To start off, those baptism picks were of the 10 year old that wanted to be baptized (sent from her mom's phone). Her name is Jaylynn. We found her when Elder Proctor was having a bad day- he wasn't sure if something he did was right, (no details, for now) and we were walking to our dinner appointment, (we were only slightly lost- we didn't know how to get to the street they lived on) but then Bishop pulls up and says, "Hey, Elders! You won't believe who I just talked to!" He had just visited a family who just moved in-- Rosie, with her daughter, Erika, and Erika's daughter, Jaylynn. They were less active in their old ward- didn't like the people, or the ward wasn't welcoming or something- and came to 1st ward and loved it!! So they started coming back to church, and Jaylynn wanted to be baptized! So we teach her the first lesson put her on date for the 19th, and they start becoming active again- Those three, Jaylynn's younger brother, Ryan, who's 5; Sonya, Erika's sister, who also went less active and married a non-member. Now, the primary program was last Sunday, the 13th right? Before that, Erika told us that she had been having dreams of Jaylynn being surrounded by snakes, that she (Erika) was trying to keep away from her, while Ryan was sitting safely in a car a short distance away. DO YOU SEE THAT SYMBOLISM??? We found out why (or, more specifically, why I think so) at the primary program-- So, those people (the family) went to it, including the non-member husband, I think. Not only that, Erika's only brother went to it also. You're probably saying, "Elder Dial, that's not a miracle." but get this-- the guy is anti. He doesn't want anything to do with the church; he even said that he'd never step foot in a mormon church ever again. But we found out that he went to it for Jaylynn. He said that he felt he needed to because of Jaylynn. We haven't seen anything else come out of it, but it was awesome!! :) :) :)
I did get Grandma D's email, and her letter/ picture of Christ this last week, so we're good! (and mom's halloween package with the two books and the journal [which is so epic, thanks!])
I have no idea what my Thanksgiving plans are, as I am going to a different area for the week- there's an elder on the East side who's companion is also going home this week, and I get to go over there for the week because he's a zone leader (and has to be there for zone training), but he's in Albuquerque till tomorrow, so that's when I go over there. So as of right now I'm chillin with the Fort Bliss Elders, Elder Hill and Elder Hancey, who will be taking over this area until transfers next week. (we found all this out last Monday at 7pm, that's why I couldn't tell you until then :)
Zone conference was awesome, there were 4 zones there, so about 50-60 missionaries, and no, I did not have to give another talk, but the Chamizal zone (that's my zone) sang a musical number- ukulele version of "Called to Serve" that's pretty epic, I'll send a video of it if/when I get a copy of it (I didn't think of recording it myself till we were in the middle of singing it, sorry). But yeah, it was awesomely epic.
If I haven't embraced the fact that I'm awkward, I sure have now. Enough said.
I'm just going to end this with a quote or two, (I don't know who they're by) "Wherever you are, BE THERE."
"Where e're thou art, act well thy part"
"... see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength..." (D&C 4:2)
That last one, you think you know what it means, but you don't. You won't know what it means till you've tried it, and only in hindsight will you realize what it really means, and that you did it for a time. Be highly motivated and truly dedicated to the work- whatever that work is for you, delve into it! (unless it's stupid, then don't)
Throw yourself into the work because "Life's not a spectator sport. If watching is all you're gonna do, you're gonna watch your life go by without you!"
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves"
You're not alone-- just like agents have resources and someone who knows what we're up against, we do too!! Christ knows what we're up against, and he gave us these resources (the scriptures, priesthood leaders, even music) to help us "withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Keep the faith, Press forward, never give up, never surrender!! :)
Te whanaunga mo ake tonu!
--
Elder Eli James Dial
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