4-26

"We are free to obey or not to obey the commandments, but we are not free to alter the content of those commandments, neither can we avoid the consequences of breaking these commandments. Choosing should always include wanting the consequences of what we want." ~Neil A. Maxwell

Hello Family & Friends!
This week was great and full of opportunities! On Tuesday I went on an exchange with Elder Holmes. The day started out with a district meeting in the morning (where me and him both trained). I trained on the importance of prayer. If there is one thing that I feel is important is prayer and the power of it! I think I take it for granted a lot ... and need to get a stronger testimony of it - So that's what I hoped for, as I trained on prayer my personal testimony grew. As we talk to others about struggles and as we live & teach our family and friends principles our testimonies for those principles will grow. The day went pretty well. Elder Holmes has been out in the mission field for about a year and still struggles with his spanish. Goll, I look up to people that have to learn another language! - talk about HARD!
This week Elder Palmer and I have been trying to talk with everyone that we saw (because that's what an obedient missionary does... even if the situation is a tad awkward). Well one of our recent converts in the ward lives in the ABC program... (an AA Program) and when we went there and was walking to his appartment everyone started making fun of us and pointing to each other saying "come to him, he needs the message". Well.. that's what we did we went "to them". Everyone was covered with extreme and explicit tatoo's and were smoking bad drugs but as we taught and prayed the spirit was there with us and we were able to find these two men who listened and wanted us to come back. Our return appointment was for yesterday and we came and taught them about the restoration and temptation. It's so funny how satan blinds people to think evil is good and good is evil (prophecy in Moroni 7 fulfilled I guess!) With the spirits help we were able to promise some way awesome blessings to each of them if they took these things seriously and they excepted!!
My love for my mission is growning emensly! To be truthful my reasons for coming on a mission were completely selfish and all for myself... you could say because of duty and fear. but I have gained a love for serving my Heavenly Father so much. I was teaching this less active girl Aida Doria and telling her of my inadequacies and homesickness at the first of my mission. She told me that from her 14 years of not going to church that I was the one to bring her back. It is so crazy the little dissions that we make like going on a mission can bring about such important dissions to partaking of eternal life!
I love you all so much! Remember your commandments and covenants that you have made with our Father in Heaven. Stay safe and have a good week. May the spirit always be with you and may we always strive to be with the spirit.
PS. Happy one year aniversary Brett Moore for being a member of the church!!!-- Love, ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE