"Finishers Wanted"

Good Morning!

It's been six weeks since I collected my new missionary, Elder Dearing. Six weeks of learning from him rather than actually teaching him. And it's been six weeks since the last transfer! God knew I was getting too comfortable in Salina so He decided I needed to be elsewhere. So that's what happened! I will be serving in the St. George YSA 1st Stake with Elder Koyle, my first companion in the mission field! He will help me learn how to handle the college students as my knowledge is very slim. It's an exciting opportunity, and I'm eager to catch up with my old companion again! 

I have put a lot of thought into what I need to improve as a missionary, and God answers prayers. During an exchange with Elder Jorgensen, he mentioned how important it was to teach by the Spirit, and how thin a line it was between entertainment, and spiritual enlightenment. With this new perspective I've taken added measures to improve my teaching by the Spirit, teach doctrine, and become slightly more consecrated. 

There's a talk by Elder Thomas S. Monson, titled "Finishers Wanted". He discusses the need to be a 'finisher' in your assignment and how to convert yourself, and assist others in their conversion process. He shares a few quotes and poems, that I actually appreciated. Here's one! 

"For of all sad words of tongue or pen,

The saddest are these: 'It might have been!'"

- Maude Muller

If I can become a teacher by the Spirit, then perhaps I will not need to exclaim "It might have been" and instead I can assist that person step onto the covenant path that brings them closer to Christ! 

One more poem:

"Stick to your task 'til it sticks to you;

Beginners are many, but enders are few

Honor, power, place and praise

Will always come to the one who stays.

"Stick to your task 'till it sticks to you;

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it, too;

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile

Will come life's victories after a while."

- Author Unknown

I am seeking this level of diligence in my life as a missionary. I've already attempted the path of the 'failed finisher'. It didn't take long to realize that being a finisher is precisely what I want to do. As such, I'll lead into the three baptisms we had this past week!

Clarification; only one was for a convert in our Stake. She was Tori Norman, a golden referral we received about 3 weeks ago. She goes to church every week and is married to a returned missionary. She's awesome, her father-in-law did the baptism!

Next was Serenity, someone the Manti Sisters were teaching. She didn't have someone to baptize her so the story goes something like this: They showed her a picture of me (still don't know where they got one) and Serenity decisively said that I was the one. So they contacted me, we met briefly before the baptism, and then we drove up right after Tori's baptism so I could baptize Serenity too! 

Remember Finn? He was baptized a couple weeks back, but he has an 8 year old cousin named Cayla! She was going to be baptized with Finn but that didn't work out, so we held her baptism yesterday! I did the baptism and Elder Dearing did the confirmation, she's such a sweet girl and has an amazing spirit about her. She's excited for the covenant path! 

I had a birthday too. That was enjoyable, I received many odorous gifts from my family (more particularly my father). And I have another favorite tie; it looks exactly like my Stake President's tie back home! I'm officially twenty years old. 

One thing I will mention is an experience that relates to my desire to teach by the Spirit, though in this case it was closer to testifying by the Spirit. We took Elder Goble (a missionary from the Salina Stake serving in the online MTC) out with us Friday evening. We were visiting people of interest on our records, until we reached one house where the dad was outside. We approach and strike up a conversation. It goes as well as a spontaneous conversation can go, until he expresses some personal, incorrect opinions on the church and how it's false. 

In response, I testify powerfully of the divinity of Jesus Christ and his central role in the Book of Mormon and how he is the head of His Church. At this testimony the man was left speechless, and without reply. We left politely and thanked him for the conversation, but I've rarely felt the Spirit as strong as right there. His influence, and by result God's, was undeniably evident to all of us. 

It is important to have the Spirit in missionary work and testify powerfully of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Earth today and of Joseph Smith's role as the first prophet of this dispensation. To quote Elder Holland; If you have not the Spirit you shall not teach!

Therefore I seek the Spirit in all I do. I've found strength and endurance in this effort, such that I may be a finisher, like many heroes of old and many today. Go and read the talk mentioned above, it provides a perspective that will change your life, no matter where you are. Continue to give your all and rely on God. That's what has supported me the most in my mission, and exactly what will continue to do so as I move forward.

Thanks for the support and birthday wishes! 

- Elder Williams

Pictures:

1. Finn and Cayla celebrating my birthday.

4. Serenity and I.

6. Cayla and us!

3. Tori and McCoy at her baptism!

5. Snow pt. 1

2. The mountain is burning! 

7. Snow pt. 2

8-15. Final pictures with the district! (And Serenity too.)