HEEEEELLLLLLOOOOOOO AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!!!!!!! First off let me apologize for not having written a weekly update in (and I did the math here) five weeks!!! I really have no excuses except that Jamestown was rough, but that's in the past and we are looking forward with anticipation for the future!!! For those that are curious, yes transfer calls did come this week and..... Elder McMullin is going back to his birthplace of FARGO NORTH DAKOTA AND training a new missionary as well as continuing to be district leader in the Fargo Zone. In all honesty, I'm super excited because I've always wanted to train but also very nervous because white washing and training at the same time seem a little daunting, but as our good friend Matthew says "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). As for this week's spiritual thought with Elder McMullin I want to talk about a very intense experience that I was involved with and a very important lesson I learned from it. It was about 11:45pm and I was asleep when I got a phone call from a Elder who had been involved with pornography and was being black mailed by a pornstar threating to tell everyone what they did together to all 985 of his friends on Facebook. I had to force shut down and delete his entire Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram in roughly fifteen minutes. Luckily the Lord blessed us both and no content was sent out, yet for two weeks after I sat with this Elder through grueling interviews and even had to be interviewed by the area Presidency about the incident and my involvement. I learned through this entire experience the nuclear capacity that pornography in any shape or form has to decimate a life while radiating harmful after affets on those you so dearly love. Do not allow yourself to be even loosely connected with pornographic material. Any allowance of it at all is a breach of the law of chastity and a wedge of self destruction patiently waiting to split you in half. I boldy and lovingly invite you all, whether you're activity using pornography or have distanced yourself from it to revamp your dedication to remaining pure not in the world's standards but in the eternal exhalting standards of our Heavenly Father. At the same time, if you are actively struggling with pornography I invite you to reach out, grab hold of the atoning arm of Jesus Christ and begin making your way back to a life of reality and light rather than a color corrected, sound amplified, hormonal provoking, fake world. Know that I love you all so much and that you can always talk to me or your local priesthood leaders and find a friend that will be along your side as you overcome this extremely addicting challenge.
TIFFANEY!!!! Okay, do you all want to hear the coolest story ever! About two weeks ago Elder Austin, Kinikini, Tonga and myself went to a joint community block party for Jamestown and Valley City. Not going to ngl we had SO much fun! We were able to go into a photo booth sponsored by the local baptist Church and take eighteen photos with the baptist pastor who was definitely surprised by how social, young, and effective the missionaries are for the "lds church". But towards the end of the party we were walking back to our cars when we got a prompting to talk to a group of people next to us. We tried talking to them and they actually flipped us off and told us to "keep walking you cultists". Trust me Elder McMullin was this close to throwing some serious hands until a lady yelled at me and asked if we were church people. Looking around I saw a lady with electric purple hair staring at me with a cold stare. I explained that we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that we are the restored Church of Jesus Christ. She gave us her number and said she has been looking for a church since her church was literally arsoned with a flaming bible (got to love North Dakota and their passion for all things religious) and would like to know more about our Church. The next day when we met with her she excitedly told us that she had the best sleep she has ever had since she was diagnosed with insomnia in 2012. She explained that she thought we were Jehova Witnesses and didn't want to be contacted until a person next to her told her that she needed to hear what we had to say and that we were good people that would lead her to true and lasting happiness. Immediately she looked behind her and said no one was there and knew that it was an angel from God. Sweet Tiffany is now on date for baptism for October second and wants over twenty of her friends to come and eventually join the Church as well. The Lord works in mysterious ways filled with miracles for those who open their mouths and act on spiritual promptings.
JOHN!!! Okay so John was a super nice guy we met at volleyball who said he would be down to meet with us and hear a message about Jesus Christ. Let me just say it was a total bait and switch. He whipped out a binder of notes of why our Church was false and every single Book of Mormon verse that seemed to contradict the bible or history itself. ***Que sarcastic Elder McMullin voice in my head*** "Wow, this is so Christlike to bash fellow followers of Jesus Christ and say I will burn in hell for my sins because Jesus Christs doesn't apply to people 'like me'. ***Back to our somewhat regularly scheduled letter*** This train of thought got me thinking about what Christ would do in this situation. Rather than fight back or get mad I simply took it, thanked him for his opinion, bore testimony and left. I don't know why but I felt so unsatisfied after that experience yet peaceful at the same time. Four days later John sent an essay of a text deeply apologizing for his actions and stating that we were extreme examples of Christ-like love and charity which he spit in the face. Immediately I felt satisfaction and was humbled to learn first hand that the spirit and God are far more influential and powerful than any raging storm of words and slurs that dissipate as we choose to follow his divine example.
Speaking of Volleyball.... I had the amazing opportunity to play mud volleyball with a bunch of new friends we made in sand volleyball. The only funny part was that we were told it was going to be an all boy team, but when we arrived it was just us and our home girls, Brooke, Amelia, Angel, and Liz. Not only was it an amazing fun filled time but we took third, thereby winning $40 and some killer photos. AND IT GETS EVEN BETTER! One of our teammates (Brooke) started asking questions about our Church and asked if we could do a bible study together sometime, and that she always loved learning new things and finding truth on her own through prayer. If that's not the most elect thing you have ever heard then I don't know what is.
Well amazing friends and family I hope you know how much I love you and that I feel your support each and every day! Remember that you always have four friends; God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and Elder McMullin. Love you all so much and am looking forward to writing to you next week from Fargo!!!!
Love your favorite McM in the NDBM,
Elder McMullin ;)
Pictures!!!
