Happy Easter!
April 14th, 2009
What a wonderful time of year to be a missionary. I want to wish a happy Easter to all my faithful readers, friends, and family. Christ the Lord is risen! (Hmm, reminds me of a few hymns…)
This last week has been, without a doubt, a week of miracles. Three of the people we’re teaching have committed and are preparing to be baptized. We have two young women, roommates, who are preparing for May 2nd, and another woman for the 25th of this month. As we’ve been working with them, I’ve seen how the gospel has really touched their lives, and particularly this Easter weekend; the atonement of Jesus Christ. But really in the end, it’s nothing that we as missionaries have done, we’re just instruments in the Lord’s hands, it’s the spirit that’s worked through them, and that they’ve felt. I know that to be true.
I feel almost like things are starting to “blend” more. Looking back at the past week, the events seem almost to mesh into one great whole… If that even makes any sense. I guess that’s part of losing yourself in the work. In the same line, I feel like I’m becoming more missionary minded. I’m “putting away” the things of the past as I strive to be a better servant of the Lord. Still though, I’m constantly humbled; on a very regular basis I feel weak and unprepared, even afraid. But I’ve found humility can be a tool to help us improve and grow.
Not long after we found one of our investigators wanted to be baptized, this past Friday, we received a phone call from one of the Assistants, Elder Stout. He was previously one of our Zone Leaders, but as he nears the end of his mission he’s become the newest Assistant. Anyway, he called and asked us where they could meet us to give us our new car! I thought he was joking at first, but they delivered, and now we’re riding a rather new Toyota Corolla, in style! Haha. Of course, we’re limited on miles per month, so we’ll still bike when the weather is good.
Speaking of weather, it continued to rain for a little while after my last entry. The night after that was especially bad! And since we didn’t have the car then, we got pretty soaked. As we biked home in the rain that night, we started singing hymns out loud, it was pretty late so I don’t think anyone heard us, it was totally worth it though. Singing can really lift your spirits.
I feel like I have more to say, but I’m not sure how to put it into words. I’m as always thankful for your letters and emails. I received some Easter packages from family and friends, so thank you! The candy is delicious, and hopefully if we bike a little more, won’t make me fat. (I’ve been steady at 150lbs. since departure!)
The ward here is awesome, they’re really nice to the missionaries, we have dinners almost every night. They’ve been especially great with the investigators we’ve brought in, helping to fellowship and make them feel comfortable.
Well, I’ve got a whole Preparation Day ahead, and tomorrow is Zone Conference, where President Jardine will speak to several zones in this area of Sacramento. It’ll be the biggest gathering of missionaries I’ll have seen so far, since the MTC of course. I’m excited for that!
I hope you’ll all continue to write and let me know how YOU are doing. I really want to know. I hope that hearing about me can help your lift your spirits in some way. So on that note, enjoy the rest of your weeks!
Love,
Elder Macpherson
PS.
I don’t know if anyone’s noticed this, but my “Mission Timeline” page is completely borked when I look at… at least on this library’s computer. It’s saying I’ve been on my mission for 700,000 days or something. So apologies if it doesn’t work for some people, since I can’t fix it now! :P
PPS. Sorry about any typos in these posts — I don’t think my family is spellchecking :P