Clear an Area for the Spirit

Wow, sounds like Reid had a full week.  I am so proud of him and the things he is doing.  He is definitely following the right path.  I can't wait to see him again. 

This week was tough, but fast at the same time.  Difficult because motivation is at an all-time low, but fast because things are wrapping up here.  It's hard to be motivated when you have so little time left and everyone takes a chance to remind you, not to mention they all seem more excited than you.  I really am excited, I just try to keep it off my mind.  Not to mention, my companion is way trunkie, like off the deep end kind of trunkie.  Unless I plan it, we aren't going to do anything.  So, that's why I'm going to make these last few weeks the busiest weeks of my mission so I can stay focused on working rather than a clock (it is really hard not to stay focused on the clock).  This week we are going to be doing a lot of stuff.   I don't know what yet, but I know it's going to be a lot.  No spare time either. 

Manuel got sick this past week and hasn't been able to send in the papers to open the process for marriage.  Not a very big deal, but he will need to get better soon if we are going to do this.  Agostinho and Tereza are coming along and this week they should have enough money to buy all of her documents again (long story).  Other couples are coming along as well, but no new advancements. 

On the branches splitting: First, the split was necessary if  the mission was to reach it's goal of having enough branches for two stakes.  The reason for two stakes is that all the members are so spread out.  To have a stake conference you would have to fly everyone there.  Also, we have to get clearance from the First Presidency to create a stake here. We're almost there, but not quite.  We should likely have a stake here by 2015 or rather two stakes.  The church is waiting for these branches to start functioning like wards or more like them with the leadership and other things that happen in a ward.  Like I said, we are close, but not quite there yet.  Elder Bednar is over our area right now and we have to get his okay.  I am assigned to the Chamba branch and we go to church at 2 in the afternoon.... yay fun :P  At least our investigators have no excuse now.

Something I have come to learn here in Mozambique is that more often than not you have to clear an area to have the Spirit.  For example: when you teach a lesson you more often than not have some kind of loud music in the background and it makes it difficult to hear and impossible to feel the Spirit.  In today's world I think it is much the same.  There are times when, if you need to feel the Spirit, you need to clear a place for it or stand in a holy place.  This place may be a location or it can be time that you have set apart.  It can be anywhere.  The reason why I stress the Spirit in this "holy place" is because part of the work of the Spirit is to sanctify (or purify).  Like medical tools are cleansed and sterilized by a flame, you can get a clean start, a fresh look at something that was maybe clouded by the noise of the world.  The Spirit is there to help us see things as they really are.  To discern sin from good and to make the right choice.  So stand in holy places to receive His direction and make the right choice.  Find out what brings the Spirit strongest for you and use it to your advantage.  This doesn't mean go looking for trouble and then try and bring the Spirit there, but more like Nephi and Lehi... make the best of your situation (Helaman chapter 5).  Some reading there to see what I mean by making a holy place in a hostile situation.  Pay attention to what it does to the Lamanites.

Well, I gotta go.  My time is short now. 

I love you,

Elder Proksch