Letter home on 1/15/08

Mom and Dad,

Hey ok I will see how well this works. Things have been going really well here. Transfers just came in last night and I am staying here with Elder Hall. Elder Brockman is going to Cape Henry with a missionary who is a little apostate. So that will be good because he is really good at helping out other missionaries with their issues. Elder Hall is awesome! He is the one from Sequim, WA. WE get a long very well so its really good to know I get to stay with him. WE are getting a another Elder down here named Elder Quebbeman. (k-web-man). He sounds like a great guy. Kinda quiet which will be nice because Elder Brockman is really loud a lot. He likes to tell you exactly what he is thinking always. So it might be nice to have some peace. But he is a great Elder. He just baptized a lady last saturday named Felita Holloman. She is way awesome and so strong. She had struggles but she can recoginze the adversary in them and knows that overcoming them will help her. So she overcame them and is now a member! We have an other baptism planned for the 26th of jan. His name is greg harmon. he is a really great guy as well. he has been investigating for a while and he knows its true. just its hard to get a hold of him because he doesnt have a car or phone. we have a guy named donye. he was set for feb 9th. but you have to go to church 4times and he hasnt been yet so we need to push that back. but he is in alma chapter 30 something and we only gave the BOM to him on the 1st! so he is was prepared and is also talking about sharing it with his friends! its just really hard because he lives about 20 miles away with no car. so its really hard to get him to come to church. its funny how we have a really good developing area with a low income. everyone loves the church but can't make it to church. :(

I was reading in my personal study today about King Benjamins address in Mosiah 4 and it was awesome how he just tells the people straight out that they are sinners and should be condemned if they dont repent! he even said that if you refuse a beggar and look down upon them than you need to repent too! just beause they live a lower life doesnt mean they got themselves into it. the Lord gave us soo much and we thanks him for it. We also are beggars ourselves when we ask God for things. So why should be shun that away from others? I really liked that chapter.

Oh and im sorry to say but I am turning Apostate, meaning im rebelling. We went out of the mission boundaries into the Raleigh,NC mission a few times. Because we have a member who lives out there so we get to drive out there. Its only about 20 mins away so no big deal. :) its fun though to say that I've been out of the mission. We had to get an Apostle to approve it. and we cannot work out there. so its cool. we go over there and joke about not being missionaries anymore. :) they are an awesome family though.

One last thing. I started what is called a 40 day purification fast. tis where you fast for one day and write down all things that bring you away from missionary work and the Spirit. then for the next 40 days after that you "fast" or stay away from those things. and its really helped a lot. i keep more focused. and i have a stronger Spirit with me too. By keeping those thoughts out of mind I literally am being "set apart" from the world. and its not a sacrifice to me because we were sent out here not to bring it with us but leave it behind. so if we sings those songs and quote movies all day then it is just like at home, so i choose to be different in that regard.

Thank you soo much for raising me to be like this. even though i was a tough hard headed boy I know that you two (and jacque)stuck with me and im grateful for that.so much. because its interesting to see how I want to make those decisions for myself. and I feel like I am blessed more because I do it for the right reasons. i had those things in me all along. just removing myself from others and being closer to the Lord helped me realize my true person. and now that I finally can sense who I am, I am really working on bringing him out more. I just hope I can make him a permanant guy. not just temporary. but thanks again for all you do and your prayers.
I love you both.
love,
Elder Malone