Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
Week 7 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Well, let me tell you all that this mission business is not easy at all. In fact it's probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. But it is the most worthwhile thing I have ever participated in! Snow is beginning to cover every part of the ground up here and the average temperature right now is around freezing. But I absolutely love it!
This last week has been an interesting one. There have been many ups and downs. The mission field has been discouraging for me because I don't feel like I do enough. There are so many things I want to say but I am bound by my limited Spanish, and being in a English speaking country doesn't help. But things began to to change when I met little Alexander. Late at night we were tracting and we were welcomed in by a lady named Olga. Soon there after I met her son Alexander, after a long and discouraging night for me internally, I instantly was filled with an abundant love for this little 7 year old boy. He is one of the most innocent things I have ever seen in my life. He could speak in English and Spanish, and was so anxious to read and participate in the lesson we were teaching. I just personally felt so protective of him because I knew how rare it is to find something so pure in the city and how quickly it can be destroyed. After our lesson I squatted down in front of him and told him how much God loved him and that if he did his best to always choose the right that he would have unlimited potential. I continued to tell him that he had a good heart and that he should never lose it because I could see and feel how much God loved him. I love that kid. It was because of him that He sent us to that specific house that I was reminded once again of why I am here. I am here to love the people of Detroit as Christ does.
We have such a great branch! Sister Ferreira (who is a recent convert and feeds us almost ever day) goes tracting with us all the time, she calls me her "guero" which essentially means white guy haha. She enjoys making fun of me and I try to do the best I can back, but man! She is such a great force for good! She is so daring and helps us to get into houses and be able to share the gospel! So if you're not doing what you can to help the missionaries shame on you! We need your help!
I love you all!
Elder Alger
P.S. Last winter up here got down to at least -41 degrees F, which beat Russia in coldness, and this winter is supposed to be colder!
P.P.S. Vincent (the literally crazy guy that attends to our branch said as he was pointing to his papers of weird numbers and scribbles that "You better learn sum Tai Kwon Do or Karate or somethin cuz China is gunna take over the whole world! That evidence is right here!" or and he said he knows the next winning lottery ticket so if you need that just let me know haha
This last week has been an interesting one. There have been many ups and downs. The mission field has been discouraging for me because I don't feel like I do enough. There are so many things I want to say but I am bound by my limited Spanish, and being in a English speaking country doesn't help. But things began to to change when I met little Alexander. Late at night we were tracting and we were welcomed in by a lady named Olga. Soon there after I met her son Alexander, after a long and discouraging night for me internally, I instantly was filled with an abundant love for this little 7 year old boy. He is one of the most innocent things I have ever seen in my life. He could speak in English and Spanish, and was so anxious to read and participate in the lesson we were teaching. I just personally felt so protective of him because I knew how rare it is to find something so pure in the city and how quickly it can be destroyed. After our lesson I squatted down in front of him and told him how much God loved him and that if he did his best to always choose the right that he would have unlimited potential. I continued to tell him that he had a good heart and that he should never lose it because I could see and feel how much God loved him. I love that kid. It was because of him that He sent us to that specific house that I was reminded once again of why I am here. I am here to love the people of Detroit as Christ does.
We have such a great branch! Sister Ferreira (who is a recent convert and feeds us almost ever day) goes tracting with us all the time, she calls me her "guero" which essentially means white guy haha. She enjoys making fun of me and I try to do the best I can back, but man! She is such a great force for good! She is so daring and helps us to get into houses and be able to share the gospel! So if you're not doing what you can to help the missionaries shame on you! We need your help!
I love you all!
Elder Alger
P.S. Last winter up here got down to at least -41 degrees F, which beat Russia in coldness, and this winter is supposed to be colder!
P.P.S. Vincent (the literally crazy guy that attends to our branch said as he was pointing to his papers of weird numbers and scribbles that "You better learn sum Tai Kwon Do or Karate or somethin cuz China is gunna take over the whole world! That evidence is right here!" or and he said he knows the next winning lottery ticket so if you need that just let me know haha
The people up here can't afford to pay people to decorate their businesses so they do it themselves! This will be a fun one for the kids!
I'm going to try to do a "graffiti of the week" pic, so here's this weeks!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Week 6 DETROIT!
So much has happened, I don't feel like this email will do it justice, but I will do my best.
The first night here we stayed at the mission home, I was one of two Spanish elders coming into Detroit, and we are two of five in the mission, its a little crazy. So let me tell you all a little about Detroit. THIS. IS. THE. HOOD. There are madmen roaming the streets screaming in languages unknown to man, and one of them (his name is Vincent attends to the church every Sunday). Vincent bore testimony on how he is going to save all the kids from shooting themselves in their legs with his "Da Vinci Code Theory" as he waved a bunch of papers with numbers all over them in the air. Apparently, he bore testimony last week about how Adam and Eve went to go "kill that apple" as he said. So pretty much he's insane and sometimes it's really hard not to laugh because I have never been in a situation like this before! But I can tell he loves God he's just..... a little conflicted internally you could say.
Detroit is covered in tags and gang signs and there's at least two houses burnt down on each street. (In fact apparently every Halloween here people set fire to as many houses as they can and my companion Elder Bardalez was surprised that not that many were burnt down this last Halloween) The people here live in basically the frames of what once were homes and the "high end homes" in Downtown Detroit could be comparable to some of the crappier houses in Old Town El Mirage in AZ. However outside of Detroit you can find multi-million dollar houses quite easily. Being here really makes you know what the REAL essentials are in life.
I couldn't be happier though! To be able to be here and share the gospel and see the change it can bring into there lives is amazing! I've really learned to fear no man because God is no respecter of persons and because I am sharing His true gospel restored onto the earth there is NOTHING more important these people could be doing other than to listen to what we have to share. But of course that is for them to decide and if they choose not to listen, there is always someone who will!
One specific experience I want to share is about an old man named Tomas. As Elder Bardalez and I were going down the street, we came by an old man in his 80's trying to clean up this huge mess of debris in the street from a tree, and so obviously we helped him. After about an hour of work he welcomed us into his home where we then shared the message of the restoration. Suddenly I felt impressed to share my testimony but then I also took the time to inquire if there was anything else the Lord wanted me to do and He told me to commit Tomas, his wife, their daughter and her three kids to baptism. By this time Tomas's daughter Teresa was in tears and she and her mother accepted the invitation.
The Lord knows how to go about His work! I love Him!
Elder Alger
The first night here we stayed at the mission home, I was one of two Spanish elders coming into Detroit, and we are two of five in the mission, its a little crazy. So let me tell you all a little about Detroit. THIS. IS. THE. HOOD. There are madmen roaming the streets screaming in languages unknown to man, and one of them (his name is Vincent attends to the church every Sunday). Vincent bore testimony on how he is going to save all the kids from shooting themselves in their legs with his "Da Vinci Code Theory" as he waved a bunch of papers with numbers all over them in the air. Apparently, he bore testimony last week about how Adam and Eve went to go "kill that apple" as he said. So pretty much he's insane and sometimes it's really hard not to laugh because I have never been in a situation like this before! But I can tell he loves God he's just..... a little conflicted internally you could say.
Detroit is covered in tags and gang signs and there's at least two houses burnt down on each street. (In fact apparently every Halloween here people set fire to as many houses as they can and my companion Elder Bardalez was surprised that not that many were burnt down this last Halloween) The people here live in basically the frames of what once were homes and the "high end homes" in Downtown Detroit could be comparable to some of the crappier houses in Old Town El Mirage in AZ. However outside of Detroit you can find multi-million dollar houses quite easily. Being here really makes you know what the REAL essentials are in life.
I couldn't be happier though! To be able to be here and share the gospel and see the change it can bring into there lives is amazing! I've really learned to fear no man because God is no respecter of persons and because I am sharing His true gospel restored onto the earth there is NOTHING more important these people could be doing other than to listen to what we have to share. But of course that is for them to decide and if they choose not to listen, there is always someone who will!
One specific experience I want to share is about an old man named Tomas. As Elder Bardalez and I were going down the street, we came by an old man in his 80's trying to clean up this huge mess of debris in the street from a tree, and so obviously we helped him. After about an hour of work he welcomed us into his home where we then shared the message of the restoration. Suddenly I felt impressed to share my testimony but then I also took the time to inquire if there was anything else the Lord wanted me to do and He told me to commit Tomas, his wife, their daughter and her three kids to baptism. By this time Tomas's daughter Teresa was in tears and she and her mother accepted the invitation.
The Lord knows how to go about His work! I love Him!
Elder Alger
Before leaving the MTC, I got to see one of my best friends, ELDER KLIPPEL!
The flight to Detroit
My and Elder Bardalez apartment
The first two pics are of my street (we have one of the nicer streets) The next few are to give ya a better idea of what Detroit looks like!
Not really something to smile about.
More Detroit!
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Week 5
It has been a nice last week at the MTC. I have learned so much being here. I was told that if I thought the MTC was fast just wait until I am out on the field! The Lord has really tied the knot for me this last week in having my prayers and concerns answered.
This last Wednesday I was particularly tired during my morning and afternoon classes. In my afternoon class I had Hermano Wolfe and in the middle it he had the other missionaries in my district do some acting out of situations that could happen in the mission field while we are teaching and he had me come with him into another room. He sat me down and asked how I was doing and I said I was fine. But then he stopped to say that he felt that something felt "off" about me today, and I quickly and honestly replied that I was only tired. What I didn't know is that God was giving Hermano Wolfe the ability of discernment which allowed him to see that there really was something wrong with me and even though I didn't know it, this moment was the time for me to get some insight from the Lord. Suddenly, to my confusion, I start tearing up without even knowing why and all these feelings that I had somewhere in the back of my mind came out. I talked with him about my fear of this "scale of righteousness" I had created in my mind. This scale came in the form of a ruler and on the lowest part of the ruler was wickedness, in the middle was mediocrity, and at the greatest part of the ruler was righteousness. The reason for my fear was because when I am wicked, or not doing what the Lord would want me to do, I know exactly what steps to take to get back to mediocrity. However, after I get back to mediocrity I am clueless as how to get to complete righteousness. I feel like a toddler trying to walk to the path of righteousness, and it is a damning feeling to not be progressing in some way. Hermano Wolfe said that he knows exactly how I feel. I then told him that I don't want to teach my investigators with the skill comparable to a newly walking toddler, and I don't want to not be able to bare all the testimonies I have within me because of my imperfect Spanish. I don't want to teach with the skill of a Level 1 missionary, I want to teach at Level 1000. I want to teach like Christ, but I'm not Christ. I then told him that at home I knew exactly how to help all the ones I loved and that I was in some ways considered a "spiritual giant" and that here on my mission I have no idea what to do.
Hermano Wolfe said that I am too dependent upon myself to do all the things I am required to do as a missionary, and that I need to remember that it is Christ that does the teaching. And that Christ loves me and knows my afflictions. He said that he too felt like a "spiritual giant" and that he learned that he, like I, was too dependent on the compliments of man and not God. Hermano Wolfe opened my eyes to a lot of things. I know now that my motives for love need to change, and that I was only loving people because I should, not because I want to see them grow closer to Christ. It is weird to me that you can be selfish about righteous things, but you can.
At the end of our talk Hermano Wolfe asked if I would like a blessing and I quickly replied yes. He blessed me that I would be able to forget thoughts of home and that I may be able to recognize the Lord in all things and depend on Him. He blessed me that I would seek the Lord's praise and not mans. That I will be humble and have True Love for those around me, and for me to know that there are no coincidences.
The power of the priesthood is real.
The natural man cares only about what he wants. If our conversion is in Christ, nothing will be able to shake us to doubt and despair. He turns out when the rest of us would turn in. This is not my mission, it's the Lord's.
I believe in Christ, He is my King. For who's mercy I am undeserving, who's pain I do not know and who's love I can never fully show. He has shattered the chains of hell which bound me, and He did it that I may endure to the end and in that exalting day I will fall to my face and there proclaim, my God How Great Thou Art. But until that day I will stand and submit my will to His, that he may spread His love through me, a vessel, imperfect but perfected through Him and His Atonement. How Great be our God!
We are not called to be missionaries. We are called to be vessels of the Lord's light and love. It is because of that, that He will put us through trials and sufferings that we may be humbled and have our cavities within us be deepened, that we may be able to greater hold His light. This calling is given to all. Forget yourself, for when there are others suffering around you, it mattereth not if you are going through the very gates of hell, we must take care of His sheep. And in the end we will receive our reward.
I am eternally grateful for my Lord and my Shepherd!
Love,
Elder Alger
This last Wednesday I was particularly tired during my morning and afternoon classes. In my afternoon class I had Hermano Wolfe and in the middle it he had the other missionaries in my district do some acting out of situations that could happen in the mission field while we are teaching and he had me come with him into another room. He sat me down and asked how I was doing and I said I was fine. But then he stopped to say that he felt that something felt "off" about me today, and I quickly and honestly replied that I was only tired. What I didn't know is that God was giving Hermano Wolfe the ability of discernment which allowed him to see that there really was something wrong with me and even though I didn't know it, this moment was the time for me to get some insight from the Lord. Suddenly, to my confusion, I start tearing up without even knowing why and all these feelings that I had somewhere in the back of my mind came out. I talked with him about my fear of this "scale of righteousness" I had created in my mind. This scale came in the form of a ruler and on the lowest part of the ruler was wickedness, in the middle was mediocrity, and at the greatest part of the ruler was righteousness. The reason for my fear was because when I am wicked, or not doing what the Lord would want me to do, I know exactly what steps to take to get back to mediocrity. However, after I get back to mediocrity I am clueless as how to get to complete righteousness. I feel like a toddler trying to walk to the path of righteousness, and it is a damning feeling to not be progressing in some way. Hermano Wolfe said that he knows exactly how I feel. I then told him that I don't want to teach my investigators with the skill comparable to a newly walking toddler, and I don't want to not be able to bare all the testimonies I have within me because of my imperfect Spanish. I don't want to teach with the skill of a Level 1 missionary, I want to teach at Level 1000. I want to teach like Christ, but I'm not Christ. I then told him that at home I knew exactly how to help all the ones I loved and that I was in some ways considered a "spiritual giant" and that here on my mission I have no idea what to do.
Hermano Wolfe said that I am too dependent upon myself to do all the things I am required to do as a missionary, and that I need to remember that it is Christ that does the teaching. And that Christ loves me and knows my afflictions. He said that he too felt like a "spiritual giant" and that he learned that he, like I, was too dependent on the compliments of man and not God. Hermano Wolfe opened my eyes to a lot of things. I know now that my motives for love need to change, and that I was only loving people because I should, not because I want to see them grow closer to Christ. It is weird to me that you can be selfish about righteous things, but you can.
At the end of our talk Hermano Wolfe asked if I would like a blessing and I quickly replied yes. He blessed me that I would be able to forget thoughts of home and that I may be able to recognize the Lord in all things and depend on Him. He blessed me that I would seek the Lord's praise and not mans. That I will be humble and have True Love for those around me, and for me to know that there are no coincidences.
The power of the priesthood is real.
The natural man cares only about what he wants. If our conversion is in Christ, nothing will be able to shake us to doubt and despair. He turns out when the rest of us would turn in. This is not my mission, it's the Lord's.
I believe in Christ, He is my King. For who's mercy I am undeserving, who's pain I do not know and who's love I can never fully show. He has shattered the chains of hell which bound me, and He did it that I may endure to the end and in that exalting day I will fall to my face and there proclaim, my God How Great Thou Art. But until that day I will stand and submit my will to His, that he may spread His love through me, a vessel, imperfect but perfected through Him and His Atonement. How Great be our God!
We are not called to be missionaries. We are called to be vessels of the Lord's light and love. It is because of that, that He will put us through trials and sufferings that we may be humbled and have our cavities within us be deepened, that we may be able to greater hold His light. This calling is given to all. Forget yourself, for when there are others suffering around you, it mattereth not if you are going through the very gates of hell, we must take care of His sheep. And in the end we will receive our reward.
I am eternally grateful for my Lord and my Shepherd!
Love,
Elder Alger
Me and Hermano Wolfe
This is Hermano Wolfe with my district.
I was trying to do my dad's velociraptor impersonation.
Not quite as good as my dad's, more like a baby raptor. Ha!
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