My prayers have been answered. :)

Elder Møller and I will be staying together!! :D

Let me tell you one of my favourite experiences this week. We were walking down a side road, an old man ~20 feet in front of us - didn't look keen on talking whatsoever. A uni student was nearing up on us from behind. I thought, the man behind us would be way more interested than that old man in front of us. and then the thought talk to him [the uni student] came to mind. But God, it's awkward! again talk to him. So! I began to turn around, and at that moment, he was about to pass me. "Hey! We're just out sharing this website!" a weak start to a conversation, but it led to an awesome conversation. "How did God talk to you?" he asked. "Do you feel like he's talked to you before?" "Well, there have been times that thoughts have come into my mind... and I suppose you would say those are from God." That one conversation really made my day. :)

So we've had another great week, and I'm happy. :) Hope you're all keeping well! Cheers! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

Until after the trial of your faith.

"This week has been stellar, ever since the exchange with the ZL, I've been on top of the world. :) And I've had some of the best numbers in my entire mission. 8 Joint Teaches. Oh my dear goodness, I feel in paradise. :) Probably isn't too high for some people, but this is amazing, coming from being excited about 1 joint teach per week."

I don't really feel the need to put my own words in quotes, but I suppose it's a nice formality. :)

I am so happy. I have received a lot of instruction from on high, and really look forward to implementing it. :) Ha ha ha - before my mission, I had the following dialogue with myself, trying to send this mental message to the future:

Okay, future William. I know at some point on your mission, you're going to be really in-tune to the spirit, and once you are, you need to ask God what the answers to physics are: how to bend space, control gravity, travel through time. Promise me you'll ask!!

Well, it's been a long time since I've become in-tune to the spirit, and now that I really feel like I talk with God, and not merely to Him, my desire is to receive revelation for the here and now. Besides, the answers to those questions can and will be answered for me in time, but I'm waiting until I'm home to ask. I know that it's out of my stewardship right now, but I patiently await the time that it is in my stewardship.

Of course, if we really want to be open minded, we can't have our minds tethered to the world. Our minds need to be free. So! I've decided to take control of my life, and make the most of it. (Well, not that this isn't something I've been doing / planning to do for ages) If we are making truly logical decisions, we won't be influenced by the moment. Anywho.

It's sort of in-line with my new-year's resolutions - I have a lot of things I want to start (and stop) doing once I'm home, so I can make the most of my entire life. I want to work miracles in my life and the lives of others. I want to progress physics as much as possible, and if I am to do that, I can't afford to have an unhealthy body or mind - I can't afford to do stupid things. So! No one is perfect, but I am so excited to be better once I'm home.

So that was a bit lengthy, but that's what's on my mind the now. :)

Hope you're all doing well! :D
Cheers!!

– Elder William Kevin Black

My dear friends,

for ye ought to be called my friends, how it doth lift mine heart, hearing as it were your voices, speaking from the dust. It doth behoof me, thine letters to receive. It does me sorrow, that I cannot express with words the emotions I feel.

I've been contemplating a lot recently about detaching ourselves from the world. Imagine a bird, clinging to the branch of a tree. The wind blows, and the bird flaps, trying to fly, but cannot, having its talons firmly wrapt around the thin branch. If we are to learn to fly, we must let go of the world. Though the bird needs to let go of the tree, this doesn't make the tree evil. (similarly, the scriptures say the love of money is the root of all evil, not money itself)

I spoke with a two missionaries about it at different times, and both had a similar conclusion: The young man being asked to give his all and follow Christ was not asked to bury his money, but rather, to give it to the poor. They, after much thought, came to the conclusion we are not to mortify our talents, but rather turn them to the use of salvation.

But what of our worldly tethers which do not lead to salvation? If they are not leading us towards salvation, they damn us. But surely, not all the world is evil? No. But it is if it damns our progression. Too often in the world, we tend to rationalize and ignore the promptings of the spirit, and continue in activities which God would us halt.

sigh.... I've just been thinking recently about how I want to live when I return home - there are a lot of habits which, though not malicious, certainly do withhold me from reaching my full potential, e.g.: lazing about on the internet, being distracted by facebook, listening to loud music while studying. So I'm making some resolves about how to bridle my passions, kill my vices, and become who I really want to be.

This week had some good highs and lows. Though we didn't find many new people, we were blessed to have some at church! I loved the all-Ireland conference, in which I was able to see so many of my beloved brethren. :) It was hailing here on and off a couple of days, which was sad. XP But to be fair, we've had a better winter than we could have hoped here, and it's been pretty mild compared to last year. :)

Thanks for your letters and love! Cheers! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

You think I'd learn

Well, I'm out of time, since I stalled doing this to the end. For the umpteenth time. Know that I'm happy, had a great week, and am still healthy.

All-Ireland is this week, and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone! It's a rare chance (especially for my area, considered banishment by many) for us to see other missionaries, and this Zone Conference will have a lot of my friends.

Right! Love you all! Ta! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black