MONDAY 29TH APRIL 2013-WEEK 39

Hey all,

 

We've had a really good week with lots of miracles to share! So, I hope as I share these you can catch the vision of how the Lord is preparing people to come unto Him :) We've definitely seen it this week...

 

BILLY:

 

The first miracle I want to share is about a guy called Billy from Texas. Billy's a younger guy who had some seizures and ended up in the hospital in Richmond. Well, someone (we still don't know who) called us and asked if we could visit with him on Sunday night and give him a copy of the Book of Mormon... not a hard thing for three Elders to do! When we visited, he was heavily sedated and said 'what are you doing here? I'm Muslim and don't know Mormons' ha! A little confused, we asked if we could do anything for him; his only request was to have some Bojangles (a southern fried chicken chain here in the States).

 

So, the next day, we come with our Bojangles in hand and try to cheer him up! He was a lot more awake this time and told us that he'd met with missionaries at home and would love to 'discuss the truth' with us until he was discharged in a few days! And discuss we did - we felt prompted to share the Restoration and talk about baptism and he shared that, weeks before the seizures, he had been investigating the church and had prayed to know if he should be baptized... he'd got an affirmative answer but REALLY didn't want to follow through with it. He shared that having so much time to reflect upon things had helped him realize that God was in the 'coincidences' of life, including our visits. There was such a sweet spirit as we bore testimony that 'whom the Lord calls, He qualifies' and share the blessings that had come into our lives as a result of that covenant!

 

Billy returned home on Saturday and, even though we'll probably never meet again, I'm grateful for his example of doing what is right even if it's hard to do!

 

JACOB:

 

Jacob is THE MAN - we've been teaching him since my first day in Chippenham and we just love him to pieces! He's a very smart guy and has a strong desire to follow God! However, he's been struggling to understand priesthood authority and this has held him back with baptism!

 

Well, yesterday, we had a SWEET lesson with him and he's going to be baptized on May 12th! We taught him how we came to know that the priesthood has been restored and it was powerful, especially when we drew out the line of authority the Catholics and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints both claim! I have definitely had my testimony strengthened of the Apostasy whilst serving as a missionary - and I love the message of hope we share: that God has not forgotten us, His children! Watch this space... Jacob's a great guy! :)

 

STAKE CONFERENCE:

 

We had the Midlothian Stake Conference this weekend and it was awesome... we had Elder Jack Gerard of the Seventy visit with us. The adult session was really cool (it focused on family) and then, before the other session on Sunday morning, Elder Gerard requested that we organize a 'recent convert' meeting with those that had recently joined the church in the stake! We were lucky enough to go and it was such a great experience! There are so many wonderful people in this area and it was amazing to hear their individual stories - to hear how God had directed the to the truth! I loved it! It was definitely one of the highlights of my mission and I hope to have other opportunities to meet such amazing and inspiring people :)

 

Anyway, that is me! It's been a good week - we're seeing success and I love it! For a while, things got pretty tough for me but I really immersed myself in the Book of Mormon and found this gem! It's in 1 Nephi 20:10...

 

'For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction' <3 This scripture has given me perspective and hope in those lonely or discouraging or challenging times... I know it can do the same for you if you really ponder the teachings contained within :)

MONDAY 15TH APRIL 2013-WEEK 37

Miracle time...

 

So, I went on an exchange this week with one of my MTC roommates (Elder Todd Fish... yes, we know it sounds like cod fish) in an area of Richmond called Manchester and had a really cool experience. Their area's been struggling a little bit recently and they've been tracting (aka. door to door) for weeks on end now so we decided prayerfully look through the area book and visit some former investigators. We chose some names and went to work...

 

Well, we try the first few people in our list and, of course, they're not at home! It's getting close to lunch but we decide to visit one more house 'just in case'. So, off we go and knock on the door, only to have a five year old answer the door in his 'Avengers' pants... not an everyday occurrence ha! He calls after his mum and we ask her if the people we were looking for still live there. She replies, 'nope, they're not here.... but, I'm a mormon'!

 

It turns out that she'd moved into the area two weeks ago and had been waiting to go to church after conference! That's the first miracle! Miracle two is that we felt inspired to ask how she was doing (not a courtesy 'how are you?' but out of genuine interest) and she just broke down... it turns out her mum had been rushed to hospital late the previous night and she was in despair - how could she deal with this on top of everything else?! Looking at this total stranger, Elder Fish and I were just filled with love as we realized God had sent us there to comfort this wonderful lady - we shared D&C 84:88 (thanks to Charlotte Warner for that one) and said a prayer. It's always amazing to see the change that occurs in the faces of those that feel the Spirit... her tears still stained her cheeks but, rather than a sign of despair, they displayed her renewed hope that 'everything would be okay'... that God hadn't sent angels with wings to 'bear her up' but two angels with funny accents and black tags that day!

 

As we were walking away, she told us that her partner was not a member but was VERY open to the church... could the missionaries come back and teach their family?! Isn't it amazing how everything falls into place sometimes? I know that is because of a loving Father who has the plan already in place! That day, we both received an answer and became answers to the prayers of His children!

 

I love my job ha! Thanks for your love and support... the work is good and I'm loving the growth in those we work with! Remember, the purpose of the Gospel is to 'transform common creatures into celestial citizens'... be changed!

MONDAY 8TH APRIL 2013-WEEK 36

Another week in the mission field and wow, has this been a quick one! It seems like God isn't just hastening His work... He's also hastening all sense of time for us missionaries!

 

I wanted to share a few things with you all...

 

Firstly, I had a little 'accident' I think you'll enjoy! I decided to save some money and give myself a little haircut... simple right? I trimmed it down to a 5 and it seemed to be great... well, until I went to trim a little bit more, forgetting to put the guard back on... NOT SMART HA! I've got some pictures that my mum can add but end result was a total shave to the skin on the back and sides and a 1 on top... a military haircut :/ Anyone that's seen my hairline knows why this might be a little 'amusing' to everyone else ha! And they said missionaries can't have fun!

 

I also had a really cool experience whilst on an exchange in the rural area of Buckingham. Part of the reason I was there was to interview a 9 year old girl for her baptism this past weekend (which went ahead!) - now, whilst visiting with their family, it became apparent that her parents had some concerns that hadn't really been addressed and so we shared our testimonies of the Book of Mormon and the Atonement. It was during that time that I felt a distinct prompting to ask the mother when the last time she had a priesthood blessing was; she replied that it had been eight years! I invited her to exercises her faith and expect comfort at the hands of the servants of God and, in a wonderful display of humility, she obliged. Words cannot express the power we felt in that room as we laid her hands upon her head and, in the name of Jesus Christ, placed very specific and personal blessings and promises upon this woman! It wasn't long until we were in tears as the Holy Ghost witnessed the truth of the things we had felt prompted to share...

 

I share this because it was yet another encounter in my life that strengthened my faith in the priesthood of God. I know and bear my witness that the 'power' given to the apostles of Christ has been restored and that it is God's plan to bestow that privilege upon any and all of His children that desire to serve their fellow beings!

 

However, we are only found worthy of that promise according to our integrity. That has been a theme firm pressed on my mind this week - the concept that one can do what is right despite opposition. I have had my integrity tested and have found strength in the Atonement - the light from which the purest form of empowerment emanates. Our integrity is the foundational element of our character and our constant remembrance of it will allow God to shape and build us into the people He intends us to be!

 

I'm proud to be a missionary; I love my calling! It really isn't easy (they never tell you that part ha!) but I'm almost glad it isn't... the soreness after a work out is evidence that we are growing (an analogy more appropriate since Elder Dayton became my companion... I'm gonna be stacked). I plead for you to continue, to 'press forward'... 'eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him' (1 Corinthians 2:9) and I am only beginning to see the blessings the Lord is preparing me to receive. Keep it up... it's worth it!

 

Love Elder Pelham

MONDAY 1ST APRIL 2013-WEEK 35

My dear friends,

 

How is everything going in your life? How has your week been? I'm sorry I skipped the blog last week - there really is no rest for the wicked and, right now, we're going 100mph every minute of every day!

 

That being said, I felt prompted to share some specific experiences this week... I'm hoping that you can identify a doctrine or principle that you can apply into your own life and that, as well as feeling a little more updated on my adventures, you'll feel the Holy Ghost testify of the truths I want to express... no pressure huh?!

 

So, this has been my third week in my new area (Chippenham YSA Ward). Now, I don't know if I shared this before but, for this assignment, me and my two great companions (Elder Dayton and Elder Drew) cover a whole stake with our main purpose on working with people between the ages 18-30! This is DEFINITELY a change from Poquoson, where we worked with families with young kids and covered a mere fraction of this area now! This has meant I've had to do a lot of adapting which, as you all know, takes some stretching... for example, I got fed every day in Poquoson; Chippenham... let's just say I'm using my limited cooking skills a lot more (and that's if we can grab time to make anything more ambitious than cereal). It's also meant that the issues we encounter differ from back in Poquoson - we meet a lot of different people, especially at the VCU campus!

 

These changes, combined with some 'custom thunderstorms of opposition' (that term was coined by one of my best friends, Elder Burke), have made this week pretty challenging. We were blessed to teach 14 lessons this week (which is miraculous in this area) as well as attending a four hour meeting with President Perry, holding a zone meeting for the 38 missionaries in our stewardship (which included training), uplifting and sustaining some companionships that have been struggling, trying to organize a musical fireside to help promote the church in Richmond, trying to find time to study, helping Jasmine and Jacob prepare for their baptisms, work in unity with the three sister missionaries in our ward, build ward trust... oh, and make sure we're not all dying of exhaustion ha! Elder Drew commented on how we probably work harder and give more of ourselves to this work than most adults to their jobs ha :) So, to say I felt a little stretched would describe this week well...

 

Now please don't think I'm moaning ha! I love being a missionary and I'm grateful to have been given the responsibilities God had entrusted me with. However, isn't it human tendency to get lost in the day to day details and feel completely and utterly overwhelmed? I felt I needed to express the intensity of our calling in order for gravity of the miracles we've witnessed to be portrayed with justice!

 

The main miracle is the very thing we commemorated this week... the miracle of the Atonement of Jesus Christ! It is a beautiful concept that, simply because He loves me, He suffered to cleanse me of my sins and wrongdoings as well as enable me to bear the burdens my mortal sojourn would inevitably bring. I testify that there is power in that message; that the Atonement of Christ is real and is available to all that seek His comfort and understanding.

 

That Atonement allowed my wonderful companions and I to soften the hearts of a group of recent converts, an investigator and the bishop and his wife last night after we ate an Easter meal together. As we taught the message of the Restoration - that the authority to perform the ordinances, such as baptism, necessary to access the Atonement had been reestablished today - we were able to feel the Holy Ghost testify of the reality of our Saviour! Now, some may say that's our job but, for the first time in a while, I was in the same position as those we taught... I needed to feel the peace I had been promised! That, if I continued in diligence and obedience through a trying week, I would feel the enabling power in my life - my friends, I felt it last night! I know that I can do what the Lord requires of me but only if I am willing to let Him strengthen and steady me! Life IS hard - it was designed to challenge and stretch us in it's very nature - but we can still find peace in the midst of the storm!

 

I love you all - I pray for you and feel your prayers in my day to day life! Keep working hard... when the time is right, you'll know that you are engaged in the cause of truth!

MONDAY 18TH MARCH 2013-WEEK 33

Hey y'all,

 

So, this week has been transfers... that was a different experience! It was tough to say goodbye to Poquoson; I feel it's the place I grew from a boy to a man and those homes are the place where I found myself! There's a lot of people I love there and have become like family to me... I was blessed to see everyone I really needed to though and be able to share one last time with them! Can you remember how disappointed I was with Virginia?! Not anymore ha! Hopefully, we can all come out here some time... that way, you can love them all as much as I do! And I can't forget the missionaries down there... keep praying for them!

However, I'm so happy to be here in the Chippenham YSA Ward! I'm serving with Elder Dayton and Elder Drew (there was a last minute 'revealation' and a change of plans) and I love them already - they've both been out for over a year and their experience definitely makes me feel more comfortable! We're all very focused and have a desire to work until we drop... which is actually how the last four days have been ha! I just love them already :)

 

Yesterday was our first time at church and it's a different experience without screaming children ha! It will take a little time to get used to it I think but there's a lot of good people here... in fact, even though I've only been here for a week, I know most of the ward by name already! You know me... never been shy (just ask the librarian who gave me this card... I love talking to people!). We've also got some AMAZING investigators... in our first lesson together, we set this guy Jacob to a baptism date on the 27th April! He's a really cool guy... an artist who loves to have intelligent conversation :) It was cool to see how the Spirit helped the lesson flow, especially as it was the first time we all taught together!

We also tract very differently here... we did a lemonade stand for 4 hours on Saturday afternoon and I loved it! I don't think I've ever tracted so hard in my mission... I just wanted to talk to everyone! And the cool thing was that I could still be me - I think Dad would have been proud of some of my 'cheeky' comments ('you look thirsty after that bike ride... let me grab you a glass! I'll even pour it for you'). I'm excited to be stretched and adapt to a different type of missionary work! Although I know my purpose is the same as it was in Poquoson :)

Maybe the best thing about it is the truck though... I LOVE IT HA! I've been driving a lot these past few days and for long amount of times! It surprised me how quickly it all came back and yes, I'm being safe! It's just a stupid guy thing... I'll try and get a picture soon!

Last thing: our address is 11506 Clintwood Terrace, Midlothian, Virginia, 23112 :) I look forward to all the packages and letters ;)

 

Thanks for the support,

 

Love Elder Pelham

MONDAY 11TH MARCH 2013-WEEK 32

Hey everyone,

 

I don't have much time unfortunately but I wanted to share with you Kavin's baptism this past Saturday! So, one of the coolest things about it was that, when Kavin prayed to know when to be baptized, he chose the 9th March which gave us a month to get ready for him to make that covenant with God.

 

Well, as some of you may know, that is my cousin Josh's birthday (he turned 21) but it was also his mission farewell before he leaves to the Preston MTC on the 13th March! That has been one of the few things I've actually had difficulty with missing out on whilst on my mission but a perfect Father in Heaven knew that the only place better than home (supporting my cousin) was to be 'at the waters of Mormon' with my good friend Kavin, helping him on the path 'home'. Indeed, the coolest thing was knowing that, in a small way, that baptism was a celebration of the very cause that Josh has decided to commit himself to over the next two years!

 

The service itself was beautiful - two of the sister missionaries and I sung 'Amazing Grace' and the Spirit was very tangible as we considered how reliant we are upon the Saviour's Atonement. And then, we watched Elder Ovard baptize Kavin... wow, it was powerful! Kavin came out of the water with the biggest smile... you could see how much it meant to him! When they came back, Kavin sat with Barbara and Seth (two others who I've been blessed to work with) and to watch them there as a family almost brought me to tears! It was just a perfect a moment; a perfect visual for the purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ... to eternally unite families! I feel so blessed to be a part of this wonderful story - to have made friends to the point it's going to be hard to leave them! But I know they'll be fine as they take the path way together as a family now :)

 

So, transfer news: I'm leaving Poquoson after seven and a half months! I am going to miss this place... it's become like home to me and I love the people here! I will ALWAYS remember Poquoson and will visit after the mission! I feel like these streets are the place where I went from a boy to a man! I know the work will be great here :) I have now been assigned to serve in the Midlothian YSA branch and serve as a zone leader up there - it's going to be a strecthing but rewarding experience! I'll let you know more on the next week! Just keep us in your prayers please!

 

Love you all :)

MONDAY 4TH MARCH 2013-WEEK 31

Hello everybody,

How has your week been?! These has been one of the best weeks of my mission with some crazy miracles that I wanted to share with you all :)

Now, I'm real sorry that I've skipped my blog for a few weeks over the last transfer or so... we have been hectic and rushed off our feet, even on our preparation days (not a bad problem to have though!), and I've actually been out of Poquoson on exchanges for the most part over these last two weeks. However, it's also given me a great opportunity to work in different ways and learn from the great missionaries in the Virginia Richmond Mission!

One of the sweetest things I've seen is the story of a girl called Jocelyn. Elder Burke (if you look back on my blogs, you'll hear his name A LOT - he's my main man!), Elder Perrault and I were working in the singles branch and decided to hand out some hot chocolate on a nearby college campus. As we were doing this, this young girl came up and started talking to us about how she dated an LDS guy who served a mission in Paris (that's a surprisingly common experience... EVERY girl wants a Mormon after all). Well, she left and then, about half an hour later, came back with mugs for us and helped us hand out hot chocolate! We talked about the Church and she expressed interest in learning more.

Well, I've been SUPER BLESSED to be able to teach her the first three lessons, even though I'm technically not in her area ha! Each time, the Spirit has been really strong and we've been able to help her understand more about the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation! One of the craziest things is how close you grow to those you teach as a missionary... you grow to love and care for them and really desire for them to feel the same joy you do! And that's what seems to have been happening with Jocelyn so far... we're excited as she's working towards a baptism date at the end of March! Watch this space :)

In fact, I was able to spend four days with Elder Burke whilst Elder Ovard was in Richmond and I absolutely loved it - we worked SOOO hard and barely had any time to eat or sleep! There is a fulfillment that comes from serving God and your fellow men and, this week in particular, I felt very grateful that I can do this 24/7! For example, we were prompted to drop by a ward member (who I absolutely adore... she's an amazing lady) the other day and came at the right time to give her a priesthood blessing - it was a very powerful experience for me as I felt Heavenly Father give me direct guidance as to the words that would bring this dear sister comfort! It's becoming a lot more natural for me to discern that 'still small voice' and I have become very reliant upon it's constant companionship... it's a lot like oxygen; even though you need it to survive, you don't recognize it until a) there's a lack of it or b) you sit back and pay attention. I have felt the Spirit on a few occasions comfort and guide me in those rare quiet moments, testifying to me that this work is true!

Heavenly Father also taught me an important lesson this past week... 'being busy doesn't always equate to being purposeful' ha! My mum commented last week about how much my life has changed over these last seven months (yes, it's really going that quick... can someone invent a way of slowing down time?!) and I wrote back about all the things I'm doing and how busy I felt... does that sound familiar to anyone? President Uchtdorf describes this tendency as 'wearing business as a badge of pride' and I think I may have missed the mark... well, this week has still been busy but I've tried really hard to prioritise the things that I engage in according to how it helps to accomplish my purpose and I've really felt a difference; I don't feel as tired and have been able to feel the Holy Ghost a lot more! So, there's my invitation to all the busy people out there... remember to 'be still and know that I am God' (a great place to do that is the temple!) and don't get confused as to why we are here!

Well my friends, I love you all dearly! I took a few moments this week to read over past letters and the notes you wrote in my farewell book and my heart was touched... please know that you are still very much a part of my life! I'm grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord with 'ALL my heart, mind, might and strength' for these two years and am super excited to share this expereince with my wonderful cousin <3 I understand you are busy but drop me a line with some info about your life sometime... I might not reply but it'll keep my prayers for you and your families current :) May God bless you and bless His work,

Love,

Elder Marcus Pelham

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MONDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2013-WEEK 29

Hey everybody,

I wanted to start by sharing my study this morning with you all... Today, I felt prompted to study adversity. You see, this week has been HARD! Not just for me but for everyone... you know, those weeks where, no matter what happens, you feel like you're slogging uphill! Well, that's been this week ha! And I was asking Heavenly Father why we have to encounter opposition and here's what I got...

'We are not earthly beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience'

Adversity is there not just to help us grow but it's there to help us recognize our growth. We are ALL children of God and have been blessed with unique gifts or personality traits from our Father. Often, the purpose of adversity isn't to grow those qualities we feel we lack but to help us discover that we had them within us all along.

 

Let me share an example: we had a sister missionary (Sister Banner) who, in her 'pre-mission life' (it seems FOREVER ago by the way...) was a life guard. Before she could get her certification, she had to swim 500m in a certain time, which was all good apart from the fact that she'd never swum that far before ha! So, she worked so hard for weeks on end to break that barrier but, each time, she was just a little bit short... she just needed that extra 10 seconds or another 50m...

 

So, she goes to her test and is totally breaking down! She said she felt totally incapable of passing the test but she knew that, if she wanted the opportunity to get the job she wanted, she had to at least try. Well, you know the ending... sure enough, she passed with flying colours and the rest was happily ever after (well, until she came on a mission ha!).

 

What's the moral of the story? Without the opposition, we would never truly understand our own capabilities. We could never appreciate just how infinite our eternal potential is if we never had 'earthly experiences' that show us that we are 'spiritual beings'. Remember, 'out of the lowest depths, there is a path to the highest heights'.... the steps on that path - no matter how much we try and avoid it - are trials.

 

I have felt incredibly blessed this week to be able to share that with the missionaries around me: (I know this won't make sense but I want to remember these experiences...) standing in an abandoned car park whilst it's snowing for two hours; sitting in a car and crying with your best friend for an hour and then deciding to suck it up anyway; priesthood blessings after district meeting! I have seen the Lord use me as an instrument to soften the blows of the Adversary this week and am grateful that He sent me my own angels to 'bear me up' (D&C 84:88). Here's your challenge... be someone's answer to prayer this week and 'lift up the hands that hang'. I promise that if you pray to recognize the opportunities to serve that they'll come... that's the prayer in my heart 24/7... 'Father, what more can I do?'. THAT'S WHY I AM SO HAPPY... because, even in my imperfection, I can be made useful in God's hands :D

 

So, one miracle and then I have to go (I'm speaking Spanish with Elder Perrault today) - I was with a brand new missionary called Elder Geddes this past week and we tried to see a whole list of people with no luck. Well, rather than taking a break, we decided to do something called 'spirit-tract' (eg. we walk around and wait til a particular house sticks out and then we knock it) in the apartment complex right by our apartment. So, off we go and this building (it was number 212... yes, I still remember musical references ha!) and we see this lady all by herself smoking on her porch. We start to talk to her and she obviously wasn't interested... two young boys in suits :/ Well, we felt prompted to ask about where she's from ect and then I asked if we could give a pamphlet... well, I went to get the Restoration one and, without thinking, put it back into my bag and got out the Plan of Salvation pamphlet. We gave it to her and, our of nowhere, she just started crying and opening up about how her mother is dying of cancer... it was very humbling and the Spirit was very strong! It was a blessing to 'mourn with those that mourn', even a perfect stranger! I pray that Karen will have peace whispered to her soul and that she can gain a witness of the Plan of Salvation!

 

I love you all - keep praying for us! Adios amigos... Te amo

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MONDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 2013-WEEK 27

Dear wonderful people,

 

I wanted to drop you a quick note to share the joy I feel right now! MISSIONARY WORK IS THE BEST ha! To work side by side (well, a little step behind...) the Saviour is a 'great and marvellous work' and it's one that I feel privelaged to be a part of! I'll start with my testimony this time... God lives and is mindful of you! He knows and loves His children. Because He loves us, He created and perfected a plan... the plan of salvation! The teachings of Christ are essential to growth because they teach us how to become heavenly beings. These things are true!

 

This week has been AMAZING and I've had some of the best experiences of my mission. I wanted to cut and paste a little part of my e-mail home and then share one in particular (it includes me speaking espanol):

 

'So, you'd be proud of me... these past six weeks have been INTENSE ha! I have been working my butt off (not physically... I'm still 40 pounds heavier than when I left!) and feel exhausted. In fact, I saw President last Wednesday and he commented on it; 'Elder Pelham, I just don't get it. How are you teaching 18 lessons a week, keeping the district so united AND dealing with your companion?!). I laughed and told him that I have no idea but I've never been happier ha! He promised me a third companion to help look after the area but, as you've heard, it wasn't to be this time... that's okay though! It's funny because, rather than giving me another companion, he made me district leader of the biggest district in the mission... I think Heavenly Father wants me to be so tired I can't get into trouble! I'm excited but also nervous... we're going from 9 missionaries to 12, including two brand new missionaries. Also, this transfer has been relatively 'drama-free' but, looking at the companionships, I'm gonna be on damage control most of the time! I know I'll have divine help though... this is what the last six months has prepared me for :) We did 6 overnight exchanges over the last 6 weeks (it's my job to train each elder for a day, one on one - the Zone Leader's train me) but this transfer, we'll have 9 in 5 weeks... oh, and we have to baptize still ha! Pray for us in Poquoson!

 

Speaking of which, Poquoson is doing SOOO well! We've had miracles galore this week... Barbara's (you remember her right?) boyfriend has been investigating and is ready for baptism but, in order for it to happen, they need to get married... SO YES, A MARRIAGE AND A BAPTISM IN POQUOSON IN FEBRUARY :D I'm super excited - it started with Barbara, then Seth and now Kavin... they'll be a sealed family by next year (if all goes well!). It's amazing how perfectly Heavenly Father prepared this to happen and I'm super grateful to be a part of it!

 

Also, we've been working with a sweet part member family (the Coulsons) over the last six months and, through some divine intervention, we started teaching Fanny last month! Well, she's praying about baptism! Which doesn't sound like a big deal but, when I first arrived, she wouldn't even let us talk about church! I love that family... she just opened up to us in our last lesson and started crying and I couldn't help but cry with her! Her Father in Heaven loves her SOOO much <3 She's amazing and you'd love her'

 

I hope this gives you a little glimpse into the day-to-day life of a missionary! Anyway, now with the sweet experience... On one of these exchanges, I went with Elder Perrault, one of our Spanish speaking missionaries (he's such a good guy... we had TOO much fun: we saw this girl pick her nose and eat it and couldn't stop laughing for twenty minutes ha!). Anyway, we were visiting some potential investigators and met this guy from Mexico called Cruz! It was freezing outside so he invited us in to share the first lesson. Now, for those that know me, I DO NOT speak Spanish... I studied it for four years so I can listen and understand but I cannot talk. Well, I'm listening carefully and can hear little snippets of the lesson ('Jesu Cristo', 'aposticia' ect). Well, it gets to part about the First Vision and I ask if I can share it... as I read from the pamphlet, the Spirit was crazy! I'm certain my pronounciation was awful but it was one of the most powerful time I've shared that scripture. Elder Perrault continued to teach and, as he asked Cruz to read the pamphlet, I felt prompted to promise Cruz that, if he read that pamphlet on his own, he'd feel the exact same way he did as we shared our message. I asked Elder Perralut to translate and, as he made that promise, Cruz just changed... he gazed at the pamphlet for 30 seconds and then said 'really?'. It was SWEET ha! It goes to show that the Spirit has no language barrier and it was a blessing to me to see the power our message has to change people!

 

Anyway, I best be off... I love you all! Please pray for us here; we are going to need added strength but I know that, 'with God, nothing is impossible'!

 

Love Elder Pelham

MONDAY 28TH JANUARY 2013-WEEK 26

Elder Marcus Pelham: Richmond, Virginia 2012-2014

Elder Josh Field : Leeds, England 2013-2015

Elder Sam King: Brisbane, Australia 2013-2015

Elder Jason Boyce: Greece, Athens 2013-2015

 

ALMA 17:1-4

 

'And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla. Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God. And they had been teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power of their words many were brought before the altar of God, to call on his name and confess their sins before him.'

 

Isn't this scripture just perfect?! I cannot believe that after six months (as of today may I add) of serving the Lord, three of my best friends in the world will be joining me in this great work of bringing souls to Christ! I feel extremely blessed today to be able to wear this tag and stand as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ! I wanted to share with these friends (and all who read this blog) some scriptures that I have grown to love over these past six months! I am excited for our reunion (although instead of Manti it will probably be on the BYU Provo campus!) when we all share the experiences we had as missionaries!

 

ALMA 42:31

 

'And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according to my words. Amen.'

 

This scripture helps me understand where my call to serve in Virginia has come from: God Himself! A missionary is called to do many things but it can ALWAYS be encapsulated by Alma's statement... to 'bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them'. To some, we may be just young adults pounding the pavement, others may respect and admire our efforts but, when we look at this work through God's eyes, we are on a mission to save His children! The message we share isn't just 'interesting' or 'nice' - it is eternal truth, taught from the mouths of prophets, that enable each person to return home! In the words of Joseph Smith, 'how great is our calling'

 

D&c 84:88

 

'And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your righthand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, tobear you up.'

 

A good friend of mine shared this scripture with me at my mission farewell! This a promise from Jesus Christ that He never leaves His servants alone... He is always there! I have seen this time and time again - not only as a missionary but throughout my life! Our message is that God loves His children so much that 'He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in himshould not perish, but have everlasting life.' Christ's suffering - known as the Atonement - enables us to overcome sin, pain and grief (see Alma 7:11-13). The Atonement is infinite AND intimate - in fact, it can bless EVERY life on this earth! It is His Atonement that has got me through these six months and that will carry me throughout the rest of life's challenges :)

 

D&C 123:13-14

 

'Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things ofdarkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven — These should thenbe attended to with great earnestness.'

 

Missions are not easy! They are not the same as how they look in 'The Best Two Years'. Indeed, every day won't be an Ensign article! BUT, the miracle of missionary work is that, for those that act in 'great earnestness' and 'waste and wear out [their lives'], there is no going back! A missionary's greatest convert is themself! THAT IS POWERFUL! I can see the growth that I have been blessed with so far and I am excited for the growth I'll undertake in the next eighteen months! I am working hard but no effort is wasted because each lesson I teach, each member I visit, each door I knock is my personal testimony that Jesus IS the Christ; that after centuries of confusion He restored His church and fulness of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith; that there is a prophet on the Earth today and, most importantly, that only through the Atonement of a loving Saviour can we fulfill our potential and grow! I love that message and I am willing to 'give up' two years to share it - I'm grateful for great friends who, even though the Atlantic seperates us, still set the example for me of why I signed my name on that page and said ' I will go and do the things which the Lord commands' (1 Nephi 3:7).

 

I leave this with you with love in my heart and joy in my soul,

 

Elder Marcus Pelham <3

TUESDAY 22ND JANUARY 2013-WEEK 25

Well, another week in Poquoson... I LOVE IT HERE SO MUCH! We have been busy - since being called as district leader, I've been on an exchange with other missionaries at least once a week so I've been all over the zone! It's good fun though - we have been blessed with some of the best missionaries in the mission and it's a great opportunity to learn from them! It's crazy because we're all so young YET the work we're doing is incredibly intense... thanks goodness for prayer huh?!

 

In fact, this had been the busiest transfer of my mission so far by a mile! I don't think I've sat down for five weeks ha! It's been a blessing though - I'm growing a lot and, for the first time, I'm able to be the one giving help rather than being on the receiving end! It's also helped me to lose myself in the work - I'm definitely a full-time missionary now... I'm exhausted when I go to bed and shattered when I wake up at 6.30am! You're gonna have to let me rest for a few days by the end ;)

 

Despite the heavy workload, I'm still having fun! I appreciate the little things a lot more these days... hopefully that will come across in the pictures of Elder Stika (he's a greenie from the NN3 branch) and I from our exchange this week! I was just telling Fizzle about how close you become to those you serve with/around... they really do become your best friends! We have fun, whether it's in little Private jokes or dancing to crappy music in between meetings :)

 

So, an update on the area - we have 18 LESSONS PLANNED THIS WEEK! It's pure craziness... when I arrived, the average was 2 and now it's 900% more! Isn't that crazy?! We are being blessed beyond belief here and I'm grateful for that! The change, I think, has come from one main thing: focusing EVERYTHING we do on the message of the Restoration and how we can allow that to change our lives! It's a powerful message that we have been called to share and I'm very grateful I get to be the one to share it right now! One miracle we've had is Fanny... she's from a part member family that missionaries have worked with for over a year! Her husband is less active but, over time, he's starting to come to church, little by little! And, sure enough, we've begun teaching Fanny and her daughter Aurelia! It's amazing to see, mostly because of how much we have grown to love them (they have been fantastic to me... my nickname is Princess is fact... that's another story...) and also, to feel the Spirit as we teach them about the Restoration and the First Vision! It's causing some big changes in their lives and, slowly, the Holy Ghost is testifying that what the missionaries share is true :) And I'm blessed enough to be able to witness that!

 

I also am grateful for my wonderful companion (and friend), Elder Ovard! He is one of the kindest people I know and he has definitely been very supportive and patient with me! It's funny how much you can grow to love someone but he is such a great example, it's difficult not to! Please keep him in your prayers... we need the energy to be able to handle all this work!

 

Anyway, I best be off - I love you all and am grateful for your prayers; they make a difference! Have a great week :)

MONDAY 14TH JANUARY 2013-WEEK 24

Hey Friends and Family,

 

First off, I'm sorry I didn't write a blog last week! The holiday season gets pretty crazy even for us missionaries and, by the time I'd finished all my other e-mails, I didn't have any time! But I'm back with some cool experiences to share...

 

This week has been mixed (again!) - Elder Ovard and I have been sick for the majority of the week so we've spent alot of time resting and we're still suffering a little (pray for us please) and there's been a lot of things to organize in the district (we've now grown from 7 to 11 - we have two Spanish Elders, Elder Guzman and Elder Perrault and a senior couple called the Wilsons) so, all of that combined has led to a lot of stress!

 

However, it's also been a week of miracles and growth! On Thursday, we had a district meeting and Elder Stagg trained on using the message of the Restoration with members. As part of his training, we did a role play where we taught the lesson in five minutes and then invited the head of household to pray to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet! And man, was it powerful! We've used it in nearly every lesson since and, every time, the Holy Ghost has reconfirmed that the First Vision is real. I'm grateful for that knowledge and have really felt a change in the way I think about that event :)

 

On that same vein - we went and spent the afternoon visiting less active members of the ward yesterday afternoon. Eventually, we were invited into the home of Sister Moore. We got to know her a bit and felt that we should share the message of the Restoration with her. So, we teach this lesson (which was one of the best lessons that Elder Ovard and I have taught together btw!) and got up to the point where we share the First Vision. I felt prompted to ask everyone to consider 'what has changed in your life as a result of the Restoration?'. As our young man, Kyle, read that account, I suddenly felt a sincere appreciation for the priesthood and the ability we have to give blessings. We started to teach the Book of Mormon when I felt inspired to ask Sister Moore when the last time she had a blessing was. Her face changed at that question as she said 'how did you know I was thinking that?! Just before you said those words, I had a thought pop into my head to ask you for one'! It was amazing - the Spirit was very strong and I was grateful that Heavenly Father allowed me to be a part of that! I definitely have a testimony of the priesthood - the power of God IS on the Earth!

 

I can see the change in me and hope it comes across in these entries. The reality is that, although Heavenly Father can use certain missionaries to touch certain people, our mission call is more about OUR conversion than anyone else's. I was reading a story during my study time the other day that really touched me and I'd like to share that with you:

 

'A few years ago, Elder Javier Misiego, from Madrid, Spain, was serving a full-time mission in Arizona. At that time, his mission call to the United States appeared somewhat unusual, as most young men from Spain were being called to serve in their own country.

At the conclusion of a stake fireside, where he and his companion had been invited to participate, Elder Misiego was approached by a less-active member of the Church who had been brought by a friend. It was the first time this man had been inside a chapel in years. Elder Misiego was asked if he might know a José Misiego in Madrid. When Elder Misiego responded that his father’s name was José Misiego, the man excitedly asked a few more questions to confirm that this was the José Misiego. When it was determined that they were speaking about the same man, this less-active member began to weep. “Your father was the only person I baptized during my entire mission,” he explained and described how his mission had been, in his mind, a failure. He attributed his years of inactivity to some feelings of inadequacy and concern, believing that he had somehow let the Lord down.

Elder Misiego then described what this supposed failure of a missionary meant to his family. He told him that his father, baptized as a young single adult, had married in the temple, that Elder Misiego was the fourth of six children, that all three boys and a sister had served full-time missions, that all were active in the Church, and that all who were married had been sealed in the temple.

The less-active returned missionary began to sob. Through his efforts, he now learned, scores of lives had been blessed, and the Lord had sent an elder from Madrid, Spain, all the way to a fireside in Arizona to let him know that he had not been a failure. The Lord knows where He wants each missionary to serve.'

I have a testimony that my mission call is from God Himself - I have had way too many 'aha' moments to doubt that I was called to Virginia by revelation! I'm excited as my wonderful cousin (who I am so proud of) and two of my best friends prepare to get their calls to serve the Lord this week - I will be there in spirit guys, I promise! Whatever that piece of paper says is EXACTLY where God wants you to go :)

I love God with all my heart and will always be grateful that He called and qualified an eighteen year old boy from Haywards Heath, England! In the words of Ammon 'I know that I am nothing... but with God, I can do all things'! I know this is real because I'm living it!

WEDNESDAY 2ND JANUARY 2013-WEEK 22

Can you believe that we're already in 2013?! It's crazy to think but it was 5 months since I reported to the MTC on the 31st December... isn't time just flying by?

 

We have been witnessing miracles occur here in Poquoson and, instead of trying to build suspense, I'll just say them first and then explain later... On the 30th December, we had TWO baptisms! Yes, the area that couldn't baptize had two baptisms in one day! If that isn't a miracle, I don't know what is!

 

So, let's start with the story of four! At the start of each year, each ward comes up with a ward mission plan which involves a goal for how many baptisms they will have that year. The thing is that, over the last three years, Poquoson hasn't baptized a single person and, at the start of the year, didn't look like it would either. However, our ward mission leader, Brother Lemmons and the missionaries felt very strongly that during 2012, the ward would baptize four people...

 

Well, in July, Brother George Veltri (a 70 year old man who had been investigating for a year) was baptized into the ward! Not only were the ward members surprised but so were the missionaries... A month after I arrived (on September 22nd to be exact), Sister Barbara Bruhn joined the church after waving down the missionaries riding by one day in the hope they could help her 19 year old son Seth before he joined the military! Recently, Elder Jensen and I began teaching Rhett Miller, a 14 year old boy from a less active family who wanted to join the church... Well, on the 30th December, Rhett became the newest member of the Poquoson ward! You may notice that only makes three people... This is where one of the most amazing experiences of my life comes in!

 

On Sunday 23rd December, Barbara, Seth and her boyfriend Kavin came to church! Seth had always been open but, everytime we brought up baptism, he just turned away and said 'I'm not ready yet...'.  Well, as we sat in sacrament meeting, I felt the distinct impression to write on a post-it note 'how can we help you Seth?'. Not really thinking about it, I followed that prompting and handed it to Seth. He sat and thought for ten minutes and replied 'just keep coming round... we need you more than you think'. This sparked a thirty minute conversation that ended up with Seth asking if he could be baptized that weekend... the last weekend of 2012!

 

It was stressful BUT we made it happen! Everything just seemed to fall into place so that, at 4pm and 6pm respectively, Seth Ryan Bruhn and Rhett Xavier Miller were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. By some miraculous turnaround, Poquoson had gone from baptizing no-one in three years to the promised four in 2012! I know this shows that God really knows His children and, even before they came in contact with the missionaries, He was preparing those four special people to join His church! I have to come to love each of them, especially Seth! He's only a few months older than me and is just like my friends back home... Heavenly Father has blessed me to know him and be able to have him as one of my best friends! Expect to hear much more about him :)

 

Another miracle this week was the chance to baptize LaMond Baird, one of the Pirmary children here! I love his family and he's like a little brother to me... I struggle to put into words how spiritual that experience was for me! To have the opportunity to baptize one of Heavenly Father's children was incredibly humbling and powerful - I have reaffirmed my testimony of baptism this week as a result! It really is the gate in which we enter into God's path!

 

This has been a great week because of my new companion, Elder Ovard! Man, do I love this kid! He is such a great guy and an example to me in so many ways... he's so funny yet spiritual! I feel honoured to be able to spend (at least) six weeks with him... we definitely were meant to be companions together :)

 

So, that's been my week in a nutshell... we've been busy! I gave seven blessings last week, was part of four confirmations (two of which I gave), was part of three baptisms (with the privilege of baptizing Seth and LaMond personally) and interviewed two people for baptism who are now members! I'm tired and often stressed but I love my job... we fasted for a white Christmas this month and, in this tiny area of Poquoson, that's exactly what we got and, hopefully, will continue to get (ps. Kavin has a baptism date for the 31st January!). I am grateful that God invites me into the process... I understand that I have nothing to do with these miracles expect being obedient and diligent enough to be the instrument in God's hands! I testify this is His work - He is in the vineyard with us!

 

Happy New Year,

Elder Pelham :)

MONDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2012-WEEK 20

Today marks my 140th day away from home! Time is flying WAY too quickly... I have now served four and a half months in Poquoson and am loving every minute of it! I have made friends for life here and have been blessed to have met some of God's greatest children!

 

So, transfer news: I'm staying here for (at least) another six weeks :) Elder Jensen goes home tomorrow (I'm sad to see him go - I've really grown to appreciate him!) BUT I have a great new companion coming on Thursday! His name is Elder Ovard and he's been out for three months. I met him a few weeks ago in Richmond and he seems like a great missionary so I'm excited to learn from him!

 

This has been a weird six weeks... very humbling (I'm sure that will sum up every transfer - I've never struggled with pride eh?!) and, at points, extremely challenging but also very rewarding - I feel I've grown up a lot already :) I am now ready to apply humility and faith and let God take over more... I am only an instrument after all! We've seen a lot of progress in those we have been called to teach - in fact, we had 5 people we've been working with at church yesterday (a ward record in fact!).

 

This week has also been a great week - miracles as usual! My favourite one was on Saturday - we'd been walking around all day dropping off 'care packages' to some families who needed some TLC. It was getting dark and we were cold and tired and had to rush back across town to see Justin Aamondt open his mission call (Utah St George btw!). Well, there was no chance we'd make it on time so I said a quick prayer in my heart and, no jokes, thirty seconds later, a car pulls up and this couple offer to give us a ride ha! We managed to give them a card and share a little and make it to out appointment on time... so, the moral is that God will send taxis to His servants when they pray for them ha!

 

We also had a lot of people struggling this week - I don't know if you heard back home but there were some horrific shootings in the States and a lot of people have been really hurt by it! It happened on the day of the ward Christmas party and there was just this heavy feel in the air... lots of mothers mourning! I can't share many details but I felt very blessed to be able to use the Priesthood to offer service to some who were REALLY struggling! It made me appreciate the Atonement a lot more as I KNOW where those children have gone and I know it was only through Christ's sacrifice! It is true when we say the Jesus lives!

 

We're excited for this week - Rhett is getting baptized on Saturday (yay!)/ He's a real special kid... we have a lot of banter but we really do love him! Every once and a while, I catch the vision of him as a missionary.... that's what it's all about really! Baptism is simply a step back home :)

 

I love you all - hoorah for Israel :)

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