Wk 59

Hey Family,           December 19, 2010      

      So I just got back from the wedding of Micheal Seduco to Wela Elizan. Micheal has been an investigator for a very long time, and just a few hours ago he finally did what he has needed to do for years. Get Married! I just realized that was my first wedding I had been to in my life. It was neat. Really simple and short. There was about 20 people there in all. We got to sign as the witnesses. I felt pretty cool. I was really excited for them. They have been waiting a long time to get married. His baptismal date is set more January 15th now. So we are excited about that too.

      This transfer has flown by. It will end right before the new year. This transfer with Elder Adams has been a great growing period. And I have absolutely loved it. It is always fun getting to know new people new companions and learning how to make this work well with each of them. Elder Adams is a really strait forward guy, so it has been nice because as soon as something isn't as good... as it could be in our companionship... he will bring it right up. It has helped me a lot with being able to talk things out, when usually I am just quiet about it. So our companionship has been awesome, because we have had very minimal time in allowing disagreements to linger. Which is super important cause it is impossible to teach people if there is the spirit of contention. Those same lessons of love has been nailed into me over and over again. If we are just trying to be like Christ, if we just think at all times about other people, life is so much more pleasant and just fun. Sometimes I feel like I am too reserved of a person, it is also something I have been trying to improve on. I realized how all reservedness goes right away when your life starts to focus on others. 

     Thanks for sending that analogy mom and dad, I really liked it, about how our life is a tandem bike with Christ at the front leading. All we have to do is Pedal. Even if it the road is a little scary and fast, just keep pedaling. I like the end "And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ." 

      It has been really neat hearing from all my friends out there in the field. We are in such different places but things are so similar. Josh’s letter was awesome. What a strong missionary.  Mckay has always been the most Christlike person I know. Thanks for sending their letters every week.

     Alright so President pulled me in his office last week and told me I would be leaving the office.....haha...I was pretty excited. I am going to miss the office a lot but it is going to be so great to be more involved in the work. I will be serving as a zone leader somewhere on Panay. Don't know where yet. I am just hoping I don't have to learn a new language. I might have to go back to Tagalog. Wherever, I am pretty stoked to go. No more car though...:) This next week I will be training Elder Gowey as my replacement in the office. There are tons to train on so I am pretty excited.

     Oh yeah and on Christmas I will get to go to the Guimaras Island. We get to sail across the ocean a little ways to Guimaras on these viking look alike boats. I am way excited about that. We will be going to see Elder Goweys baptisms that are on Christmas. We also are preparing for the 22 foreign missionaries that are coming in. It will be crazy. There are so many of them we have to get them hotel rooms for their first few days here.

      So Karver is way sad looking. Poor little guys left eye. It looked pretty beat. You’re all going to Las Vegas for Christmas? Sweet! So I will call you when you are all there. About that...I was thinking I was going to call Christmas morning here, which means Christmas eve evening there. I am not sure what time I should call there. Let me check on google really quick. If I call around 9am here on Christmas, then it will be about 5pm there. I will try to call around that time not unless you want me to call sometime different. I could also call Christmas night if you want. Just tell me what’s up.

      Looking forward to hearing from you on the 24/25th! Love you all and talk to you soon.

-Elder Kirschbaum

  

 Peddling The Road Of Life                                                                        

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, But I really didn't know Him.                                                                                               But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.                                                                                          I don't know just when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable... It was the shortest distance between two points.                                    

But when He took the lead, He knows the delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"                           

I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand.                                                                                          He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine.                  

And we're off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.                                                               

I did not trust him at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.                  

And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.                                                               

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says.... "Pedal."                                                                           Author Unknown