11-23-09

Hey mom. How are you doing? Feeling any better today? I did get the line of authority in the mail. I was so happy to finally have it. I can't wait to put it to use! Yes, it is time to order meds again.

Sounds like you had a fun time in Blanding. I watched sister Beck speak at the Relief Society broadcast the week before conference and I was really impressed. I bet she was even better in person.It's comforting though that Alyse lives with the Perkins. They are so awesome and I know they are a huge strength to her. Tell Alyse I said it's okay to be homesick!

AH! I miss shooting. Everyone is hunting lately and I feel like I'm missing out on the experience! Unfortunately, it says specifically in the Missionary Handbook "no firearms" although there are a lot of members of the ward that would take us. Even some investigators. Wow, I didn't realize the stake was getting so big. That's pretty amazing. Maybe by the time I get home it will have split into 2 stakes. Wouldn't that be something? Haha I'm glad that you find joy in hearing my name.

Aunt Margaret is always really good about keeping in touch with me and she sends me packages pretty often. She is so awesome. It is always a lot of fun to get a random package in the mail. I was hoping the boys got there letters! I really enjoyed writing them and drawing the pictures. I feel bad that they miss me so much, especially Coleman. I feel extremely blessed to be able to be an example to them though. I hope that they all decide to serve missions.

Isn't it interesting how our family ended up? You and dad joining the church just a few years before your only boy was born, giving him the opportunity to grow up in the Gospel and serve a mission. Now, your daughters have sons(by the boatload) that will be able to grow up in a knowledge of the truth and have the opportunity to serve missions. God's preparations began a long time ago and we are just catching a glimpse of what is to come. It's a belief that I have developed recently, but in mission life some are called to be trainers(appropriately named "Fathers"). These trainers are called to teach other missionaries("Sons"), but I feel for a specific purpose: To progress the new missionary to the level of the trainer faster than the trainer achieved that level. A mission is a "life" of sorts, so I feel it acceptable to compare it to the mortal probation we all have. So, the only possible conclusion is that each generation has the call to progress the next generation to their level faster than they attained it. This allows the future generation more time to spend surpassing the overall level of the previous generation. In short, we are here for our kids. There is my philosophical insight for the week, take it for what you will haha.

Well, I have some awesome news! We had 2 baptisms on Saturday and they were both confirmed yesterday! I am so excited! The baptism was so awesome. Oscar, the husband of Jeamilette, gave the opening prayer. His prayer was so sincere that it felt like the Spirit dropped a bomb in there. He kept getting choked up on his words and by the end most of the people in the room had tears in their eyes. You could feel Oscar's joy at being able to see his wife baptized. He wants so badly to be married in the temple and be sealed to his parents, his wife, and his son. He only has a year left to go! His prayer set the mood for the entire baptism. The speakers were excellent. Well, when it came to the actual baptism, Kiyrah was first. She is a funny little girl, and very easy to get down into the water. Jeamilette was second and when she stepped down into the water, the tears came back to everyone's eyes. Unfortunately, she didn't make it all the way under on the first try so we had to try again. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to pull her back up once, let alone twice. I started praying hard in my heart that God would give me the strength to do it again. Well, the second one was perfect and I really did not feel any weight at all. It was incredible. At the end of the baptism, I broke a mission rule: Jeamilette asked if she could have a hug and I let her haha. I think Heavenly Father will understand. The confirmations on sunday were equally impressive. I feel so blessed to be in this place. I truly feel that I'm doing what my Father wants me to do. One very interesting thing that I did not expect is the fact that I don't feel any more successful now than I did before we were able to baptize someone. I have been a successful missionary the entire time, and I just didn't recognize it. I think I finally understand what you were trying to tell me in your letter about changing the standard by which we judge success. In both cases, I taught, I worked, I prayed. I did what God asked me to do. The difference between a baptism or not lies within the person being taught. I just hope I can remember that the next time things become hard.

Well, I better get going. I love you all. Have a great week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, Elder Mullenax

11-15-09

I got some pictures from zack this week, I will try to post them by next week!

I'm sorry to hear that you're sick mom. Give Hadyn lots of hugs and kisses for me. How is Slade doing, mom? I always worry about him. I want him to be able to take Alyse to the temple. Hadyn needs that bond.

I'm so happy to hear about the line of authority. I really hope that I'm able to get it in time to do what I would like to with it.

I'm glad that you liked the pictures. I'm hoping to have some really really good ones soon to send home. Maybe even church bulletin board worthy haha, just kidding. I am having a better week. I had my interview with President Macdonald this week and it helped out a lot. Also, I got your letter on the same day. I know exactly what you mean about changing how you view success. It's something that is in Preach My Gospel but I didn't really learn from the spirit how to do it until I got your letter. We will spend thanksgiving day with a lot of different members and investigators. It should be a lot of fun and a much needed break.

I'm super excited for this next week because we have 2 baptisms on Saturday. Elder Rupp didn't want to get wet so I'll be baptizing both of them. One is a 9-year-old girl, Kyirah Stover, and the other is a lady in her 30s whose husband is a member, Jeamilette Morales. It is so amazing to see people committed to the gospel enough to change everything about their lives to be able to live it. We also have another baptism on the 28th for Tiffany Ruddell. If I had to pinpoint a reason why I was sent to North Bend, it would be Tiffany. I have grown so much through working with her. Because of all the things that happened to her, it caused me to really rely on God. I've never prayed harder for anyone in my life, I've never worked harder for anything, I've never worried about someone this much, and I've never seen so many of my prayers answered as I saw with her. I don't think I was sent here for anyone else's benefit, but for my own. Other missionaries could have just as easily taught her the lessons. Any other missionary could have listened to the promptings of the spirit and been able to resolve her concerns. However, I could not have gotten to where I am now, spiritually, without Tiffany and her particular situation. I feel so blessed to be a part of it. She has an 18-month-old and last night all I could think about is how his life will be impacted by all of this. Think of how awesome it would be to go to his mission farewell and hand him the tie I wore when I baptized his mother. The things we do impact so much more than what's in our immediate field of vision. Now the key is remembering that when times get rough.

In my interview with president, it sounds like I'll be leaving North Bend after this transfer is up. He said that it's time for me to change areas and move on to bigger things. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I have some guesses but they worry me haha.

Well, thanks for everything. I love you all. Have a great week and try to start feeling better.

Love,

Elder Mullenax

Letter 11-4-09

Hi family!

Zone conference was awesome as usual. It was great to see Elder Parkin. We had some good talks. He also gave me some CDs with pictures on them so I'm going to attach some to this email if I can. Well, I'm not being transferred. Only one missionary in our Zone is changing and it's because he's headed home. I'm glad to be serving around all the same guys because they are a great strength to me. I learn something important from each one of them.

Jim Cates is doing better. We taught him this week. It was not as serious as we thought it was. He will still be baptized on the 7th if he comes out clear on the scan today. If not, it will only move back a week or 2. We have a few very promising people we're teaching right now. I think we're going to see a lot more baptisms in the next month. I'm very excited.

Well, I don't really have much else to say today. I seem to be short of words and experiences. Be safe this week. I love you all. Good luck with the spanish! Oh, and ask Alyse if she still loves me. It's been almost 6 months and not even a single email? SHEESH! haha, I love you.

Love, Elder Mullenax