3 Months (Week 14)

Well time flies away... but yeah so I've hit 3 months as a missionary and that's totally nuts. Solid week out here in Hawaii.

Last Monday night we got the news that Elder Bednar will be coming and speaking to our Mission on November 14th and that all missionaries will be flying to Oahu and going to Laie to see him! It is some of the best news I've heard in my life! In preparation for him coming, he has asked that we study 4 of his talks and in the first one he talks about Faith and here's a quote from his talk:    

"Three basic elements of faith: (1)(Hebrews 11:1) faith as the assurance of things hoped for which are true, (2)(Alma 32:21) faith as the evidence of things not seen, and (3)(Lectures on Faith) faith as the principle of action in all intelligent beings.

I describe these three components of faith in the Savior as simultaneously facing the future, looking to the past, and initiating action in the present."

He goes on to say "Assurance, action, and evidence influence each other in an ongoing process." Our Faith in Jesus Christ goes in the cycle and as we continue this cycle our Faith in Jesus Christ, our testimonies, and our foundation of Jesus Christ grows stronger! Start with faith, choose faith!

On p-day we went fishing and I caught my first fish from the Ocean! It was small and I don't even know what it's called but it was so sick and the feeling of reelin' one in is a feeling that I've missed, haha. On Tuesday, I got some packages and getting packages on the mission is an extra boost of happiness and excitement and it just feels good lol. Brynlee sent me some built bars so I'm practically set for whatever comes at me . 

We've been teaching this teenager, Jocinto, and he'll be getting baptized this Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. Funny thing is, our Branch is getting turned into a Ward this Sunday so I'm not sure how it will work but potentially he could get baptized in a Branch and Confirmed in a Ward, haha. But everything else aside, he has a strong desire to follow Jesus Christ, and he follows and keeps all of the commandments that we've taught him.

Funny moment, on Sunday we invited Jocinto to a Stake Fireside and he came. When the Stake President got up to speak, he said a joke at the beginning and Jocinto laughed really loud and he didn't realize how loud it was, so he didn't think anything of it but the Stake President even looked over and it was pretty funny, haha. 

Love you all! Read The Book of Mormon everyday and you'll never go astray. Also follow the Prophet because he knows the way.

-Elder Alec Shockley