HELLOOOO AMAZING FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!! My goodness has it been a crazy week, so many wonderful service opportunities and miracles! Before we get into all the nitty gritty though I want to get started off with a quick spiritual thought. When we think of Christ's atonement, what emotions and thoughts come to mind? Gratitude? Peace? Fear? For the almost two years that I've been a missionary it's astonishing to see the variety of emotions regarding Jesus Christ's atonement, especially how so many fear this precious gift. I think it's no coincidence that in Matthew 28:5, when Mary visits the empty tomb of Christ, the very first thing the resurrected Christ says is "fear not". The atonement of Jesus Christ is nothing to be feared, repentance is a gift to be enjoyed each and every day. Christ did not sacrifice His perfect and sinless life to punish, shame, or embarrass you. He died and endured all things to heal your heart and mind, to provide comfort in ways that are only possible through pure love and sacrifice. Brothers and Sisters, don't hide in sin thinking that it is safer and more comfortable than being in your bishop's office or temporarily not holding a temple recommend. I can promise you that true and lasting happiness is only found in the light of Christ and his atonement, not in the web of Satan's pride stinging lies.
Something really cool happened this week that has been in the works for awhile. There is a kid in the Rapid City ward who graduated in 2019 and has been hesitant to serve a mission. Last year I was challenged by then Bishop Policky to get this guy out of trouble/bad habits and into the mission field, which at the time was an extremely daunting task. Ever since I have been back here in Rapid City I've been able to help this kid, who I love so dearly now, through two major spiritual crises, a death in the family, and resolve of some nagging addictions. I am very excited to announce that just a couple days ago he put his mission papers and is planning on serving a mission by early fall. It's amazing to see the immense amount of change that has occured in this man's life. He has gone from despising the Church and Joseph Smith to having a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon's authenticity and immense love for President Nelson. This change has brought so much joy into my life and I am so excited to hear about all of the lives that this future missionary will change.
Here in the midwest, we don't get much for entertainment aside from bars and the occasional mall visit. However, being an extremely religious community there is a very large non-drinking community which unites together through something called Sip and Save. Circle K runs a promotion where for the mere price of $6 you get 30 days of free any size fountain, slushy, or coffee beverage. Elder Smith and I have been frequent visitors of this promotion and have actually seen shocking success in teaching opportunities with our fellow sip and savers (I'm telling you, Diet Coke and the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ were just meant to be paired together). Just this week, Elder Smith and I have had the immense honor of being inaugurated into the Sip and Save Squad where our girls at Circle K (Cindy, Brande, Jennifer, Amandea, Cherl, Carol, and Tif) don't even bother checking our memberships any more, but rather wave us through the lines and flash us the secret Sip and Save Squad gang sign. Yah, we love our girls. So much in fact that they all have copies of the Book of Mormon in their cars that they usually read on their cigarette break. So yah, caffeine really does save lives- spiritually and physically.
I have also had the cool experience this week to help convert an old school bus into an RV this week. There is a super sweet returning member who has a daughter with some disabilities that make it difficult for her to travel, socialize, and see anything aside from her school and house. Well this Sister has been saving up her money for over 13 years to buy an old handicapped school bus and convert it to a RV to travel the country with her daughter and elderly mother. It's so sweet to see how much effort this single Sister has put into her daughter's "dream bus" so that her daughter will be able to have memories of God's beautiful earth, before she leaves it. Needless to say it's been so fun to grind out rusted out screws and repaint a full sized blue bird school bus and prepare to send off the Arntz on their travels.
Well that's been my week! I absolutely love being here in Rapid city and even more so as a missionary! So sad to think that's this all about to end, but just a better reason to work harder and make even more memories! Love you all so much and thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers!!
Enjoy this vlog of my mission life: https://photos.app.goo.gl/AJw1c7DGU7dgUjJQ8
You're favorite McM in the NDBM!
Elder McMullin