Hey! Everyone!
Mom thanks for that song that you sent, I really like it. (In the Strength of the Lord by Jenny Phillips). I am actually listening to it right now. I think I might cry. :). But really...I like the message. I kind of feel like the brothers of Nephi. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much and I have had so many marvelous experiences, but the good old natural man of Garrett likes to forget those things I have learned and just focus on...me or slacken my strength. It’s a dirty pronoun, me. These past few weeks have just been a real trial for me. I think a lot of it has been because of my attitude and just thoughts toward companion and self. Maybe it’s the fact that I will be going home soon. They call that trunky. But I want to deny myself of all trunkyness because first of all I know that when my mission is over its not. Being a disciple of Christ is not just a two year thing, it’s my whole life. I remember a letter that Elder Stewart wrote about being a disciple of Christ.* I don't want to just serve two years and...yup done. But...I want to BECOME. Kind of like that talk that was given last General Conference. Becoming vs Doing. This last week was just that. A Doing Elder Kirschbaum, and nothing of the sort of Becoming. I have been having a hard time Becoming and even doing. Becoming the most important of the two. The song you sent me just kind of reminded me of the faith that is needed in the Lord, an enduring faith not just when it’s convenient. huahh.
Yesterday at church I was surprise attacked with the "can you give the talk in sacrament in 5 min" So after playing the opening hymn on piano and confirming Sister Gracelee Gadong. I received a little revelation on what I could speak about. Something that I want to do better this next week. That is...having a vision. In Proverbs it talks about without a vision, the people fail. I applied it to wearing glasses. When we take off our glasses, we can't see as well. It was a training given to us at leadership training. That will be something I will do this week. Set myself a vision.
Well let’s move outside of my mind and let me tell you about the awesome Baptism and Activity we had this week. A few weeks ago we decided we were going to do a combined baptism with a close by ward. It was going to be Alfonso, Erma, and Gracelee being baptized. After the Baptism, we would do a talent show. After getting everything rounded up and then Saturday came. Here is what happened in a nut shell.
We have been telling Erma to inform her husband about her baptism for a long time. Her date is now moved to the 8th hopefully of October. The father has a great respect for the church. He is awesome and we are still working with him.
Alfonso ended up coming back from Manila on Monday, but then left again to Borocay (a famous tourist spot here. You should look it up if you haven't already) He was supposed to be baptized on the 24th but we will have to move his date. We had a lesson with him though on Sunday and he told us he had smoked and had almost gotten rid of his addictions but not yet. So we committed him right then to stop. He gave us his cigarettes and we chucked them and stomped on them on our way home.
Gracelee was baptized!!. We had 1 baptism this week. Even though the others weren't baptism it was an amazing baptismal service. Gracelee was soooo ready. She just bawled as she bore her testimony after. Her family was super happy. In one year they will be at the temple. :)
The activity was a success in the end. We had a talent show. Even though most of the talents were little 5 year old girls. We had a few investigators come too! And of course we drew eyes on our chin put diapers on our heads and did the whole upside down lip sync thing. The same thing that you did in your mission Kyle. haha. :)
Well I have to go now. But I love you all and I am so grateful for all that you do for me. Talk to you again next week.
-Elder Kirschbaum
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