Simeon Says "Brrrrrrr"

The weatherman just said its going to be 11 degrees today!  Freak out ...

Well, guess what?  I am STAYING …YIPEE! I am glad I get to stay another transfer here in the Brockett Ward.  I know I am here to work harder this transfer. This week we were blessed with the opportunity to go to the temple again. After, I was so tired I kept falling asleep in the middle of training.  My Mission President had to clap his hands to wake me up. it worked because I stayed awake the entire rest of the training.

This week, I will be honest, I think someone touched the thermostat because when you hear the weather guy say its 11 degrees outside, you kind of - what's the word I am looking for - oh yeah, here it is … Freak Out!  I almost did!  It was so cold all I could have done was super bundle up and pray I would stay warm. It worked everywhere except my hands because I use them to knock on all of the doors.  Yes, we went finding in this weather and we were able to find one person but that made me feel warm the entire remainder of the day. The one cool miracle I will share is the same person who accepted the invitation to learn more had been to church twice before.  Now that truly is something!  Although we were cold our Heavenly Father sent us to knock on that one particular door. I am glad he did. It also turns out it was the person’s birthday so we sang happy birthday to her.  She was so happy she blushed.  Yep, thats missionary work for you. We sing and they blush.

A shout out to my BLOOMINGTON 7TH WARD. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

And here is a good scripture to go along with that. I found this during personal study.  It's in 2 Nephi 33:10-11:

14-year-old Simeon and Selwin in the
January 2015 Ensign

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men they should do good.

11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

So go and do and despite whatever weakness you may have, what you will say and do as you share the Gospel will stand out to whom so ever you are talking to.

PS:  On page 16 of this month’s ENSIGN you shall find me and my brother during a seminary class back in Guyana years ago. Yep, we were preparing to serve the Lord even then. 

Selwin Says ...

Selwin with Elders Hatch, Jarret and Cohnte.

This week there was a new stake presidency called in the Gulfport stake so we had two general authorities here.  Elder Michael John U. Teh and Elder Rulon D. Munns of the Seventy stressed the importance of Ward Councils and Hastening the Work.  It was so awesome listening to these servants of the Lord.

The new year is finding us doing a lot of finding.  We are heading out more and more to find those who are ready to hear the gospel. In stake conference they focused alot on ward councils and how to use those same principles in our family councils. On Sunday, Elder Teh focused on the light we have and how it chases away darkness and how darkness cannot chase away light.  He mentioned how the temples are an example of this and encouraged us to go as often as we can. Elder Munns focused on the exact same principles but used more of a family oriented theme.  They were both awesome speeches. I found instead of writing down notes I just listened and the message was still received.

We had exchanges with the AP’s this week as well.  Talk about a long drive to get there and then to return. Exchanges were awesome but I was happy to get back to my area because time is precious and cannot be wasted. As I was reading in the Book of Alma, chapter 54 it really struck me of how much it meant to maintain their religion and also the cause of their God.  It inspires me to up my dedication level even more … not just to those I serve but most importantly to God.

Selwin's New Year

Transfer day

Happy New Year, one and all!!!! I know there was a lot of resolutions made for 2015.  I hope being closer to the Savior was one of them.

We got the new years off and running and I mean that in the most literal way.  We were out tracting in the country and came across a fenced yard with three (3) huge dogs. On our way up the street we didn't pay them any mind but they just kept barking at us, so I devised a plan on our way back when we would play a little game.

At the Bernhardts

I handed my companion my bag and camera, which he didn't use, and decided the game would be sprinting.  I raced those four-legged beasts and beat them, even though I totally forgot I had on my boots and not my shoes, but I still nailed it. We visited one of our investigators this weekend and told him of the importance of attending church and guess what? He came and really enjoyed it. Church is where the spirit can be felt the strongest and where the Holy Ghost can testify to our souls.

It was an amazing and spirit filled sacrament meeting, where the Holy Ghost bore and testified to our souls of the will of God. We should treasure his companionship always.

3 Nephi 28:11 reads: "And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and Me and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost to the children of men because of me"

So let us help those who don't know of this truth find it.

Simeon's New Year

My new wheels

Well, here we are at the beginning of another brand New Year!  This week was like a bag of Trail Mix … the only thing was you sometimes received what you liked and at others times you did not. All-in-all, it was a pretty okay week. We went out with the full determination to not only find new persons to share this gospel with but to teach them as well and we did good on that part. After all the fireworks (and, I am pretty sure, gunshots) announced the arrival of a new year we were at it again (though not a whole lot of persons opened their doors to us on New Years Day) but one lady did. Boy, did we feel the spirit radiate from her as she spoke and she laughed with us.  She even gave us some water to drink and, I will be honest, that made my day.  Knowing there are still persons out here who are looking, searching and wandering for the truth gives me all the faith, hope, love, charity and courage I will ever need to keep pressing forward which just as my brother said, "is well worth it!”

My new planner

Also during this week we found a family of seven (7) who were looking for exactly the same thing. It is great to be the one who brings the truth to them so they can be happy and enjoy all the blessings our Heavenly Father has in store for them.  It was so strange but yet so familiar as we talked with them.  We quickly became friends and were laughing at the strangest things almost like we have known one another forever (and we know we did in the preexistence). So I will be straight with you.  I know you are doing your best and your all so my simple advice to you is to keep doing it.  Of course I will do the same for we are all in this together.  Just like the Three Musketeers said, “all for one and one for all.”  With a little addition from our Heavenly Father, of course, it is, "ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL TOWARDS ETERNAL LIFE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM OF GOD"

And here is a nice scripture which says it in another way:

13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.

Simeon's First Missionary Christmas

Me in my hoodie ... a Christmas gift from an investigator.

This week was Christmas. It was really nice and, hey, people were nice to us as we and the world celebrated the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and all he has and continues to do for us.  We also remembered the wonderful young mother who gave birth to our Savior.  The week went by really fast and before I knew it Christmas was here and as always we went about doing the Lord's work.  But, I got a few presents … someone even sent me dirt.  Now that person is really creative. I saw this week how special we all are to our Heavenly Father because he gave us the greatest gift of all as we are told in John 3:16-17.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Here's our version of a Christmas tree

Every single person I spoke with is very special in God's and our Savior’s eyes.  Even if they did not accept the message we had to share, they were special and I even saw the Holy Ghost at work as it touched the heart of someone we are teaching so much he offered to pray instead of having one of us do so.  It was the first time he has prayed. 

We often tell ourselves we come on missions to change the lives of all those we meet and teach but, in all truth, we not only bless and change the lives of those we teach, we also are blessed and changed.  Those same persons we teach sometimes help us do so as well as the Gospel. You are special to God and He wants you to know that.  I testify he loves you no matter what you are or will go through and in his eyes you will always be special.  You have my testimony of this truth.   

Selwin's First Missionary Christmas

Lyn Anderson baptized by her Uncle Sam Anderson.

Happy New Year, everyone.  I hope you all had an awesome Christmas and you got what you wanted and I hope your wish was to be more like Christ and then anything else after that.

It was awesome calling you wonderful people and to see how you were doing and thanks for all the packages, by the way even though I will be giving away all the candy and keeping the ties and socks. 

Well, what really happened this week?  Hmmmmm, oh yeah, we had a baptism! I didn't do any of the ordinances but it was wonderful to have the opportunity to teach this young lady and to see how committed she was to live her life the way the Lord wanted her to live it and at just nine (9) years old.

She took the first step through the gate. It's the beginning of one awesome journey for her and it took me back to the day I was baptized. It's been nine (9) years since my bro and I got baptized.  The journey has been way hard at times, even felt like it was impossible at other times but most of it has been awesome and it will never be something I will ever regret. Whenever I sit and ponder over things I always end up at the questions "was it worth it?"  Let me just say, yes, it is so worth following my Savior and your Savior Jesus Christ, without any doubt.

That's all I've got for now, my people. I love you all and wish you the best in the New Year.

Selwin Expounds

It was warm enough in late December to roll
up my sleeves.

Well, first, let me just say ... congrats Bro!!!!!!!!!! Well, there isn't much to report this week. The first half just flew by and then the rain fell for the other half ... and it's  still falling.

We taught some people this week who, despite the season, decided learning more about God's will for them was way more important which made things a lot better and put an even wider smile on my face.

While reading this week I came across a really nice scripture (Alma 34:10).  It reads:

"For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice".

Truly a scripture for the season but most importantly it reminded me of this wonderful plan my Father in heaven has made for me and for all his children. I like to compare it to the building of a home.  One does not just build a home but one must first have a plan drawn of the home and gather materials and people to help in building it. But unlike a plan drawn for a home, God's plan does not need to be tweaked or adjusted and that is because it is a flawless plan. The Lord has done his part ... now it's up to us to follow His plan and to endure to the end.

The one who was central to that plan was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  As we go through this season, which is to celebrate Him, let us remember His great sacrifice for each and every single one of us and also take the opportunity not just to remember him for this season but remember Him each and every single day.

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope your season is bright and you will all be filled with the pure love of Christ.