July 11, 2011

Hey mom and dad,

Thanks for your email, i really enjoyed it. I'm excited, i actually have time to write today. I'm glad my emails are ok though. I always feel bad cause i never have long to write but that's ok. I'd rather not have any extra time.

I'm not sure if i'm going to St. George yet. Transfer calls are on sunday. I "probly" will though unless somethin unexpected happens cause that's really the ony thing that makes sense. There's only so many places you can get transfered too bein a Zone Leader and cause of other stuff that just makes sense. I hope i stay though.

You're right, Price has been a hard area. Not so much cause of the area itself persay but just cause of the lessons i've learned here. The area is finally going strong though and i don't want to leave! Luckily i get to see the 4 baptisms we have this weekend (A college guy, a 9 yr old girl, then the two i told you about before with the smoking problem) but there are so many others i'm gonna miss if i leave. *sigh. I reckon that's part of the game though. I couldn't ask for better. Thank you for putting money in my account. I got a suitcase this mornin from k-mart. I was gonna get one from walmart but i found this one there for 74? I believe that's right. It'st a really nice, well built big one that was on sale. It was originally alot more. I went over it, over and over though and it's built better than the other ones they had and i like it better so i got it. If i do get transfered i'm gonna have to send some stuff home so yall might be getting a package too!

I've started doing better at keeping a study journal in the mornings as well as a prayer journal by my bed and what a blessing that is! I've been taught so many more little gems and received so many more answers as i've shown Heavenly Father i was ready for them and ready to not just forget them. It's great. Something i've been reading over and over and pondering this week after a training by President is Doctrine and Covenants 31. Specifically verses 3-6. It's revelation to Thomas B. Marsh before he leaves for his mission and there's several things i like in it that apply not just to missionary work but to life.

Vs 4: "You shall ^adeclare the things which have been revealed to my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun. You shall begin to preach from this time forth, yea, to reap in the field which is ^bwhite already to be burned." That's kinda different. Usually it says, "already to harvest". The Holy Ghost is referred to as a fire, and that fire is the converting power in his children. The field is truly ripe.

vs 5 "Therefore, ^athrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are ^bforgiven you, and you shall be laden with ^csheaves upon your back, for the ^dlaborer is worthy of his hire."

This one is different too. Usually it says might, or heart might mind and strength or somethin but this one says soul. I love that! What's the difference between our might, and our soul. The soul is everything. Might is physical, but your soul is physical and spiritual. It's who you are. Your spirit and soul is who you were before this life. It's all encompassing. It encompasses all your attributes. As we thrust in Him with EVERYTHING, we will receive those sheaves and be worthy of hire. I don't know why i never knew but sheaves are what workers were paid with. It's the reward. It's only when we thrust in with everything that we're found truly worthy of his hire. That's who i want to be.

I want to give EVERYTHING to my mission. My heart, desires, actions, thoughts. Everything. But more importantly i wanna give that to the Lord afterwards as well. I want to be worthy of his hire. I WANT him to use me and I think i'm eternaly greatful that i'm learning that through my mission. There's no way i would have understood that if i hadn't have come. That one lesson makes it all worth it i think. It is possible to give yourself over to the Lord and we can do it. I know it'll be a different thing when i'm home, but i'm happy with how i'm learning it now :) Just a thought.

Also, we're not supposed to use names but i already did once so C and J are getting baptized this weekend :) They've been smoke free for over two weeks. J had a little set back but it's ok. We were expecting it and she said when she smokd it tasted gross so its good. We taught them about tithing and the blessing its gonna be in their life and they are so ecxcited to pay it! They already have a testimony of it and they haven't even done it yet. Satan is working on them really hard but they're prevailing. They had an accident with C's oxygen tank he sleeps with where the hose lit fire and almost exploded the tank but by his quick thinkin he saved them. He got severe burns on two of his fingers though. He almost lost one actually. But they are prevailing! They're not letting those things hold them back and they're excited. J asked me to baptize her and elder Hultgren C. They're so so excited about it! I really hope i'm around in a year when they go to the temple. Iiiiii want to witness that.

I think i already said this once but i love having a "4th watch God" :) This weekend was crazy. We had lesson after lesson after lesson cancel on us! We didn't get discouraged though but actually started gettin excited :) We've both learned that when those things happen the Lord has a reason and somethin in store, so we prayerfully started looking for that reason. Nothing really stuck out as to what we were supposed to do instead but we didn't give up either. Finally at the end of the day, we contacted a woman who is GOLDEN. She wants to be baptized, has been going to church, has a testimony of tithing, etc. Fourth watch God. :) It's great.

Thank you for the story about Evan :-) That made my day. It makes me happy to know they think about me so much but kinda nervous at the same time haha
Thank you though. I'm gonna go eat lunch, i love you all very much!

Elder Spurlin