MAY_20_19_GROUP_TOW_Week of May 20, 2019
Hey everyone!
Wow. I can't believe it's already been a week. A wise man once told me that the first 6 months of your mission go fast, the middle year goes slowly, but then the last 6 months go insanely quick (here's looking at you, Tony Brooks). I can now say that that is SO true. These past 6 months in Towanda have been such a blur!! I feel like I literally just got here, and now here I am 6 months later, getting ready to go home in a few weeks! Like, wow. WOW. Time flies when you're having fun, amiright?
Okay, all reflection aside, I am doing great. I've got so much to be grateful for. It only rained like 3 days this past week, which is unheard of in Pennsylvania. God is good! There's nothing worse than tracting in the rain. Except maybe tracting in the rain without an umbrella☔ (Here's looking at you, Elder Toomer😉).
Things have continued to move here in Towanda.
Elder Jeffery and I are getting along great! Like I mentioned last week, he is a tennis player, and we've been playing tennis as much as is feasibly possible. We've played 3 times thus far, and it's been SO FUN. Gosh, I've missed that sport. Now, I'm no Roger Federer (I'm more of a Nick Kyrgios (here's looking at you, John)), but I love the sport anyways. Elder Jeffery is not a singles player, but he's holding up remarkably well. Like I said, we've played three times, 6-1,6-1,6-4. He hasnt beat me yet, but I feel it's only a matter of time. He's getting too good too quick. Gosh, I love tennis, and am so grateful for the tender mercy of playing it on my mission. And for a good companion who lets me play with him.🎾
This week I've been thinking a TON about diligence. Diligence is something we as missionaries HAVE to think a ton about. If you don't know, diligence is essentially continuing to do the right thing, even when it's difficult. Even when it's hard. Even when it's EXHAUSTING. 😪 Its difficult! It's meant to be.
Sometimes, missionaries get tired too. I know, hard to believe. We're human, just like everyone else. So times, after knocking doors for 8 hours a day, we get exhausted. The adversary tries to tell us that if we work a little less hard, it's fine. Why not go in a few minutes early? It's 8:45pm. That's basically 9pm, right? RIGHT?
Then I got to thinking about Christ. He was the perfect example of everything that is good, huh? That includes diligence. Let's think about it. Let's delve into his life a little bit. (Reading raaaaiiinnnbooow🌈)
Once upon a time, Jesus and his Apostles were going around teaching the gospel. Christ gets a little bit tired. The apostles notice this, and believe he should rest. A multitude of people approach Jesus Christ with his children, desiring that He bless them. The apostles say something like, "No, the Master needs his rest.) Christ notices and says, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14)
Here's Christ, utterly drained, saying No. I'm not going to take a rest. He was diligent.
Let's look at another example, shall we?
As we know Christ and John the Baptist grew up together. They were literal cousins. Of all of the people in Christ's life, he perhaps knew John more than anyone else. They definitely had a personal and intimate bond. They loved and respected each other like brothers.
Unfortunately, due to John's diligence, he was killed in the king's court. When some of John's disciples go to tell Christ, Christ is devasted. Think about how you would feel, discovering thst your cousin and perhaps best friend has been brutally murdered. No one would have blamed Christ for taking a few minutes, heck, a few weeks, for himself to mourn and grieve the loss of his beloved companion.
But that's not what happened. A multitude of 5000 approached, eager to hear his words and partake of the Bread of Life. Rather than turning inward, and taking the time that he undoubtedly deserved, Christ turns outward, and feeds the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes (What manner of man is this? Here's looking at you, Daniel Taylor😉)
Even when he deserved and needed rest, Christ turned outward and kept working. That is admirable. That is christlike. Sometimes, I feel that I need a rest. Sometimes, I'm exhausted. And then I remember thst Christ was exhausted too. He was beaten and battered. Heck, he even gave up his sleep to go talk to Nicodemus at night. If there was anyone who needed rest, it was Christ. And he didn't take it. His work was too important for rest.
I am grateful for Him. For his loving example. For the strength he provides me and can provide for you. Rely on that Strength. With it, you can accomplish so much more than you can on your own.
I love each of you! Until next time!
Elder Jake Gonzales
Pictures:
- I don't have many this week, but a woman in my ward whom I love dearly is a photographer and took some more pictures of me! So I've got those! Trying to channel my inner vogue model!
Wow. I can't believe it's already been a week. A wise man once told me that the first 6 months of your mission go fast, the middle year goes slowly, but then the last 6 months go insanely quick (here's looking at you, Tony Brooks). I can now say that that is SO true. These past 6 months in Towanda have been such a blur!! I feel like I literally just got here, and now here I am 6 months later, getting ready to go home in a few weeks! Like, wow. WOW. Time flies when you're having fun, amiright?
Okay, all reflection aside, I am doing great. I've got so much to be grateful for. It only rained like 3 days this past week, which is unheard of in Pennsylvania. God is good! There's nothing worse than tracting in the rain. Except maybe tracting in the rain without an umbrella☔ (Here's looking at you, Elder Toomer😉).
Things have continued to move here in Towanda.
Elder Jeffery and I are getting along great! Like I mentioned last week, he is a tennis player, and we've been playing tennis as much as is feasibly possible. We've played 3 times thus far, and it's been SO FUN. Gosh, I've missed that sport. Now, I'm no Roger Federer (I'm more of a Nick Kyrgios (here's looking at you, John)), but I love the sport anyways. Elder Jeffery is not a singles player, but he's holding up remarkably well. Like I said, we've played three times, 6-1,6-1,6-4. He hasnt beat me yet, but I feel it's only a matter of time. He's getting too good too quick. Gosh, I love tennis, and am so grateful for the tender mercy of playing it on my mission. And for a good companion who lets me play with him.🎾
This week I've been thinking a TON about diligence. Diligence is something we as missionaries HAVE to think a ton about. If you don't know, diligence is essentially continuing to do the right thing, even when it's difficult. Even when it's hard. Even when it's EXHAUSTING. 😪 Its difficult! It's meant to be.
Sometimes, missionaries get tired too. I know, hard to believe. We're human, just like everyone else. So times, after knocking doors for 8 hours a day, we get exhausted. The adversary tries to tell us that if we work a little less hard, it's fine. Why not go in a few minutes early? It's 8:45pm. That's basically 9pm, right? RIGHT?
Then I got to thinking about Christ. He was the perfect example of everything that is good, huh? That includes diligence. Let's think about it. Let's delve into his life a little bit. (Reading raaaaiiinnnbooow🌈)
Once upon a time, Jesus and his Apostles were going around teaching the gospel. Christ gets a little bit tired. The apostles notice this, and believe he should rest. A multitude of people approach Jesus Christ with his children, desiring that He bless them. The apostles say something like, "No, the Master needs his rest.) Christ notices and says, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14)
Here's Christ, utterly drained, saying No. I'm not going to take a rest. He was diligent.
Let's look at another example, shall we?
As we know Christ and John the Baptist grew up together. They were literal cousins. Of all of the people in Christ's life, he perhaps knew John more than anyone else. They definitely had a personal and intimate bond. They loved and respected each other like brothers.
Unfortunately, due to John's diligence, he was killed in the king's court. When some of John's disciples go to tell Christ, Christ is devasted. Think about how you would feel, discovering thst your cousin and perhaps best friend has been brutally murdered. No one would have blamed Christ for taking a few minutes, heck, a few weeks, for himself to mourn and grieve the loss of his beloved companion.
But that's not what happened. A multitude of 5000 approached, eager to hear his words and partake of the Bread of Life. Rather than turning inward, and taking the time that he undoubtedly deserved, Christ turns outward, and feeds the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes (What manner of man is this? Here's looking at you, Daniel Taylor😉)
Even when he deserved and needed rest, Christ turned outward and kept working. That is admirable. That is christlike. Sometimes, I feel that I need a rest. Sometimes, I'm exhausted. And then I remember thst Christ was exhausted too. He was beaten and battered. Heck, he even gave up his sleep to go talk to Nicodemus at night. If there was anyone who needed rest, it was Christ. And he didn't take it. His work was too important for rest.
I am grateful for Him. For his loving example. For the strength he provides me and can provide for you. Rely on that Strength. With it, you can accomplish so much more than you can on your own.
I love each of you! Until next time!
Elder Jake Gonzales
Pictures:
- I don't have many this week, but a woman in my ward whom I love dearly is a photographer and took some more pictures of me! So I've got those! Trying to channel my inner vogue model!
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