"Survey large fields, and cultivate small ones"

If there’s anything I think I’ve learned so far from my time here it’s that I need to be way more patient, not only with waiting for letters, but also with my investigators, my companions, and most especially myself.  I tend to be really hard on myself when I don’t know something or am not as prepared or bold as I feel I maybe should be.  But I have to remind myself that those things will come with time and effort, all I can do now is my level best each and every day.

There was a devotional today.  Brother Paul E. Koelliker (of the Seventy) spoke and he said something that I really liked.  He said, “We are to survey large fields, and cultivate small ones”.  Now each person who hears that can get something different from it, and that is one of the reasons I liked it so much.  Think about it, what does it mean to you in your callings and endeavors? For me, thinking about missionary work, I was reminded of the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 18:10, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” It just made me think about going out every day, knocking doors and having person after person tell you that they really aren’t interested, and not always in the nicest way either, but you keep looking, keep surveying that field, until you find that fertile ground, where that seed of faith, if carefully and caringly planted and nurtured will be able to grow, reaching out towards the light of Christ and the promise of His Atonement which is the waters of baptism.  That is the small field for me.  The little area, and the little time, that I am called to serve in may seem small, but it is God’s Children in that area and Gods time and his errand, so as far as I’m concerned it means the world (figuratively speaking).

I’m so tired! Maybe I shouldn’t be trying to write this right before bed, but it’s so hard to find time during the day! Whaaaa!!!

Anyway…..Thanks for all the “Dirt” on Elder S, I actually was able to get most of that out of him already.  Like I mentioned in my last letter, he “speaks” American sign language, and he’s been teaching me a bit, this week I learned the signs for: Different and Same, Need to and Have to, Tree, Dinosaur, Fail, The Alphabet and a few others that I can’t remember right now because I’m too sleepy.  Oh! I learned the signs for Jesus Christ and King.  

I actually wrote a letter to Elder S’s family, so they probably think we’re weirdos now, but…..oh, well! I have their address but I should probably ask him before I go giving his families address to strangers (and there is NOBODY stranger that my Family!) I miss you guys! But, not too bad.  Lucky for me there are plenty of weird people to make me feel at home here.

Jeremy is gone.  I miss him already. But I got to get a picture with him before he left.  I can’t wait for Saturday to send you pictures again. Oh! By the way, if you send pictures in your letters using the dearelder.com site I can’t get them.  Just thought you should know that.

                Love you guys.  I’ll try to write again soon.

                                Elder Thomson