Unexpected arrivals

 

Hey everyone!

First off, I must share with you a story which happened last Saturday. I would have included it in my General, but it happened as I went shopping for my groceries for the week - this happened after I had sent the General. Anyway, it was a bit of a stressful shopping trip. First off, I had signed up for a much later van than I usually take due to my tardiness in signing up for a vehicle. After this, we got to the store, but it took quite a bit longer than I would have liked - when I reached the check-out line, I had tried to choose a shorter line. I failed at this, and ended up in line for what I believe was 15 minutes. However, this was perhaps meant to be. I had returned to my van, and those of us who were out shopping were talking to a man parked next to us. He asked us questions about our beliefs - not critical questions, he wasn't looking to start an argument at all. Instead, he seemed spiritually lost. He did believe in God, though he had led a difficult life. Long story short, we had answered his questions, and I had given him my pocket-sized Book of Mormon which I had carried everywhere in my suit for a while, and we had invited to attend an LDS worship service the next day (Sunday). I have learned from that experience that one never knows when he will be given an opportunity to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. Therefore, one must always be prepared spiritually always, just in case such an event comes up. I have also learned that the Lord has a hand in the work of his servants so they can be in the right place at the right time - I had signed up for a van for a time I don't usually shop, and I had waited much longer than normal in the checkout line at the store - now, I don't believe that was an accident.

Anyway, now to the happenings of this week. I must say, this week is the week - my one-year mark had passed by last Tuesday! One year ago that day, I had said goodbye to the family in the lobby of the building which I now visit every Mondayfor the devotional. Of course, due to the missionary schedule, I have not been able to celebrate yet, but now that it is Saturday, I will be going out to Tucano's for the third time during my mission. It was either that or the Garden restaurant on the 10th floor of the JSMB - both were about the same price, but I was hungrier for Brazilian cuisine than the American fare served at the Garden. I may eat there in the future sometime though. Either way, I look forward to being able to celebrate a year's worth of service, and kick off another great year!

Now, I had not expected this Monday to be much different than your typical Monday - there were still a week until the third Monday of the month, which is normally when new young elders arrive on the mission. However, tradition was set aside for this week, and we got exactly two new young elders this month - Elders Shaw and Hollingsworth. I guess this means that transfers will be happening this next week. However, I do not believe much will change for me here - I have had my monthly interview with President Fenn earlier this week as well. He had told me that he plans on keeping me in this zone for a bit longer, and that he plans on keeping me as a district leader for a while longer. So, the only change I could see coming is that I would lose my companion. Even that is unlikely though. So, you should be able to expect me in the same zone, and receiving E-mails from me on the same day as always.

We have had our Young Elder's conference this week. President Fenn was the first speaker here, and the very first thing he did was ask if everyone had a pencil and a pad of paper with which to take notes. Now, I carried a couple of pencils with me in my suit pocket, but I did not have any paper. He then had some paper and pencils passed out to everyone who was lacking. Of course, I was not well prepared, but now, I no longer plan on making such a mistake again. Anyway, President Fenn only spoke for a few minutes due to schedule constraints. After this, we heard from his assistants, and next from the counselors in the mission presidency, as well as their wives. The messages shared, as always, were great. I will cover one thing which stood out to me in my challenge below. 

Finally, the choir has been practicing for an Easter program. I am excited to be able to perform with the choir more than I have been as of lately, and I don't want to ever stop attending as I have before. I don't remember the songs which we will be performing for the Easter concert, nor do I remember the one which I performed last Monday. However, performing with the choir is still good. It makes me think of what I will do when I get home - I will definitely have to continue making music of some sort then.

Well, it has been good to be able to E-mail you again this week, and to hear from you as well. Thank you all very much for your support. I hope you all have a good week!

From,

Elder Bryce Petersen

Challenge: During mission conference, we were given a message from the assistants to the president, as we always are. They had spoken to us on an issue which I have noticed is quite prevalent in the mission - specifically, some Elders have not been overly thrilled with their assignments, and quite a few feel under-utilized. In speaking of this, one of the assistants, Elder Evans, had shared with us a story from his childhood, where he would take long car rides. To entertain him, his dad had asked him to count all the trucks which passed by on the road. As he counted them, he began to realize that there were many of them on the road, and they seemed to be the only thing that people would drive. However, when he began counting cars instead, he realized that there were a lot of cars as well, and they now seemed to far outnumber the trucks. In reality, the amount of cars and trucks was about the same throughout the entire experience - there were never any more or less. His looking for one or the other did not change how many were on the road - just how many he perceived to be there. Such is the way with everything in life - if we are to look for problems, lack of competence, injustice, and just bad things in general, then we will be sure to find them, and they will seem to far outnumber the good things. However, is the problem truly in the environment we are in, or is it within ourselves? President Monson has said, "We cannot control the wind, but we can adjust the sails". So, instead of looking for the bad, "count your many blessings, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done". I, personally, think this is a great mission - what a blessing it is to serve in the family history library and around Temple Square! What a blessing it is to be able to serve in the first place! There is a lot of good in this mission, and though one should not simply tolerate certain situations, there are many times where the solution may be to simply count trucks instead of cars, or blessings instead of problems. That is my challenge to you - when you look for the good, you will find it. The best way to find happiness is, quite simply, to look for it!