Curtis Letter April 30, 2011

Hello World,

We've had an exhausting week.  If you were to look at our numbers, it would seem as if we haven't done anything at all.  We've been contacting a lot of people, trying to help our new ward mission leader and ward missionary in their callings, coming up with ideas of how to find new, interested people, and handle the various items that need handling in the offices.  I'm exhausted and have a little bit of diarrhea. :P

We've seen our share of blessings, though.  We continually are being guided by the Spirit as to what to study and what to do and where to go.  We know we are being instruments in the hands of God.  I'm very glad for God's help even when we are very weak, unworthy servants.  We hope to grow into what He wants us to be.

The first district meeting went well.  We talked about how to be firm and the need for a vision of who we were, are, and can be.  I enjoyed it.

We received a new Élder from California named Élder Vasquez.  He's a convert of a few years and is really excited to be on a mission.  He will be a huge blessing to us in this mission.

Also in the news...this week NOBODY WENT HOME!!! :) WOOHOO!!!

Not much news, just carrying on.  And on that subject, I'll share the song Carry On:

Firm as the mountains around us,
Stalwart and brave we stand
On the rock our fathers planted
For us in this goodly land—
The rock of honor and virtue,
Of faith in the living God.
They raised his banner triumphant—
Over the desert sod.

And we hear the desert singing:
Carry on, carry on, carry on!
Hills and vales and mountains ringing:
Carry on, carry on, carry on!
Holding aloft our colors,
We march in the glorious dawn.
O youth of the noble birthright,
Carry on, carry on, carry on!

We’ll build on the rock they planted
A palace to the King.
Into its shining corridors,
Our songs of praise we’ll bring,
For the heritage they left us,
Not of gold or of worldly wealth,
But a blessing everlasting
Of love and joy and health.

And we hear the desert singing:
Carry on, carry on, carry on!
Hills and vales and mountains ringing:
Carry on, carry on, carry on!
Holding aloft our colors,
We march in the glorious dawn.
O youth of the noble birthright,
Carry on, carry on, carry on!

When President Hinckley was first called as the President of the Church, he was asked, what will be the hallmark of your time in office?  Without even thinking, he said "Carry On."  What a fantastic motto he chose.  Carry on!  The world is in turmoil, but there are good things.  The Church and Kingdom of God are on track.  We will carry on the work of the Lord in precisely the same manner we have always done so, one soul at a time.  I know that this is the Church of God.  I know that all of creation sings this refrain "Carry On!"  All of nature will carry on until it has filled its purpose, and so will the church, and so will I, guided by the Hand of the Lord.  We must and will Carry On.

All my Love,
Élder Sudbury