It's pretty amazing to see Dan-o turning into an adult week by week in his letters. Last week he was made a senior companion in Kushiro. He is WISHING he had a little more MAIL so... I was thinking that if everyone who reads this could please post a comment for him (click on where it says comment at the bottom of this entry for those that are new to this). I'll print them off and send them to him. Easy for you and fun for him. Here's the latest letter:
I will get you some pics of the comp next week, I forgot my USB port.. i love the idea of you writing me letters! I have not got a shred of mail in over 2 weeks!!
So week one of the big bad senior week and I am surviving. When the other elder left on Thursday morning the week was looking terrible!!!! had some of the worst numbers i have ever turned out. on top of that i was very nervous about being senior, and on top of that to a elder who has only been out for 1 transfer plus he is japanese, and one of the most shy japanese people i have ever met, he still has not stopped someone on the street. needless to say i felt extremely overwhelmed. as i sat and pondered i thought, what kind of senior am i to be, what kind of leader am i to be.. i felt that i was in a big hole and to get out would be impossible. thats when i decided right then that as senior there are some things that are within my control. however, there are some things that are not. i decided right then that i was going to be spotless, in that i mean everything that falls under my responsibility was going to be done, i would give everything to the lord, and in return i would have the assurance that the lord would keep his promise. 100% obedience, out the door not a minute late, back home not a minute early. this week i have spent a lot of time on my knees(as one should) that is it.. i pray a lot, and i trust 100% in the lord. I had the confidence that i would have the spirit with me, that i would yeild to any prompting, no fear. the lord has been working with us. it has not been easy, but one day after another we gave it our all, it has been amazing. we finished the week with one of my better weeks, and elder hattori`s best. found 4 new investigators, taught 9 lessons, and made 8 new appointments. and we finally have a progressing investigator (we gave her a book of mormon 2 weeks ago and she has read up till jacob! has a couple issues, but i think she is going to be very good) by sunday i was overwhelmed by the tender mercies of the lord and how he provided for the youngest couple in the mission. but my surprise and gratefulness was not over yet. on monday night at 10 oclock i got a phone call from president daniels, i still dont really know why or for what purpose he called other than to congratulate me. he said "elder lawler, congrats on going senior, i see that you have taken over and really done an outstanding job! (listed a couple numbers) asked if we had a progressing investigator, I told him about the women, than he said "keep it up you are doing a great job and i am very grateful to have a great elder like you in the mission" needless to say i was very touched by the phone call. as i thought about why he called one thing came to mind, he has a lot of confidence in me, and so does the lord. these past couple of days have been great we have been trying many new things and its pretty fun being senior. i have become more consintrated and focoused now more than ever, just like pmg says, work, work, work, that is the key. i feel as though i could do this forever, its different from anything i have ever done. with all my might mind heart and soul its a joy that cant be won or bought its beyond description, but it fills my soul. everything is just starting to make sense, for the first time in my life i am living in the now, and i dont want it to go anywhere, i want to stay right here forever, its no wonder the 3 nephites had the same desire.
Thank you so much for you constant support and prayers, everytime i pray at night and think of my parents i can almost hear and see the prayers you say for me as you kneel by the bed side.
with so much love from your missionary son,
elder lawler
2 comments:
Dear Elder Lawler, I hope this gets to you. I felt the Spirit as I was reading your letter to your family. I could almost remember the way I felt when I was a sister missionary and received new assignments new companions, new challenges, new opportunities as a representative of the Lord.
I am so proud of you. (by the way, this is Giulia Petrollini)
I can feel your heart and your desire to serve and be an instrument in the Lord's Hands...there isn't a better place, you are right. there isn't a better time to be in His Hands. The world is in commotion, there is no peace around us, the enemy of God is working hard to win the hearts of the children of men...yet there is hope because there is faith in Christ. That faith gives us an etenal perspective and helps us face the challenges we daily meet. You, your companion, the missionaries all over the world are the salt of this earth.
I am so grateful for your service, I always wanted you to go to Italy but in the Lord's plan He knew He could use you in Japan, He knew you needed to be there to bless the life of so many, starting from your companions.
You know...whenever I go to the Temple, especially when i go for a session, I think about all the full missionaries, I think about what it is the Lord has called you to do, the magnitude of this work and I try to go back to the world and take with me the missionary spirit. Your mission is truly a chosen time of your life. You will always look back and try to feel what it is that you felt then and experienced. In those moments of pondering you realize the principles of happiness in life are the same that grant success to a missionary. We all have the choice to be obedient and the choice to love everyone we come in contact with, we can chose to have the Spirit with us.
This is YOUR time to TEACH by that same Spirit and to see miracles. I hope the lady you are teaching will continue to read and will have an open heart to really receive the blessings the Lord has in store for her and her family and friends.
God bless you Daniel.
Know that I think you are a chose person and the Lord has many leadership callings in store for you in His Kingdom and even in the next year as a missionary.
Thank you for your diligence!
love,
Giulia and family
(Daniel, Hannah, Elena, and Luca)
ciao ciao!
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