They took Elder Alcorn from me! But it's chill cause I got Elder Magleby and he's lit, he actually came out in the same transfer as me so it's kinda fun. Never thought I would get to serve with him cause he's English, but here we are. So rad. He's teaching me a lot about how to play the guitar which is sick.
The Fourth was so much fun, we spent the whole day finding pretty much cause no one was available to meet up for lessons or dinners or anything, so we went to the parades and we went to a picnic. There was so much live music and all that jazz. It was so much fun. Then to cap it all off we had a firework show from right outside our window. So we went off to our back deck to watch the fireworks go off over the marina. Such a blessing bro.
Saw Wesley Read from my old ward back home which is so random but kinda lit.
Had some of the best ice cream I've evee had here, (shoutout to pressy Nelson for the tip) not THE p. Nelson, our branch president is a Nelson as well.
We've been doing s lot of service and were being recognized for it when we walk around the town, which makes people come up and talk to us which I've rarely ever had happen on my mission. One of the goals for the Islands is to work the missionaries into the community. Get the church's name out there in a good light. And it works. Sure we're still faced with backlash especially over Facebook, but we have complete strangers come to our defense because we were kind to them, or helped them out with a service. The miracles of service really come into full force here on the Islands and it's so cool to see! So stoked for the rest of this transfer to see where the Lord takes it.
I've realized during my time here on the Islands that the work can sometimes be slow, and that can really weigh on you when it comes time to get out and find when that feels like all we do. But filling my heart with the love of Christ, thinking about what he would do, completely changes that. Just being out, talking to everyone who passes by, whether they stop to talk or not, is an extension of Christ's love that I, as a missionary, should be trying to develop every single day. Charity and love are some of the attributes of Christ I've really been trying to develop as I experience rejection from the want to help others want to come to Christ. I love this paragraph from pmg chptr. 6: The prophet Mormon taught, “Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:48). As you pray to have charity fill your heart, you will taste of God’s love. Your love for people will increase, and you will come to feel a sincere concern for their eternal happiness. You will see them as children of God with the potential of becoming like Him, and you will labor in their behalf."
I don't wanna make this too long so I'll leave that there for you to pick apart. But I wanna leave you with my testimony of Christ. That he lives, and just as he loves so should we. His charity and love supercede anything I've ever felt in my life, and they're something I want others to feel. To know. Jesus loves all of us, and he knows us perfectly. Trust in him, and he'll double our efforts. I love my Savior so much and everything that he does for me. And I say that in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
K love you guys! I'll try to write again soon 😬
Elder Blankenbiller
