eldercaliforniadreamin: Simple But True

Welcome September. Things have been finally starting to cool down here. This past week has been all mid to low 80's, which has been such a blessing. It is not fun riding a bike with a tie on in 100 degree weather. It is weird because you can almost smell the change in seasons. Maybe I sound crazy but it's true. Anyways this week was another amazing one, as is every week here. There is just nothing that brings more joy that sharing the message with people that they have a loving Father in Heaven.

So this week we were able to meet Robert. He has been taught in the past and missed missionaries so much. He talked about the spirit he felt when he was around them and how he wanted to meet with them again. When we met with him he explained his belief in the Book of Mormon and the message of the restored Gospel. The only thing keeping him from being baptized right now is his smoking addiction. We are starting to work with him to help him overcome that. It is such a blessing to be able to witness the Atonement of Jesus Christ work in someone's life and help them to change. It has definitely changed my life completely and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share it with others so it can change their lives as well.

Well with the introduction of Facebook in our proselyting efforts it has allowed us to contact many people we haven't before. We have also been able to have several lessons with Deborah. We are able to send her online scriptures and pamphlets through the Facebook app. I am so grateful for this. It is breaking down the barrier of distance. I am excited to witness the miracles that come because of this.

Well last Wednesday we had the 2 week new missionary meeting. It was a little weird because I felt like I was just in this meeting as a new missionary being trained by Elder Toki, and now I am the trainer. As I train I realize now the point of view of my trainer. I understand why he said the things now and how I must have frustrated him often with my new missionary pride lol. I am grateful for him as my trainer, because he taught me so much, and I am grateful now to be able to pass this information down to Elder Damon. I am so happy to be with Elder Damon. He has such an excitement for the work and wants to share it with everyone. At times he has the new missionary pride, as I did. When I get frustrated it just makes me laugh inside because I know I acted the same way with my trainer. But I love him. I couldn't have asked for a better companion. It is always so surprising how much you learn from each companion. He is teaching me things about myself I have never thought about, and he is helping me become a better missionary and disciple of Christ.

I love this Gospel. I know it's true. I feel like I really can't say it enough. I want to shout it from the rooftops with every fiber in my being. This is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the greatest message in the world, and yet... people still reject it. I will never understand it. Brother Palu, an old Tongan man in our ward always says, people reject it because it's too simple. They don't want to just have to read and pray and find an answer. They don't want to just go under water and come back up to be baptized. It seems too simple. There has to be more we need to do to live with God. Just as in Old Testament times when Moses put a brass serpent on a pole and told all those who look at it would be healed many chose not too because they thought it was too simple. People want complexity, they want religious scholars with all these degrees to show them the way and teach them the gospel. They don't want to simple gospel of Jesus Christ that he has established.

I testify that this gospel is simple. But even in the simplicity of it takes an eternity to understand. The gospel is true. Follow the simple commandments he has given us and we will be blessed. "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."

Love, Elder Hallmark