Getting Blisters From Putting My Shoulder to the Wheel

Whew! I'm exhausted this week. Not to mention that my allergies are still getting the best of me every couple of days...

So I was hoping you would have written something by now, so I'd have something to read, but oh contraire! That's alright though. So don't worry, there is a reason I am E-mailing on Friday, I'm not going apostate, or rebellious, and there is no sort of disaster to force me to email today. However, there is a huge conference that President Howell is holding down in the cities, and all the trainers and district leaders are supposed to go. So that means Elder Zweifel and I. We are leaving Sunday and driving down to Duluth, and then Monday driving down to Bloomington, and there we will be having 4 days worth of meetings... On what, I'm not exactly sure, but it's going to be intense!!!! (In an awesome, good way) I think it's something groundbreaking about being a "tri-panionship" with the Holy Ghost. Whatever it is, I know I'm going to love it, and I'm looking forward to driving all the way to the cities. It's about time I got to go down there! Road trip!!!

The Zweifel Fury

Well, about the title or subject of my email... It doesn't seem like much is changing. Our success hasn't really been greater, and our effort is still at the level that it's just about all I've got. Brad is like a ghost, he's hard to get a hold of and keeps going out of town. He doesn't seem very committed to his commitment of baptism. Things keep taking precedence over that, and it's really quite annoying to be blown off three times in a row. We're getting very close to dropping him. It'd kill me to do it, but it's a necessary part of the work. One of our other investigators is having a baby today, so we didn't get to meet with her, and she is moving to the Northside, so the Northside Elders are going to pick her up at least. The new investigator that we picked up JUST YESTERDAY called this morning and told us that she was no longer interested in learning. We also cannot get a hold of Darren, and our other investigator cancelled her appointment on us as well. I feel like I'm at a point where I want to just give up and say forget it, but I know that I can't. I'm tired of people rejecting us, being rude to us, slamming doors and non committable investigators.

I read this morning about how Alma went to go preach in Ammonihah, and how the people rejected him there, and as he was going home, an angel told him to rejoice, because he had great cause to rejoice, because he had been faithful in keeping the commandments of God since he first received it. I know that I'm in the same position as Alma, or as Nephi who said his tears water his pillow at night for the people, or said that his heart was weighed down with sorrow for the iniquities of his brethren. I know what that feels like. I wish to sometimes have the voice of the angel Alma wanted, to shake the whole earth and declare repentance. I don't know how I can make, or help these people to see that we indeed are the very servants of Jesus the Christ, and that the message that we share is not ours, but Him that sent us! When they slam the door on us, they slam the door on Christ and his gospel. When they decide to cancel on us, they have cancelled on Christ and his Gospel, the only way to know true peace and EVERLASTING happiness.

I sometimes wonder if there is one person on our side of town who is truly the humble seeker of truth, ready to listen to the gospel. I don't know if there is, but I know that I cannot cease to work, and I hope to find that one person even if it's just one. It is hard to labor and not to see the fruits from your labor. I have always felt that way throughout my mission, but I've always tried to do my best anyways.

I don't tell you these things to say “woe is me,” but these are the feelings that I have right now, and I know I can always talk to you about it, it helps me to vent a little too, it clears out my mind. I already know what the cure is. It's work. I know that I need to keep working harder and harder. I'm trying to learn how to work smarter. I want to be a go-getter instead of a grunt. But I will always do what I know, and when I know better, I will do better.

Anyways, hope everything is going well on the home front! Tell Brig and Madison I say hello, and give them a hug for me!

I think last week you asked me about package contents? Well the only thing I'd really ask for is not even necessarily a necessity. It's a CD called "Nearer," a CD of hymns in the form of folk music. One Elder had it, and I loved it. You could probably find it at Deseret Book.

Well, I suppose, if nothing else, I am truly learning from the scriptures, and I can even picture myself in them at times, imagining what it'd be like. Well, don't worry about me, I feel much better now. I know what must be done, and this training in the cities could be just what I need.

I love you all
ELDER BROOKS