This has been a week of wondering and deep contemplation. A good man in the Richfield community died while playing basketball after he hit heads with another player. He was a bishop and left behind a wife and kids. One of his boys plays for the Richfield basketball team. At any rate, I questioned God and wondered why would such a good man be taken? Is life a series of chance events and accidents just happen? Is there meaning behind this tragedy? Is everyday filled with chaos which we mere mortals try to organize and make sense of? Is there order to the universe or is it a black expanse filled with atoms and the void?
I just couldn't understand why that would be God's will. Is there an individual plan for each of us or is life random? Well, it took a lot of pondering and going into to the depths of my soul to find the answer. It comes down to accepting God's will. I feel so much sympathy for the wife who is left behind and it hurts my heart to think of the unbearable pain she must be suffering. But, if the gospel is true, then God will exchange beauty for these ashes.
My sister, Michelle, was sealed in the temple on Saturday. I went down and was so happy that I could be there. I was reminded of the covenants, the protections, and the blessings of an eternal marriage. It brought me back to my questions and I realized that however tragic an event may be in our life, if we hold fast to our covenants and trust in the Lord, we will be sealed up unto salvation. The man who died was a good man and he was living a good life, so the Lord will help the ones who are left behind and heal their wounds. God can turn tragedy into glory if we allow him to. Life can be a difficult and painful journey, but if we endure the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, God will clothe us in robes of beauty. Hamlet asked the question, "in that sleep of death, what dreams may come". He never found the answer. We know through the restoration of the gospel, that there is salvation, and hope, and peace, and glory....if we trust, and repent, and endure.
I'm grateful for the gospel, the GOOD NEWS. I don't know if I could bear the whips and scorns of time without this knowledge. I'm grateful you are spreading the good news to our brothers and sisters.
Let me know what your new area is like. Tell me about your companion.
Thank you for being my friend, my example, and my son. You are a good man and I'm grateful for your example of service and selfless love.
God be with you 'til we meet again,
Mom
Dear Mom,
Elder Williams
Thank you for sharing your experience over the last week. They way you were able to learn from that tragedy is a testimony to me of your spiritual strength.
I've got a simple little experience to share with you. On Sunday a member family signed up to feed us that night. Their name is the Bumpuses. They are nice, and we were lucky that they signed up. We go over that night, and someone there says, "You look familiar." Turns out that he was someone I met in my first area. He sold things door to door, so we saw him around a lot. He is friends with this member family, and they happened to be hosting him. We were able to talk, and I was able to get his contact info. I hope I will be able to teach him online sometime.
You know, it is a simple little experience, but there are so many variables that I can't imagine it happening unless God set it up. There are too many things that could have been different.
The thing I think I will be most surprised about when I pass on and can see my life is how intimately God has been involved in my life. I know that I owe him a debt of gratitude that I can't comprehend right now.
My new area is a nice little town. There are about 8,500 people. There is a lot of local art and it has a nice little downtown. The people live at a slower pace than the rest of the world. The ward seems really nice, and they are relatively few in numbers. I'm back on a bicycle. We are the new set of missionaries here. My companion and I both came in on Wednesday. There is now a Spanish speaking companionship. The ward seems pretty excited that there are so many missionaries.
My companion's name is Elder McKay. He is a nice guy, and we get along well so far. He has had some struggles on his mission, but I think we will do well.
We have a couple that is excited for baptism. We set a date for them for the beginning of the year. I think they can make it. Their names are Zack and Amanda, and they have a little boy named Zack. They have had a really hard time in their lives, but they are seeing how much God is blessing them for following the Gospel.
Thank you for all that you do, Mom. I love you.
Love,
Elder Williams
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