The Worst Week of my Life

Sligo has been a fantastic area for me. Having a companion with such a strong desire to work feels so healthy. It's really been opening my eyes to how missionary work is successful when we do it in the right spirit. It's all about doing the right things for the right reasons, not just "biting the bullet". Laman and Lemuel bit the bullet, and apostatized.

*SQUEEEE!!!* a potential of ours just texted us back, and she seems /so/ solid!! She was panicking b/c she didn't have our number, but just responded that she liked the plan of salvation pamphlet, and was looking forward to coming to church in the future!! :D :D :D

Okay, but to serious stuff - I am doing so well. I am on top of the moon. I am so blessed to have such great friends, such fantastic family, an amazing mission, and I love being a missionary. I may be imperfect, but I am so glad that with God's help, we can change our natures. I know we can change - the change in my own life is so apparent. I revel in the spirit. I know it's real. So much that I once theorized or believed I now know. I know God lives. He is real, as is the Spirit, by which he speaks through His son, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful fro their hand in my life. I love this gospel - the more I study it, the more I know it is true. Recently, I've been impressed by the importance of understanding the true nature of the Godhead: that we have the potential to be like God. that we, through Christ, can change for the better (not mere belief, as the devils have). that we can still communicate with God through the Holy Spirit, and receive answers back. I have had so many revelatory experiences, I cannot merely say I believe, for I know.

Love,

– Elder William Kevin Black

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"another week been going by... have a great week"

says my Danish companion. Yeah, his english isn't perfect, but I love him nonetheless. Actually, probably the more because of it. X)

I really know that if we ask God what we should study, he will give it to us, and when we study what God tells us to, not just following some pattern or programme, our studies can be of most worth.

I know God does inspire us - that those thoughts and words which come to mind, those impressions that sink into your mind, and the feelings which come to your heart are truly communication from God.
I wanted, so badly, at the start of my mission to become more in tune to the spirit. I thought it meant seeing visions with my physical eyes, hearing things with my physical ears, but my spiritual ears and eyes are now sharp enough to recognize the promptings I've been given all along.

I know God lives. I know he speaks to us. Jesus is the Christ, and I am serving him. And you can know these things too, if you only ask God in prayer, for he will answer you. I promise it, the scriptures promise it, and so do the feelings of your heart.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

– Elder William Kevin Black

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Another stellar week!

It's been brilliant. :)

We got to go to Mullaghmore, a famous surfing spot! :D It was /gorgeous/.

We've been having a great time, and have seen lots of success in finding and teaching people. I love it here in Sligo, and am so happy to be serving a mission. :)

Here's a cool story:

I was a bit down Sunday morning, and was just trudging through the day, until the third hour of church, when the elders quorum president felt inspired to give a talk on Joy: what it is and how to feel it. It was exactly what I needed. :) It lifted me out of my slump, and I had a good rest of the day! :D By the way, just so you (especially worried psychiatrists) all know - that's not a usual thing, for me to be feeling so down. I'd say about 98% of my days, I haven't been depressed. :)

Love you all! :D Cheers! :)

– Elder William Kevin Black

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

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