"Diligence Is Merely A Symptom"

Hello everyone!

Transfer week is over and all missionaries are safe! We only lost ONE companionship but it's okay. We had a whitewash in sugar city and the Elders that were going to be serving there (Elder Leavitt and Elder Beal, AKA my Son and Grandson) didn't have a sim card or anything. They decided to follow us from the mission office to Rigby. Somehow they got stopped at a light and fell way behind us. They scooby-dooed their way out of their situation and made it safe :)

We had a few lessons at the VC this week (We've found that's one of the best places to teach because of the Spirit that is felt there)

I learned and realized some new things this week. And it was all because of an inspired question our friend Curtis asked us. 

"Why did Christ let them struggle in fear for so long?"

Here's what we'd been talking about prior to this great question:

In the visitors center there's a video series called "The Storms of Life". They all start out the same, With the account from Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:36-41

"[Christ said unto His disciples], Let us pass over unto the other side (of Galilee)"

"And when [they] entered into a ship, [...] behold there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves (so that the ship was now full)"

"And He (Jesus Christ) was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow"

So, 

These professional fishermen have endured a super intense storm, they've done literally all they could but now their ships were about to sink, "for they were full of water." These men that are frantically bailing water, trying to stay alive and realize that the "Master" was asleep. Knowing personally the "Touch of the Masters hand" can fix anything; they, with earnestness, frustration, or sincerity go to wake the Master.

"Master(!) carest thou not that we perish?" 

And the moment they woke (Christ), "He saith unto them, 'Why are ye fearful?' [...] and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm"

Now, back to this great question Curtis asked.

"Why did Christ let them struggle in fear for so long?"

Our response was the kind when you learn something as you're speaking. 

We responded, "Do you think Christ wanted them to be fearful?"

There was a long pause, some visible pondering. Then another critical question was asked, "Why did the disciples wait for so long to wake Him up?"

The Spirit, being the perfect companion, inspired us some more.

Inspired us to BE QUIET

Curtis then responds to his own question, "I guess when I'm feeling stressed out and I feel like no one is there and I don't have any hope I need to reach out to Christ. But it takes some action on my part. I know that He can help me in my personal storms."

WOAH. 

This came from a guy that has never read the Bible or anything. He only came to this personal conclusion because he allowed himself to be immersed in an environment that could yield answers to prayers.

For those with hearts that are troubled, or with situations that seem too big to handle, Ponder these words of a favorite Hymn:

"Master with anguish of spirit, I bow in my grief today. 

The depths of my sad heart are troubled. Oh waken and save, I pray!

Torrents of sin and of anguish sweep over my sinking soul, 

And I perish! I Perish! dear Master, Oh hasten and take control!"

I invite all of you to "waken" and call unto the Master. 

When you put yourself in an environment necessary for receiving revelation you will, as the disciples, "[Marvel] at the great(ness) and the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of [things which do so easily beset us]"

(Matthew 8:27, 2 Nephi 9:10, 2 Nephi 4:18)

I know this to be true because I have experienced it myself. 

I love you all.

.

.

.

PICTURES:

1-2. Departing missionaries

3. ARRIVING missionaries

4. 2 Visa waiting missionaries! (they're really just waiting for some civil unrest to be done in Hong Kong)

5. ELDER LEAVITT AND ELDER BEAL (I'm a proud Grandpa)

6. This is the Reyes Fam watching a video in the V.C. (After this video they wanted to be sealed as a family and have their kids come as well. The only thing is their kids need to be baptized!)

7-8. MLC! President Hurley took these because "he was impressed"

9. "Holy hand grenade"

10. In Idahoan this means "Welcome"