Not Joust an Ordinary P-day

February 3, 2020

Well everyone, I'm not even sure where to begin. I have so much to say that I seem to have forgotten it all.

Let's see. 

Well I've been sitting here for about 7 and a half minutes now and I still can't remember the things I wanted to write. So bear with me while I make a list of some random updates from the past couple weeks:

- I'm tired because we stayed the night at the Elders apartment in Eager and and there were 9 of us so I slept in a chair and I didn't sleep well and now I'm giving up on trying to write good sentcebsces 

- There is a new restaurant in Concho so now there are 3 restaurants in Concho

- The Super bowl was yesterday, and that was like a national holiday in St. Johns. We had 2 lessons cancel because of it. 

- I ate so much last night I felt like I was going to throw up

- I still feel like I'm going to throw up

- Exceptional progress has been made on the sheep barn we've been helping to build which is good because lambing season is almost upon us

- The weather has been very nice lately, however apparently it's going to get cold again here pretty soon

Okay I apologize for the crummy beginning to this email. I started it early this morning and as I mentioned I was really tired, but some time has passed and I've gathered my thoughts so we should be good to go. 

So today we had our "Zone Activity" which is an activity that our Zone does. And our Zone consists of the missionaries in St John's and Eager. Anyway though they put us St. Johns Elders in charge of planning it, and as a joke we said Jousting. And then it started to become less of a joke and more of the most brilliant idea ever. So today we had the first annual Zone Jousting Tournament. I made it to the finals, except I was defeated. But I took second place which I'm happy with. I'm pretty sure the winner spiked his lance though. Anyway, I'll attach pictures. 

Teaching has been going really well though. No new people we're working with, but the ones we've got are awesome and I'm just blessed to have got to know them. 

One of the most inspiring things to see recently has been with someone who we'll call Robert. Robert has struggled with a couple different addictions in his life. But he's really put his mind to overcoming those things in the last couple months. And there's been ups and downs, but currently he's totally clean and free from his addictions. And it's just been amazing to see him give it all he has and to truly learn to rely on Jesus Christ so that He can "...make weak things become strong..." for him. (Ether 12:27) Robert shared some amazing stories of prayer as well and just seeing his testimony grow has strengthened my testimony as well. 

I know that when we come unto Christ, humble ourselves, and have faith in Jesus Christ, He can strengthen us and make possible the things that we can't do on our own. That's what Grace is. We don't deserve it, and we don't earn it, but He gives it to us nonetheless because He knows that if we truly have the desire to return to live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, which we show by our faith and our repentance and our commitment to follow Christ, we can't get there on our own. He asks us to keep His commandments, but we aren't expected to be perfect. That's why God sent His Son to earth, to atone for our sins and to make possible the salvation of God's children. Christ can strengthen us and teach us and help us be better people every single day. That's what repentance is, it's the day by day process of coming closer to and aligning our lives with the Savior which is only possible through Jesus Christ's enabling atoning sacrifice. 

I know that this is true and that through Jesus Christ, we can have hope for the future and peace in our lives. 

Til next week,

~Elder Oswald