Fireside

Sent September 30, 2013 - had a few email glitches last week...

Well hello again to whomever feels the need to read these poor man's notes. 

Nah, just kidding, ha I'm such an egg. Anyways this week was a good week. The big thing this week was working towards this branch fireside that we had on Sunday. Which meant that we would go around and invite everyone we were talking with and visiting to come to this fireside! The Branch was also saying that they were inviting less-actives and their non-member friends. When we were going out and inviting, surprisingly quite a few said that they would come, most said to bugger off which we figured meant that they weren't too keen on coming to the fireside.

Going along we had a decent lesson with a family that we have found, the Kakara family, that is 9 children from the age of 17 to 11 months, so it is sort of like the Linfords. . . The lesson started out with the Restoration but we only got to "The Gospel Blesses Familes" That is what they really want to happen! Their family is being pulled in different directions and they really want something to keep them together through this roughaz time. With hope this family will really take to heart what we are teaching and sharing with them, as the doctrine and the word of God. That it is for them and their family, and if they want God to be a constant in their lives, there is a way. That way is through this gospel, and through prayer we can invite God into every part of our lives.

Back to this fireside, we were inviting and inviting people and people were saying yes and the day finally came! We had a full sacrament meeting, around 33 people, we taught sunday school and then listened to some thoughts on welfare in a combined priesthood and relief society meeting. Later that night we came to the fireside and at about 5 minutes before it started we had about 10 people, all members.  That was a bit disheartening at first, but a few more came in and we had a short fireside on the Restoration. The Spirit was there quite strongly! On the unfortunate end there were about 20 people total that showed up and only 2 less-actives. So our goal with the fireside wasn't quite up to what we wanted, but the branch was putting forth some effort to work with us! It was fantastic!! This was probably their first activity in a little over 8 months, so the branch is coming around.

Fun fact about the fireside, during the fireside the branch president released our Branch Mission Leader, so at the moment we have no Branch Mission Leader with no time frame and receiving a new BML. Fun stuff from Dargaville!

The work goes well, and in a very humbling manner. Right when things start to go well enough and your confidence swells beyond it's spiritual blocks, a little humbling takes place. A quick reminder that we are nothing without the Lord, and this work is done through him and the Spirit and I am merely an instrument in the hands of the master. All I can do is make myself into the best instrument that I want to be.

Love you all heaps!

Arohanui,

Elder Long

Picture from the MTC - but at least he sent a picture!!