Light

HEy everyone!

I am doing much better today! Now Elder Kama is having a few struggles so we are working through some of that. Not really sure what to do yet. I know how he feels though so I am just being patient since he was patient with me. All is well.

We had some good news happen this week! Dusty wants to get baptized on Christmas day! The other night, the day after we ate thanksgiving at the Bemis's house, we encouraged Sister Bemis to invite Dusty to baptism in our next lesson. We told her how to do it so she wouldn't feel pushed. Well the next day, we found out that Sister Bemis called Dusty on the phone and invited her to baptism! We were really surprised. That doesn't happen but she wants me to baptize her. She is so appreciative that we and the Bemises came into her life. She too has been struggling with depression. She is such a good person. 

This week we have been prepping for the LIght the World Christmas Initiative. We made our own pamphlets to give to people at church. So far it has had a good impact. We gave a card to the ladies at the compassionate clothing donation place that we helped sort clothes at this morning.

I am really grateful for this opportunity to serve like Christ did for 25 straight days. I think it will be the most meaningful christmas of my life. I really like the whole concept of light and darkness. i've experienced quite a bit of darkness lately. It's been a combination of lots of things--stress, higher expectations, new responsibilites, the cold weather, this kind of depressing town, etc. but I can attest that no matter how dark I feel inside there is always days of light around the corner. I'm doing good right now. I plan on staying this way. I also am trying on not being a perfectionist. One thing that can cause discouragement is "all or nothing" thinking. You make one mistake and all is lost. It feels like you have to just start over again. But I've come to learn that if I make a mistake I just have to move on and not dwell on it so much. I mean, it is so easy to make a mistake as a missionary! We have hundreds of rules. It is impossible to keep them all perfectly. I really like what I studied this week by J. Devn Cornish :
 If you will really try and will not rationalize or rebel—repenting often and pleading for grace—you positively are going to be “good enough.”

I really like that because when living the gospel it may seem like sometimes there is this certain point we have to reach before we can ever be happy. I've learned though that I will never be happy with that mentality because I will continually fall short. So I just have to try my best. I am reminded of a great quote by Brad Wilcox:

"When a young pianist hits a wrong note, we don’t say he is not worthy to keep practicing. We don’t expect him to be flawless. We just expect him to keep trying. Perfection may be his ultimate goal, but for now we can be content with progress in the right direction. Why is this perspective so easy to see in the context of learning piano but so hard to see in the context of learning heaven?

Too many are giving up on the Church because they are tired of constantly feeling like they are falling short. They have tried in the past, but they continually feel like they are just not good enough. They don’t understand grace

There should never be just two options: perfection or giving up. When learning the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness"

I know God loves me and that he has provided me an unlimited amount of chances to repent. The gospel is true.

Elder Soutas

the Divine Gift of Gratitude

So I am basically just going to copy and paste  emails from now on that I send to my mission president if they're not too confidential.

"This someone called the cops on us for knocking on doors too late thinking we were soliciting. A cop searched for us and talked to us. He was really chill, but he got down our information and told us we needed a permit from the county to go door to door. 

It took us a couple of days to get the whole city permit thing figured out. First we went to the county jail and they said that we did indeed need a permit. Then we went to the police department as they directed to and they said that we didn't even need to have a permit and so I guess everything is fine now. We are not sure why one of their officers told us that we needed a permit and his own department said we didn't. 

At first we weren't really sure what to think, but now we think maybe there is a divine involvement or some explanation for all of this because a week earlier we had been contemplating ways to do service in the community and one of the was called "Shop with a Cop." And so as a consequence we found out all of the information and signed up for this service activity (which is where we shop for Christmas gifts for other people). So maybe the Lord wants us to do that. Who knows for sure. 

We did some other service this week too for the animal shelter. We each walked one dog and my dog was a hairless, scaredy dog that was like 5 pounds! It wouldn't even walk because it was cold and terrified of Elder Kama's big dog. I had to practically force the dog to walk. It had no problem walking back to the shelter though since Elder Kama was behind us.

This week was good. a lot of good things happened that I hope to remember. Being a district leader of course carries some more responsibility but I enjoy it. I like making assignments and asking God for inspiration. Our first district meeting went really great and the spirit was really strong. the zone leaders even said that I nailed it! Of course it was nothing I really did. The district seems to be doing really well. The Mattoon Sisters had a baptism this weekend! I had a chance to interview their candidate, and it lasted an entire hour because he was about 72 years old and had a lot of stories he probably could've kept to himself. A lot of people in Illinois have no filter on their minds. I hope I made the right decision to pass him. He had a hard time remember some of the doctrines but I decided that was a result of him being old. It seemed to me that he had truly repented of all my sins. 

And Effingham is working really hard. Elder Durrant is no longer here but we got Elder Merril and he seems like a pretty good missionary. He was companions with "my dad" Elder Lovik (the one who trained me). Elder Lovik will be going home after this transfer. 

 As for me and Elder Kama, we aren't doing too bad ourselves. There was a few setbacks with a couple of our investigators this week, particularly with Brent being basically forced to postpone his baptism again! Other than that there were some really cool things like our recent convert Mashell being healed from a blessing in the emergency room. The zone leaders gave her the blessing. She bore her testimony about it on Sunday saying that as soon as they left she began to feel better! Also our investigator Julie who is getting married to a member-- Brother Fulk-- came to church. They are having a civil wedding at the church on Dec 10. No baptismal date yet. We had dinner and a lesson at the Rigdons, a great family in the area who is related to a lot of people. 

Which comes to another problem which is trypical of branches. It was kind of good that Brent didn't have his baptism yesterday because there was a lady in the branch who is related to a lot of people in the branch who got up to "bear her testimony" and told the branch that we were the worst people ever. So yes, God knows what he is doing. Glad Brent didn't get baptized under those circumstances. I hope Julie wasn't too perturbed.

Our goals for this week as a companionship are to be more encouraging to each other and to be more grateful in any circumstance. We've been listening to a lot of talks on Gratitude that we made on a CD. My favorite one is by Thomas S. Monson: "The Divine Gift of Gratitude." Gratitude is one of my fave topics right.

He says and I quote: "it is my prayer that in addition to all else for which we are grateful, we may ever reflect our gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do our spirits go when we die? That gospel brings to those who live in darkness the light of divine truth.

He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved.

Ultimately, He stood alone. Some Apostles doubted; one betrayed Him. The Roman soldiers pierced His side. The angry mob took His life. There yet rings from Golgotha’s hill His compassionate words: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Who was this “man of sorrows, … acquainted with grief”? “Who is this King of glory,” this Lord of lords? He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of Our Salvation. He beckons, “Follow me.” He instructs, “Go, and do thou likewise.” He pleads, “Keep my commandments.”

Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His words. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude."
I felt so much gratitude for the Atonement when I listened to this talk and in our district meeting. It was kind of amazing. As I listened to it I became aware of my ingratitude which resulted in me having more gratitude. So I think it is true when we recognize our ingratitude we simultaneously are filled with more gratitude. Correct me if I'm wrong. But this was a really special experience for me that I feel like I should share.

In your email you asked what my advice would be to missionaries. It would be this:

LIVE YOUR MISSIONARY LIFE IN SUCH A WAY TO REFLECT YOUR GRATITUDE FOR THE LORD AND FOR HIS TENDER MERCIES UPON YOU AND THOSE WHO YOU SERVE. DONT LET FEAR GET IN THE WAY.

I honestly can't think of a better advice to give someone since I know that the times my mission have been most rewarding are when I am the most grateful. My biggest fear is forgetting the Lord and his blessings to me and failing to recognize his holy hand in my life. And having this fear has led to other fears such as hesitation to share the gospel because when I'm not grateful why would I want to share something that I feel isn't making me happy (at that moment)? To overcome that fear I have had to constantly remind myself of how God has blessed me and how he is blessing me even when it doesn't seem like he is. I want to be like Moroni whose "heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people. I love him so much and wish I would feel this way more often. There is no greater feeling than that of gratitude. I will try to do better at this.

THANK YOU President Bateman! I am so grateful for all that you do to watch over this mission.

With gratitude,

Elder Soutas"

well I'm getting kicked off. I wish I could write more. 

District Leader

Hello,

This week was pretty great. My birthday was the best of course! Thank you everyone for the new shoes, new tie, byu apparel, etc. and birthday wishes!

On my birthday I actually got pied in the face with a pecan pie! How's that for a birthday gift? It was actually because I wanted to so it would be something to remember. Elder Durrant and Dollahite had to get pied too since they lost some kind of challenge. If you're going to get pied in the face don't get pecan because that one hurts a little! INstead get something softer like a banana cream or key lime. 

After I got pied by one of the sister missionaries I picekd up the pie that fell on the ground and ate some of it. Then as they were taking pictures I took the rest of my pie and pied elder durrant in the face as you can see in the photo I sent you. 

Also on my birthday I ate every single one of my cosmic brownies! I didn't use the candles though. Sorry Mom. I should have. 

On thursday we spent some time in Casey, the small town with really BIG objects. The griggs took us to a buffet called Richard's Farm. It was pretty good. IT was an italian buffet so not what you'd expect. After we took a big picture in front of the worl'ds largest pitchfork. I also have attached a big minion. 

More spiritually speaking, we've made some good progress with Brent. He drove himself an hour to Regional conference and he said that he felt comfortable there (which is a big deal for him since he has social anxieties). He also said he felt the spirit and we made sure we got him outfitted for his baptism. So as for right now he should be getting baptized unless someting happenes again. 

A couple days ago we decided that we would take pictures of nature to help Brent keep his mind focused on good things. We thought of that because how he mentions how he likes to get away sometimes and look at nature to keep his mind in a good place. After this email I've gotta go pick up the 1 hour prints of the photos we took from wal mart.

We made some pretty good progress with C.K. I could feel a fire inside of me as we read the book of mormon to him and bore testimony. He is starting to almost believe. not quite though. He asked us if we ever considered that Satan appeared to Joseph smith to give us the book of mormon. By the end of the lesson he knew that was an unreasonable assumption. He likes us. Plus he should know better since he said his father is a satanist. 

Elder Kama and I have been having some fun in the car. He is a really good singer by the way. He sounds like Adell when he sings in the shower in the morning. 

Tryihng to remember all that happened this week is hard. 

Oh yeah, at the regional conference Sunday, Elder Durrant got called out on live television broadcast to 150 stakes by his Uncle--Elder Devin. G. Durrant. When he said that we got really excited and said "That's our district leader!" 

I'm gonna miss Elder Durrant. He's leaving to columbia zone. I am actually replacing him as district leader! Yikes. I'm sure I'll do fine If I just try my best. 

Well I've gotta go. I just want to bear my testimony that i know this church is true and I love my mom and dad and my brothers and sisters too.

just kidding for reals though....I've been trying to improve my prayers and try having more gratitude. I read an awesome talk by Elder Bednar called "Pray Always." I encourage you all to read that because he basically just lays out how to be an amazing prayer-er (not sure if I spelled that right). One thing i like that he says is that the channel to revelation will be widened as we express more gratitude and ask for less blessings. I am going to try doing better at that. As we took pictures for Brent of nature this week I felt gratitude for the small and simple things. LIke President Uchtdorf said last conference: "
We are surrounded by such an astonishing wealth of light and truth that I wonder if we truly appreciate what we have." 

That is my biggest fear--ingratitude. That is what my goal has been this week is trying to express for thanks for blessings when I feel like I have received them. I encourage you all to do the same and find joy in things that matter most. Said President MOnson quoting some poet: “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collecteda lot of empty yesterdays.”1

I find it pretty easy to "postpone our joys" for some later time. But I know that finding joy in the present is really important.

Have a good week! 

Elder Soutas

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Happy Birthday Elder Soutas

 Elder Soutas' 21st Birthday! *******************************************************************

The last couple of days quite a bit has happened.
For one, we had Brent's baptism scheduled and all ready to go yesterday---or so we thought. So it turns out that the baptismal clothing that Brent originally said DID fit turned out to not actually fit him when he tried it on. So we scrambled along with our ward mission leader and branch president to find some clothing that could work but to no avail. We had to reschedule the baptism to 2 weeks from now. I felt a little sad that it turned out this way, but oddly, i felt it might have been necessary and answer to prayer. Though Brent passed his interview of worthiness for baptism, I still felt for some reason that the timing wasn't quite right. So I think the Lord may have intervened. Elder Kama was a little upset at himself becasue he felt like he ignored a prompting to tell Brent to try the baptismal clothing on. I told him that there is a reason for this all and not to get too upset at himself. 

in other news, our investigator Julia currently has a baptismal date set for 27 of November! She has great support from her family members as we had a great dinner and lesson with her and her fiance at The Rigdon's home. The main obstacle for them right now is they need to separate. What is good is that they moved their wedding date to Dec 10, but now that they know the baptism is nov 27 that will allow them opportunity to make the choice to live the law of chastity even before their marriage which I think would be best of course before their baptism. Julia is a very choice investigator though and time will tell. 
on exchanges, Elder Durrant and I offered to clean up someone who got TPd on their tree. IT was really fun! probably one of the best service things I've done on my mission. I'll send a pic of elder durrant. he hasn't sent the one of me yet. we had to use long stikcs to get the ones high in the branches. Service is the best medicine. 
Our goals for this week:

we really want to focus on the fundamentals in the 12 week book. It is so easy to get away from those. I personally think every missionary should use the 12 week book for their studies. 3 months is not enough to master those principles and teaching techniques. I think it would improve our mission a lot if we all did that. 

we also really are hoping to gain better trust with the members. The baptism haveing to be rescheduled sure didn't help with that, but we want to try to have more member visits and invite them to participate in the work of salvation. To do this, we are thinking of sharing the 3-5 min resto with them and having them study and teach it to us in a follow up visit. Also we have thought of calling certain family members "on a mission." There is an awesome story that I read from an ensign article of how a small branch was built into a huge ward because they had "proselyting families." Certain families would go out and find other families to invite to activities and love them into the church. All of this is easier said than done, but we will give it a shot!

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes! I am so grateful for eternal families.

Sorry my email is kind of lame this week. 

Elder Soutas

p.s. ill send the baptismal photos once i get them.