Ben's Mission to Toronto

From Ben - A Farewell for Champions This week I has some random bouts of melancholy.  Which is a tricky problem!  In the one talk that Mel gave to the assembly of university students a little while ago, he made a comment that went along the lines of.  "Two things decrease faith: sin, and going through the motions"  So, in one of these low energy, low motivations periods, my mind, feeling annoyed at the lack of drive and momentum kindly shouted "WHATS GOING ON?"  So, to humor the mind which dislikes just puttering along, I took a critical look at what was causing these grey slow-downs and came to the simple conclusion of, Yes, I had been going through the motions in some of the core excersizes of faith building (having wooden prayers, a lack of gratitude, and missing journaling), and also that I had decreased my concious effort to have faith.  To believe that because of Jesus Christ and the power given Him because of His Atonement, the future could truly be ...

From Ben - Till We Meet Again On Thursday, after the last District Council of the transfer, we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders.  I got to go with Elder Clawson.  I love this Elder. He has ADHD and plays it like a champion. His humor is genuine and his confidence is commendable.  It was fun to learn from him.  One of the conversations we held circulated around the subject of leadership.  On how one can actually make a difference.  And the conclusion we drew, especially in my case, is again in learning to have and hold hard, but needed, conversations.  Conflict is something that my personality naturally despises and fears.  Whether or not it would be more beneficial to engage in it or not (and we're talking about needed conflict, not necessarily about contention)  Despite logically understanding the need for it, despite knowing it's always better to address challenges instead of putting them off, despite having it possibly suggested by the ...

From Ben - Right In the Nose I've gained a little more understanding of the principle of 'Nose Punching'  As much as I wish this applied to my martial art ability, it is, for this week, applied in the context of trying to address the actual problem instead of just the symptoms.  Hacking at the roots and not the leafs.  Punching a problem right in the nose.  The first instance of my next "line upon line" progression was in District Council.  Usually I try to identify some of the challenges of the District, then focus instructions and council based on those specific challenges.  Not a bad practice and actually exactly what I am supposed to do.  However, I personally neglected two steps in this process of problem seeing. 1) For some reason, I didn't pray very often for this specific question. Kind of the classic blunder  Can't really do anything without God's aid. It's kind of the point. Kind of what I'm supposed to learn.  Then...  2) 80% ...

From Ben - Of Cakes and Combinations Elder Blum and I looked at each other.  Shock and guilt present in both of our eyes.  Bishop Zanoncello keeps on listing numbers.  20 25 50!  80!.... We both sloop a little lower in our chairs.  100!  105! Finally, Elder Blum leaps out of his chair, determined to stop it before its too late...  This week was a curious one! Exactly one week ago we had the craziest Monday night ever.  On our last hour walk to close out the night, we stopped this guy on his smoke break.  The conversation was flowing nicely until we asked what he did for work.  "Do you know what Hooka is?" He asked in his Eastern Iranian accent.  "Kinda, but not too much about it" Said I, unawares.  "Come, let me show you!" Said he.  To which then he open the door he was standing nearby, and started walking up this dark, suspicious staircase.  Elder Blum and I were frozen, not sure if to follow and get kidnapped, or to...