By Small and Simple Things

By Small and Simple Things

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Richard McGuire	Sep 22 (6 days ago)
to Pernell, me, Sarah, Alyssa

Dear Family,

Can I just say...HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I fasted so hard on Thursday for Sarah. We had district meeting in Fredericton that day and as soon as I woke up I had the worst headache. The Gordons from Alberta drove us and Elder Gordon being a pharmacist had lots of things that could have cleared me up and taken my headache away, but I knew that if this was going to be the only fast I ever did in my life, that I needed to make this one count. Finally, after a ton of prayer and time, I broke my fast and just cried I was so happy. On Saturday night, I knelt down to say my personal prayers and cried, offering up a prayer of gratitude.

I've noticed that truly we don't see God until after a trial of our faith. This morning during personal study, the question came to my mind "What does it mean to be faithful?" First we have to understand what faith is before we can understand what it means to be faithful. To have faith is to act in accordance to the word of God. Thus (sidenote, thus is the coolest word in the English language), to be faithful means that we are full of acts that are in accordance to the word of God, or the commandments.

We have been immensely blessed this week. During our time here in St. Stephen the emailing situation has been interesting. No libraries are open and we got kicked out at about an hour last week so I apologize for not being on for the whole time. We have found a library in the promised land (America) so we should be able to do this for my time here in Canada's Chocolate town. Sidenote: I've noticed I've become weirdly patriotic towards America. America is like a younger sibling to me. It's okay for me to make fun of it, but I get defensive when Canadians make fun of America.

Elder Collett and I will be buying a juicer soon and we'll also be in a trio with this upcoming transfer. Our apartment is a little interesting. It's not exactly an apartment, more of a townhouse so we have plenty of room for our new companion, but the place is so old and smells of mildew. Our new comp is Elder Wolvers from Alberta. He's been out two more transfers than me. We got transfer letters the other day and President has warned me that I could be training next transfer because of all the missionaries going home. No pressure.

We are trying to integrate into the community as maybe I have aforementioned. We will trying to set up Family History Workshops bi-weekly in New Brunswick and in Maine if the libraries cooperate (they're feisty people). Furthermore, we have been volunteering at the food banks in Calais and in St. Stephen so lots of people see us which is great. We're trying to raise the profile of the church here considering it's quite the Baptist place.

Wickers and maritimers in general are interesting people.  They're so friendly and open and will tell you everything about anything they know. I have come up with a song that I sing to Elder Collett after every contact we make.

To the tune of Pioneer Children:

Ma-ri-ti-mers yapped as they talked and talked and talked and talked and talked and talked!

We were stacking wood for the ward clerk who lives in St. Andrews and this man could talk for three hours about cedar trees and soft wood and how he got jipped when he bought it. The wood piles out here make out wood pile look like a pile of toothpicks. It's going to be a cold winter ;D He's just going on and on and on and in my mind I'm thinking "Brother Simmonds calm down it's all wood it's all going to burn, good gravy man!" The Nova Scotian suck is so cool! Ask Bishop about that. They inhale when they say yes.

We're also involved in the various community activities (I freaking love this place). We play soccer with the university students on Monday nights (check out St. Stephen University online, they literally all live in one house and do all of their learning and eating in there, all 55 of em) and are duly embarrassed because neither one of us play soccer. Also on Friday nights we go and play chess with some provincial players. Got whooped in three turns ahhh yihhh. Overall, people are recognizing us and if you can't baptize people (unless they're Sarah and amazing) you can at least soften hearts and plant seeds.

Milltown (practically Saint Stephen, but a little down the way, actually where we live) is a different place. I don't think you'll have to worry about me serving in the Bronx, Mom, I'm already here. New Brunswick is kind of like the Louisiana of the states. Very southern redneck feel to it and a TON of drugs. Everyone we talk to is either high or about to get high.

Nevertheless, Pilltown, I mean Milltown has blessed us with plenty of potentials. We got 7, count em, potentials, and 4 referrals!!!! That just doesn't happen around here. In weeks past we would probably get only a referral once a week and maybe a few potentials. I can feel your prayers softening hearts.

Your prayers have even softened enough hearts in Milltown to where we have TWO NEW INVESTIGATORS!!!!! AHHHH!!!! They are the MacKnights and they are very similar to Dad and Mom (I'm becoming a Wicker with pronouncing 'mom' as 'mum'). Bob just retired from the RCMP and Lynn loves to feed people! They are so nice and their home is like a 180 from some of the homes around here (which are very Victorian but run down). Bob is a lot like you Dad because he reads a lot and asks really good questions. We had a question and answer for about 40 minutes and they invited us back for supper (dinner is for capitalist Americans) and talk more about the Book of Mormon!!!

We have also been stacking wood for a total Maritimer named Bernard. He loves riding motorcycles and speaks like a redneck Scotsman (I's a appreciate ya for stacking me's wood) Awesome man. He wants to take us to Blacks Harbour for some good picture spots and then we're taking him to Bishop's house for dinner and hopefully a lesson. He's so kind and so cool! Maritimers have the largest hearts, but a lot of pride.

Probably the humblest man I've met is a recent-convert we are teaching, Brother Al Wood. He's 68, but loves learning about the Gospel. He has a rough time with his clients as he is a taxi and drives around a lot of people on drugs. If you could please pray for him specifically that would really help out.

Speaking of praying specifically for people, pray for your missionaries by name daily! They appreciate it so much and it's like night and day with the work when members are involved.

Thank you so so so so much for the prayers and letters that you send each week. It really uplifts me. My favorite scripture from the week is found in Doctrine and Covenants 123:16. Sidenote: I love scriptures and church stuff now that applies to the sea and lighthouses.

"You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves."

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

BY SMALL AND SIMPLE THINGS ARE GREAT THINGS BROUGHT TO PASS

Love,

Elder McGuire