Hello, amazing friends and family!!! Not going to lie, this week has flown by and it feels like only yesterday that I was writing to you all about the wonders that are Bismarck, North Dakota. To start off this email, happy 7th day of December! This only means eighteen more days till Christmas- can you believe that! The spiritual thought that I would like to share with you all this week focuses on the wonder and beauty of Light. This holiday season light is everywhere from beautifully decorated Christmas trees to colorful Christmas Lights on houses, even to our Bishops light up Christmas ties that he wears for the month of December. But where does this light come from? This kind of light is powered by electricity, a substance lacking life or soul and whose power is limited to the length of a cord or wire. Compare this "artificial" or "man-made" light to that of the Light of Christ. This light has the ability to shine everywhere, inspire change, and pierce even the darkest of areas. In the words of Elder Jeffrey R Holland "It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines". This Christmas season let us flood our lives with Light. Let us experience the temporary joy of artificial light while also letting it inspire us to share our light with others and become beacons or reflectors of the Infinite Light of Jesus Christ. A fabulous way to do this is to get involved with the 2020 Light the World program whose mission is to spread the light and joy of the one and only "Light of the world" (John 8:12). My sweet brothers and sisters this year has been hard on us all, but let us take advantage of this Christmas season and spread joy and light, rather than Covid, and remember to seek out the one and true light source, our Savior Jesus Christ.
FRIEND UPDATE!!! This week we had the wonderful opportunity to be able to meet twice with Brian and have some really good discussions about the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation. So far, he seems fairly interested and has been asking a lot of really good questions. Hope, (Brains girlfriend) is also doing AMAZING she has repeatedly been bearing her testimony about how much happier she has been feeling when we come over and visit and how she is starting to feel the spirit more and more in her life. This week they also invited us to come over on Saturday and make authentic El Salvadorian pupusas which are like a Spanish Dumpling cooked in corn oil and topped with cabbage and Sals (so good)! They are both so awesome and I am so excited that our relationship is growing and that they are getting so close to being baptized! On the other hand, we have hit some snags with Eugene, but I know that if we keep working with him and reach out with extra love and tenderness, we can begin getting him back on the covenant path. I love all of these people so so so much and I am so grateful that I can be involved in their lives and help bring them lasting happiness and joy! Missionary work is awesome!!!!
Now you may be wondering what's up with the caption, well let me explain. At the beginning of this transfer Elder Post and I thought that we would be all on our own trying to get our Advertising workload under control. However, this is not so. This past week we have had the actually super fun opportunity to have new Elders crash with us for the night and some parts of the day. Elder Post and I have tried our hardest to make them feel comfortable and welcome by giving them the nicest bathroom, cooking Omelets for them in the morning, and cleaning up after them. Now the problem is every Elder in the mission wants to come to Bismarck and crash with us and check into the McPost Resort and Cafe. Even the assistants to the President (our next-door neighbors) have tried to check themselves in. Needless to say, life here in the NDBM is awesome and it is so fun to be able to meet new Elders and fun past companions or friends.
All in all, missionary life is awesome!!! If any of you are debating whether a mission is for you or not, jump in head first with faith in the lord and you will see amazing blessings and have an amazing experience. Love you all so much and hope this Christmas season is full of happiness, joy, and most importantly light. Love you all and miss spending Christmas with you!!!!
Sent with love and Christmas Cheer from,
Elder McMullin :)
Photos!!!
1) My gnome brethren celebrating Christmas
Cheer: https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world-2020/the-christ-child
