I
talked to Sasha and she said that they haven't had a lot of time to figure
everything out for the sealing, but she wants to at least get endowed on the
26th, but she said she'd let me know for sure probably tonight.
Our
investigators liked conference. We had 2 in church this week that are really
excited and I think at least one should be able to get baptized before I go.
One thing I liked about this week was that we did splits several times and it
was fun to see how the other missionaries were because it's been a while since
I've done much work in splits. One challenging thing is a situation we have with
an investigator. She herself asked to be baptized next week without us having
invited her to baptism. We said that we could make that work. The problem is that
we found out after saying that that she isn't married to her
"husband." At first I didn't think it to be a problem because they're
not currently living together anyway. But she is planning to move to where he
is living now soon. I called President to see if it would be ok to baptize her
if we made a plan with her to get married as soon as she moves (the
"husband" is also willing to listen to the missionaries), but he
didn't approve so now we're going to have to go tell her that she actually can't
get baptized next Sunday. I'm pretty concerned about it, but I'm hoping she'll
understand. I have my doubts though because at the end of the day she is
keeping the commandments currently and if we made a plan for her to get married
when she arrives there then I wouldn't see the problem, but I also understand
the risk involved. I could weigh both sides of the argument all day, but I'll
stop now I guess because I'm not in charge of the decision.
One tender mercy is
that I decided to make a more consistent effort to study the Book of Mormon
with a question in mind. So a couple days ago I was reading with the question:
"Has my missionary service been accpetable?" I then read this in
Helaman Chapter 10:
"And
it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon
the things which the Lord had shown unto him... and it came to pass as he was
thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came unto him saying: Blessed art
thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast
with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this
people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but
hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments."
So I
can say that it's worth reading the Book of Mormon with a question in mind.
We'll get more out of it and the scriptures will become more personal for us.
One thing that I'll miss about the mission is being able to not think so much
about myself. I don't have to worry much about finances, grades, etc. Just
trying to help others. One thing I'm looking forward to when I get home is
putting in practice what I've learned from the mission back home and seeing how
different post-mission is from pre-mission. One thing I've learned much better
from the mission is to "Trust in the Lord with all (my) heart; and lean
not unto (my) own understanding." One way that I've matured is in my way
of seeing things. I think it's really easy for teenagers to see their life as
their own, but I now realize that it's one big opportunity to serve others. I
did get your pictures, thank you. I'll be going to Tajin later so you'll have
to wait until next week for those pictures.
Love
you,
Elder
Finlinson
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