Selwin's Big Surprise

Me with Sister Laura Evans

Well, this week, I'm happy to report, was the best one we have had, so far, in this transfer. Wow, time sure is flying these days!  We helped someone move for part of yesterday, which wasn't easy, but, I got a chance to exercise my muscles so it was good.  This week as we were out tracting a street by the name of Leo.  We weren't having any success at all but we kept at it.  We knocked on the door of one of the houses and a lady stepped outside.  We introduced ourselves and she told us her name was Laura Evans and she would be willing to listen to us.  We asked her some questions and she was giving us some really good answers but after asking her the third question, we got the shock of our lives when she said, "yes, and I'm a Mormon."  We were speechless, then both me and my companion were like “really?”  She said, “yes” so I asked "are you just playing with us because we are Mormons or something of the sort?"  She replied, "nope, I"m a Mormon and have been for over twenty years.”

It took us some time before we caught ourselves again but, me and my companion both agreed she got us.  She made my day though. She was actually at work and saw us coming so she said she decided to just test us to see what we had.  It was good.  As we continued tracting down the same street, we were nearing the end of it when we saw a car back up out of the drive way and then heard someone say, "Don't open the door" to the person who was there. This statement just made me laugh.  Yes, I was sad they would miss the opportunity to hear this wonderful gospel but at the same time I don't think the person realized how loud they said it.

One thing I've come to appreciate is the trials I'm facing and overcoming, I look at the example of Nephi at the very beginning of the Book of Mormon in the very first chapter, verses 1 and 20. I know no matter what we face in this life God is there with us and he will help us and strengthen us so we can overcome those trials and all he asks of us is to have faith in him.  Yes, that is all he asks.

Okay I guess that's all that I have for this week.  Love you people!  Stay strong, and like my bro says, “lets keep moving onward.”

Simeon in Smyrna

Me and Elder Barraclough in Smyrna, Georgia

Well, it seems me and my bro are on the same page, though I think he got the better deal here. Seriously, all we did was tracting the entire week because when you open up a new area it means there are no former records. You start fresh and boy, it isn't easy. The rains fell here, as well. We went out to look for some new persons to teach and discovered the entire area we had planned to tract was like a ghost town. I mean, no one was home. It was just weird. Then we saw the clouds coming and the whole place started to get foggy so we determined it was best to ride home. It was a good idea but we still got caught in the down pour and as I was nearing home I completely wiped out. Me and the bike took a few feet of sliding down a hill. Luckily, this was not my first experience of falling off bikes but all I remember is sliding on my back a good way down the hill before me and the bike stopped. I guess it goes to show Heavenly Father really does watch over his servants because all I received was a little scratch. Of course I got to my feet right away, shook it off and away I went again. I have learned in my life "falling down does not make you a failure, but staying down does." So I will keep getting up, no matter how many times I fall or if we did not find anyone who was open to learn more about the gospel. The adversary will do all he can to stop us but Heavenly Father will do all He can to help us succeed in fulfilling our duty to him. The hymn, "Onward Christian Soldiers" teaches us to "go onward, Christian soldier," so I will go onward with my Savior and Redeemer going on before. I encourage all to do the same for the blessings promised in 2 Nephi 26:33 and 2 Nephi 27:23.

Simeon's Transferred

My new district in Smyrna, Georgia

Oh boy, well this is not going to be easy. I not only got whitewashed (it means getting put into an area with another companion who has never been there, oh and Elder Barraclough is from Kentucky), but my companion and I also opened a new area.  Phew, talk about tough.  We had a hard few days out here because it's mostly Spanish and, of course, I do not speak the language. But enough complaining. It's time to get to work this week full throttle and shoulder to the wheel. I have no other choice, and honestly I want no other.  Yes, it is tough but it is not impossible "for with God all things are possible all things."  I found out I may not get the opportunity to baptize those I taught in my last area, but it's OK because first, we must plant the seed so others can reap it.  As long as they are baptized and enter into this wonderful covenant with our Heavenly Father and receive that sacred opportunity to enter into the Celestial Kingdom of God, all is well ... all is well.  I do not have a lot to say but this much I do have to say, as we put the effort in to bring others unto Christ we will be rewarded in due time.  We must all help save our brother or sister to give them the wonderful opportunity to be with us in Eternity.  

Selwin's Struggles

Making cornbread.  Yummy!!!

So where do I begin?  Not a lot to tell, to be honest, cause this week was just tough. The rain fell again.  Don't get me wrong ... I love the rain but it's just falling too much.  Still haven't found anyone who wants to hear this wonderful gospel and only had one teaching appointment this week. We hardly went out except to do tracting and that was it.  You know things like this normally tend to bring me down, but not just me ... any missionary. But I have found a source that keeps me going no matter what.  Of course my Father in Heaven is always there, but I'm talking about the scriptures. When things aren't going the way we had planned I find peace through reading, pondering and studying the word of God.  It gives me the strength to look past these things and keep going.

Taking notes on how to make delicious cornbread.

I have found even more now than before how my life has been blessed and changed by applying these three principles.  Oh, boy... I'm so grateful my Father in Heaven loves me and he has given me his word to read and learn from it. I promise you one thing, if you have questions or you have problems or whatever it is in this life you are facing turn to the scriptures.  You will find answers to all of those questions.  The scriptures will solve those problems, and will bless your life. I have seen it bless my life so much as a missionary.  When I first got out here my mission president challenged me not to just read the scriptures but to study them diligently.  I see why he has been called of God to be a mission president. So I took his advice.  At first all I did was read and summarize the chapters but after a while I started writing down what I understood from these chapters and to be honest, to this day getting up and studying and more importantly writing down what I understand and what I have gained from reading the scriptures is the best part of it. So I just would encourage you all to do the same.  Hasta luego. 

Selwin's Roller Coaster Week

Get up, Selwin.  Time to get to work!!!

This week was nothing but ups and downs. Just when we finally thought things were turning around for us, everything flopped. You’re probably wondering why I'm laughing, aren't you?  Well, it's no use getting upset over something you can't control, so why fuss over it. The week didn't start good at all.  We had rain and all kinds of stuff put us off so we didn't do anything much, but there's always a “but” in there.  Seems things turned around a little for us, because we finally had an investigator who had questions and just wanted to know more about the church and about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We set up an appointment to teach her on Thursday last. Never since I've been out here have I felt the spirit so strong while teaching someone about the gospel.  There’s not enough words to describe the way I felt at the time. After we had this awesome lesson about the foundation of the church and about prophets and apostles, we found out she was leaving.  Wow, was that a bombshell.  I was like “really?  After all this?  Yes, we lost the most promising investigator ever. I would go as far as saying she was “golden,” but I was smiling because I know one day this young lady would be a member of the church, without doubt.

More of my peeps ...

For a time I was asking Heavenly Father to show me and to help me gain that love for the people I teach and guess what?  He did!  For that I'm grateful.  There’s always going to be ups and downs but you just have to work through them and keep pressing forward.

In Ether 12:4 it reads: Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, and being led to glorify God.”

So just keep the faith and let all the glory be given to the Lord cause like it says all we need is faith and to trust in him and we will be blessed. Congrats to my Bro Simeon for an upcoming baptism.  Keep up the great work.

Simeon's First Baptism Scheduled

Well, I found out this week I am going to be transferred to a place I cannot even pronounce, but I will get it eventually.  Anyway this week I officially quoted as the weirdest week so far. Not even joking. We started off hearing the good news of two (2) of our investigators being given the green light for baptism.  Yahoo!  This means this coming Saturday, and faithfully the next, we will be having four (4) new members in the Cartersville Ward. Yes, working hard has paid off and now I can say we'll be having baptisms. I am so happy!  Then I got the news I am being transferred, but, hey, I sent a letter to my mission president requesting the opportunity to return since they asked me to perform the sacred ordinance of baptism for them.  How great is my joy to see these wonderful persons enter into our Heavenly Father's fold.  It makes me happy to know the person baptizing them is not me but, in reality our Savior Jesus Christ.  Just think about it.  Take away my name and everything else and all you are left is Jesus Christ.  He is the one I am representing, therefore He is the one people reject or accept and when they do accept how great is their joy, as well as ours. This week during personal studies I came across a scripture in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 and wrote it down to share.  It says,

 

6  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Indeed when we serve the Lord and others with full purpose of heart and give our all, and do so willingly, our reward, as well as theirs, is bountiful.  Please do and give all you can in helping others receive the wonderful Restored Gospel into their lives.  Remember to always choose the right and also, do what is right!!! 

"We Don't Do Jesus Here"

Selwin goes "biking with my boys.  It was awesome!"

Selwin writes:  The week was a tough one. It rained some and was pretty much over cast for most of the week which was alright even though I don't really mind the sun. We found a few persons this week, but we are not entirely convinced they are interested in much of what we have to say but we will keep the faith and keep moving forward.

Still don't have a solid investigator but they will come in time. From what I'm seeing this place has potential but we haven't found the right people as yet. This week while we where out tracting we came to a door, gave it a good knocking then waited for the owners to come. When the dude opened the door he asked what we were selling?  We said "nothing" then he just slammed the door in our faces. To be honest, one side of me just wanted to have him come again and to give him a good word but as I'm trying to be more Christ like.  I'm taking upon myself His attributes and among those is patience.  It’s not easy but when things like that happen to us I just turn keep smiling and even start signing.  Trust me, that has helped me a whole lot.  On the same street we came to another house where one gentleman inquired if we were teaching about Jesus.  Then he said, “sorry, we don't do Jesus here."  That made me a bit sad, not just because of what he said but also because standing right next to him were his two young daughters.  I pray someday in their lifetime they will find their Savior.

"My boys" are (from left) Elder Iden, Br. Marcus Journey
and my companion, Elder Muhile

We are working hard and I know things will get better because this is the Lord's work.  All we have to do is have faith and put our trust in Him.

Mosiah 4:6 teaches:  I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him who should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body.

Need I say anymore about how great and merciful the Lord is to us? I know he will bless us because we are his children and he loves us.  We just have to put forth our works.  If you haven't, you might as well get started.