Moving from Murrieta - 05/06/13

My time in Murrieta is over. Today I leave for Moreno Valley, to serve in the Lasselle Ward.  I will be on bike. I am not very excited about any of those things. Luckily for me, I know that things are going to be just fine as long as I have faith. I can do hard things through Christ.

 

My companion is also leaving. After only six weeks in Murrieta, he is being transferred to Menifee.  In any case, an excellent older missionary will be coming in and training a greenie in our two wards. I'm excited for them.

 

Late last night, I realized that I am very blessed to have the challenges that I do, and that I should focus on the victories I've had and not on the places where I felt I fell short. I was reminded of something Theodore Roosevelt said:

 

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

 

I can honestly say that I tried hard to make things work with my past companion, and despite our differences, I can rest assured that I put enough prayer and effort into my companionships that I grew and I will be a better person for it. The peace of a clear conscience is enough for me.

 

Sister "S" was baptized on Saturday, and that was a really cool thing. The number counted for the Zone Leaders, since she was baptized into the Singles Branch, but I don't much care. I just know that Elder "C" and I are the ones that taught her the most and he was very happy to hear that she finally made the choice to join the church.

 

Sister "W" is still waiting for an okay from her Dad, but I bet it's not super far off. There are several people between our two wards that are on track to be baptized by our two new Elders that will be coming in. I think it will be a great experience for them. They could potentially baptize five people all in the first transfer. Two other investigators will take a little more work, but I think they could make the plunge as well. Oh, and Sister "P" wants me to come back to Murrieta to baptize "D". That will be fun! I'm hoping they email me once they get a date worked out.

 

Well I love you guys tons! We'll see what biking around Moreno Valley is like. Happy Mother's Day!