Letter from 12-7-11

Dear Mom,

  We're actually going to be going in the evening next Tuesday.  Probably around 5 our time.  We're going with some members from our ward so that's why we're going in the evening.  I'll still e-mail that morning, but I'll be proselyting in the morning in order to spend the evening in the Temple. 

  President Clayton didn't quite approve of us standing on a street corner and crying repentance to everyone like Dan Jones, but he did say that we could stand on a street corner and hand out pamphlets to people.  We were a little miffed that we couldn't be like Dan Jones, but I think handing out pamphlets will be hard enough.  I'll let you know how it goes.  We had Zone conference on Monday and that was quite the experience.  President Clayton has definitely been called of God to lead this mission at this time.  It's been amazing to see him take to his calling like a fish to water.  It's always a treat to sit and just learn from him.  I can't wait for ya'll to meet both President and Sister Clayton, they're such wonderful people.

  I'm happy to hear that everything is going great with the move to Arkansas.  It sounds like the Lord has a lot in store for both you and dad while there.  I look forward to seeing the new home.  Oh, and tell dad that I don't plan on bleaching my hair after my mission...I might grow a goatee just because I challenged Jon to see who could grow the best one when I'm done, but after that nothing else!
  This week has been pretty quiet actually.  We've hit a dry spot in finding people, but we're trying hard to do our part.  I know that the Lord has someone prepared to hear the Gospel, we've just got to go out and find them.  We're working also on being bold in declaring repentance to everyone.  The other night a man started talking to us on a bus and when we ended up getting off on the same spot he kept talking and really he was making a lot of nonsense about the Book of Mormon just being a historical record and took some other stuff in the Bible way out of context.  I wouldn't say I got fed up, but I decided that I had had enough of him slandering the Book of Mormon and I testified to him that it was true, that it is the word of God and that he hadn't done his part in being sufficiently humble enough to ask God and receive an answer.  A little harsh maybe, but it needed to be said, and I didn't have any qualms about saying it.  I hate being silent now, I'm tired of people just saying what they want.  It's just been gettting more and more on my nerves so to speak as I've been serving and I'm pretty much saying "enough is enough" now.  It's actually kinda cool.

  Well, that's pretty much our week.  We've been doing a TON of walking trying to find some Former Investigators that we can teach.  My shoes are losing their traction now.  I might also have to send my copy of the Book of Mormon home to be rebound soon if I can.  It's kinda starting to come apart at the hinges.  As far as Christmas gifts go, I've thought about it and I realized that I'm only in California so it might be best to just send me some American express Giftcards or giftcards to Kohls, Ross or any place that I can buy socks, possible a new pair of sunday shoes that I only wear on Sundays, and of course TIES!  I haven't become obssesed with ties, but I need some new ones to add a spark of "newness" to my collection, and to add some variety.  I'm also thinking about buying an Ukulele because I've been learning how to play it and I'm going to start learning how to play hymns on it as well.  I'm better at it than the Guitar...maybe that's because it only has two less strings?  Well, that's pretty much my Christmas "wish-list" if you want to call it that.  All those things are really just so that I can focus on bringing souls unto Christ this Christmas.  I really enjoyed the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional on Sunday, and I'm all fired up!  I hope ya'll are too!

 

 

Much Love,

 

Elder Sean Wise