called to serve Calgary: May 19, 2010

Hey everyone! How is it going? My week was pretty good. We were able to teach quite a few lessons which was good. And we are getting a couple of appointments with the older couple to go by once a week in the mornings. Which is something missionaries love because it is always fun to go teach the older people and they are always so happy to have us over. It is sweet because the morning hours are the hardest ones to fill for the day because everyone is either still sleeping or at work. So I love those regular visits to the older retired couples.

We had a pretty momentous thing happen in Calgary on Saturday as well. They finally broke ground for the temple here. It was awesome. We weren't allowed to go to the actual ceremony because the community didn't want to be over run with cars so each ward only had three parking places they were allowed to take up. But they did broadcast it to all the Stake centers in Calgary so we went to the church and watched it from there. Which was probably better anyway because we were actually able to see it and we didn't get sunburned like everyone that was actually there. haha. So that was awesome. It was a great experience to see it and the talks were great. They were all about how we can, like in King Benjamin's address, turn our tents to the temple. And it was also fun to see all the excitement that came from the members here in Calgary about finally getting their own temple. It isn't supposed to be done for three years or so so I wont be able to see it unless I come back up here. But it does look like it is going to be an awesome temple. And it is on a great piece of land. It has an amazing view from up on the hill. I am excited for it.

And I even still got to go dig some dirt up there on the site even though I wasn't able to be there on Saturday, because our bishop borrowed one of the shovels they used and our ward had an FHE up on the site where we could come and take some pictures with it and stuff. So that was awesome. And probably even better then actually being there Saturday because we didn't have to wait for hours to get the picture. It was fun to be able to talk to members there and run around with kids and play soccer and Frisbee. Although turns out my ankle is still keeping me from running too fast. bummer, eh?

I also just wanted to say that I live with the coolest members ever! And not just because his name is Wilford Woodruff. haha. But after they gave us a ride to and from the FHE on Monday they dropped us off and then went and got us some milkshakes from a place called Peters. Apparently they are the best milkshakes ever. I don't know about that but they were pretty darn good! The sad thing is that there is only one of them and they aren't in our area. So the Woodruff's were nice enough to go all the way down there and buy us some. They were going down there anyway though because Bro Woodruff loves those things. But anyway, that made for a pretty good night I am not going to lie. They also bought some dino-sours and airheads strips things. They are delicious as well. No wonder I'm getting so fat eh? haha

Well that is pretty much it for this week. But my mom said I need to start to leaving a spiritual thought in all my letters so I guess I'll give one now... it is one I like a lot and I call it the Recipe for Happiness. It comes from 2 Nephi. This is when the Nephites just separated from the Lamanites and Nephi is telling us how the Nephites are living and what they are doing. So it starts out in verse 10 which says

"And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statues, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses."

So they were being spiritually strong. They were doing what the Lord wanted them to do. Then go to verse 17 that says:

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands."

So not only were they doing what the Lord wanted them to do, but they were working. They were providing for themselves and their families and communities. They weren't just standing around waiting for their blessings. And now this is why I call it the RECIPE for happiness. Because just like a recipe where you add stuff together and come out with something awesome we are going to add those two verses together. so what is 10+17?... right 27. So we are going to go over to verse 27 that says

"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

So isn't that awesome? And we can apply this to ourselves and think of it as a promise that if we continue to do what the Lord wants us to do and to work and not just sit around looking for the blessings that we will live in the manner of happiness. :)

Love,
Elder Townsend

Me and Reese digging at the temple site