I thought the cousins were crazy, All, everyone of you, but we're just small fry compared to my companion, Elder Terry. But really, really, everything's fine
Anyway,
Elder Darcey here. We've had a great (crazy) week up in the North. I can't kick whatever sickness I have (my branch President (who's one of the islands doctors) diagnosed me with Bronchitis for now) I lost my voice (a lot), Our investigator who's on date for the 16 of June might go to jail for a crime she didn't commit (Play the A-Team theme song here{the movie version, not the TV show}) and I might get transferred before then anyway because transfers are next week and I've been here 4 months already.
I love being on a mission so much. No jokes.
The weather's been indecisive yet again this week, which is really annoying for us.
I'll send pictures next week.
I got a package from my Family!!!!! It had a USB drive (it's already full; I have a lot of pictures. Tell me if I should send it back and you can copy the pictures to my computer and send it back to me) and lots of candy. However, it had also been beaten up a lot in transit, and the chocolate was basically destroyed. Yes, even the eggs in the bags. I ate them anyway, though, because candy's expensive up here too. So, in conclusion, Thanks much for the package.
I've got a simple spiritual thought this week, which is what I've been sharing around. My trainer (you all remember Michael (formerly Elder) Ivan?) carried a lightsaber around in his backpack so that he could remember to keep the Force (spirit) with him all the time. We as members of the Church have the gift of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, just as the Jedi have the Force.
We must always be worthy of that gift so we can share it with others (We're better than jedi because they can't give the Force to others). D&C 11:12-13. Substitute the word Spirit with the Force. The Force is a gift from God, and we need to be worthy of it so we can receive the blessings it gives.
Just because you're all wondering, yes, I also carry a lightsaber around in my backpack.
Love from the I-really-don't-want-to-go-to-Ketchikan-next-week-please-President-don't-make-me North,
Elder Darcey
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Lost In The Dark -- Spiritually and Physically
All:
You know that you're an Alaskan if...
Anyway, It's good to write again. This week has been crazy difficult, but also filled with Blessings. We had 2 days in a row where everything fell through. Literally, everything. It's been difficult to get up in the morning. People don't want to talk to us. Everybody keeps simply not showing up to appointments.
We Drove to Naukati (pronounced "knockity"), Coffman Cove and Thorne Bay (accidentally; we missed our turn back to Craig) in one day; it took 5+ hours. The weather's been bad, The days have been rough, and the work has been slow. however... The work still progresses.
God finally got to the Heart of one of our investigators problems. She's native and has been told repeatedly by other Christian Faiths that God can't love her. Added to her own, really harsh personal experiences, she doesn't believe she's a daughter of God. After enduring 2 hours of senseless rambling, we finally got down to the Heart of the problem: She feels rejected by God. She knows there is a God, but she also believes he doesn't care about her. After another hour, we finally just bore testimony of God's love for her. It was incredible. The Spirit bore that witness right to her soul, and she broke down crying. She not only felt our love for her, but she felt Her Savior's love for her through us.
We didn't deserve that experience, but we got it anyway. Just another testimony that God loves us as well.
I want to answer a few questions that arose previously, "Are you wearing the knife for protection or just to impress the parents? Yes.
What is that photograph of a bear. Did you take it and are you close up to it and why is there no cage between it and you if you are that close. Was it one of the ones that you mentioned when we spoke on the telephone. Remind us of the story? There aren't any cages on the Island. That bear was about 30 feet away, just off the side of the road. My camera has awesome Zoom abilities, regardless. It was a little one, regardless, probably only 5 feet, maybe 150 lbs max.
Last week's photo of the welcome sign of Thorne Bay is a Logging Claw, the biggest in the world. After the majority of logging shut down, it was converted to the welcome sign. Side note: next to the claw is a small wood park bench. People are so worried about the claw being stolen (sarcasm face), they attached a small chain to the bench. Now, if anyone tries to steel the claw, they have to drag the bench too! genius! The claw is completely safe from thieves now.
I would respond to your question by saying: I am wearing my pajama pants in public because I'm awesome. And it was 8 in the morning; we had been up and driving since 6 to beat the low tide in Kasaan.
Anyway, my thought this week is in Alma 1:1. Warred a good warfare? That is way cooler than you would think. If you "fight the good fight", that's only one battle, right? King Mosiah "Warred a good Warfare". That means he fought to do the right not just once, but every day. He fought not just one battle, but many battles.
Maybe he didn't win every battle, but he won the war in the end.
Application time: We need to war a good warfare. we don't have to win every single fight with Satan; in fact, it's guaranteed that we won't. However, we need to keep trying, keep fighting, and keep getting back up.
The victory doesn't go to the winner of the most battles, but the one still standing at the end of the War. We can beat Satan; he doesn't even have legs to stand on.
Anyway, that's my thoughts. Love to all
From the it's-going-to-be-one-of-those-go-from-winter-right-back-to-winter-years North,
Elder Darcey
You know that you're an Alaskan if...
- You laugh at people who wear coats when the temperature drops to 50°F (I always did this though, so nothing new)
- Anything above freezing is T-shirt weather (That's how I got Freezer Blisters on my arms; it was -17, but it seemed warmer...)
- You need an air conditioner when the temperature soars into the 60's (seriously; it's gotten to 50 and we start melting)
- You think the Red Green show is a documentary (this is my favorite)
- You know if you tell your kids to "be home by dark" you won't see them until Fall (The sun comes up at 4 right now, and it's not completely dark til 10).
I think I'm there.
Anyway, It's good to write again. This week has been crazy difficult, but also filled with Blessings. We had 2 days in a row where everything fell through. Literally, everything. It's been difficult to get up in the morning. People don't want to talk to us. Everybody keeps simply not showing up to appointments.
We Drove to Naukati (pronounced "knockity"), Coffman Cove and Thorne Bay (accidentally; we missed our turn back to Craig) in one day; it took 5+ hours. The weather's been bad, The days have been rough, and the work has been slow. however... The work still progresses.
God finally got to the Heart of one of our investigators problems. She's native and has been told repeatedly by other Christian Faiths that God can't love her. Added to her own, really harsh personal experiences, she doesn't believe she's a daughter of God. After enduring 2 hours of senseless rambling, we finally got down to the Heart of the problem: She feels rejected by God. She knows there is a God, but she also believes he doesn't care about her. After another hour, we finally just bore testimony of God's love for her. It was incredible. The Spirit bore that witness right to her soul, and she broke down crying. She not only felt our love for her, but she felt Her Savior's love for her through us.
We didn't deserve that experience, but we got it anyway. Just another testimony that God loves us as well.
I want to answer a few questions that arose previously, "Are you wearing the knife for protection or just to impress the parents? Yes.
What is that photograph of a bear. Did you take it and are you close up to it and why is there no cage between it and you if you are that close. Was it one of the ones that you mentioned when we spoke on the telephone. Remind us of the story? There aren't any cages on the Island. That bear was about 30 feet away, just off the side of the road. My camera has awesome Zoom abilities, regardless. It was a little one, regardless, probably only 5 feet, maybe 150 lbs max.
Last week's photo of the welcome sign of Thorne Bay is a Logging Claw, the biggest in the world. After the majority of logging shut down, it was converted to the welcome sign. Side note: next to the claw is a small wood park bench. People are so worried about the claw being stolen (sarcasm face), they attached a small chain to the bench. Now, if anyone tries to steel the claw, they have to drag the bench too! genius! The claw is completely safe from thieves now.
I would respond to your question by saying: I am wearing my pajama pants in public because I'm awesome. And it was 8 in the morning; we had been up and driving since 6 to beat the low tide in Kasaan.
Anyway, my thought this week is in Alma 1:1. Warred a good warfare? That is way cooler than you would think. If you "fight the good fight", that's only one battle, right? King Mosiah "Warred a good Warfare". That means he fought to do the right not just once, but every day. He fought not just one battle, but many battles.
Maybe he didn't win every battle, but he won the war in the end.
Application time: We need to war a good warfare. we don't have to win every single fight with Satan; in fact, it's guaranteed that we won't. However, we need to keep trying, keep fighting, and keep getting back up.
The victory doesn't go to the winner of the most battles, but the one still standing at the end of the War. We can beat Satan; he doesn't even have legs to stand on.
Anyway, that's my thoughts. Love to all
From the it's-going-to-be-one-of-those-go-from-winter-right-back-to-winter-years North,
Elder Darcey
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
All Talked Out - Having spoken to family yesterday
Maybe you should just be there next time I call in, Eh? I joke.
And FYI, yes we do see black bears all the time and this is a big one. It's head was monstrous! Don't ask how I got such a great close-up.
Dear All,
I had a great last week. It was awesome to talk to family, even if they were busy having the missionaries over. It was great to be able to describe the island in words instead of writing.
2nd Nephi 33:1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.
Ether 12:23-24
And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;
And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.
________________________________
We scheduled a young lady for discussion last week. She's pretty awesome. She has lots of questions and is actually interested, which makes it easy for us.
We had some training last week from Salt Lake that lasted 8 hours, but was completely worth it. Our main trainer was the Head of the missionary department in SLC, who was also the mission President in "The District" 2 DVDs.
He reminded us of 2 big things that I want to share: We are the only Way people can completely access the Atonement. Our job is important because we teach about Christ, and he's the only one who can give a remission of sins. We are not just missionaries. We are representatives of Jesus Christ and that's what we need to act like.
We should not be afraid of exercising our Priesthood, because that is what Christ would do.
We had an amazing experience along those lines. We went into a house, and just felt impressed to ask if anyone needed a blessing of comfort and love from Jesus. They sent us to a woman who was basically on her deathbed, and we gave her a blessing. At that moment, I will swear that I felt God's love for that woman. I didn't even know her; I had only just learned her name, but in that moment I loved her and wanted to do anything for her. I know we were conduits for God's power at that moment.
I know God loves us all.
That is the basic message that we bring to people: God loves you, and he wants to bless you with everything that he knows you truly need.
Love from the North, Elder Darcey
And FYI, yes we do see black bears all the time and this is a big one. It's head was monstrous! Don't ask how I got such a great close-up.
Dear All,
I had a great last week. It was awesome to talk to family, even if they were busy having the missionaries over. It was great to be able to describe the island in words instead of writing.
2nd Nephi 33:1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.
Ether 12:23-24
And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;
And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.
________________________________
We scheduled a young lady for discussion last week. She's pretty awesome. She has lots of questions and is actually interested, which makes it easy for us.
We had some training last week from Salt Lake that lasted 8 hours, but was completely worth it. Our main trainer was the Head of the missionary department in SLC, who was also the mission President in "The District" 2 DVDs.He reminded us of 2 big things that I want to share: We are the only Way people can completely access the Atonement. Our job is important because we teach about Christ, and he's the only one who can give a remission of sins. We are not just missionaries. We are representatives of Jesus Christ and that's what we need to act like.
We should not be afraid of exercising our Priesthood, because that is what Christ would do.
That is the basic message that we bring to people: God loves you, and he wants to bless you with everything that he knows you truly need.
Love from the North, Elder Darcey
Prince of Wales is Number FOUR in size
United States Islands over 250 square miles (650 km2)
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