More in McDonough

Another week in McDonough. This week seemed to slowly fly by. Yes, I am sure if you asked any missionary that is how they would describe weeks. This week was full of small miracles and tender mercies.

Thanksgiving was definitely one of them. I was able to FaceTime my family for the first time and that was pretty fun. We were fed by a member named Daniel. He serves in the Army as an interrogator. He is single though, had a tough divorce about a decade ago but is still strong and active in serving the Lord. We played lots of UNO, watched a lot of church videos, ate good food, and talked to our families. We also had a Turkey Bowl earlier that morning. I would not say I am a Bryan Dryer at Quarterback but my team won as I was the QB so..... 

Biking has not gotten easier yet. I have heard that the pain will cease as calluses come. So, let's pray for calluses. And pray that we do not get lost again while biking. Lots of unnecessary hills were biked on Wednesday. But it was good. Life here is good. 

We still have yet to teach a lesson with a non member but we are doing our best. My comp and I decided to start doing a lot more door to door tracting. yes we are a technology mission, but nothing is better than some good door to door finding. It brought a little bit of success. We met 2 new families that seemed eager to be taught but at the time, due to holidays, were unable to have us into their homes. So this week we are going to try and tract a few neighborhoods. My hopes are high. It seems this week I have had to learn a similar lesson I learned as I was heading home from Brazil. Obedience does bring personal growth yes, but hard work will allow us to further grow our potential in Gathering the Lord's children across the world. So my comp and I are trying our best to work hard and are faithful in the miracles that will follow. 

I learned a few things this week while doing some family history. One coupled right into working hard. My Great Grandpa Kenneth Irving Hixon lived by the motto, "Any job worth doing, is worth doing well". And as I read stories from his life I was even more motivated to Gather Israel here in the GAM(Georgia, Atlanta Mission). I felt my spirits lifted as I read back and reflected on my Great Grandpa's life and was able to learn some of the lessons that he learned through his life by just taking the time to read them! Family history is important. Not just in doing the indexing or finding for temple ordinances but also being edified and strengthened by finding out more about our ancestors. The blessings and strength that come from us when we think on the experiences of our families is innumerable. Let us be better at seeking after our kindred dead. 

I also felt a wave of love towards our Prophet Russel M. Nelson and his apostles this week. They truly are inspired men. As a missionary we teach of the Restoration of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that ALL things must be restored. We teach that the Lord will continue to restore his church to how he desires it to be. During a bible study that is held by some members in our ward the question was asked, "Why is the Come Follow Me program being released?" And as I sat there thinking about the question my answer came by the Spirit. This Come Follow Me program, as a Home Centered Gospel learning place, is part of this magnificent restoration. It is not brand new, but a restoration. Something I thought about then was these new Book of Mormon videos. We are able to see a new glimpse of how life was for this family of Lehi and of Laman and Lemuel and Nephi, Jacob, Sam and Joseph. And I thought about how it almost seemed like there was not much of a church, what there were times the families would gather and have sacrifices and make covenants, as well as there were times that they would listen to the prophet Lehi or Nephi or Jacob or whoever was impressed upon by the Spirit of the Lord to teach. What I can imagine is that the bulk of the Gospel was taught within the individual families. Much like this Come Follow Me program. And because of this, it would make sense that Laman and Lemuel's little families were not fed the Gospel because the ones who were charged to teach it did not. Those being Laman and Lemuel and their wives. How important it is for our own families to choose to be all in with the new Come Follow Me program. It truly is a restoration of things that were once practiced. It is a way that we as Children of our Heavenly Father can reach our full spiritual potential and continue His great work. Let us do better and be better. Any job worth doing, is worth doing well... Especially the job of teaching the Gospel within in our own homes. 

Another week for McDonough! The work continues!

Elder Hixon

Elder Wheeler

Georgia!

Well I am here. 6 months flew by and now I am here in McDonough Georgia! I live in an apartment with 3 other Elders. My comp, Elder Wheeler, then Elder Hudson and Elder Aquino. Coming from Utah, Montana, and Hawaii. They are funny and vibrant. All of them left right around the same time I left for my mission the first time so it has been fun to be able to kind of relate in those ways. 

There are many differences from my mission in Brazil. Here we have phones, cars, bikes, and English. And these 4 things make my two areas of service a LOT different. Contacts that are normally done walking in the street all day in Brazil are split up here through texts, calls, Facebook messaging, biking, and all other ways to communicate and travel. The days are quite short here in my area. Due to lack of lighting on our bikes and neighborhood my senior companion has decided we are in doors by 6. Which makes the work slow down a good amount. That is 3 and a half hours less of being out and about than in Brazil. And honestly has been a bit of a struggle and frustration for me! When people here ask what we can do to further work I want to scream GET OUTSIDE MORE DUH! But it doesn't always work like that here. 

We have not been into the home of a non member or taught a lesson yet which is teaching me patience. I was more used to Brazil, teaching and teaching and more teaching. So I am learning the need to adjust and have patience in the Lord's timing. I have also gained respect for my Uncle Brian and cousin Keaton and all other bike enthusiasts out in the world. I have been riding for a few days and my BUM IS SORE!!! I can hardly sit down anywhere anymore. Hoping I gain some better bum resistance to bike seats soon. 

This week was great. One of the things I enjoyed most this week was our Sacrament meeting. Here in the Stockbridge ward, each year the Sunday before Thanksgiving they will have a Hymn testimony meeting. Much like a regular testimony meeting where members come up and bare testimony but the testimonies are shorter and revolve around a hymn that the member of the congregation decides to share. Then the congregation sings the first verse of the hymn. It was one of the most spiritual meetings I have ever been apart of. Many prayers were answered and the spirit bore witness to me of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the true church on the earth today. 

I had another experience I would like to share in regards to personal prayer and scripture study. 

I was praying with what I felt was real intent looking for answers that honestly were right in front of me. But at the time could not see them. Many people had told me and were telling me the answers yet I so blindly missed them. But I continued to study in the Book of Mormon and the Lord knew my heart. As I read in Ether 13 I got to verse 20 and I realized that the Lord has been sending me the obvious answer all along. In that verse Ether is commanded to preach Repentance to Coriantumr. Unfortunately Coriantumr did not listen to the heedings of the prophet and was destroyed. But let us listen to the "obvious" answers that are given to us. Faith, repentance, and relying on the Savior Jesus Christ. Everything will fall in place we must believe that! I am grateful for my family and friends who have always lead me to the "obvious" answers during my times of trial! I am grateful to be a missionary of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Eu amo voces!! Eu vou continuar com fé, esperança e caridade!!! 

Elder Hixon