Passion with a Purpose

Sleezy Dawn Patrol Report. Elder Jake will be here in managua at least till october. Pretty stoked though. Elder Hirschi 's freakin dope and we are running this place like Will Ferrel runs his youth dance teams- lot of energy. lot of hight fives. lot of smiles.

Things here in Iraq are good. The missionary convoy had no carside puke bombs from elder hirschi. 

We do however think that a family of cats has died in one of the walls of our house. Reminds me of the smell of the infected, steaming feet of those in the ER whose toes have molded together into one beautiful knob on the end of their leg. (suzette gag) That dead family mixed with the 2 day clogged nicaraguan bathroom toilet makes for a "hot box" like atmosphere every 90 degree night. Love this place haha. 

Maddy hammering away in Mexico

Speaking of the ER, we did a little service project last week for a single mom named Alma. We replaced the zinc sheets that cover her tiny
little concrete structure. One of our more intelligent, somewhat plump missionaries, forgot that he actually didn't get a bachelors degree in home remodeling and thought it would be a good idea to walk across the tiny little sheets of zinc on top the house. 30 minutes in and we almost had a little trip down to Nicaraguan Rancho Springs ER where there wouldn't have been that one cute PA waiting to bandage that little guy up. After 30 minutes all the elder quorum was exhausted and the bishop did a solid job and showed up with cheese and coke at 7 in the morning. Ahhhhhhhh! Lot of high fives, smiles, power tools, unnecessary welding torches, and no female supervision. I looked like maddy up there hammering all those nails in and didn't even break a nail. All said and done our girl alma got a sweet new roof so that her and her baby wouldn't get wet when it rains.

This week Jessenia and Carlos got baptized. Carlos is an awesome dude that has issues and cant walk very well so we had to throw a chair in the font for him and i had to stand on his legs so that they would float up during his baptism. Jessenia is an amazing lady that sacrificed everything to be able to baptized. More that just the common extreme poverty that exists here, Jessenia had an extremely difficult life and has given up everything for the gospel and for her two kids. She wakes up every morning at 4 oclock to go sell tortillas with her kids and mom. She is passionate for the most important things in this life. Jessina has nothing but gives everything. 

I admire those who have a passion for things. Who put there heads down and do what is necessary despite adversity, pain or poverty. Playing ball and watching the greats put in work and just do it despite adversity taught me this growing up. There is no better feeling than putting it all out there, exhausting yourself and overcoming. It a universal principle that should be applied throughout life. 

Passion, however, without purpose has little effect. Those who work hard and put in the time without an end in mine or an ultimate goal will come up short, loose focus, or find themselves faced with a problem or difficulty that seems impossible to overcome. Michael Jordan talks about this wall that we face many times in life. 

He says,

  

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

How do we know how to get around it? What is the right decision? How do we overcome?

The gospel of Jesus
Christ gives us purpose and direction. It fuels our passion. Those who put their faith in God and strive to be good people will be directed around the impassable walls that we often find ourselves in front of. God will always help those who are humble and trust in Him. Passion with purpose allows us to overcome ANY obstacle that we may face in this life. 

20 But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage;and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him.

I love all you guys. Stay sleezy.