"8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Well... I think I memorized that scripture back in seminary... lol. Or at least learned it well enough to recite it for my teacher and then forget it a few hours later... ha. But It didn't really click til this week that the Lord truly is in control. His ways are NOT our ways. He is on a higher plane, and His perspective is far greater than ours. In fact, He can see the WHOLE picture. And being the perfect being that He is, He can make all the pieces match up in just the way we need them to in order to learn and progress. He is in charge; we just have to trust him. :)
Now, to fill you in on all the events that led to the conclusion above... ha.
Last week I wrote you all a letter as a sad, confused, little missionary. My companion and I had recently gotten over our differences, and we'd really become ONE as a companionship. We had some incredible plans for our area and for our zone. Obviously we knew transfers were coming, and there's always a possibility that one of the two of us could be moved, but we felt pretty secure with the work we were doing and the progress we were seeing as a zone... But low and behold, transfer calls came and I was told I was leaving my beautiful, beach front Barahona for an undetermined destination. I was shocked, and heart broken, but spent the night praying that I'd be able to handle any and all new challenges that the transfer might bring.
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Me with my family! Carlos, Karen, Jonathan, Pavel, and Vida
10/21/13 |
On Monday night I said all my goodbyes, my companion and I had one final adventure together (see pics! ha. HUGE rain storm), and eight short hours later I was on a bus to the capital. I got to see some missionary friends and talk about all the crazy changes that were happening this transfer along the way, and then WHAAMMM. I met my new companion. ha. His name is Ricardo Medrano... but don't be deceived. He's a straight up Gringo from Bountiful Utah. haha. He's been in the field for 6 weeks, and because of some heath issues and some disobedient missionaries, he and I have been white washed into Manoguayabo B. For those of you that don't know what white wash means... Find an RM near you! ha.
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| Me with Lisept and Rogelio 10/21/13 |
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| The potato casserole Karen made me as a going away present. :) |
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| One last adventure with Elder Mendoza 10/21/13 |
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| Transfers are always fun... ha. 10/22/13 |
Seeing that my companion and his trainer didn't have their full, allotted time together, it's my job to finish training him. And seeing that neither of us have ever worked in this area before... thus far it's been an adventure! :) The members here have been SO helpful in showing us around, and helping us to find some old investigators from missionaries in the past. I've spent the last 6 days working harder than I've ever worked, and praying my little heart out for the Lord's help with all this. My goal this last week was to have a decent investigator pool up and going by Sunday, and to have at least 2 or 3 people come to church... Well, God must've believed me when I told Him I'd give him my all if He'd help us out, cuz He's sure worked miracles this week! We had FIVE investigators in church yesterday, and we've got a full schedule from today til Thursday!
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| My new companion, Ricardo Medrano 10/22/13 |
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| My new chapel 10/22/13 |
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| My new area 10/24/13 |
Oh, did I mention the members?? ha. Well they're AMAZING! We've had a member go out with us almost every day this week to show us around and to introduce us to their friends. :) Plus, the leadership in our ward is unreal! On the first night here we passed by the Bishop's house to meet him, and he offered me a blessing to welcome me into the ward and to bless me in my work here in Manoguayabo. They are all SO supportive and helpful! The Elders Quorum President spent an hour and a half with us (and the other two elders that serve in our ward) on Wednesday night to help us divide our area, and orient ourselves a little bit on Google maps. :) Then, yesterday morning he met with us again to have us report on our progress, and to assign us some less active families to visit. :)
I love our Heavenly Father. :) I know He's there and I know He qualifies the weak. It's been SO amazing to see how He's been preparing me for this over the last 18 months. I really feel like Manoguayabo is MY area. Being white washed is hard, but it also offers a clean slate. And training a new missionary means that I can help him become the best missionary he can be as the Lord helps me do the same. I feel like it's all coming together. This is my time! I was asked to give a last minute talk yesterday in Sacrament meeting, and as I testified of the enabling power of the atonement my heart about exploded. Christ IS there. He knows EXACTLY what we're going through, and He knows how to help us through it because He knows the way. He IS the way. I know that if we rely on Him, and trust that His ways are not our ways, but that He always has our best interest in mind, everything will be all right. He loves us, and He wants what's best for us.
I love and miss you all. More than you can even imagine. I love being a missionary, and though last week I wasn't 100% sure... I KNOW I'm where I'm right where HE wants me to be right now.
Love,
Elder Cade Mooney
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| My beautiful DR 10/25/13 |
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