Six....?

Hey folks!

The week has been great so far!  Elder Warr and I have felt that our finding has slowed a bit this transfer, and so we have set a goal to find six new investigators throughout this week.  So far, we have found four, and set a baptismal date with another investigator who has been coming to institute for months now for January.  If we keep things rolling we could easily even exceed our goal!  It is always good to have goals we can be excited about.

On the 6th of December, I hit my final six month mark.  This has been an interesting time for me.  I no longer feel that I have too much time remaining on my mission, and I hope I can combine my acquired skills and diligence to make these last few months count.  Not saying that I have not made the last many months count, but that the need to work at 100% is perceived as even more dire.

To put it this way, if this was a marathon, I would be just past my 19.65 mile mark.  Unfortunately, viewing the mission in this way implies that the hardest is yet to come because, as my experience has taught me, it is at the 21st or so mile mark that your legs go out of compliance and revolt.  You experience the joy of a quadruple muscle cramp in your legs and physical exhaustion is at the door.  HAHAHA, but don’t worry, I doubt I will break down when I hit then point again!…?

Speaking of which: Nobody ever said they would want to run a marathon back home at some point when I asked in April.  The offer is still open.  You have six months.

Here comes the spiritual thought of the week!

It has become abundantly clear to me that Isaiah is my favorite book of the Old Testament at this point in time.  Though not always the simplest of writings, the testimony and prophecies of Isaiah are unique in style and clarity from those elsewhere in the Bible, mainly referring to the Old Testament.  There are many things about which I could and would love to write about the book, but given both time and need to focus my writings into as short of passages as possible, I will write about only that which is most significant for me: The testimony of Christ as demonstrated throughout these pages and how it has helped me.

To those desiring to strengthen their faith in Christ rather than to argue or debate about whether or not it truly speaks of Him, the prophecies are clear.  The book has a very special feeling to it, as it testifies that “a child is born, [and] unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9).  It centers around Christ’s Atonement, and in it, the voice of God proclaims that He has given his “back to the smiters” and his “cheeks to them that plucked off the hair” (Isa. 50:6).  He says to have “taken out of [our] hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs” (Isa. 51:22).  

Above all, Isaiah has helped me to know that Christ lives, and that He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.  He is perfectly consistent.  Many people criticize the Bible or God himself for seeming unloving, impatient, unmerciful, or unjust in the Old Testament, compared to the loving God of the New.  Yet, it is the God of both testaments who proclaims in the Old that, regardless of our failures, “His hand is stretched out still” (Isa. 6:25).  It is He who promises in mercy, that though our “sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” if we repent (Isaiah 1:18).  Would an unloving God let His voice break though the darkness of tribulation, saying “fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”? (Isa 41:9).  

Though the writings of the Old Testament appear at times contradictory of a merciful nature when viewed out of context or misinterpreted or mistranslated, it is abundantly clear that God’s love for us is perfect, while His tolerance for sin is a perfect zero.  When we make decisions against the commandments of God, He loses His ability to bless us in the same way as though we had kept them (see D&C 130).  This leads me to my concluding point: God does not force us to do good, and He does not force us to follow His Son.  Jesus Christ is not our savior to exclude any people in this life or the next from happiness or joy.  Some have said Christians think they are the only ones who have a shot at heaven, and that we think all who die without hearing are damned forever, and that it would be unfair for everyone if He was the only way.  This is not accurate, however.  All mankind is fallen and without a means to recover from the fall we would remain fallen and spiritually dead for eternity.  This would be inevitable for all.  However, just as we all are fallen, we all have the chance, in this life or after, to hear the way of redemption.  It happens to be that this way is Christ.  Yet nobody is forced to this path.  Those who accept the Gift God has given us receive greater joy and peace through him, but that is contingent upon how and if we choose to follow Him.

As a person who seeks daily to accept this gift, I am grateful for God, that He sent His Son, and that there has been a means provided whereby salvation can be brought to pass.  How grateful are we to be able to focus on that especially in this Christmas season! I know that my Redeemer lives, and I have come to know by the testimonies of others, including those of His living and late prophets!

Also, let me know if I accidentally end up teaching false doctrine!  I write these as fast as I can and can’t proofread too many times, but I try my best to write the truth as I feel it in my heart.  As a result, it is possible that it can be misinterpreted or miscommunicated on my part.

Have a merry Christmas!

Love you all!

Elder Wallentine 

Picture Explanations:

1. I am crying because the KFC was way too expensive

2. A Christmas market for children that sold good Kinderpunsch.  Kinderpunsch is sort of like a hot cinnamon and grape/other fruit cider.  Pretty good.

3. A Bär

4. Germany starts advertising in favor of the Word of Wisdom, but for different reasons.

Hey Family!

Just wanted you all to know that I am thinking about you all this Christmas season and that I hope all is well!  I hear that the new Star Wars came out this week (today?) and I hope you have lots of fun seeing that and such.  Also hope things with school, Wahooz, taking care of babies, graduating college, medicine, learning Japanese, getting more caregivers, avoiding pain while running, finding a potential qt 3.14 to marry, surviving the winter, and everything else possible are going well! 

I can’t send gifts very easily, but I did make a Christmas card for you all.  Don’t worry, I only used a bit of free time in the evenings and on Pdays to make this.

I am keeping you all in my prayers!  Also, don't Collette, Izzy, Emmett, Lilianna, or Wyatt have Email accounts or Facebook by now?  What is their contact information?  I haven’t gotten a single email from them yet.  If I offended them I hope they’re not still being babies about it.

Anyways, I love you all!  Hope all is well!  Also attached a picture of one of the first nutcrackers.

Love,

Elder Wallentine