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| Always rainy in Halifax |
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| We went on exchanges to Bridgewater and I got to see my favourite dogs again at the Harlows |
You will never have guessed who I was with yesterday-Elder Dale G.
Renlund of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles and Elder Gong of the
Presidency of the Seventy. They came for a bi-stake conference. I felt
like I was in the Spirit World. We met at Mount Allison University in
Sackville, New Brunswick and there were members there from all 8 of my
areas. I got to meet up with the Taylor's from Moncton, an old British
couple that fed me my first week in Dieppe. They haven't changed a bit
and I was around them when I went back to Moncton. I also got to say
hi to Al Wood, a not so recent convert anymore from St. Stephen. He's
still active in the church. Holds the Melchizedek priesthood now and
hasn't missed church for about 6 months now. He was my saving grace in
St. Stephen. I wanted to go home so bad but he reminded me so much of
Grandpa McGuire that I didn't want to quit. I met up with a couple
more members from Cole Harbour, the Podezwas and the Edis.' I will
never forget shoveling out a less-actives house with Brother Podezwa
in February of last year. Then just about everyone from Bridgewater
came so I got to say hi to the Harlows (certainly my favorite family
to eat dinner with), the Dorey's, Brother Freeman who fed us every
week and baked us bread, and the Jewers. Everyone hadn't changed a
bit. It was funny how I could visit with someone and then turn around
and see someone from another one of my areas. Plus all of the
companions and other missionaries that I served around with. What just
brought me to tears was seeing Sister Borden and Sister Gear walk
through the doors looking for a seat. The only 2 members from Grand
Falls that came out of the 4 we started with when I got there. Sister
Borden also went to the temple and Sister Gear got endowed. So much
faith out of our mighty band of Saints in Grand Falls, Newfoundland.
And of course plenty of members from Caribou and Sackville came so
everyone was well represented.
The stake presidents each spoke about not being deceived in the
Latter-Days. Atlantic Canadians are deeply spiritual and inquisitive
people that don't like fakes. Perhaps what has caused me the most
grief on my mission is dealing with investigators, members, contacts
on the street or at the door, and less-active members that have read
or watched anti-mormon information. Joseph Smith said that by proving
opposites, the truth is made manifest. By studying the Book of Mormon
and seeking after spiritual gifts we will not be deceived. The very
elect will be deceived and it's going to be incredibly difficult not
to be deceived if we don't have the spirit with us. That's why we've
got to know our stuff. I've really liked serving here because the
spiritual opposition has made me stronger. It's only going to get
worse though so we need to be prepared.
Elder Gong, Elder Renlund, and their wives all spoke about how the
gospel blesses families. We ought to consider what we'd be giving up
in regards to our families if we left the church. Principles of faith,
forgiveness, and repentance would go out the window. Humility would be
absent and pride would take it's course. This church has blessed me
with a strong family. Another point that Elder Renlund made was that
the truth isn't hostile in nature. Truth shouldn't make us hostile
towards others. No matter what others believe we shouldn't be hostile
to them. And we can know if they are incorrect if their convictions
make them hostile towards us. He's a very humble man. He's only been
serving in the upper levels of church leadership for less than a
decade. I liked how relatable he was with the Saints in Atlantic
Canada.
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| Our do not contact list is pretty great |
Mark is doing well. He's keeping all the commandments. We taught him
about going to adversity with faith from the Book of Mormon and he
really enjoyed that. We committed him to talk to his wife again about
getting permission to be baptized. If you could all pray for him and
for his wife I would really appreciate it. He would be such a solid
member of the church.
HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!
Love,
Elder McGuire
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| My desk is clean :D |
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| I got a cat yoga calendar |
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