Hello!
Jack! Sounds like you had a great game! Five goals!? That is a
solid performance. We played soccer today. Not quite sure how many I scored
today but it was up there. I definitely got a hat trick... What was the
term for four goals? I had three goals from far out today. Two were right
footed and one was lefty! It was pretty sweet. I was really working on
some ball control today and kept trying to pull off some fancy footwork. I also
had a few quick touches for some assists. Those are fun to set up
too. haha It was fun. Wore my Spain jersey again. So we were both red.
haha Mom sent me a picture of you playing. It was pretty sweet! That’s good you
are in a tennis class! If you work really hard and keep playing then when I get
back... you might win a couple points. hahaha Just playing, everyone knows
you’re a pro.
So… the race was not this week. haha But its this coming week.
So this Saturday. haha We are stoked! It’s will be quite the sight to see all
of these missionaries running the 5k in shirts and ties with out vibrantly colored
running shoes. I’m looking forward to it. Some people...not so much... haha
I have heard a lot about the BYU game. My companion keeps
bringing it up in our appointments. I finally turned to him and said
"Elder, its our job to uplift the members. It’s not to keep rubbing salt
in their wounds." haha Everyone wasn’t super happy about it.
Priorities... I did do some missionary work this week.
I don’t just live for indoor soccer and tennis with Brother Ferguson in the
mornings. haha but seriously. We had a great week this week. We taught a sister twice this week. Both times we were on exchanges. First, I was there with
another elder. This was Tuesday. Her son was sick, and we were super excited
because it provided a perfect opportunity to teach about the priesthood. So we
went over and talked with them. She had a few clarifying questions about our
last lesson on the word of wisdom. We answered them and she said that it made
sense. She has really accepted that teaching based upon pure logical
information. Again she bore testimony to us that nothing good will ever come
from a night of drinking or any kind of drugs. It’s a true story. Then we
explained the priesthood and offered to give her son a blessing. Her son was sick
with something called hand foot mouth disease and was in the hospital all of
Monday night. He was home from school all week and he wasn’t feeling too great.
We gave him a blessing and he is now feeling much better. So, the next visit I
was not there. They taught the law of chastity and from what I’ve heard, it
went really well. But here we go...the plot thickens. Saturday morning before I
got back from exchanges she texted and said something to the effect of
"Hey, not sure if I’ll be at church tomorrow. I am thinking that I need to
think about some things." We haven’t met with her since so we don’t really
know what’s up. But she did come to church haha and we have an appointment to
do a family home evening with her and the Turner family. Brother Turner's
family is awesome so we are excited for that tonight. But for now, I’ll leave
you with that cliff hanger.
When I was on exchanges the elder I was with put on a clinic for
street contacting. haha We talked to a ton of people. Part of that was that we
were on bikes. Finally I got to ride bikes all day! It’s so much better than
sitting in the car! haha It was a blast. We met one guy who is nineteen
and just starting to really think about religion and stuff. My bike chain had
popped off and he stopped and asked us if we needed help. We didn’t really but
as I was fixing it my companion started talking to him and we ended up setting
up an appointment with him the next day. So the next day, we met him at noodles
and co. It’s a delicious restaurant and his place of employment. We had a great
discussion and got to know him. Turns out he lives in my
area so we are hoping to be able to continue meeting with him this next week.
He is a great guy with some great desires to serve other people. It was
inspiring to listen to what he has done to help people.
We also had interviews with president this last week. It was not
noteworthy. We waited all morning to talk with him for about ten minutes... not
super beneficial. But I did ask some important questions. I found out that I
can read two books that I have been wanting to read. Lectures on faith and
believing Christ. I thought I would have to wait two years to read them but
president approved them! Do you think that you could send me out a copy of
those books? I’m stoked to read them. They both give an in depth look at two
very important principles, faith and grace, which are seemingly simple. But I
am feeling like these principles are often taken for granted and not understood
as well as they could be. The more I study the basics, the more I realize that
I may be able to recite them and even teach them clearly, but I do not know
that I have the understanding required to apply these simple principles in
order to get the most out of life. I won’t have time to read them in
personal study since I will be busy preparing messages for the people we will
see. But I will definitely have time during lunch and dinner and right
before going to sleep. I will have to sacrifice some ab work out time but
that’s ok I guess... I do like to read about ideas and principles of high level
performance. I can’t believe I haven’t
read these books yet..
By the way, I have some troubling news... my vapors are finally
starting to show some signs of wear... ugh, I’ll have to send you guys a
picture next week. My shoes which were traditionally so well taken care of and
exclusively used on the tennis court are a far cry away from my collection of
past models back home. For once the top of the shoe may be equally trashed as
the sole. No worries, there is no hole and I am sure that there will be some
time before the bottom will break, but it is still crazy to see. It’s good
though. Where the shoes go, the man follows. As I have moved from chasing
victory on the tennis courts to doing anything and everything to help the people
we meet with (i am shoveling manure tomorrow...) My shoes definitely reflect
the transition, and I love it! I keep them close to my desk as a reminder
that everything I once had must now be used for the benefit of those whom meet
in this journey. Peter, the apostle, was originally a fisher. We may
assume that he was knowledgeable, skilled, and talented in the art of fishing.
It’s how he spent his time and made his living. He loved it and he had found
his niche. When the Savior called on Peter and his brothers he said,
"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." His invitation
was not to drop everything they knew and had in order to start over. His
invitation to Peter was to take his unique skill set and background and
repurpose it toward the work of salvation. "And straightway they
left their nets and followed him." The call came when Peter was
working and doing what he loved and did best. Because of Peter’s decision his
life was greatly blessed. Through the experiences that followed he grew greater
himself as he grew closer to the Savior than he ever could have before. The Lord
now wants those same blessings to be extended to all of us. I am confidant that
when the Lord asks us to lift those around us He is asking us to take what we do
best and use it for the benefit of other people. I have seen it happen in
my mission. We are taught that the Lord puts us as missionaries in
specific places because we are unique. I am sure that when the members get involved
it is the same situation. It’s always like that in my experience so far. It
is so exciting to see the members reach out to their friends and to see them
experience the joy of working with the Lord in the work of salvation. The work
takes many forms and I am continually impressed with how people make an impact
on those around them.
I have to run now. We have a busy day a head of us. I hope all
is well back home. You guys sound great and it is always good to hear from you.
I will talk to you later. Until then...
I love you guys,
Elder Hinkle
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