Week 4

 This week was probably the slowest week yet... mostly because I have no hair now... (sorry mom). I told my district that if EVERY elder buzzed then I would too... and they all totally did. And because I am a man of my word, I am now buzzed into oblivion. 

General conference as a missionary is unreal. Up until now, I have never stayed awake the whole time and barely got anything out of it. As an ordained and set apart missionary, the spirit communicates with me more clearly and with more strength means that when the apostles of God stand and give us a message it's as if a whole new world opens up to you. We did a lot of preparation, gathering questions and praying to find answers, and I can speak for my whole district when I say there was not a single question that we left unanswered. We even plan on going back and listening to them all again. I had a few nagging questions that I didn't realize were weighing on my testimony and when with a sincere and prayerful heart I listened to the words of inspired men and women of God, the spirit poured into my soul little by little, giving my the directions and inspiration to either receive an answer or answer my own question through study. 

One question I had was why is life so hard for all of God's children? The answer came in a few different forms:

- first was a devotional from the previous night where our mission president talked about how bearing the sins of the world wasn't easy for Jesus Christ so it won't be easy for anyone else to bear their own. The atonement doesn't take away our pain, it allows us to have the constant comforter of the holy ghost, knowing Jesus Christ loved us enough to individually care for us. 

-second was the Sunday morning talk by Henry B Eyring. He not only quoted one of THE BEST chapters in all scripture (D&C 121) but he explained how God gives us spiritual power in moments of need, and how that power is not less or more, but equal to that of our trial. Meaning, when we feel pain, when we are overcome with trials and adversity and reach out to God for strength with a broken heart and contrite spirit, he will give us with just enough power to CHOOSE to overcome. God will never falter in his promise to his children and even though he gives us his power to overcome adversity, whether or not we drown is up to us. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve" (Joshua 24:15). 

Because God loves us he gave us his only begotten son to perform the impossible and provide a sure straight and narrow path home. He also gives us his own power that no matter what the adversary throws at us we will have equal power from God to overcome. All we have to do is choose. My friends and family I implore you that when you are struggling with anything, to choose God because with him all things shall be perfect in the last day.

Anyways Spanish is coming along slowly as always but it's still coming hahaha. Have been lacking in my personal study just a little but me and my comp set goals to fix that and we've been on point since. I am so excited to get to the field in a week, it's crazy to think I've been a missionary for a month already. 

Summarized paragraph: 

Conference was unreal. I actually stayed awake the whole time (unlike some people, you know who you are). I was reminded of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us and how his power is readily available for our use. So use it always. Spanish sucks, but I love a good challenge (sometimes). I go to the field in a week and I'm not stressed at all hehe. That's a lie, but with God anything is possible. If Asher can learn Spanish then so can I.