How On Earth Do People Do It?

All,

I used to be able to do it--all this heat--apparently, but I don't think I can anymore. As  you can see from the picture, we had a rather hot and sunny day. I wanted to DIE.

Anyway, 

I used up all of my time responding to emails, so I can't say anything, as I'm out of time. 

Nothing really happened this week anyway. Business as usual. The church is still true. 

Seriously, Sorry. You'll get a good one next week.

Elder Darcey

P.S. The other picture is Elder Terry's Arm, which is the result of a burn and skin grafts.

All,

This week, since I talked to you Thursday, was great. We have baptized our investigator!!! She has had so much faith in Jesus Christ, it's been nothing short of incredible. This is the testimony of a person changed by Christ in every way.  She has found the Pearl of Great Price and she didn't bother about the cost. Everything she needed to do, she did. She simply had faith that it was good and that she would receive blessings.

And has she ever!


She's been accepted into online college, her service hours are complete, her mom moved out of her house (where she's been "hiding out" illegally for the past two years), Her children are doing better... Etc... It's incredible to see the improvement that her life has gone through in  just the short time that we've known her.

Anyway, I don't have much more to say. The Church is True. 


Happy Father's day, all who are fathers, but especially most particularly and especially mine. Love you tons, Dad. I'm out here for you.

Love from the I-said-a-lot-last-Thursday-and-tired-myself-out-North,

Elder Darcey

The photos must be self-explanatory because they came without explanation.  

Zoning Out In Juneau Again

all,




Me eating a fish eyeball.  Or at least attempting to appear that i am eating a fish eyeball.  I've eaten moose, deer, five kinds of salmon, and lots of other great stuff, but the fish eyeball was the winner.



I Love you all. Sorry for not getting back to you until today; I was in Juneau, and Ketchikan. Zone Conference, you know.    




LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT IT. 


First, after traveling all day to Juneau (4 hours on a ferry, 6 hours waiting in an airport waiting for a plane, 3 hours in a plane) we had an amazing Zone conference. 


Elder Koelliker (you know, of http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/he-truly-loves-us?lang=eng  fame?) came up and spoke to us personally. It was incredible to hear, and even better to feel. The spirit was as strong as anything I have ever felt; everyone in the room felt it like a pressure. 


Every time truth was spoken, I felt a confirmation. It was incredible. The big topic was prayer, and how we need to emphasize it to a greater degree. We need our investigators to pray, because that is how they establish a relationship with their Father. We can't do it for them; they need to have their own relationship. 
The spirit was truly powerful that day. 


I came away with a question about my own testimony that the Spirit gave me: "I know I would die for my testimony, but will I do the harder thing? Will I live for my testimony?" 


It's easy to die for something you know; or at least it is for me. The harder thing is getting up every day with the commitment that I'm going to go throughout this day as a true representative of MY Savior, Jesus Christ. If called upon, I would become a martyr for what I Know. However, in the meantime, I've been called and set apart, and I've covenanted to Live and share what I know. That's harder, no doubt. But it's worth it, and I wouldn't do anything else.


Our investigator is being baptized TOMORROW!!!!


She has truly been prepared for the gospel. President interviewed her and found her ready to partake of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and receive a remission of her sins (AKA, Baptism) and a sanctification of her spirit (AKA, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost). I am humbled and grateful that the Lord saw fit to place me here and use me as his tool to start another one of his precious daughters on the path back to Him.


I gave a talk on Joseph Smith in Sacrament meeting a few weeks ago, And I would like to share a few points about it. Unfortunately, I don't have it with me now. Remind me for next week.


That's about all. I learned how to whistle with my fingers, got to hold a baby deer (pictures next week too) and was truly lit on fire by the Spirit this week. 


I've been in Prince of Wales 5 months now. I'll probably leave next transfer (6 months is a long time for President to leave us). This place has ingrained on my heart, and I will always remember the things I've been blessed to do here. 


That's all, All. I'm signing off.


This Church is true. God Lives. Jesus Christ is the Literal Son of God and the Savior of the World. Joseph Smith is a True Prophet. We are led by a true and living Prophet. The Book of Mormon is True. We can find that out by praying to our Heavenly Father. As we ask with a Sincere Heart and Real Intent, He will manifest the Truth of it unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost. 


I know this is true. No one can take it from me, no one can deny it. I would die for it, and I WILL live for it. 


Love to All from the North,


Elder Darcey

Transfers Today--And I AM Not In Ketchkan

Pictures are of me and a Steam Donkey, which is a large, obsolete logging tool. look it up. I bet Dad used one.

 The picture of the moos-en (a flock of moose, obviously) is actually my mission president on the right, along with the mission assistants. they said that transfers wore them down, like a 5000 piece puzzle.

 All,

 It's good to be writing you from NOT Ketchikan on this beautiful summer day. In fact, it's great to be alive today. I'm not in Ketchikan, the hummingbirds are out, I'm not in Ketchikan, our investigator is still plugging along for baptism. Neither Elder Terry nor I are leaving Craig, the work is going great, I'm not in Ketchikan.  I'm so glad things are going OK at home and for my two favorite sister missionaries abroad, the weather just got nice today, I'm not in Ketchikan, I'm not in Ketchikan, I'm not in Ketchikan, I'm not in Ketchikan, I'm not in Ketchikan, I'm not in Ketchikan, I'm not in Ketchikan, I'm not in Ketchikan!!!!

This photo is of me eating fish eyeballs.  Which Mom is sure I did also not do!

 Sorry, Got a little too excited. As you might be able to tell, I'm glad I'm not currently in Ketchikan. As far as Alaska goes, Ketchikan is not my favorite place to be.
Anyway, everything's been going great for me up here. I've had so many great experiences up here, It's hard to pick only a few to talk about.

Trials come, and they're pretty difficult. However, The Lord doesn't give us anything we can't handle.

I would like people to check out the book "Believing Christ". It talks about how we need to not only believe IN Christ, but we need to BELIEVE him. When he says that he can make us perfect, we need to believe Him. The church gets a lot of flack for not believing in Grace. That's not true. We believe in Grace as much as anyone else. If we have ever made a mistake, we need the Grace of Christ to save us. None of us deserve to be saved and we can't earn it.  Grace just comes through His Grace because he loves us.

Here is another really great link to a great talk defining more Grace beliefs:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV-elFs3flo

Luckily, we have a judge who's going to be merciful. He's not going to be fair, because if he were fair we would all be in Heck. He's going to be merciful, not because we deserve it, but because he loves us.

Anyway, I'm off. Love to all from the North, but not Ketchikan,

Elder Darcey