Yep. It's Elder Carlson once again. Same time, same channel. Every afternoon on Monday only on LDS. Anyway, it's been a pretty good week. Full of some disappointment but I think I'll be okay. It just really stinks sometime when you're working with somebody and you're thinking, "Oh man! This guy is solid!" and you're really feeling the Spirit and you think they are feeling it too. They're going to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it and they've read some already. They are going to come to church and see what that is like and you're just pumped up and then you get a text at 6:00 am on Sunday and suddenly; poof. Gone. We have a good number of people who were are ever so slowly making progress. It's just going to take a while. I feel this is a good ward and there are wonderful people here. Much like the Gulf Breeze Ward. I just really like all the members I meet - all wonderful, very nice people. I feel Elder W and I can make a difference here.
The meal appointments are continuing to roll in and I am quite pleased with that. The ward here is determined to fed us and I think they are convinced we are poor, destitute, or starving or something. As far as food this week we've had pot roast and pazookies, firehouse subs, beef and rice burritos, sloppy-joes, club sandwiches, and a Hawaiian fish of some kind. It was all very good.
One the big exciting things that happened this week was zone conference! I got to see good buddies like Elder K and others. I'm looking forward to the big half mission conference coming up in December as I'll get to see a lot of missionaries I haven't seen in a long time. I haven't seen Elder H since January (I did talk to him the other day which was way fun. He's headed home really soon. Scary soon). One of the very neat things that President Jensen talked about what the influx of new missionaries. The new cap on our mission is 250 young missionaries which is up from the current 120 or so we have now. The interesting thing is that the number of elders coming out each transfer is going to stay the same. The growth of our mission will be in Sisters. We have about 12-16 right now. By April of 2013 we'll have 100. Crazy huh?
Zone conference was about being bold and getting to the point. We were talking in our planning and we decided we were going to give someone a bold invitation and see what happens.
We got a new car! See the picture below. It's a 2013 Chevy Cruze with 500 miles! It's really nice. It turns better than the old Corolla and has more power than the old Malibu.
I don't have much time left.
TIME FOR SCRIPTURES WITH ELDER CARLSON!
Today we will be in Mosiah 2:41
And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and ahappy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are bblessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out cfaithful to the end they are received into dheaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
It occurred to me the other day that I don't think I've ever met a truly happy less active member of the Church. All the ones that I've met who are somewhat happy seem more busy or occupied than actually happy. The Church is true. From a logical standpoint as well as from a simple cause and effect standpoint. It's done so much for me and I see it in the lives of those who truly know the Savior. I feel it in the homes of the members who are truly converted to the Gospel. I can hear it in their testimonies of the truth. I can understand that it truly is helping me be a better person.
Love y'all!
Elder Matthew Carlson
