discussed the importance to always be looking ahead but evaluating in the present and how we should be thinking ahead always, but if we are not, we must at least be thinking and with all necessity must be working NOW.
(My main man, Elder Cordon from the Seventy)
We were also able to fast with our investigator, Beena, on Friday that she would be prepared for her baptism on Saturday. She is ready to be baptized this Saturday and it is finally set in stone. We are so excited for her. We have been praying and fasting for her, there was a moment in her lesson that I leaned in and looked in her in the eyes and being filled with the Spirit asked her to follow the example of Jesus Christ and commit to being baptized on the 19th - the room was dead quiet for like 15 seconds and then I said, "In this church we follow the promptings of the Spirit and I know with all certainty that it is telling you to say yes." - she said yes.
(A family we work with.)
We had a mini-missionary this week - Alfonzo, he's 19. This has been my 3rd mini- missionary. They are all so funny and unique in their own way. He was following us around taking notes and what not--it was cute. Nice kid.
On Sunday, one of the members gave a talk and he quoted some of Ray Allen's retirement letter as if he we were writing to his old 13 year old self. There were a few points that really stuck out to me.
Don’t ever put yourself in the position to wish you could hop in a time machine, Ray
Listen: God doesn’t care whether or not you make your next jump shot.
God will give you a lot of things in life, but he’s not going to give you your jump shot. Only hard work will do that.
How do I sum up nearly two decades in the NBA? What do you really need to know? What’s truly important?
You’ll get to play against your heroes: Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler.
You’ll play alongside Hall of Famers: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade.
Sometimes you’ll be afraid.
Sometimes you’ll think you’re out of your league.
But you’ll keep showing up every day, putting in the work.
You’ll put up more than 26,000 shots in your career. Almost six out of 10 won’t even go in. I told you this game was hard.
Don’t worry, though. A successful man is built of 1,000 failures. Or in your case, 14,000 misses.
You’ll win a championship in Boston.
You’ll win another in Miami.
The personalities on those two teams will be different, but both teams will have the same thing in common: Habits.
Boring old habits.
I know you want me to let you in on some big secret to success in the NBA.
The secret is there is no secret.
It’s just boring old habits.
In every locker room you’ll ever be in, everybody will say all the right things. Everybody says they’re willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to win a title. But this game isn’t a movie. It’s not about being the man in the fourth quarter. It’s not about talk. It’s getting in your work every single day, when nobody is watching.
Now, the most important question in your life isn’t, “Who am I supposed to be?” or even, “What do I have to do to win another championship?”
It’s, “Daddy, guess what happened in math class today?”
That’s the reward that awaits you at the end of your journey.
Get your work in, young fella.
Most people will never really get to know the real you. But they’ll know your work.
Living the gospel is hard work - a testimony is the culmination of gospel routines and habits over a sustained period of time which help us become someone great.
Love you all,
Elder Wilde
(The mini-golf crew.)
(Roxy look-alike)
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