Semana 62: Cameron VS. Elder Bennion

Semana 62: Cameron VS. Elder Bennion

Hola familia,

Well I'm so proud of Bug for getting into the aviation program at CWU! It is all about setting goals to reach our dreams. Now he is one step closer to being a pilot! This week was a pretty averageish week if there is such thing in missionary work. We had some highs and lows. Some trials and some blessings but I'm better for it all.

As for the most recent news, we received transfer calls last night at 10:25 pm and... Elder Ayala and I will be staying together for round two here in Price. I can't say I'm excited or upset for the call. I've gotten to a point in my mission where I am happy to serve wherever the Lord wants me. I've been in areas where I've been super successful and busy and there have been other areas that it has been difficult to find people who are interested and want learn. Elder Ayala is a really good companion so what else could I ask for?! We will be working a lot on his English this transfer. I feel like it is my time to pay it forward for all the help I've received in learning Spanish.

Last P-day was a lot of fun. We went hiking with the Castle Dale Elders again. Some of my best P-days have been out here with Elder Davis and Elder Weyant. The week goes so much better and P-days are not as depressing when we do something like hiking. I've never liked P-days because I'm not teaching and I'm reminded of the "normal" life. Ever since the hike, Elder Ayala has been having a hard time breathing. If you will send me an inhaler spacer in my next package I would appreciate it. I think it will help him. I could probably use some flonase as well. I haven't had allergies out here but I assume it is because I'm using the flonase. Elder Ayala is just the greatest, humble companion. I enjoy taking care of people and it has been rewarding helping him this past transfer with lots of stuff. I love being a teacher!

I was feeling trunky and just missing home, seriously, for the first time on my mission. Some things came up and I've never missed home like this on my mission. A lot of times people discourage you on your mission but you keep going. I'm not the perfect missionary. I have made SEVERAL dumb mistakes and failed countless times on my mission. The hardest thing on my mission has been finding the balance between being Cameron and being serious Elder Bennion. It is hard, especially, when you do feel like your mission President doesn't care if you are serving a mission. Sometimes feelings like that leave me sad, frustrated, and admittedly angry. As the Lord says, it is not our place to judge. Vengeance is His and He will repay whom he chooses to repay. We are taught, “Be not overcome of evil, but ^aovercome evil with good." (Romans 12:21) It is hard to not think about school, sports, and family matters on the mission. Sometimes I just want to be done but... that is just Cameron talking. There is a scripture that I love to change the name of Alma and put in my own name. It reads, "Nevertheless... [Elder Bennion]... ^alabored much in the spirit, ^bwrestling with God in ^cmighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance. It is amazing to me how my mission has awoken me to a sense of my duty to God. It is safe to say I've learned more on my mission from the dumb, juvenile mistakes I have made than from my success. If my mission ended today I could truthfully say it is well. The Lord has blessed me and taught me immeasurably in these 15 months.

I have grown to love this branch and the people of Price. The Lord only knows what fruits my labors will yield in the future. Baptism is the gate by which we enter into a covenant with our Father in Heaven. From a statistical stand point maybe I have not been the successful mission a particular mission president wants to see but, I find joy in the work I'm doing. I have no doubt many of the people I've taught will one day join the church. As Paul said, "Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be ^asaved. For I bear them record that they have a ^azeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s ^arighteousness, and ^bgoing about to establish their own righteousness, have not ^csubmitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." So many people have pieces of the truth but have yet to find the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. The word is "YET to find", one day they will. CAMERON VS. ELDER BENNION. It is a hard balance but nothing in life worthwhile is easy. Vaya con Dios