Don't send mail. I mean, send stuff through email and those websites and stuff, but regular mail takes FOREVER! Elder Searl (one of the new zone leaders) got a letter today that was sent ten days ago, and that's really short! The only reason he got it that fast is cause it had international postage on it. His companion got a letter on Monday that was sent on September 4th! So yeah. I really want to hear from everyone, so write! Just don't send through the regular means. Also, dearelder.com apparently takes 10-14 days to get here as well. So email is probably the best option.
One of the more happy things is that I've realized I'm not one of the greenies anymore! I mean, the first four days at the CCM everyone marks you as a new person cause you gotta wear your suit, but now, there are two more batches of young sprouts in! And I don't feel as awkward with Spanish, although I'm not yet sure if that's cause I've learned more, or just that I'm not the least learned one in the CCM anymore!
Also. Sorry, this kinda counts as monumental, but I didn't even think about it until just barely, but I was made the District Leader! I'm still not exactly sure what that means, and what else I'll have to do, but it happened. And there's a meeting tomorrow that I'll go to learn about that. This didn't happen until Sunday, cause our old DL (Elder Johnson) was made a zone leader when the past ones left on Monday morning. (It's so weird to think that I've seen two groups of Elders leave!)
Speaking a little about Sunday, Dad wanted me to tell him about it, so here it goes. Everyone writes a talk for Sacrament meeting, which is at 10:30, cause the Branch President just calls random people to come up. Normally everyone gets the chance to talk at sacrament meeting at least once at the CCM, but it might be a little different, cause this week is Fast Sunday, and next week is General Conference. Which, by the way, we will be watching. In Spanish. So I probably won't get anything out of it until the Liahona or Ensign gets here. But Sunday. After church the Branch Presidency has a time we can have interviews with them if we want, but so far my district has taken that as the opportunity to have a jam session. We all just go into one of the piano rooms and play whatever we know, sing along, and just talk. It's so much fun, and I really love these guys here! And then, at 8 or so, we watch a movie in the Gordon B. Hinkley building auditorium. So far we've watched The Testaments and How Rare A Possession. Then we have a District meeting, and that's it. Lots of study in the other times.
One of the major things, though, that I've learned this week is that the Lord is always looking out for us, and his tender mercies are everywhere, we just need to look for them. I found this out last Friday. It was kind of a hard day, not because it was really all that hard, just that I was feeling pretty homesick (They had peaches at lunch, and I made the mistake of eating one). But later that afternoon, I just kept finding scripture after scripture that comforted me, then there was an AMAZING sunset. I didn't get a picture unfortunately, but it was so cool, cause it was sprinkling at the time, the sun was a perfect golden glow on the horizon, and to top it off, there was a double rainbow just in front of our classroom window! Heavenly Father truly does answer our prayers, and loves each and every one of us.
I was really kinda dumb, and didn't bring my scriptures with me to the computers, but one of the best scriptures I found this week was in Exodus, I think it's chapter 14, verses 13-14, but it might be chapter 13. It's just as the Israelites are at the edge of the Red Sea, being pursued by the armies of the Pharaoh. I mean, that would be a pretty scary prospect, right? But when they start to fear and complain that they will surely die, Moses speaks those words to them. And that was under the prospect of possibly being slaughtered! In that light, we don't really have all that much to worry about, and the scripture brings so much comfort. But the coolest part only comes if you read it in Spanish. The first words Moses speaks to them is this: No temais; estad firmes. That quite literally translates to English as "No fear; stand firm."
That's really all that we need to do to have happiness in our life. The opposite of fear is faith, so really the best advice I can give to anyone right now going through a change, or some scary part of their life is just that. Have faith, cause it'll all be fine in the end. And stand firm in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. If we do those two things, we will be delivered from our troubles by the Lord. I know that this is true, and I hope that all of you know that too.
I don't really have anything else to say. I hope you're all doing well, and that you can recognize the hand of the Lord in your life. I love you all! Mexico is still awesome, although the food does get kinda old fast. Beans and tortillas should only be served at a limited number of meals per day.
Adios till next time!
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| Thirst no more, Elder Powell! |
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| Thinking ahead... or thinking on a head |
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| Elder Powell and me |
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