Ben's Mission to Toronto

From Ben - Moment Mastery Immediately, both Elder Mercado and I's brains began to rationalize.  "You know, what's 10 minutes? You can easily make phone calls while watching, there's no way it's too loud, come on, you've had such a long walk! Why not take a short break...?" We looked at eachother, gave the head nod, then entered the gymnasium. The basketball game lasted for 50 minutes, and we watched the entirety of it, making few phone calls, and being almost wholly unproductive.  I must confess, we dropped the ball.  With some guilt in shirking our duty, we vowed to be more cautious in our proximity to the Mohawk college gym, filled with all manner of entertaining temptation.  Volleyball games, basketball games, and many other games, intended to pull away the focus of young missionaries.  My capacity to rationalize and justify convenient habits and behaviors is astounding.  A thousand small justifications produces a massive loss of time and opportunity....

From Ben - Our Joyful Responsibility Oh man, spending time on campus is dangerous.  Elder Mercado and I get to see all the wonders and adventures of the university life, and I cannot lie, my brain is beginning to fantasize being a student myself.  From sport events and clubs and many opportunities to learn at higher levels.  Golly, it thrills my soul.  So, this week involved fending off the sneaky 'grass is greener' mindset.  If I'm unable to magnify my assignment and calling right now, how can I assume that I will in the future?  If I can remain dilligent and focused on the responsibilities and stewardships I'm involved in right now, then, with confidence I can assume that I will for new ones to come.  As a student. As an employee. As a friend. As a father. But it sure is fun to hear from so many different perspectives.  Athiesm, Catholicism, Islamism, Protestantism, Hinduism, and so many more.  Overall, I feel a greater appreciation and res...

From Ben - Like Enos "How about you start, and share your story and perspective, then we'll take a couple of moments or so to share our own story with Jesus" It was in this moment we realized it had been a set-up. My heart beat increased, I looked at Elder Binns and we quickly both knew we had to find a way out... I had the privilege of going on an exchange with my friend, Elder Binns. We spent three months together in the Ice Castle and are now serving around each other in the Hamilton Zone.  During this exchange we had a lesson with this older gentleman and his wife.  It started cordially enough, but by and by, we realized something just wasn't sitting right.  The cookies tasted too good.  The water, too clean and refreshing.  The couch we sat on, too plush and inviting.  Their kindness, too genuine and pure.  In a moment of realization, we realized they were Christians. Devout Christians. Out to save our souls. I kid :) This older couple was beautif...

From Ben - Anti-Automation Our morning schedule is as follows...  6:30 - 7:00: Wake up and daily plan 7:00 - 7:30ish: Work out  7:30ish - 9:00: Eat breakfast, have conversations with the dear Elders, eat some breakfast (hopefully healthy), shower and prepare.  Then 9:00-10:00: Personal Study What it truly feels like however, is...  6:30-7:00 Wrestle for dear life to snuff out the morning grumps as we look at our day and plan our activities (the only thing that really works is a prayer honestly)  7:00-7:30ish: Hype myself up to walk up the stairs. (Pause) Hype myself up to lift a single weight. (Pause) Do some... necessary stretching... to stall a little bit, then, when Elder Mercado comes up to motivate me more, do the actual work out.  7:30ish-8:30ish: Go ponder what breakfast to eat, and decide for a couple minutes between my three regular options, and usually go for the breakfast burrito.  Go pray again, because my first morning prayer didn't cut it...