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