Well, Y'all,
(Side note.. this is the second draft, so excuse the monotony- Google has a way of changing inspired weeklies..)
Many a legend will be told of the "mega transfer" week in the Louisiana Baton Rouge mission. Critics have said, "there will never be another transfer quite like this one in the space-time continuum of the South." Others have noted, "never will a mission feel more unified than through the converging of the twain- that is, Mississippi and Louisiana. For if ye are not one, ye are not mine." To quote the Mission President, President Varner, "we're so excited. We know it and we know you know it too." Yes, Y'all. They don't call it a mega transfer for nothing.. so lets MEGA get into it.. with our SLIDELL SCROLLS: CHAPTER SIX: mega transfer edition.
I guess God thinks the fire on my head isn't trial by fire enough. You should be very careful about what you pray for- be it, Christlike attributes, continued discipleship and progression, complete consecration- God will prepare a way, usually involving fire, for you to achieve those blessings you pray for. For example- when I prayed to God to know what more I could consecrate to become a better missionary. The mission came out with the rule that we weren't allowed to use musical instruments in our apartments. Coincidence? I think not. Should've seen it coming.. And NOW, as I have progressed in my mission and pondered upon how I can become more like the Savior.. my prayers have lead me to this point... as President Farrell from Chalmette would call it, "trial by fire."
First off, I'm staying in Slidell- which is a tender mercy for SURE because of the events of this past week (see rest of weekly.) ...but everyone else is leaving. Everyone but me and Sister Adams in the District is headed to some sort of exile in Mississippi or New Orleans. AT LEAST I still get to spend another transfer with Sister Adam's, big ole tender mercy right there, who has become one of my best friends in the mission, but everyone else is leaving on a jet plane, set to return in an undetermined amount of time. Elder Spencer to Arkansas, Hernandez to New Orleans, and Taylor to Mississippi. BUT WAIT, there's more...
Not only am I staying, but the time has now come for me to be a "father" in Israel. Yes, that's right ladies and gentleman, I'm "giving birth" to a "son", come Wednesday. I'm staying in Slidell, as the Zone Leader, training a new missionary (aka "son" whose name and Latin of origin is still unknown), and taking over all of the work the Spanish Elders were doing here in the promised land. So, the FUEGO IGNITES AND THE TRIAL ENSUES. However, if I'm honest, I'm really excited about all of this responsibility. I know it is Gods way of preparing me for some sort of something in life. Thank goodness this is His work, and HE is the one qualifying his instruments.
So, yeah, that's the MEGA news of the week. Kinda lives up to its name, don't ya think? BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP US FROM HAVING A MOST INCREDULOUS WEEK FULL OF MIRACLES:
Allow me to brag about this journal entry worthy week we had here in the holy land:
We went on more exchanges this week! This time, though, it was a bit of a deja vu companionship as I went on exchanges with Elder Teare, who was not only my zone leader when I came into the mission but also the first exchange I ever went on as a missionary! ONLY this time... I was HIS Zone Leader! Exchangeception... I know. Anyways, I know that God approved of this magic companionship.. because film flam Batman, we saw MIRACLES. We followed in the example of Nephi,
"(Being) lead by the spirit not knowing beforehand the things which (we) must do."
Spiritual hunches are real- and Gods way of letting us know what HE wants us to do at that moment. I had a spiritual hunch to visit someone I had never met before and Elder Teare had never met before- but that didn't matter, because God knew him and knew that WE needed to know him. We knocked on his door and immediately the light of Christ hit us like a ton of golden bricks. He let us in... we met his family.. one thing leads to another and soon we intermingled the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a divine football analogy.. and what shortly followed was the best friendship for the ages. Not only did he have questions.. but something you appreciate after serving in the south.. he had GOOD questions that didn't exhibit an underlying motive of uncovering the secret behind an alleged, "cult." Before we knew it, he was agreeing to be baptized next month and to bring the wife and kids to church the following Sunday. He reminded me a lot of the young boy Joseph Smith- hidden from the truth because he knew not where to find it- but once he found it, he saw the buried treasure that it was and was ever so willing to make it his own. And if THAT wasn't magical enough, we did the same thing on another street.. and Y'all, I have such a testimony that there are people prepared to receive this message. We ended up meeting this adorable family, and the daughter has had questions about the Plan of Salvation for as long as she has been alive, and was entirely convinced that no one had the answers... IMAGINE HER SURPRISE WHEN I POPPED OUT THE PLAN OF SALVATION VISUAL AND GAVE HER, NOT OUR ANSWERS, BUT GODS ANSWERS. The spirit was so strong.. so strong in fact that they ALSO committed to following the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized next month. Now, if that isn't God working through able instruments to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.. then I don't know what is.
And in continuation of our theme from last week- the elect keep getting better. We committed two people this week to live the Word of Wisdom, and they are living miracles let me tell ya. Not ONLY did they both keep their commitments.. but get this- the second I witnessed the event I knew it would go in the weekly. We showed up to share more about the Gospel with one of these elect ladies and PREVIOUSLY we had challenged her to go down to one cup of coffee and prepare to give up sweet tea.. well, when we showed up, little did WE know what we were about to enjoy-
We show up and.. get this.. this is the stuff you hear about in MOVIES- and it's happening, live action, right here in Slidell...
We showed up and she had already read 40 sections out of the Doctrine and Covenants. Not only that, but in front of she says, "watch this" and proceeds to dump an entire keg of sweet tea down the drain. We stopped by the following day to replace every smidgeon of green tea she had in her house with some herbal tea the sisters left behind at our place. She is now an advocate that, "drinking coffee makes her sick" and has campaigned for the sleep benefits that being sober has brought her. And on TOP OF THAT another investigator swore off coffee and cigarettes.. and Y'all, they both bore their testimonies in Sunday School.. and the blessings they have both received from obeying the commandments EVEN though they don't understand why... are so powerful. It was an emotional hour as they both discussed the sacrifice and benefits that have come from the past week. THE ELECT JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER YALL.
...and to add to that we had nine of our people come to church this weekend, including this most incredible family who got fellowshipped to infinity and beyond because of the awesome ward we have here. So many miracles, my friends, so much tenderness and love and goodness coming from the blessed holy land of Slidell.
Well, Y'all. Sorry if this email wasn't as typical as the usual scrolls.. two drafts kinda take a toll on an Elder. Simply put, I'm so stoked to stay in Slidell. I'm so excited to meet my son. And I can't wait to continue pressing forward in the work of the Lord. It's a blessing to be a missionary. Seriously, I would rewrite a thousand weekly's if it meant I got to stay out here and preach the Gospel. Well, STAY BLESSED YALL. HAVE A GREAT WEEK. ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU.
Love yall,
Elder Boyd
This Weeks Pics:
Note: The 1st four pics are from an angel of a member who has blessed Elder Boyd's life this week
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