Member faith is awesome, How I Love Natives. and other Topics

Family,

 I'm feeling better, so you can stop panicking.

 And no, mom, it wasn't the entire package of apples, for I did verily drink much water. It was totally Gluten. And by the way, any time you want to send more of those up, that would be great. ;)

 We had an awesome week here in Anchorage We worked hard, stayed obedient, and were blessed with 2 lessons this whole week, which is double our last three weeks (our area is... a bit slow. We're really trying hard to change that). I know that as we stay obedient and keep working, we'll be blessed even more. It will be awesome.

 Speaking of blessings, we had an awesome lesson with an old, one-handed, native member. He related the entire gospel and foundation of the church to a fly fishing pole. it was pretty cool. And then he said a prayer, which hit me like a spiritual ton of bricks. I'll quote just a bit of it; it was powerful. In context, he's asking the Lord to bless us: "Please bless these men, these warriors of the rainbow. The rainbow is Christ, who promised to come again and bring peace. These men are his warriors, come to bring that peace"

 On a slightly related note, My favorite picture of all time is "Peace is Coming", by McNaughton. Check it out. You'll see why I like it. 

 This week was pretty cool, all in all. At a dinner recently, I made the error of letting the three-year-old choose what page of the Book of Mormon I should share a spiritual thought out of. He chose Alma 21:6.

Alma 21: 6, Thou also sayest, except we repent we shall perish. How knowest thou the thought and intent of our hearts? How knowest thou that we have cause to repent? How knowest thou that we are not a righteous people? Behold, we have built sanctuaries, We do believe that God will save all men.

 But then I realized that this is the response we get from a lot of people as we're out here on our missions, and in life. People tell us, no thanks, what I have is good enough. We don't have to prove them wrong; we just need to show them that what we have is even better. We simply need to show, by our actions, lives and deeds, that our Fruit is good, and that it's at least worth looking into.

 Out of time, with companions breathing down my neck.

 Love From the North,

 Elder Darcey:)

Satan Tries to Kill with Enchiladas!

To swat a millfly, use a shovel (Star Wars reference, anyone? Yes? No? OK, never mind).

 To swat an Elder Darcey, use MORE Gluten. It's funny, how Brock tells me to watch what I eat, And Dia (formerly Sister Darcey) Eats a whole Non-GF Pie, at the same time as I'm Doing the same at a Mexican restaurant up here in Alaska, two days in a row. (don't ask)

 This Sunday was great, and by great, I mean horrible. I woke up feeling good, shifted a little, and had a gluten knife shoved into my gut and twisted. All day long. It wasn't the funnest day I've had out here. But enough of that. I'm OK now, and probably won't die anytime soon from that.

 Other than Death's Near-Elder-Darcey-Experience, This week has been pretty awesome. We're probably turning our only investigator over to the YSA Elders, though, which is kind of a bummer.

 On the Other hand, She'll be around people her own age, and she'll be able to go to more activities and stuff, which will help her more in the end. So, We'll just go get more investigators!

Somehow... Parents, my finance issue last week has been resolved. Thanks so much for making it work out quickly and effectively. I also got the dehydrated apples you sent along with it! Thank you sooo much! You have no idea how much I loved those things. Yes, they're gone now. I ate them all. But thanks. I loved them.

I don't really have a lot more to say. I really am sorry for the short emails- it realy has just been business as usual, doing the same things,

While working hard to not get in a rut (hard up here, ruts are all over the roads...).

 Love to you all from the North, Elder Darcey

A Righteous Leader at the Helm?

All,

 It's good to write from a working computer. I have only a few things to remark upon, but Hopefully they are good things. First, I'm doing great. No problems with being GF, no real issues with any personal things, except that one thing I have already emailed my parents about, which they hopefully respond about soon... maybe... please...

 We had a pretty hard week here in our area, though it wasn't much harder than most missionary life, so don't worry. the most interesting day was when we were out frying to contact former investigators, and one asked if we were drunk for calling. He told us that he was a day sleeper (it was 5:00 PM), that his entire family woke up too (are they all day sleepers? Did we contact a family of vampires?

 One's name was Felix... if you get that reference, kudos), they were all mad (as if we insulted them, their dog, and all their ancestors back to Adam...) and that we should never drop by, or we would be really, really sorry. it was fun. However, there is a opposite to everything!

 At 8:30 that night, we get a call from our investigator who is open right now! it was awesome! We had a great lesson with her, and really enjoyed the time, and in the end had a great day, because of course, all's well that ends well. So that was a great day.

 Here's a cool thought about rightous leadership. it's in 3 nephi 3: "Now behold, this Lachoneus, the governor, was a just man, and could not be frightened by the demands and the threatenings of robbers; therefore he did not hearken to the epistle of Giddianhi, the governor of the robbers, but he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength against the time that the robbers should come down against them."

Now check out the footnote for robber; it goes to 1 Kings, where King Ahab (wicked) is presented with the same threats, and he capitulates completly.

On the other hand, look at Lachoneus. He doesn't fear a man; he only fears God.

It really makes a difference who's in charge; if they're rightous or wicked. That's really true on the mission, and in life, If we're put in charge, we need to show rightous leadership; otherwise we end up as Ahab. That's all really.

Parents please write back soon about that issue.

 Elder Darcey