Hey hey hey:
The mission is full of life lessons…all over the place. This past week I had a really great experience that helped me more than I explain. I learned a great lesson about the spirit. Now, I have been trying to think of how I can write this letter home and still keep this experience as personal as it should be. I believe that most of us consider spiritual experiences to be sacred and that we should treat them as such. So, while my experience is personal to me, I think that the lesson that I learned can help other people as well.
I have always known that the spirit does not dwell in unholy places. And, it follows, that the spirit is not with the unholy. But I always figured that unholy was limited to being sinful, such as impure thoughts, actions, or other breaking of commandments. Something I learned this week is that unworthy thoughts include those that are self-demeaning, negative, or destructive. Thoughts like that drive away the spirit. All those times that I was feeling sorry for myself, or feeling negative – although searching for the spirit, it just wasn’t there. The spirit cannot be found while we sit in a self filled pool of negativity, because negative thoughts are the very opposite of faith.
This has happened to me often, but I have learned how to escape bitter negativity and keep the spirit with me always. This might not be making sense to anyone but me, as I unfortunately can’t put this into an array of elegant words. (Well, except for that last sentence - that was pretty good.) Earlier this week I learned better to give thanks to my God, and to be grateful for all that I have, and not focus so much on me, or what is lacking. I am learning to be closer to the spirit, to communicate better with my Heavenly Father, and to trust in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The mission hasn’t been easy, no, but so worth it. What I have learned I wouldn’t trade for anything. I haven’t felt this good in weeks. Another thing I learned this week is that the spirit does not always give easy answers – at least not to me. It’s impossible for me to pray, ask a question, or ask for the spirit, and then sit or lie down and wait for a good feeling. The spirit has always forced me to seek for answers, through meditation and studying of the scriptures. It’s not as easy, of course, but the good feeling is THAT much better when it finally comes after some diligence on my part.
So I dunno if this will be of much help to anyone else…maybe it’s not coming across as well I have been hoping. But if there is anything I can say more directly it is to live with a spirit of gratitude, thanking God profusely in our prayers (for very specific blessings, the more specific we are, the more we have to think and discover how the Lord has blessed us), seeking diligently the spirit, and focusing on positive thoughts while shutting out the negative.
I am so thankful for the gospel in my life, how it has blessed and continues to bless me as I learn. The work is moving forward here in Piura Central. Thank you for praying for our zone last week, because we finished much better! Please continue praying for us. This is the last week of the transfer, so it would be great to end strong. Harold Maza is getting baptized on Sunday. Melina is in Lima until February so I might never teach her again if I leave. Yanina Lizbet is a new investigator that is coming along really well. Cesar and Lorena Garcia came to church again yesterday and are doing pretty well. I love you all and thank you for all of your great support. I love being here, being a missionary, and continually being trained by the spirit. Focus on being positive. Don’t be a "Negative Nancy" (my guitar teacher, Mr. Lance, likely doesn’t read these letters - but he always said that.). The Church is true. Love it. Live it.
Elder "Could Go for a Good Back Scratch" Royal
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