Week 14: get to work

Hey guys. This is the first week where I don't really feel like I have a lot to share. This week has been good, but I don't really have anything crazy to say.

Spanish

We made a Spanish plan, because speaking spanish the entire day was just not working. We have recommited to doing an hour of Spanish study every day, and speak only Spanish from 6-9 everyday. Some days are better than others still, but overall, we're on a positive slope. 

Just start talking 

Also our comp unity is getting a lot better too. When I've wrestled with things, and when I have lots if questions and concerns, I tend to like to keep it in my own head, so that I don't have to share something so personal, but some things you just need to talk about. I don't wanna put exactly what it was in my email because idk who reads these, but I have got some questions I feel are going unanswered. Elder Rochelle kind of made me talk, which as annoying at first, but I felt better after talking. I didn't share everything, but the things I did share, I felt a lot better after sharing them. Even though none of my questions were answered, and nothing changed, I just felt better after having shared some of my thoughts. So when you're upset, talk to someone.

Baptisms

We are teaching a family, and all of then are wanting to be baptized and are working towards it, but the 3 kids in the house were the first go set a baptismal date, but it was in october... kids. One of the Girls wanted to be 10 before she got baptized, and a few other things, and then we told them how we all will not be here in october. And they decided they wanted us there more than they wanted to be older, so now they're getting baptized in 3 weeks!!

Zoo

We went to an abandoned zoo for P-day, and that was pretty awesome. There isn't much to do here for P-days, so we had to drive quite a ways, but it was worth it. It was a cool zoo, but it didn't really look like a zoo anymore, and then we also threw rocks into a body of water and walked through the walk of the dam holding the water, and it was fun to walk through it.

Spiritual Thought 

This'll be a short Thought, but it's something my Dad said that I thought was very profound. He mentioned how Jesus called his apostles while they were out fishing. They were busy. And so Jesus calls us to the work when we're working, but when we're being lazy and idle is when Satan calls us. It's when we're not working, when we're being lazy when Satan attacks because we're baking ourselves vulnerable. It's when you're working that you are blessed and strengthened. It is hard to work when you don't feel it, but it's once you've started working that the feeling comes. That's what I'm told, and I'm trying to discover it for myself, but I'll keep you posted.

Also, Peter made me out of Legos!! Isn't that the cutest thing ever!! I love the blue tie and the black tag, so way to go buddy!

Week 13: Who's on the Lord's side? Who?

Introduction

Ok, not too much happened this week other than the big meeting. I thought about how much was appropriate to share, and I think I'll give a little bit of context, but I'm gonna focus more on what I learned rather than talk about the extent of the situation here.

A day of Choosing

So we had a meeting yesterday with the entire mission. All 170 missionaries met together because of some issues that came to light to the president. I won't say a lot of what was said here, but there has been a culture of disobedience here, and it became serious enough that some missionaries were sent home. It was serious enough that Elder Schmutz, of the seventy came down to address and correct all the issues in the mission, sent by the 12. He addressed a lot of scriptures that I'll talk about, because they're all really good. You don't have to read then all, because there are a lot, but I'm gonna share my thoughts of each one. Everyone in the room who was willing, raised their hands and promised to stand with Christ, to strictly obey the Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ, to hold each other accountable to those standards and to encourage each other to draw closer to the Savior instead of further away from him. Now I don't wanna say too much else about the meeting, but it was a day of Choosing. Who's on the Lord's side? Now is the time to choose. Now is the time to show.

Called and Chosen

He shared mang scriptures, and I'll make a list of all the scriptures he referenced if you want to study them, but I want to share a few that emphasized the difference between being called and Chosen. 

D&C 95:5-6 said that many are called and few are chosen, and those who are not chosen are walking in Darkness at Noon-day. It was a powerful reminder that when we are living without the spirit, we're the ones missing out. There is so much light right now, especially in the field. We are promised miracles, but if we are not faithful and worthy, we'll be left in darkness.

D&C 105:35

There has been a day of calling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are worthy.

Among the many things he shared, he called this a day of choosing. Now was the day for us to choose who we're going to be. We've all been called to the work. We've all been called to the gospel. We've all been called as missionaries, even without a tag. We've all been called, but we need to choose today if we're going to be worthy. We get to choose if we're chosen. It's funny, it's a day of Choosing in two ways. The day we choose to obey God is the day he chooses to guide us. Once we commit and choose to obey God, he blesses us with his spirit and with the powers of heaven.

D&C 121:34-37

I won't talk all about this one, but please read it. It talks about how we become chosen. But a key point is the heavens are open, we know that, but you have to strive to be righteous or the heavens withdraw themselves from you, and you miss out.

Luke 9: 57-62

This one struck me hard because it'll be the hardest for me to apply and accept. Go read it before you read what I say, because Jesus says it better. "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is not for the kingdom of God." Don't look back. Don't give yourself reason to delay or not be 200% committed. Don't worry about hurrying the dead if it delays preaching the kingdom of God. Don't worry about saying goodbye or reminiscing in who you used to be, just let it go. Once you've found God, once you've begun the work, you have to surrender to God's will and begin pushing the plough. Do not look back, do not delay, but go forward in this great cause. Nothing is more important than bringing to pass the eternal life of man.

All the scriptures referenced:

Judges 7:4-7 (I can explain this one more if needed, because it can be kind of confusing at first)

Matthew 7:21-24

Luke 9:57-62

1 Nephi 2:14

1 Nephi 3:5-7

Jacob 2...

Mosiah 21:14,16

Alma 5-6

D&C 95:5-6

D&C 100:7-8

D&C:39-41

D&C 105:35

D&C 121:34-37

Anyways

Sorry for sharing so much from the scriptures, but I'm not really sorry because they're the scriptures!! And you should be studying them. I wish I could've gone through all of them but I don't wanna be overbearing, and I don't wanna run out of time. For my personal study the night after the meeting I went through all of those scriptures, and I learned a lot and I know you can too. Basically, strict obedience brings miracles, and the culture of this mission changed on Monday. We have all been called to serve him, but now we're beginning to be a chosen people. Guys, PLEASE don't walk in darkness, because you're mission out. There is so much light to the gospel and it's everywhere, if you'll just open your eyes and open your heart. Just let in the Gospel, and choose it. It's a choice, and everyone must have their day of Choosing. When that day comes and what you choose is up to you. Please choose the right.

Family back home

Some exciting news, Joseph is now engaged!!! Go buy him and his fiancé Eliza a Lego set or something because they're amazing. Lol j/k, I don't think they want Legos right now. So I guess I'll be missing at least 2 weddings while on the mission, maybe more... it's sad but I'm so happy for Ethan and Joe. Everybody please leave Mel and Hyrum alone though, I don't want them to get snatched yet because then I'll have to miss more dance parties...

Emails

So my mom is great, and she is saving all my emails into one place. So this link has all my past emails:

https://elderwesleywride.blogspot.com/?m=1

Week 12.5: Go Forward

Introduction

Ok, so this week was the week of transfers, and just guess that means you can't have P-day on Monday, because they changed it to today! I put it as 12.5 because its been 1 and a half week. I will not be moving for transfers, so I'll get to work some more in Abilene, and try to help the Spanish group grow more.

Teaching the Pros (the Council)

Lol, so the stake president wants the members of the stake to be more united with missionaries in the work. It's a good thing, but how they decided to help make it happen was a little scary. The ZL's asked Elder Rochelle and I if we could teach the 3rd lesson (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) to the stake high council during their meeting. (blank stare emoji) Ngl, that was really scary. However the morning of, when planning how we were going to teach it we made some goated cutouts of the steps of the gospel, and the lesson was actually amazing! We talked about each principle and how it fuels the other ones, and it was really cool. When we talked about enduring to the end, I had a thought that I felt I should share about thinking celestial. We've been told that salvation is a personal matter, and exaltation is a family matter. And I shared how that means once you've found the Gospel you can't just hunker down and wait it out till the second coming. When you're on the covenant path, you have an obligation to stay on it, and hold others onto the path too. When they say a family matter, that means first your immediate family, but then also your ward family, and literally everyone. When you've found the Gospel, you have an obligation to teach it. If you've found the path, bring others to it and hold them on until they have the strength to hold on for themselves and hold others onto it with them. And if you haven't found it, go find it.

Family

So I wrote about the eclipse last week, and it was awesome. A lot of my family drove down to Dallas for the eclipse, and if I chose to I could've seen them. My mission president said he discouraged it, especially this soon in my mission, and so I chose not to. When they sent pictures of them coming, I honestly started to regret my decision, but it was the right move. I need to be focused. I think I could've handled it tho. It just would've been nice to give Peter, Katherine, Daniel, Owen, Natalie, Sophie, and Mom all a hug. I love my family. Anyways, we had zone conference, and during our lunch break, my Mom sent me a picture of Peter standing next my apartment DOOR! I was like what the heck!? So that was awesome, and all my little bros left me crafts that they made during conference, and I'll share Peter's because it's seriously adorable! I look sort of like sid the sloth and it is so funny. I love it. Anyways, my family drove through, and saw the area that I've been serving in. What's funny is our apartment was unlocked at the time so they literally could've walked in and seen everything. It was sweet tho, and it was nice to be like, "Wow, Peter was standing right here." He and Katherine took pictures in front of one of the water towers here, so I'm gonna get a picture in the same spot as soon as I can.

Swahili

So we met a swahili family. They're amazing, but really struggle with English. The Mom and Dad gave one son, and he speaks a little bit of English, and so does his Dad. Emanuel (the son has been our gift of tongues tho). Moses (the Dad) is amazing too. He's got an insane fore inside him, and they all came to church in the same week we met them. They're also reading the Book of Mormon, and we taught them the plan of salvation, and Moses said he's going to ask God if it's true. It was hard to teach them though because we don't speak Swahili, and part of me was like "you should learn swahili," but also I'm trying to learn Spanish right now. It's tough, but they're amazing, so we're gonna keep teaching them, also because we don't have Swahili Missionaries here (yet).

Spiritual Thought on Bings

So things have been going a lot better than at first on this transfer. Our mission president told us to listen to the Bings, and listen to the first one, not the second one that comes right after. Because when you have a positive thought, immediately right after, there is a thought that's just like "nah, don't do that." For me they haven't felt like Bings, because that implies you feel something or hear a little ding. Some other missionaries talk about "glowing doors" or how they just felt like "we NEED to go talk to that person." I haven't really felt anything like that, I've just been like, "well I guess we could knock that door, it's not a bad thing." That's how I've been deciding whether to follow through with my random thoughts or impulses. If it's a good thing, then let's just do it. No harm done, if anything comes out of it, it'll be good. So we have been a lot better especially this week at following those first "Bings" even though they haven't really felt like Bings to me. But God knows I'm trying, and I can't type all of everything right now, but too many things have just fitted so perfectly that I'm pretty sure that it was God planting those random thoughts in my head. He doesn't make certain thoughts really stand out though, it always feels like a "well its up to you decision." But why does God need to make a door glow, or need to make a person pull you in. If it's a good thing, just do it, and let what happens happen.

Spiritual Thought 2: GO FORWARD

Sorry, it's been a good week. When I called my Dad, we talked about some of my struggles, and then he mentioned how God's able to help us more, the more we try to do on your own. And even though I've supposedly already learned this lesson, I had to relearn it again so I could understand it at a deeper level. This week I've been trying to just go forward even though I feel like there's nowhere to go, and during one of my studies, I found myself in exodus studying Moses leading the people through the red sea. In Exodus 14:14-16 it says

14The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

15And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward

16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

Just think about it, they are currently being chased by the Egyptians who are trying to kill them, and they are trapped in between a pillar of fire and the Red Sea. And what does God say "Wherefore criest thou unto me?... go forward." Basically "what are you looking at me for!! Keep walking. Where are they supposed to go? They are stuck, and God just tells them to go forward? At the MTC, someone sent me the Prince of Egypt  movie, and I downloaded it, but I haven't watched it because I learned that it wasn't allowed. Its an amazing movie though, all of you should watch it this sunday. But anyways, I did watch the scene where they were trapped. And what I LOVE about this movie was how Moses started walking into the water. When he went forward, people were looking at him all weird, likely thinking "Wow, this guy's an idiot. Where does he think he's going? Does he expect us all to swim across?" But this is what God wants. He wants us to reach our breaking point and then some, because that is how we become true disciples of Jesus Christ. He didn't know how he was going to keep going, but God said "Go Forward." So he did. He started walking and then with the power that God gave him, he parted the Red Sea. I think that's so beautiful, and that power is in all of us. The question is are we willing to go forward when there is no where to go? Do we trust God as much as Moses does? We talk of miracles like the parting of the Red Sea, but do we really believe that God has that same power today. I'm trying to believe it. If God is the same today, yesterday, and forever, then we have that power in us too. If we are willing to trust in God and go forward, especially when there is no where to go, THAT is when God parts our Red Seas.

Pictures:

- Amazing quote, think about what it really means

- Siblings and water towers

- General Conference crafts, and Peter literally at my door!! Love them

- the Cats name is Kyle. She is a girl, but we keep forgetting cuz she's one of the guys

- our run the other day in a coole trenchish thing. We also found a homeless people village in a small forest nearby but I forgot to get a picture.

Week 11: Conference

This conference was seriously amazing. This was the first time that I felt I really needed answers, so I was looking forward to it for weeks. I wrote down all of my questions, and 90% of them were answered in the first session, which was really cool. 2 of my questions weren't answered, but president nelson told us to go back and study the talks of this conference often until the next one, so maybe I'll find my answers in the next 6 months.

Spanish

So Elder Rochelle and I were trying to speak only Spanish, but I haven't been as diligent in that because I don't know how to say what I want to say, and when he says something in Spanish, I often need him to repeat it multiple times or just say it in English, and so it slowly died down. We literally can't just speak Spanish here tho, all of the other missionaries are English missionaries, except a few, and other stuff. Anyways, my desire to learn Spanish is diminishing, and so I haven't been working as hard, and I think my Spanish is getting worse. I'm gonna try to step it up this week though.

Someone we met tonight

So we had just had interviews with the mission president today, and that was fun. As we were driving home, we still had 30 minutes before we had to go home. We were debating whether or not we should visit one of our investigators, and Elder Rochelle tried following some advice he got about prayer from the president, and we decided we'd go visit him, but on the way, Elder Rochelle said he didn't feel like we should, and then the guy said they were getting ready for bed anyways, and then he pulled over so we could ķnock some Doors. When walking to our 2nd door, this woman pulled up in her car and asked us what we needed. We said we had a special message, and she said "OK, what do you got?" And we brought up the Book of Mormon. I asked that if God gave her more scripture, if she would be interested in reading it. At first she uncertainly said maybe, and then later said that she would most likely not read it. Then we started about how she's been struggling with God, Faith, and other things, and then we testified of the power of the Book of Mormon. Since my testimony kind of reset, there's a lot that I'm hesitant to testify of,  but since I've read the Book of Mormon and felt it's influence, I was able to bear my witness that reading the book would bless her life, and help her in what she was struggling with. We left her one, and I do believe she'll end up opening it. Anyways, so that was fun.

Conference

This conference was golden, I loved it. One thing I'll share, cuz I'm running out of time, that I liked was when Elder Pieper said the best way to learn how to trust God is simply by trusting him. It's true, you can really only gain a testimony of something by doing it. That's how I gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon and some other things. I've read it, and it helped me. If I want to gain the witness that I'm looking for, I have to put in the effort. You have to try it. You have to trust in God in order to develop a relationship with him. Do your best in the things you can control, and pray for his help in the things you can't. Anyways, sorry for sending it so late. 

Eclipse 

The eclipse was cool but we didn't get a full eclipse in Abilene. It did get darker though. 

The full eclipse picture below was sent by missionaries who serve further east.

That ball of paper picture is what happened when Elder Rochelle washed our subway coupons

(note by Wesley's mom - he didn't attach any photos to his email, the one above is one he sent me during the eclipse though, I emailed him that I didn't get any pics, hopefully he'll send them to me next p-day)

Week 10: Chew your food

So this week was good. I honestly don't know what to write in this, because most of what I have worth writing is probably a bit too personal. I'm kinda struggling a bit with my own faith, but if the church is true then it'll work out. But anyways, some fun things happened.

Church

So we are the Spanish missionaries for like 4 wards, but we have a home ward, because it's the only one with the Spanish group. We only have 4 Spanish Speaking people who are actually members, which is not enough to become a branch or ward or anything but a group yet, so right now, our Spanish group is still part of the Fort Phantom Ward. For Easter Sunday, we combined the Spanish group sacrament meeting with the fort phantom sacrament meeting, and since they don't speak English, we had to set up a mic and headphones so brother reynoso could translate for them. Also, we've been teaching some investigators, who are wanting to be baptized and they love all that is in the gospel, but are struggling a bit with Coffee. They've been showing up consistently though, and Betsy's (the mother) daughter, along with 9 other people arrived into the states the morning of church. Its like a 2 month journey, and they did it all legally, so we're good, but they didn't get any sleep and didn't have time to in order to come to church. Betsy's not a member yet, neither is anyone in her family, but she told us that if they showed up before church they'd all be coming to church. So Betsy made our Spanish group jump from a size of 4 to 14ish. It was a big jump, and Elder Rochelle is really happy about it. I am too.

Steakhouse EMT

So, for the eclipse, my Uncle Mark, Aunt Chalane, and my cousin Isaac all are driving to Dallas (I think) for it, and Mark asked if he could take me and my comp for lunch. Because of my poor money choices, we literally had no food for lunch, and so that was a blessing. The food was amazing. My first Texas Steakhouse was actually in Texas and that felt pretty cool. It was wonderful to see them all again, and get to talk to them. Funny thing tho, I have this problem where if I really enjoy my food, I tend not to chew enough, and with steak that's not good. While we were talking, I swallowed a piece of steak that was too big and it got stuck in my throat. Usually if I just keep swallowing I'm able to get it down, but it was just too big, and I was dying. I kept trying to swallow and drink water but that just built up the amount if stuff I was trying to swallow, and it was getting hard to breathe. Eventually, even though I said I was fine, they all made me run to the bathroom, and while I was running I realized I was definitely not fine. As I ran, my eyes were really watery so I couldn't see that great, and snot started dripping down, and I was basically throwing up while running (but only saliva), and it was really gross. I tried to catch it by cupping my hands below my mouth but it was just nasty and dripped all over my tie and pants but miraculously not on my white shirt. I got to the bathroom and started heaving over the sing but I had swallowed too much and now it was stuck. So I had a piece of ribeye steak just lodged in my throat making it hard to breathe. Then a guy walked in named Tyler who told me he was an EMT and that he saw me run in, obviously not ok. He asked if I was choking, and I said yeah, (I could still speak), and after hitting my back and stuff, Elder Rochelle walked in and Tyler was giving him info to the nearest ER, but then I managed to swallow it down. I don't really know how to describe the sensation of having something lodged in your throat, but I tried. He then asked if I wanted to say a prayer, and so we did. He said that he's christian, and even though we're "Mormons", we're all on the same team. I liked that. Tyler said the prayer, and it was great. I finished all my good, which might've not been smart but it was steak. When Tyler was saying I should go to the ER, I started to panic a bit inside not because of the ER, and struggling to breathe, but because I wouldn't be able to finish my steak if I did. Luckily I got to eat it all, and I've had no issues. Except the muscles in my body are a little sore.

Spiritual Thought

I've got a few spiritual things I'm wrestling with right now, but I don't really wanna talk about all them on this. Personal stuff, lol. But one things my Dad mentioned on my call with him today was that if the church is true then it can handle a little scrutiny. It's OK not to know everything, and don't pretend you know stuff if you don't. That's my personal opinion. I think a lot of people say they know things when they really don't. I think a lot of people say they know in things that they really know, but the difference is that they've put in the work to know it. When I put my title as chew your food, that doesn't just apply to our physical food, it applies to our Spiritual food. If we just try to showed food down, it can get stuck. This causes us to choke, and it sometimes kills. Some food requires more chewing the same way that some Doctrine requires more study and more wrestling. You can't just eat the spiritual food, you can't just accept the Doctrine without truly understanding, savoring, and feasting on it. Chew on it. If the church is true, then go ahead and find the answers, because all the answers are there somewhere. And if it isn't true, then you'll realize that sooner and then you don't have to be a part of it. Either way, you can't just ride on the testimonies of others forever. You can't just trust the opinions of others forever and just believe thay steak tastes good without trying it. Eventually you've got to try it, cut it, put it in your mouth, chew on it, and swallow so that you can know for yourself. Idk if that analogy totally works, but I thought of it just now and it makes sense to me. Basically, you need you gain your own witness of the savior. I'm still trying to gain my witness, but I do know that if this church is true, and all that entails is true, nothing else is of greater importance than this work.

- Elder Wride

1. My lunch

2 & 3. The Wrides

4. My photoshop skills

5. Elder Rochelle and I

6. Mel's photoshop skills (my sister)

7. Mel playing a piano in an elevator. One of my new bucketlist items