Elder Klein, who is here in Ubon Ratchathani (Ubon), went into the Missionary Training Center (MTC) with me. We have been wanting to play a piano/cello duet together since the MTC. The other day, he found a cello at the local college to borrow. The music teachers there were really friendly and had no problem letting us use a cello for a musical number on Sunday. We borrowed the cello and started practicing, "If You Could Hie to Kolob." We played that hymn yesterday in sacrament meeting, and our duet turned out really, really nice. We had many people tell us they felt the Spirit bring calmness and peace into their hearts as we played, and that is what it is all about. It was not meant to be a performance but an opportunity for those in attendance to feel the Spirit. It was a lot of fun. I have blisters on my fingers from playing the cello again, so it looks like I am a softy (ha ha, it has been a while).
This upcoming week is our transfer meeting. I have yet another mission companion who will be going home (Elder Love), which makes having been the last mission companion for five elders. Elder Love will be going home this week. He has been a great worker with me. I am thankful for the good times in Ubon together. We are going down to Bangkok tonight so Elder Love can get his final interview done and to get his things in order.
I am excited for the start of another transfer. I am now a member of the oldest group of full-time missionaries in the whole mission. My group is the next to go home. I want to be honest with each day I am given to be a full-time missionary. I know this time and opportunity will never come again.
My studies this morning were amazing. I was studying Jesus Christ and how Satan tempted Him with taking the convenient way out of things. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has an amazing talk entitled, "The Inconvenient Messiah." Elder Holland explains how the word "convenient" is never mentioned in the Christian covenant. Convenience will short-change us of growth and change. I really enjoy that concept. Salvation is not convenient. As I invite others to come unto Christ, there are many times every day when I get told, "It is not convenient." Those people are right, salvation through the Atonement of Christ is never convenient, and so they walk away searching for the hollow and empty idea of convenience. I have grown a distaste for this word. We are to be honest in our efforts. There are no corners to be cut on the straight and narrow path. God wants much more for each of us. He wants us to receive all He has to offer, so we need to follow the ultimate exemplar Jesus Christ.
I am excited for the good things ahead, even in this very day and hour. Have a great week everyone.
Love,