Monday, March 30, 2015

Transfers and Newbies

My Beloved Family, 

So last Sunday we had church and I learned that spiritual knowledge is strength to overcome obstacles. I also decided that I want to be way better at piano. I'm going to practice like crazy at home. That night was Transfer calls as well. We told everyone where they are going for the new transfer. Monday we started ticking things off the list. Bus tickets to provinces, preparing the contacting experience for the new missionaries, preparing bikes for transferring missionaries, preparing for Sisters to go into new areas, White washes, preparation for training the trainers and the trainees, organizing housing for people who will need to stay the night/come down early. On Tuesday we continued on that list and going to District meeting and Office Staff Devotional took out the day pretty quick. Wednesday we went and got bikes fixed and purchased four new mission bikes. We also had to get a bike decked out for the 2.05 meter tall missionary. I'll send a picture. 

Thursday morning the new missionaries all arrived on a plan. It was so exciting! I have a picture of them walking from the terminal. They are all so excited and well prepared and they're going to do great! New missionaries give so much energy to the mission. We took them from the airport directly to the market to split off and contact with some experienced missionaries. It was a blast. I got Elder Hall with me and we got some awesome return appointments! He speaks really well and most of them do, they just struggle with listening/comprehension. After that we had lunch provided by sister moon and then we started the round robin. We taught them all they need to know coming into Cambodia to serve a mission. Following that we had another orientation meeting where we played with a puzzle. they split in groups and tried to solve it. They soon found that other people had some of their pieces and then realized that they were all missing a piece. They were in my pocket placed by President moon. There was a lot of symbolism derived form that one activity. Depending upon the Lord, communication with your companion, asking your mission leaders, we're not all the same piece but we fit into the big picture, etc. It was fun! Then we had dinner provided again by sister moon.

Friday was T-day. The day of all madness. The culmination of all we've done for more than a week. Transfer Day. We hoped and prayed and worked and prepared to make this day work. President moon called audibles throughout the week changing up who was going where with who so we had to return bus tickets and buy new ones five times. We also had to call and tell the missionaries about their changes and a couple of them were changed multiple times. It was a hard and stressful week for president and us... But we got to the day and we assigned the trainees to their trainers, and everyone showed up and we started piling luggage into the van and taking people to the bus station. It was mayhem until we got the last group to the bus and then we could breath for a sec. Then the finishing missionaries were all chilling at the mission home and a couple of them had their parents show up. It was nice to see and sad to see them go. 

I miss my family. But I am not ready to go home. I am in the service of the Lord. I am doing His work. I am His servant. I have been called to serve by a living prophet for 2 years. To preach, teach, exhort, and baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. Even though in my current position I do not get to teach investigators and members as much as before, I get to teach and serve missionaries. I get to help these instruments in the Lord's hands to be sharper, more fine tuned, and more efficient in the work of the Lord. I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ changed lives. It changes hearts. It changes people. It restores to them a knowledge of what they knew before they departed from their Heavenly Home. This life is the time to repent, to prepare to meet god, to labor diligently in the Lord's vineyard. We are His children. We are the race of God. We can be like him. We must know Him, obey Him, and teach others about Him. Our lives are founded on simple principles of Praying to our Heavenly Father daily, reading and pondering His word through the scriptures and the living prophets,and attending sacrament meeting and church meetings to partake of the sacrament to renew our sacred covenants and be nourished by the good word of God. This leads us to faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the ability and the will to endure to the end. This leads to temple covenants, eternal marriage, and salvation for our deceased family. This is the way, and there is no other way whereby salvation cometh. No other way to reach Godhood. No other way to have peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come. Christ is the way. He invites all to come unto Him and forbids none. Come unto Him, and be perfected. Put off all your imperfections, your sins, and your worldly desires. Put off the natural man and become a saint through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Become submissive, meek, and mild as the Savior. This life is to become. Every day we become. Decisions determine destiny. Decide now to be like our Savior, to be like God. Then do what Christ has told us and shown us to do that we may achieve that. We cannot do it ourselves, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I Know He lives. So can you. 
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Lyle R. Brewer












I sewed a tie!


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