Chapter 96: Closer

"And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?"1 Chronicles 13:12

An incredible week of travels. After attending district council in Glasgow on Tuesday we conducted out exchanges with East Killbride before returning to Edinburgh to spend the night. The next day we made it to Belfast and conducted another five exchanges (Holywood 1, Holywood 2, Bangor 1, Bangor 2, and Omagh). It was incredibly busy, with another two district councils to attend, but in all of it there was greatness and growth. The missionaries of Northern Ireland have for some reason had difficulty the past couple of transfers. Things just have not been incredibly stable, but being able to travel to each area and spend time with the Elders made a great difference. We were able to pray and study with them and experience miracles through following the Spirit. I have a great love for the missionaries serving here and it was good to be able to serve them this week. For some reason, most likely due to increased travel and decreased sleep, my migraines have been increasing in frequency and pain. This week alone there was a couple times when I couldn't seem to carry on. My mind is never at rest. Neither is my body. It's hard even to find times of stillness to really pray and study to connect with God. These migraines have given me opportunities to pause and reflect. As I have reflected, certain thoughts have filled my mind—I am coming closer and closer to the end of my time as a missionary. I can't really help but feel many conflicting emotions. Inside of my heart and mind there is a war where one day I feel good about everything I've striven to do, whereas the next I feel sad and pained at the things I wish I could be better at. It is hard to find peace. But, as in all times, I have relied on the Lord and have given great effort to do his will, and as such I have been comforted with peace. The closer I have come to the end of my mission, the closer I have come to God. He is there. Although the adversary pushes harder and harder, it cannot change the fact the God is there and the hope He brings. In times of incredible difficulty and work, we can become closer to God. As Neal A Maxwell says, "man's extremity is God's opportunity." In my mission, I have built up unto the Lord my own ark of the covenant. He has blessed me with sacred experiences and a change of heart—I feel like a new person. However, like David, I have felt fear and have questioned how I will be able to bring all of that home with me. I trust that God will help me to do so. Until then, I continue to give my best to do His will in helping these missionaries and learning from them. Life is good. God is wise. Don't give up. Elder Childers

Elder Draney with his coke

Elder Draney as we head into Bangor

Zoom Meeting with President and the office assistants on the bus to Omagh

Us walking over the bridge into Omagh

Pday in Derry/Londonderry!