Chapter 46: Simple Charity

"Let all your things be done with charity." 1 Corinthians 16:14

What a week. Definitely one of the greatest weeks of my mission: many highs with their accompanying lows, all of which came from the highs coming to an end. Funny how that works. At here, the end of another transfer, I said goodbye yesterday to my companion Elder Lewis who has now returned home and completed his mission. What a wonderful last week we had!

The highlight, of course, was Chloe's baptism on Saturday which was so good. She was very nervous about the water but God definitely gave her the strength to take that step in following her Savior, Jesus Christ. Elder Lewis was able to baptize her and I was able to give her the Gift of The Holy Ghost and confirm her a member of the church. It was absolutely beautiful. I've learned a lot this transfer. I absolutely love this area; Airdrie truly is a holy land as we call it here in the mission. The members are amazing, the people very friendly, and the work just so rewarding. Through it all, I will always be grateful for my companion and for all he taught me. I want to highlight a particular lesson I've learned from him which strikes me time and time again as I think it over. When I was younger, my mom taught me to make my bed. She told me that it was an important way to be disciplined and take care of my personal space. Well, as my mom knows, I was never very good at doing that particular chore at home. Things simply got in the way. The same can be said about my time here on my mission. It just, has never really been a priority for me. Many days this transfer have been very busy. We wake up worried about our friends we are teaching and go to bed worried about the missionaries we are serving. It's hard to keep track of it all, and can be pretty overwhelming. And this, of course, applies to all of life. We are simply always faced with responsibility and stress in some degree. But not only ourselves, the people around us as well. However, with that being said, many mornings over these past couple of weeks, I have walked into my room to find my bed quietly made, unbeknownst to me, by my companion. It's powerful for me to reflect on this, and realize just how much that meant to me, and just how accurately it embodies the charity we should strive for.

Selfless acts of simple love carry the potential to change everything. It's happened here in Airdrie, with these people, and my companion has shown me how it can be done. I know that I have personally as well been changed through the charity of others, not only my companion, but all the people I've been blessed to meet. Charity simply holds that potential to turn us heavenward and connect us to the Spirit, who then teaches us powerful lessons. For really, charity connects our hearts to Christ, which is at the core of all that our Father in Heaven desires for us. Seek for charity, and let the charity of others turn you towards Christ. Life is good. God is wise. Don't give up. Elder Childers

Chloe's baptism!

Pictures with the Zone!

Me and Elder Lewis and also with Sister Macdonald in the ward who makes us wonderful food