January 17,2013

Hey, Everybody

This past week has been a crazy week! Well, I made it to Coal Mountain okay accept some how my pillow got lost in the mix of all things. Ha, ha I have no clue were it went. Elder C. has many talents. He plays the piano very well. He plays the guitar, sings and many other talents. The Coal Mountain ward is a lot different than Covington. I still miss Covington but there are a lot more people here. There is a member in this ward, Sister Mulbery. She picked us up from the Stake center on transfer day. She took us out to this nice restaurant. It was a Japanese Steakhouse. The first one that I have ever been to. I didn't want her to spend so much money on us but I didn't know what to do. We ate there anyway.  I tried Octopus for the first time and it was nasty chewy, and I will never eat it again. The meal that I got was very good. She stopped at a store on the way home and told us that we could get anything that we needed, I didn't want her to pay for a ton of stuff so I let her get me some laundry detergent. 

The ward is very nice and loves to do missionary work. There are a lot more young couples. 

Here's what has happened this past week. I have been having a hard time with my companion. The problem with Elder C. is that he doesn't like to follow most of the mission rules. For example, internet usage, music, movies, and he has an iPhone. Ha,ha. So to make a long story short, this week has been hard. I guess he hasn't worked very hard in Coal Mountain. I basically told him he couldn’t do anything to get me sent home and he had go out at 10 am and finish at 9 pm, and he accepted. I'm grateful for that. We have been working hard despite the things that he does. Remember the harvesting tool that I was telling you about where we leave the Savior’s peace and blessing on people’s homes. Well, in order for the spirit to be there it is required that you are obedient and this poses a problem doesn't it. Ha, ha. I could sense that Elder C. was not feeling that he deserved to work hard and covert and leave blessings on peoples homes. I could sense it just by being around him. I can’t explain the feeling. It’s almost like a nervous feeling. It eventually led to Elder C. scheduling an appointment with the mission president for an interview. And know that I didn't make him do it, he did it on his own.  He has done some bad things on his mission. Which has resulted in him having to go home this Wednesday. Sad story but it was for the best. He will be missed. We can always be grateful for the Atonement, and it just goes to show that good will always prevail over evil. I don't know if I will be staying here in Coal Mountain or not. The problem is that there are no other missionaries available to be my companion. Well see what happens.

But its funny the way things work. We have been getting in with investigators that missionaries haven't been able to get in for a long time.  I have able to share powerful messages with them. Some have accepted baptismal commitments. Its crazy how being obedient to the commandments and mission rules brings blessings.

Well I hope that you all are doing well. I will be fine and the mission is good. I love the mission. I have learned so much and have had many opportunities to learn. I love you all. And thank you for all of your love and support. 

This Scripture has been in my head the past week.

 30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

 31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.

 32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and Love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

 33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become Holy without spot.

Love, Elder Kyle Buhler