MONDAY 10 TH DECEMBER 2012-WEEK 19

Can I share two stories this week please?

 

Story one: we were in Walmart last Monday, doing our weekly shopping - we got to the checkout with all our stuff and the lady in front of us pointed out an elderly lady who was struggling with her shopping. So, off we go to help her (her name was Dixie Lang - she was 80ish and used to work for NASA when she turned 50) out to the car, all the time talking with her and asking about her life! Wow, she was a fascinating lady... just had a wonderful way about her! We put the shopping in, I took her by the arm and got her into the car and, as we were walking away, she said 'I'm a Christian y'know?'... we had a quick discussion with her about the Church and we felt really great - we felt like we'd been able to serve a lady!

 

Well, here's the best part... we went back to the checkout to get our shopping and the lady who was in front had paid for our shopping! We asked why and all she said was 'Merry Christmas - thank you for helping out that lady'! Talk about feeling humbled! It was amazing to see a complete stranger serving us... and yes, I may have had to fight back a few tears ha!

 

Story two: we have an elderly lady from Ireland that lives downstairs from us who is always friendly to us. Last week, she had a panic attack and had to be rushed to hospital! We were thinking of people to serve that day and she came into her minds so we got some cookies and a copy of the Book of Mormon (we chose a few scriptures about peace for her) and left it on her doorstep. About three days later, we got home late one night and there was our cookie box, a calender and a card on our doorstep... Christine had written us a card (even though she struggles to write) and asked if we could come by sometime and tell her more about the Book of Mormon! Miracle or what? :)

 

Sorry it's a short one this week... time flies in the mission field, especially on P-day ha! Anyway, I love you all... thanks for your constant support!

MONDAY 3RD DECEMBER 2012-WEEK 18

The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi once declared 'behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord... My God hath been my support!' (2 Nephi 4:16,20). If any statement sums up my week, it has to be this - my heart is full of the joy that God offers!

 

Where to start?! Firstly, with all the news back home! I am SOOO grateful for your updates this week - to hear that 3 of my best friends have taken upon them the blessing of the Melchizedek Priesthood has brought me near tears in this library! Josh, Jason and Sam - I am so proud fo you! I love you a lot and am grateful that Heavenly Father saw it fit to make our paths cross! Next stop - missions and then, our long awaited mission reunion! I'll try and stay unmarried for that, but, with my good looks and rugged charm, I can't make any promises ;)

 

Also, I have been so blessed to read some incredibly inspiring updates from my family this week... I love you Pelham family! I'm pleased that you are seeing the miracles that Heavenly Father is pouring upon us right now :)

 

This week has been a roller coaster for me and man, have I been blessed to ride it! I was up in Richmond for leadership training and had some of the most amazing experiences of my mission so far! May I share just a few?

 

One of the coolest ones was with Sister Pond, who I was in the MTC with. We were put into the same group and I felt prompted to ask her how she was doing. She said she was okay but, after asking if I could help with anything, she asked for a blessing! And wow, was that an amazing experience for me! I felt the Spirit testify of the reality of the Preisthood as I laid my hands upon her head and placed a blessing from her Father in Heaven on her. I am grateful that, even in my weakness, God invited me to be involved in the process so that I could feel peace that I was worthy :)

 

Secondly, I felt prompted to text one of our investigators randomly and ask if there day was okay. They replied 'it's okay thank you! You always seem to pick the rough days to see how I'm doing... it must be the Spirit!'. I asked why it had been rough and then she opened up about the trails her family were experiencing! I felt such a love for them that I know didn't come from me as I testified of the Atonement and it's power to heal ALL wounds!

 

At the end of leadership, we had a testimony meeting for an hour or so. For the first time in my life, I actually didn't want to get up and share my testimony... well, Heavenly Father had other ideas ha! President Perry actually held the meeting until I got up and simply said 'we need your testimony Elder Pelham'. I don't remember all I said but I do remember the overwhelming feeling of the Spirit - I feel blessed to have a mission president who listens to the Spirit and stretches me out of love (maybe I will share the entire story one day - now is not the right time!).

 

On of my favourite experiences happened on Saturday - whilst Elder Jensen and I were planning on who to see, a solid family in the ward came to my mind. There son left on his mission to Idaho at the same time as me and I felt that, for whatever reason, we needed to visit with them. It was one of the sweetest moments of my life so far as we walked into that home and testified of their son's missionary labours. We were able to minister to a mother who simply missed her son. How humbling it is to know that Heavenly Father knows and understands even a mother's sorrow at sharing a son!

 

This has been a week of miracles but the most important miracle this week was the chance I had to repent... I am not the same as I was yesterday, or a week ago, or even when I left! I have been transformed through the Atonement of my Saviour, who loved me enough to give all for me! I know that, if He needed to do the Atonement all over again just for me that He would! I bear my witness that these things I share are true - if you act upon the doctrine of Christ, you can know of the reality of them too and feel the happiness and joy that permeates my soul, even now!

 

I love you all; I love my mission; I love my Saviour,

 

Elder Marcus Pelham

MONDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2012-WEEK 17

Week Seventeen?! Man, this is flying by!

 

I hope you can hear the difference in me now... I'm 19 after all! That makes me just about old enough to serve a mission ha! This has been a great week with a lot of fun... it was my birthday on Wednesday (or as the other missionaries called it 'my first REAL American birthday'!), my first Thanksgiving on Thursday (it's basically Christmas without the presents - we had THREE dinners!) and every day is amazing as a servant of God! My companion, Elder Jensen, is a very funny guy - he's always got something smart to say which I love! We've got a new 'teaching' thing which is to take people out to ice cream.. believe it or not, it's successful!

 

How can I sum up this week? If I'm honest, it's all been a blur! Right now, my main focus has to be on refining myself - I got a little content and let silly little habits creep in but, thanks to good friends who aren't afraid to enourage me to improve, I'm repenting and going back to the basics! We have a 14 year old named Rhett who will be baptized on the 22nd December which we're really excited about... he's a great example of real growth or fulfilling the potential God intends for us! I'm excited to see the influence the Holy Ghost will have on him... it really does change lives!

 

I'm sorry it's so short this week... I will try harder to make time next week! Just know that I love you all and I feel your prayers strengthening me! I am becoming stronger as I learn to give it ALL up to God... after all, 'we make quite a team' <3

MONDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 2012-WEEK 16

Another great and inspiring week here in Poquoson! We are working hard and having fun doing it...

 

Rather than give an overview of my week this time, I wanted to share some studies I've had recently! As a missionary, I've really come to love that hour of personal study where, as one missionary stated, 'we get to be the investigators' - they are opportunities we have to recieve revelation and I hope that, by sharing some of the things Heavenly Father has taught me that you may recieve the guidance and answer you seek! God talks, I promise...

 

Each morning, I study a Christlike attribute as part of my personal study. One of my favourite ones so far has been hope - hope is an 'abaiding trust that the Lord will fuflill His promises to you'. Hope is the power by which the door is opened after we knock (see D&C 4:7) because, if we do not trust God to keep His promise, He simply won't. Moroni teaches that 'hope is the anchor to our souls' - as I studied this, I tried to understand that statement more and this is what I came to...

 

'Hope requires us to look forward and establish a vision (or desire). In the same way that an anchor holds a ship in place even if tumultuous waves conspire to bring it down, having a vision of the promised blessings will hold us in the right place and will prevent us from being lost at sea. Consistent hope works as the catalyst of change - we have faith that we can change and trust that, through our actions, God will honour this promise and enable us to achieve our righteous desires.'

 

I also studied the attribute of temperance or self mastery today. We are taught in the Bible that we must be temperate in 'all things' (1 Corinthians 9:25) and that temperance is 'sound doctrine' (Titus 2:1-2). We are also taught in ancient AND modern revelation (1 Peter 1:4-6 and D&C 4:6) that temperance is a step in the process to become 'partakers of divine nature' or, in other words, fuflill the potential God has set aside for us! As we learn to control the 'natural man' (ie. our laziness, our selfishness, our desire to sin), then and only then can we begin to control our surroundings and bless the lives of others! For me, this is what God was saying... 'Marcus, before you can really begin to change others, you have to become more disciplined with yourself!'.... that's a pretty straightfoward statement huh?!

 

It is really summed up in Proverbs 25:28 which reads 'he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls'. Temperance enables us to sustain our relationship with the Holy Ghost and build up standards of defense that will help us avoid and reject temptation. Those that are temperate are those who have lost all desire to sin, understanding that immediate gratification, although pleasing now, will rob them of a fulness of joy.

 

I am grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission... they are fun ha (maybe one day I will share some of our stories)! But, most importantly, they are designed to convert one person to the Gospel of Jesus Christ... yourself! I feel blessed to be a part of other's conversions but, right now, my most important person to convert is me! Then, and only then, can I truly fulfill my missionary purpose and 'invite others to come unto Christ'. This Church is the vehicle in which the priesthood authority was restored and this was done through Joseph Smith,

 

Love Elder Pelham :)

 

ps. I needed to share this quote by Elder Jeffrey R Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - 'It is not without a recognition of life's tempests but full and directly because of them that I testify of God's love and the Saviour's power to calm the storm. Always remember in the biblical story that He was out there on the water also, thet He faced the worst of it right alon with the newest and youngest and most fearful' <3

TUESDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2012-WEEK 15

Well, I'm back ha - I feel restored, renewed and refined this week! I have a wonderful new companion called Elder Jensen who, with no exaggeration at all, is simply amazing! He is one of the most outstanding missionaries I have ever met/worked with and I feel incredibly blessed to work with him for his last five weeks - he's had a lot of experience, especially in leadership roles, and President has asked him to train me to be a leader soon :) He's got an incredible sense of humour and he makes missionary work fun again! Prayer works - thank you!

 

The area is doing fantastic - we've got four people who should be baptized soon, including Brendan on the 23rd of November (although that may be delayed due to church attendance issues) and Seth (Barbara's son) on the 24th! We're also finding a lot of people somehow and helping to reactivate a few less-active families! In other words, missionary work is going well right now!

 

We just received transfer calls on Sunday and our district is getting moved all over the place - Sister Banner (she was in my MTC district) is training after just three months and we've got Elder Whitehead training as well! It's going to be an exciting time - you'll have Elder Jensen and Elder Whitehead who have served for a while, Sister Banner and I who have just finished training and the two new missionaries! It'll be great :) I've also had the opportunity to speak to a lot of my MTC district for a multitude of reasons - wow, I love them! It is amazing to me just how close we all are... even now, after three months, we ask President about eachother every week! There is truly a bond that exists between people with the same aspirations!

 

The highlight of my week (in addition to Elder Jensen!) is my studies... I've been working hard to make the hour from 8am-9am a revelatory experience each morning! And man, have I felt myself repenting and growing?! I would like to share one of those studies:

 

It's called the 'cycle of discipleship' or 'cycle of refinement' and basically it is the way that we prepare ourselves to meet God through constant improvement. Just for examples sake, we'll take bad language...

 

It starts with faith or a belief in that which is true but cannot be proven. So, I can improve my faith in the blessings that come from uplifting language by studying it in the scriptures, praying to know if God actually requires that and listening to others testimonies at church.

 

This increased and strengthened faith leads to repentance or a change of heart, mind and vision. Because I have faith that God will bless me as I change, I can put into place ways to 'turn away from sin and turn towards God'. For example, I might pray every morning for help to overcome this habit. If I slip up in the day, I might review the sentence, repeat it in a better way and try again.

 

This repentance is then sealed or confirmed as we partake of the ordinances, such as baptism or the sacrament. Ordinances are 'manifestations of the power of the priesthood' - in other words, after working our hardest to repent, we offer up our efforts to Heavenly Father and ask Him to help us. The consistent (even weekly) renewal of these ordinances sustain and enable us to continue to repent.

 

After we have repented, we can feel the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost comforts us and enables us to improve but it also guides us to understand our next weakness to overcome. This leads to a need to increase our faith, thus starting the cycle again!

 

I know this pattern is true - I'm having to use it daily out here right now and I love it! I feel God's hand moulding me and, every now and then, I catch a glimpse of what He's helping me become! I love missionary work because I get to invite others to change!

 

Love Elder Pelham