I Found A Donut, Not A Cougar Tail But It Is A Donut!
Tortillas: 50 and 2 baptisms that fell through.
This week was good and then it got hard. As I thought about what I should write today I prayed to find the words to share. I feel strongly I need to share my feelings and show that even some of the strongest get discouraged, sad and heartbroken. Today I’m going share some true feelings so I ask for your forgiveness as I am about to speak rather candid. First I want to share a story from my personal study from the Book Of Mormon. On Thursday I was reading when Amulek contends with Zeezrom; I just love their battle of words. This account can be read in Alma chapter 11. I call this chapter the fear no man chapter. As I was reading Amulek’s words, I felt the power of his words. I felt his words penetrate my heart and soul. I felt like I was there because of the power I felt from his words. I realized I needed to be more like Amulek, Alma, Ammon, Peter teaching without Fear. The Lord needs more people like Peter, Alma, Ammon, Amulek who will stand up and testify of the truth with death staring in their faces. They dedicated their lives to teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Me And The Boys
Look Elder A Future Investigator Coming Down The Road
I want to talk about friends. I am seeing how much friends influence our lives. We have a group of kids who are ready and want to be baptized but they won’t do it until one of the friends does it first. Take a look at your friends and ask yourselves what friends lift you up, make you want to be better and make you want to be more Christ like. Choose to be with those friends. My counsel about the not so good friends is to invite to them Come Unto Christ through your example. If choose to hang out with them do not compromise your standards even if you have to stand alone. You may need to spend less and less time with those not so good friends or you may need to find new friends who will make it easier for you to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have seen in my life the choices I made led me down the wrong path because of not so good friends but because of good friends I made good choices.
Also this week I read a talk by Chad Lewis, “The World Needs to See and Feel Your Light.” http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=2172
He teaches us we need to share our light. Christ teaches us to share our light in 3 Nephi 12:16, “Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Also in his talk Chad Lewis shares one of the greatest quotes I have ever heard, he says to “Surround Yourself with Greatness.” I just love that; Surround Yourself with Greatness, as you do you will be lifted up. I should say “Surround Yourself with CHRIST!” As you Surround Yourself with Christ you will be picked up and your tears will be wiped away.
Fuego Azul: Blue Fire Insanely Hot Rolled Taco Chip
Guatemalan Deliciousness
The Takis Feugo Azul Experince
I now ask for your forgiveness as I speak rather candidly about my feelings and I will end on a personal note. So here in San Antonio Huista it has been a mountain to climb for me, a huge one, it has also been a fiery furnace for me because I had felt abandonment, and I had weakness exposed and an experience that almost took the most precious thing away from me, my testimony. It hurt so badly. I felt like I was falling and there was nothing to catch me. I felt truly abandoned, I felt alone and it was so hard for me. Teaching was harder because when I would share my so called testimony it felt like nothing was coming out, it was horrible. Satan was attacked full force, he attacked my weakness. I want everybody to know it is ok if you are weak, that is part of life. Sister Anne C. Pingree shared this, “Some people feel defeated by their personal weaknesses and succumb to despair. Some attempt to hide, ignore, or compensate for their shortcomings because of pain and embarrassment. But, as the Lord told Moroni, recognizing and acknowledging a weakness is a necessary part of overcoming it: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37). I have seen my weaknesses become strong through a broken heart and time. Yes it takes time but all of our weaknesses will become strong through our commitment and determination to trust in the Lord. I am grateful that Satan attacked my weaknesses and somehow snatched my testimony because it has brought me closer to God and has shown me that perfection is a lifelong process. During most of my time here I felt alone and like a failure because I only have one baptism in almost 11 months of my mission. As I think about the number one, I think about the Book Of Mormon, the prophet Abinadi-he only brought one soul to Christ but that one soul brought thousands unto to Christ and my convert, she is 19 and she could be a future missionary bringing many others souls unto Christ. I also think about the Savior’s path, the path he took for our salvation, how His circle of friends and followers became smaller and smaller and as he was completely abandoned. He knelt and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, “Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will but as Thou wilt.” I don’t know how many times I find myself just begging to Heavenly Father to remove this bitter cup from me but then immediately and humbly pray let thy will be done. As I look back I see the path that I have been blessed with, without being irreverent in any way it is somewhat like the path that the Savior of the world took and had to take to bring to pass our salvation. The suffering He had to feel, the rejection He had to feel, our sins He had to feel, He had to feel the spirit be withdrawn, He had to feel weakness and He had to feel the ultimate loneliness to personally know each us and the crosses we would carry. I have realized the Savior of the world knows how I feel and I’m also realizing His Atonement is truly lifting me. I testify prayer brings strength! I have seen a change in me as I pray with a humble heart; I am more sincere and praying with true intent. I share these feelings with you to help you to know that Christ feels what I feel but more importantly He KNOWS HOW YOU FEEL! Yes times will get tough and hard and push you to your limits and it may seem like the trial will never end but it will and there is hope and happiness ahead. I also share these feelings with you because every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better because that is what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us. It offers us that there is help and there is happiness. There really is light at the end of the tunnel. He is the Light, the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the “light that is endless, that can never be darkened.” That light is the very Son of God Himself. I say to you all that there is hope and that hope comes from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I want to end with these words because I find so much comfort in these words and because we all need encouragement at time to keep walking. It is my prayer Elder Holland’s words will affect you as they have affected me. “Don't you quit. You keep walking, you keep trying, there is help and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon. Some come late. Some don't come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be alright in the end. Trust God and believe in Good Things to Come.”
Elder Mac's Reaction After He Realized He Ate A Bee
Straight From The Hive Honey!
What I love about Mom and Dad is that they taught me to keep my chin up and stay positive.
With Love-Ducks Forever, Elder John D. Mcilmoil May 26, 2014
Duck Commander
A Sitting Duck
Scripture of the week: Alma 17:31, I know that all of you are having some trail right now with some lost sheep or in other words loved ones that have wandered. I say unto you be of good cheer because the Lord has called you to rescue those lost sheep, loved ones, investigators, inactive friends, neighbor, friends or family, just someone. Christ has called you to rescue His Father’s children. The Good Shepherd willingly gave His life for His sheep, for you and me, yes, for all of us, that we might live eternally with our Father in Heaven. We each should follow the direction our Savior Jesus Christ gave to Peter three times: “Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep. … Feed my sheep.” I challenge all of you to bring ONE soul back to the Good Shepard. He will help and guide you to that lost sheep to bring back to His fold. You will be given Heavenly help. You will be given in the exact moment what to say as you reach out to rescue that lost sheep. Father in Heaven loves all of us so much He will place His words in your heart to help you. Have patience, offer friendship, learn to listen and love those you reach to rescue. If you are some of those lost sheep I’m calling out to you, take my hand and Come Unto Christ. Answer His call and Come Unto Him and He will heal you. The decision to change your life and Come Unto Christ is the most important decision you will make in this life. Please do what Alma counsels in Alma 13:27, “And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance.” If you will prayerfully consider those lost sheep in your life the Lord will guide you to who should reach out and rescue. I love all of you. I pray that we all may reach and rescue the lost sheep for that is what we have been called to do.
Be Strong and of Good Courage.
Just One Sweet Looking Leaf
Thunderstorm Rolling In
“Hold Fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes” Elder Jeffery R. Holland
Tortillas for the week 45, a lot of
rain and a pair of shoes which are still wet after 3.5 days and going on to 4
days! This week was a rough one, a week of the cost of Discipleship as Elder
Holland would say and a lot of just plain weeping. But hey that’s ok because
every day is a new day. A new slate is before me by partaking of the sacrament
yesterday. So our two baptisms fell through and I don’t know why. On the day
the baptism interviews were to take place, I couldn’t shake the feeling I had
that something wasn’t right. I just knew something was wrong and something was
wrong they didn’t get baptized. But hey that’s ok because there is always a new
day. I am seeing what Elder Holland said would happen in the life of
missionaries, he said, "Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have
occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our
success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church? You
will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great
deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. I am convinced that missionary work
is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was
easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great
Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never,
ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to
spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders
have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary. Now, please
don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about anything anywhere near what Christ
experienced. That would be presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that
missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to
know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of
that same price. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should
remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot
grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way. The Atonement will
carry the missionaries perhaps even more importantly than it will carry the
investigators." It is beyond true the Atonement has carried me so much
this week. Because of Him I drop to my knees to pray and express everything to
my Father in Heaven. Because of Him I read the Book Of Mormon to learn that He
took upon Him my pain, my sins, my suffering, my afflictions, He took upon Him
your sins, sorrow, pains and sadness. I know that one day Christ will wipe away
ALL of our TEARS. He is already wiping some of mine away.
Rabbit Ears And Missionaries
I am truly learning that many people
DO NOT know WHO JESUS CHRIST is. One night we were teaching a young man, Luis,
and we asked him what do you know about Jesus Christ? He said not much. So I
said when I say Jesus Christ, what are the first words that come to your mind?
And he said ¿Quien es? Which is who is that? Who is Jesus Christ? After he said
those words we shared with him that our message will bring you to a knowledge
who Jesus Christ is and you will come to know Him for yourself. The past week
and a half as I start my personal study, I have prayed that I may come to know
who Christ is and that I may know Him better than I do right now so and I CAN
explain who CHRIST is and to help the people to come to know who CHRIST IS.
Chillin' With The ZL'S, Elder Turner And Elder Gates
I gave a talk yesterday about
missionary work; it was very interesting because I went on a different course
than what I had prepared. I focused on preaching the gospel through our
actions, that through our actions we show people who we are and what we stand
for and that we must walk the walk before we can talk the talk. I also shared
that there is only one language of the gospel; that being the Language of the
SPIRIT. Then I started talking in English, I truly felt prompted to speak in
English. I said in English it doesn’t matter what language I am speaking
because the spirit can touch all your hearts. The spirit is the one that
testifies not our native languages. We are just the vessels to teach the
message of our Heavenly Father and His Son, the Savior, Jesus Christ. As I
ended my talk I shared part of my testimony in English and Spanish. I said I
know that Heavenly Father lives and answers our prayers. I know that Jesus is
the living Christ, the Savior of the world, and there is a plan for each of us.
I stopped for a minute and tears came to my eyes, and said “I'm a Mormon.
I know it. I live it. I love it." For some reason at that moment it
just hit me that I am a Mormon. I know it. I live it and I LOVE it. I can tell
you that my testimony is truly being rebuilt one piece at a time; I get pieces
when I need them and other pieces come when Heavenly Father knows I need them.
Downtown San Antonio Huista
I also
taught Sunday School and the lesson I gave was “Be strong and of
a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God
is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” I shared the Mormon Message that
President Monson shared from his experience he had in the Navy, “DARE TO STAND
ALONE”
After watching the video we talked about the quote President Monson shared:
Dare to be a Mormon;
Dare to stand alone.
Dare to have a purpose firm;
Dare to make it known.
I challenge all of you to do the same thing, Dare to be a Mormon, Dare to have
a purpose firm, and DARE TO MAKE IT KNOWN. Choose ye this day who ye will serve
by being a Mormon and to stand for what you believe, be the Mormon Christ wants
you to be and please don’t say some day I will dare to be a Mormon and make it
known. President Eyring says this about someday, “There is a danger in the
word someday when what it means is ‘not this day.’ ‘Someday I will
repent.’ ‘Someday I will forgive him.’ ‘Someday I will speak to my friend about
the Church.’ ‘Someday I will start to pay tithing.’ ‘Someday I will return
to the temple.’ ‘Someday …’ The thought ‘Someday I will’ can be a thief of the
opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity” Do not be that person,
commit to read the scriptures every day, choose to serve Heavenly Father each
day and dare to be a Mormon, do not be ashamed about being a Mormon, a member
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The greatest joy I have in
life is being a Mormon, a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Fear no man only fear God and choose this day whom ye will
serve. God or the devil. I pray that we all choose God and serve Him forever.
Time For The Daily Rain
What I love about Mom is that she
always tells me what I need to hear. What I love about Dad is that he gave me
my name John.
Ducks Forever, with love
Elder Mcilmoil May 19, 2014
Loving Some Dinner
Scripture of the week: 3 Nephi 5:13
“Come what may and LOVE it.” Elder
Joseph B. Wirthlin
“You were born to lead as men and
women willing ‘to stand as witnesses of God at all timesand in all
things, and in all places,’ because that’s what a true leader does”
Sheri Dew
“A morning prayer and an early
search in the scriptures to know what we should do for the Lord can set the
course of a day. We can know which task, of all those we might choose, matters
most to God and therefore to us.” President Henry B. Eyring
Tortillas for the week 30 and 1 minute in Mexico! I never
thought during my mission I would go to two different countries. Wow, crazy,
boom-mind is blown.
Welcome Back To Guatemala
Mini Missionary!!!
Last week we didn’t have the baptisms we thought we would,
that’s ok because it will happen. One of kids said he wanted to learn more, he just
wasn’t sure he had received that confirmation. We went home a little
disappointed because baptism is the path to discipleship. When we got back
home, I sat down and just thought, I thought for a long time, a matter of fact
I thought myself to sleep. When I got up in the morning I went immediately to
the scriptures and just thought and prayed some more. I came to the
understanding what I needed to say, it was what I have been doing for myself
for the past month and a half, immersing myself by reading and studying the
BOOK OF MORMON to know the pure truthfulness. As I have doing this I feel like
I am reading for the children of God, preparing to teach and to understand
their questions and concerns. Later that day we went to his house and I told him
I have thought a lot about what you said last night and I want you to know God
is the source of all truth. He loves you and wants to answer your questions. He
will help you recognize the truth as you sincerely seek it and ask Him for
guidance. You can know that what you’ve been learning is true. What you need to
do if you truly want to know if the church is true, if Joseph Smith really is a
prophet and is the Book of Mormon the word of God ask God because you truly
want to know. If you ask God one of those questions just one with true desire
to know for yourself, you will receive your answer and the rest will be a domino
effect of truth, because the Book of Mormon is the word of God and if that is
true then Joseph Smith is a prophet and if Joseph Smith is a prophet then the
church is true. When you ask God listen with your heart for the sweet feelings
of inspiration from the Holy Ghost, who will whisper the truth to your spirit
and mind. He said he would ask of God one of those questions. He came to church
on Sunday. I taught Sunday school and I could see his eyes and see that he was
being touched by the spirit. I knew at the moment the lesson I prepared and
taught was meant for him. I honestly didn’t even prepare about what the manual
said. I went with the direction from the promptings of the spirit, the direction
Christ wanted me to go. I focused on loving Christ with all our heart. I taught
if you love Christ with all your heart you will keep all His commandments. I asked
the class this question, I ASK ALL OF YOU, WHERE IS YOUR HEART? Is it with Christ
or the devil? You cannot serve two masters it is impossible. Before my mission
I tried and I stand here to today and testify to you it does work. I then shared
Elder Holland words, “You cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation
comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission
time as if nothing has happened. You just can’t.” Elder Holland’s word applies
to each us; we cannot be true Disciples of Christ if we try to serve two masters.
The spirit will not be with us if try to serve two masters. Choose one master
and I pray you will choose Christ. I have chosen to serve Christ. Someone truly
taught me how to serve Christ, this person taught me the difference between
right and wrong, how to love, how to live, how to smile and laugh, the
difference between baking powder and baking soda, taught me how to be respectful,
how to stand for what is right and left from right, taught me how to be Christ
like, taught me to love God and to love myself, and taught me to love the
scriptures. That someone is Kristi Janene Cook Mcilmoil, who I call MOM. She taught
me all those things. It was and it will be always and forever my Mom teaching
me those things daily even when I am 3000 miles away. I learn from her every day.
Moms are beyond special, motherhood is the most special and sacred calling in
the church and it will always be the most sacred calling. I stand with the 2000
stripling warriors saying: “We do not doubt our mothers knew it.” I say from
the depth of my soul I do not doubt my Mom knows that Christ lives, the Book of
Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the church
is true, she knows it and lives it. These things are true because my mom taught
me and teaches me that these things are true. Respect your moms and DON’T
EVER LET YOUR MOM BECOME A MOTHER FORGOTEN. Love your moms. I love my Mom with
all my heart. Treat your mom’s like queens because they are queens. Take time
and give your mom a hug and a kiss and say I love you mom. Mom I Love You
and I have chosen simply to say to you Mom at this moment just two words,
known as the two most important words in the English language and the most
important one word in the Spanish language: THANK YOU and GRACIAS.
Happy Mom's Day-Guatemalan Style
Rain, Rain And More Rain
Chicken Dinner
What I love about Mom is that she loves me and that she
is my mom. What I love about Dad is that he chose to marry my Mom, thank you Dad.
Love,
Elder Mcilmoil (your little boy) May 12, 2014
Got Your Package-Well Not Everything
New Computers At The Internet Cafe-So Excited!
Scripture of the week: Alma 56: 47-48
Quotes of the week: “May each of us treasure this
truth; one cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother
and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners
in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one.” President Thomas
S. Monson
“We cannot escape the influence our lives have upon the
lives of others.” President Thomas S. Monson
Power update, yesterday about 5 pm our light started
going on and off, finally it stayed on!!! So about 4 am this morning we had a
BAT incident, yep a bat. It was flying through our room and wouldn’t leave. The
bat landed on my bed then flew up to where I hang my pants; it was going crazy because
we were trying to get to fly outside. We were finally able to chase it out. It
was crazy and funny since I was half asleep! One of those moments I wish we had
on video.
Bath Time For Nacho!
This week was amazing; first of all I took on an
experiment. You can watch the experiment on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUv5n2Lh5vw&list=UUf8po7VMK67MaJcFY7bgLxA I took a picture of Christ everywhere I went on Wednesday.
I never set the picture of Christ down, not once. As I went throughout the day
I honestly found myself looking to Him more often and just always smiling.
Since I was constantly looking at Christ, it honestly made me think twice before
I acted or said anything, even though I am a missionary. It truly was an
amazing experience. I felt that Christ was really with me every step. At the
end of the day I wanted to do it again, but as I thought about it I realized I
don’t need to take the picture of Christ everywhere because Christ is always
with me. He is always with each of us, He never leaves us. He is always there
we just have to believe.
Rain=Flood
Since I have changed my focus on the way I study the Book
of Mormon, I’m seeing little insights on how to help God’s children. I am also beginning
to see that the people here are coming to a knowledge of their forefathers but most
don’t want to break the tradition of their fathers. They say I can’t because I
don’t want to offend them or disrespect their traditions. For example we found
this couple and taught them, they understood everything. We challenged them to baptism
and the husband said we can’t break the tradition of our fathers. I shared a
scripture in the Book of Mormon where it teaches that the Book of Mormon will
restore to the Lamanites a knowledge of their forefathers and of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. (2 Nephi 30:3–6) They just couldn’t accept that truth. It
just hurts when they can’t see the truth.
Preparing Them To Serve
We are teaching a family of five. The sons are amazing.
One of the sons said he would like to serve a mission. Two of the sons have a
baptism date for this week. Of course I am so excited for them because of the
many blessings they will receive, one being the constant companionship of the
Holy Ghost to help them make good choices. We are going to visit them every day
this week to help them to continue to prepare for baptism and make that sacred
covenant because the adversary will try to plant seeds of doubt. My prayer is
to bring this family of five to Christ and to prepare them for the eternal
blessings of the temple. In these past couple of days I have found that I have
come even closer to Christ as I have prayed to know how to turn the hearts of
this family to the Savior and follow Him. When we have done our part as missionaries,
the Lord will do His part. Well He does everything, He speaks through us, we
are His instruments.
Rain+Flood=Mud
The other day I was thinking that a mission is a lot like
preparing for the big game. As an athlete we want to get better, be better, and
improve. Even on days when it is tough and we don’t want to get out there because
there is nothing left to give, we still go out there and work harder. I
realized that all aspects of my mission requires the same determination and
discipline to get better, be better and improve even on days I don’t want to
because I am so tired and feel like I can’t do anymore I have to, people that
the Lord are preparing are relying on me to be that missionary. After thinking
about that I received a renewed desire and determination, which has changed me.
My New Peep
I read a talk given at BYU by Curt Holman, “Raising Your
Ebenezer: A Monument to Remember.” (http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=2130) It
is an amazing talk. This talk taught me two things. 1: look to your past and
reflect upon your life. You will see the divine guidance of our Heavenly Father
and how He has brought you to where you are today. 2: earnestly seek opportunities and environments in
which the Spirit can touch your heart. In this talk, Brother Holman quotes
Elder Steven E. Snow, “When it comes to our own gospel progression, we cannot
rely alone on our long-term memory. That is why in all our remembering we must
remember to renew. Our testimonies must be continually fed with new spiritual
experiences.” Brother Holman gave an example, “Choosing to attend your church
meetings, attend the temple regularly, read the scriptures, and even attend
university devotionals makes it more likely for you to have spiritual experiences.
After all, it is hard for the Spirit to bear witness to us of the truthfulness
of the Book of Mormon if we aren’t reading it.” If you only read the Book of
Mormon once and never again and just rely on that one experience to strengthen your
testimony, your testimony will crumple. “Even though Laman and Lemuel had seen
angels and had had other heavenly manifestations, they seemingly forgot them
and constantly murmured against their father and their brother. In their case
the inability to remember resulted in an entire nation turning from God.” We
need to seek opportunities and experiences to feel of the Spirit to strengthen
our testimonies. This week I have earnestly sought opportunities and
environments in which the Spirit can touch my heart. One of those opportunities
came yesterday; we showed the Mormon Message, Because Of Him, to this member
family, you could just feel the sprit in the air. It was like you could wave
your hands through the air and feel it, it was amazing! I didn’t want that
feeling to go away. I realized that it doesn’t have to; part of the message of
the gospel of Jesus Christ is that there is no end, because of Christ. I can
have that feeling for eternity. This week was just amazing, just looking for
ways to improve and get better and truly helping people Come Unto Christ is
just amazing.
Loving My Peep
We taught a lesson this week to an inactive member’s wife.
I have been constantly praying about her needs and how we could help her. As
the lesson was coming to a close the answer to my prayer came by the words she
said, “Honestly right now I don’t believe that families are forever.” It hit me
that she truly needs to come to know that knowledge. Now we can focus on
teaching her that families are forever.
Tasty Peep
As this week unfolded I couldn’t stop thinking about Christ.
Every day I would always make sure He was with me, whether it was a picture of
Him or He was in my heart. Through faith and prayer I know He will always be
with me, He will walk with me, He will talk with me through the spirit by the
means of putting words in mind in knowing what to say to his lost sheep. I KNOW
THAT CHRIST IS THERE, NEVER BE SAD; OR DISCOURAGED, NEVER BECAUSE CHRIST WILL
NEVER LEAVE YOU. I challenge all of you one day this week to take a picture of Christ
with you NEVER set it down and write down how it affected you.
Also this week I read a talk, “The Miracle Of A Mission”
by Elder Holland. His words helped to have a better appreciation of my mission.
I can sum up this week in four words: MY MISSION HAS JUST BEGUN.
Soda!!
What I love about Mom is that she learned about rugby and
what I love about Dad is that he took the priests rappelling. With
love, Ducks Forever, Elder Mcilmoil May 5, 2014 Tortilla
count for the week: 42
Scripture of the week: Jacob 5:61, 70-74 The lord has called prophets, apostles, missionaries and
members to work in His vineyard. Will you accept His call?
“Great battles can make great heroes, but heroes will
make great battle. Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with
God and man, and so can you. You are a royal generation. The heavenly
grandstands are cheering you on. We are fast coming to the close of this game.
The opposition is real and is scoring. But we have scored, we are scoring, and
we will score in the future. The Lord is our coach and manager. His team will
win, and we can be a valiant part of it if we so desire. Rise up, O youth of
Zion! You hardly realize the great divine potential that lies within you. May
you all follow your leader, Jesus Christ, and increase mentally, physically,
spiritually, and socially. For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in
reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of
the Lord.” -Ezra Taft Benson.
Weekly quote: “I don’t want to be remembered for how many
baptisms I got but for the person I was.” Elder Mcilmoil
This week was a tough one. We went to see the 1st counselor
at his house and we were told that he was moving rocks at the back of the
house. When we went back there to talk with him, I instantly knew they needed
help. Without hesitation we went straight to work. All I can say after helping
this family is I LOVE SERVICE, I know it sounds crazy but it was so fun. Offering
service is amazing! I LOVE SERVICE, you just feel MORE CHRIST LIKE when serving
others. It was great to talk and laugh as we working. When we returned back to our
house (the church) that night I felt like I just played in a football game. My
shoulders were so sore and they had some good bruises on them. The pain was so
worth it to help this family.
Just A Few Rocks To Move
A Good Day
On Wednesday some students from a university did an
interview with us about the church, they were going around and talking to
people who belonged to other churches to learn more about their beliefs. It was
a sweet experience. I had a blast talking with the students and sharing with
them about our beliefs. One question they asked was, “How do we receive an
answer?” I told them in the Bible, in the book of James it says, “If any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God.” And I then said if you want to receive an
answer ask of God and He will answer your prayer through the power of the Holy
Ghost. I also shared with them if you truly want to know what church is true,
ask of God, He will answer.
Daughters of God
No Greater Joy
Yesterday was Monday and we did not have our regular
p-day because we had a meeting with Elder Clark, assistant Executive Director
in the Missionary Department and his wife Sister Clark and President and Sister
Bautista. It was an amazing meeting. Sister Bautista shared some amazing things;
she said a lot of your investigators don’t want to offend the religion of their
fathers by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ. So we need to teach them of their
forefathers and what church they were a part of, the church of Jesus Christ.
Then President Bautista talked about the Good Ole Days, yep the Good Ole Days. He
said today is the Good Ole Days because every prophet looked forward to our day
and every scripture was written for our day. He said, “Hermanas and Elders, you
are living in the Good Ole Days, so live it up by living and sharing the good
news of gospel. After President Bautista finished speaking Sister Clark spoke
to us. She said, “You are walking with the Savior, shoulder to shoulder, if you
are not obedient He can’t walk with you.” Power and profound words. After her remarks Elder Clark taught us, let
me just say that he taught by the spirit with power and authority. He talked
about our name tags, he said, “Look at your name tag every night and think did
you use the name Elder like it is supposed to be used, did you honor your last
name, did you represent the name of Jesus Christ and did you represent Him that
day?” He said treasure the title Elder, because if you are not a General Authority
or an Apostle, you will never be called Elder again. An Elder is commissioned
to stand in the place and stead of his Master—who is the Chief Elder—in ministering
to his fellowmen. An Elder is the Lord’s agent. His responsibility is to preach
the gospel and perfect the Saints. He said being a missionary is Not A Right,
it is a PRIVLEGE! He had all the Latinos stand up and said these exact words, “Let
me prophesy right now, 5 of you (Latinos) will go inactive.” As he said those
words my heart just broke. I stated crying and just kept saying, don’t say
that, just don’t. He talked about obedience and said out of all things that are
most important it is obedience. He said where is your white bible? Open it up
and you will read these are the basic standards of missionary service and
conduct, better known as "RULES.” This is false doctrine. They are actually
COMMANDMENTS, not rules because rules are easier to break and not feel bad about
breaking them. When we break commandments we feel bad and don’t want to break
them! Keep these commandments and your mission will be amazing. He also shared
with us that your missions are a very special time, you are not on your time,
you are on the Lord’s time and this is not your mission, it is the Lord’s mission.
If you see that and know that you can and will say just as Elder Holland says, “My
Mission meant everything to me in my life. Everything. No young man could have
served a Mission and been more effected by it than I was.” Elder Clark counseled
us to baptize families. He said by baptizing families there is a better chance
your converts will stay active after you leave. He told us when you teach;
teach with the temple as your goal, not just baptism. Temples bring forth
eternal blessing and forever families. He also counseled us that we must read
and study the Book Of Mormon and Preach My Gospel every day! So this week I
read the Book Of Mormon with a sincere heart and with true intent and I could
feel my faith had increased and was also strengthened.
Me and Elder Smith, Best Missionary Ever!
Window Selfie
On Sunday night I was on the roof of our house (the
church) and I asked Heavenly Father if thou are listening please show me by letting
me see a shooting star. So I sat there and waited and nothing. I decided to wait
a little longer and then the clouds took over and there was no star in sight.
As I sat there the zone leaders called to tell us that our district wouldn’t be
having any changes. After the call I went back out and sat there and again nothing
happened. It was time to go back inside and as started to close the door and I looked
one last time and I saw it, I saw the shooting, it was just barley bright
enough for me to see. When I saw it my eyes begin to fill with tears and I just
wept thanking the Lord. I felt so happy because this month a lot of things have
happened, things that I didn’t expect or didn’t want to happen. I have sought
heavens help and often times felt as if the heavens were closed. As I saw this
star I knew my all prayers were going to be answered in time and that Father in
Heaven is listening to me. A number of my prayers were also answered the
following day at our conference with Elder Clark. One question I had thinking about
was why am I here? Is it just to baptize. Elder Clark said these words you missionaries
are here to guide people to salvation, you are bringing people to the knowledge
of salvation not just by baptism but by the temple, so families can be forever,
our goal is eternal families. Teach that our Savior lives. President Bautista showed Because of Him.
As I watched this video a little feeling came over me and
put a ball in my throat and I knew my Savior does live. I give you my witness
that because of Him there is not an end, the grave has no victory and regret
becomes relief and we have second chances. I know HE LIVES and because He lives
we ALL will LIVE AGAIN.
What I love about Mom is that we share Mormon Messages
back and forth. What I love about Dad is that he puts duck call videos in my drop
box.
With love, Ducks Forever,
Elder Mcilmoil April 29, 2014
Ammon, Defender Of Faith
Ducks Forever
Tortilla count for the week: 45
Scripture of the week: James 1:5 and 1 Peter 3:15 Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of
heaven.
“NO EMPTY CHAIRS” Anna Christine “Chris”
Cook; I should say GRAMMY!!!!!!!!!!!
