Border Run

Hey Fam. I have news. Buckle in.

Transfer calls came last night, and I am yet again being transferred out. In fact, both Sister Clements and I are leaving. We're being doubled out and new Elders or Sisters are coming into our area, we don't know which yet. Area #4? Bring it. 

We've found some great street signs recently, like this one.

In fact...I'm going to the border. eeehhhhhhhhhh!! Whhaat?! Yeah. First Spanish area will be fully thrown into it down on the border of Mexico and Texas. Learn by fire I guess. God does like to do that. 

This morning, after freaking out all night maybe, I got up and for personal study  I studied the next Christ-like attribute in Preach My Gospel: Patience. And next week's? Humility. Good right? God is funny, huh? "Sendin' her down to the border hahaha...gonna learn some Spanish she is heeheehee...might need a little pinch of patience this week and a little dab of humility next week she will hohoho. Mix it all up real nicely, and she just might turn out okay." We'll see.  It's a "Rocket-roller-coaster-throat-hits-the-pits-of-your-stomach-maybe-I'll-need-extra-deodorant-I'll-be-sweatin-so-much" kind of ride? Probly. Bring it.

I actually thought that President Slaughter was joking when he told me that I'd need to be ready for the Border run by Wednesday. Nice five hour car ride we gots to do. Lovely. My old Companion Sister Miller is headed down as well, as well as another sister and elder from my MTC district, so it could be a party.

I really do hope Sisters come into this area though, because our investigators need 'em. But if Elders come, God's got it covered. I will miss my Austin. It's been good here.

Another great Lord of the Ring street sign

So...news of the week with Karl, our stubbern-as-ever-investigating-for-12-years friend. He wants to be a "Temple goon." Yes, a Temple worker. AND, he wants to serve a mission with his wife. BUT, he doesn't want to get baptized. Whhaaatt?! "What do you meannnnn?! KAAARRRLLLLLL!" Yes. He talked about how when a family friend's daughter got married in the Temple and he had to wait outside. He said he tried to walk passed the Temple workers and they stopped him and asked him not to go past that point. "What are ya gonna do, stop me?" I'll rush ya!" he said sticking is toe just passed them. Just imagine...Karl is a big guy...and those nice men who work at the Temple...he probably gave them a heart attack! Karl meant it all in good humor, but really, it still must have panicked them. Poor guys.

So I studied Jacob 5 this week. Cool. "Cool"? No. It was TOO FANTASTIC! I want to go and read it a million times over now. Holy cow there was good stuff in there. In fact, I've always kinda passed over Jacob...kinda "la la la" deal. No. Not this time. Read it. And first read Jacob 4:17 as a preface. I'll show you:

Jacob 4:17

"And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the sure foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their corner?"

let me add in

"And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these [the Jews... or others], after having rejected the sure foundation [Jesus Christ], can ever build upon it [gain a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and repent and be forgiven], that it may become the head of their corner [or kinda navigate and guide their lives]?" 

And another one!

Now go back and read verses 15 and 16 of Jacob 4 with this in mind, coupled with Ephesians 2:20. Recognize the foundation. Zoom in on it and analyze the pixels.That, in my opinion is a thesis Statement for Chapter 5. Boom. Mind bomb. 

So going into Chapter 5. One original. natural. mother tree. the branches get taken out and grafted into other trees, the roots stay. Those Branches are grafted into three different trees, one into a poor spot of land, one in THE poorest spot of land, and then one in a good spot of land.The first round, all four trees produce good fruit, even the ones in the poor land. Verse 21 the servant questions "how comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot of all in the land of thy vineyard." The Lord responds in verse 22 "Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit." Jump back to Jacob 4:10"...seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works." 

God is in control, and He does know what he is doing. He is quite frankly smarter than us, and if we learn to submit to His will in all things, He will bless us. Even if we get sent to the border of Mexico hardly knowing anymore than MTC Spanish. 

The Sisters in my Zone

Which leads me to my favorite part of Chapter 5. Verse 23 after the whole "counsel me not" part. "Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first. But, behold the tree. I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit.." 

God does not leave us alone. Sometimes, He plants us in the hardest, most undesirable, poorest spot of land, and lets us grow. And when the trial and the tears have ended, "behold the tree." it bringeth forth much fruit. God, in His infinite grace and mercy can "deepen [your] joys, expand [your] vision, quicken [your] mind, strengthen [your] muscles, lift up [your] spirit, multiply [your] blessings, increase [your] opportunities, comfort [your] soul, raise up friends and pour out peace" When we turn our life over to God, he can make way more of it than we can. So trust him. "And doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith"

On Wednesday we got a phone call letting us know it was time to get our tires rotated and our oil changed. We also had been having trouble with the brakes and so we had them check them as well. Long day not shortened...we spent three hours waiting at Pep Boys. We saw some Elders from our Zone there as well getting their tires and oil done and so we chatted it up. Pero, uno de ellos hablo solamente espanol. And his companion, is actually the cousin of the Andersons, like Joel and Tori Anderson. Small world right? So anyways, my companion told me "go on, practice your Spanish with him." But really, more than eight months later and no better than MTC Spanish...if that...that's embarrassing. But I did talk with him for a bit. *cough* rusty *cough* 

We were joking around for a bit all talking in Spanish, except Sister Clements who was English called. So then Sister Clements started doing sign language, since she took two years in High School. A man walked passed us and kinda did a double take on her and then kept walking. We later sat down and were waiting in the sitting area, and the same man was sitting close to us. Then all of a sudden, he started signing to me. He asked me if I knew sign language...and how the heck I understood I'll never know. The gift of tongues is real...I mean the gift of arms...hehe. Then I pointed at Sister Clements. Her through process? "Oh, crap. You're talking to a real deaf person...don't embarrass yourself!" His name was Steve and he'd been waiting for his car for a long time now. He told us some nice stories, asking where we were from and what we were doing here as well. I could even sign out my name for him. Too bad I realized halfway through signing it that it was my first name...gotta figure out my last name now! I actually understood a lot of the things that he would sign, it felt pretty simple. And Sister Clements didn't do so bad :) I got to tell her "go on, practice your sign language." Payback haha. 

We had an exchange this week. Hmmm... As feedback she told me that she liked my "quiet dignity" (that's a first...) and "silent leader" status, but I needed to talk more. (What?)  She told Sister Clements she needed to listen more. what? Whateves. Sister Clements told me to just go with it.  As for our area, Jesse, the less-active we've been working with is staying committed. He came to church again, and he's committed to reading a page a day from the Book of Mormon starting at the beginning. So that's good news :) we were talking to our Ward Mission Leader about him and I asked what do we do if after three weeks he feels like he's done his part? And Our leader told us "Commit him to three more weeks. And then do it again." And so we are. 

In our last lesson with him as we were talking, I asked him to do several things ya know "will you come to church this Sunday?" "will you read a page every day?" "will you pray to know it's true for yourself?" etc... and then he said "will you stop asking me to do things?" and I said "will you start doing 'em? Touche. He told me "I bet I know the next three words that will come out of your mouth...'will you...'" Sorry Jesse, that's only two..but then Sister Clements said "PRAY?! Will you pray?" And so he said the closing prayer.He has a way of getting under my skin, but I will miss good 'ol Jesse haha. 

And that about sums up our week. Kinda a funny one :)

God is good. And He is near.

I love y'all.

-No longer Sister, but Hermana Montgomery once again :)