Dear Family,
I'll first share about the week here in South Ribble. Kim is doing well and still seems illuminated. She had a hard time understanding about Adam and Eve and how they are a blessing. We simply read 2 Nephi 2:22-25 and discussed it. I then felt impressed to ask if she would like to be taught the plan of salvation again. She said yes and we taught it. It was a very powerful lesson to be a part of and I am grateful that I listened to the prompting of the Spirit. Something that I have been setting a goal on is teaching in a very powerful manner so that those I teach can feel the Spirit and have true conversion. I meet people everyday who say that I can't convince them about what we share. I always tell them "You're right I can't. That's why we let God do the convincing."
Robert took some time away this weekend in the outdoors. I feel it was good thing for him to do. Because he went away, we only saw him once and just read from the Book of Mormon with him. Thank you for the advice and insights you shared, Dad. I'll try to put those into account.
I take my Theory Test tomorrow and have my first driving lesson on Wednesday. Pray that both of those go well.
I also went on an exchange with my Zone Leader, Elder Boswell in Preston. He is from Taylorsville, Utah and is incredible. He is very confident, but is sacred. He carries himself a lot like Kyle Collinsworth. He played college baseball at a small school near Lubbock, Texas and also Salt Lake Community College. He played catcher He taught me so many wonderful things. We had some appointments fall through and an anology occured to me. I told him that I was taught this in basketball. Some games, your shot just isn't going to be there and you can't do much about it. But no matter what kind of game you have on the offensive end, you can always play good defense. Like in missionary work, you're going to have appointments fall through and you can't help it. But you can always be a good finder. He liked that as well as I. He is very diligent and urgent. We ran from door to door and everywhere else if there was no one around. Something I am doing now to be more effective. We also taught two on the spot lessons. One man was from Ireland, the other from Sirre Leone.
Last week was very wet and a bit cool. Today is quite warm however. The weather here is very inconsistent. I am excited to hear about Lindsey's blessing and glad that it went very well. I still have the two dollar bill. Maybe Colton will get one from President Slack when he goes to Manti.
Now, last Thursday was President and Sister Bullock's last Zone Conference. The end got a bit emotional for me (no suprise really since I am quite sensitve). They both gave brillant remarks and wonderful testimonies and experiences. The Spirit was amazing there. At the end, we stood and sang as you mentioned Mom "God Be with You Til We Meet Again." Tears were hard to hold back from that point on. After the prayer we were all able to give hugs to both of them. It reminded me a lot about my temple experience and the love that occured there. I'll conclude with the letter that I wrote to President.
President Bullock,
I was blessed with a great week. Zone Conference was amazing and wonderful, I had a great exchange with Elder Boswell, and I was taught many things by the Holy Ghost. I can say the one fruit of the Spirit I felt the most this week was love.
I went to Preston with Elder Boswell on Friday evening to Sunday morning. What he was able to teach and pass down to me has strengthened my testimony of the culture of this mission. I asked him questions and suggestions throughout and he shared his wisdom with me. He corrected and assisted with love and praised me continually our time together as well. I love the way he leads and hope to take some the characteristics he has and apply it. I can't say enough about how sacred Elder Boswell truly is. What a blessing it was to see miracles through our labors. He has helped me become a better leader.
Zone Conference was hard for me at the end. Because of the continuous love that Sister Bullock and yourself have shown it has changed my life. It has made me want to become. Through what you have taught me to this point in my mission I have learned to cast out fear through love.
Something that I noticed in Elder Boswell so vividly is his ability to recognize and close the gaps as Elder Maxwell mentions in the Sacred Missionary Document. That is something I am continuing to apply as the Spirit is helping me recognize what I need to do in order to close the gaps in my becoming process. I always think of something that I have seen and heard in athletics "It isn't how you start, but how you finish." We may begin things out of fear or duty, but we must finish those gaps through love. If we have love, it is as the Sacred Missionary Document says, we "do it because we want to and not because we have to." The mission vision of Pure in Heart, Exact Obedience, and Preach My Gospel has played a major factor in this process.
You taught me that it wasn't enough to be good, but that I must be good for something. I mentioned in our interview that I always looked at the gospel as an equation before my mission. If I went and did what what was right and made and kept covenants with Heavenly Father, I was guaranteed exaltation. How wrong I was. Since day one of my mission, the Holy Ghost through you has taught me what the gospel of Jesus Christ is really all about, and that is becoming.
I can't express all that I feel in words. I feel as Nephi "neither am I mighty in writing." My testimony has been strengthened as I have strived to live the gospel, apply it, and become. I know that God is our Heavenly Father and that He and His Son, Jesus Christ, live and love us. I know that through the Savior's Atonement that I all things are possible, that I can return to live in Their presence, and become as they are. I know that Joseph Smith saw each of them and through him, the gospel was restored in its fullness and the Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of Christ's Church. I know that the England Manchester Mission is where I was meant to labor among the Lord's children. I know that the principles and truths I have learned here are true. And I know all these things by the power of the Holy Ghost.
May the Lord bless each of you in all that you do as well as your family. I am eternally grateful for the sacred experiences I have had on my mission and how they have changed me. Thank you for always living the example "that the principles of the gospel form the one and only true path to success and happiness."
With love,
Elder Starr
If I came to the England Manchester Mission one reason alone, I believe that it was because of the Bullocks. They are truly "sacred" members.
I hope that you all have a great week and that all goes well in all you do. Good luck at camp Mom and Lauren! Thank you for all that you shared with me.
Love,
Cameron
P.S. I will email about the temple experience next week. Sorry, I'm running out of time.
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