I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go

Hey everyone,

It was another week in Megenagna, Ethiopia. Things are going well for my companion and I. This week we had some bumps in the road but all in all we are hanging on and working hard. 

A highlight from the week was District Conference this weekend. There was a Saturday session, Sunday session and Sunday Fireside. All were so great. It was all focused on the importance of the temple and the blessings that come from visiting. That is a huge problem here in Ethiopia. First off, many members are angry and frustrated because they have been denied the chance to go due to not qualifying and living the commandments. They don't see the importance of being full tithe payers and all that and say it is the District Presidencies fault they can't go. BUT a lot of things were sorted out this conference. We had President and Sister Collings attend along with Sister Collings parents, the Wrights. Wow, the Wrights are amazing! Elder Wright was the Salt Lake Temple records keeper for 30 years. He is extremely spiritual and spoke at the Fireside. He pretty much laid the law of how important the temple is and how going worthily is important. It was awesome! Just what the members needed to hear. I think this conference woke many people up. 

So our investigators were sort of put on hold again this week. We had a really busy week getting the new Elders work permits and showing them around. They can't legally proselyte like I couldn't when I first came. So we can't leave them alone. As well my companion lost his work permit and doesn't have one right now. So 3 of the 4 Elders in our district and house can't do missionary work. We can see members and some less-actives who are willing and that is about it. Eish. So my update on our investigators is the exact same as last week. We can see them but on top of Zone Conference, District Conference and showing the new Elders around, we had almost no time. We did keep in contact with all and have been giving them assignments. They are all doing good. Alex, the one you (Dad) mentioned in your email is doing great. He is still investigating but hasn't quite cleared all things with his family. We still meet with him frequently. 

Soooo my personal experiences this week I want to share with you are unique. I have loved my time in Ethiopia and have learned so much. I am going strong and all things are good but this week I had a lot of thought about going back to Uganda. President Collings is always very open about sending Elders back at their request because Ethiopia is by far the most difficult place to serve in the mission and he cares about how we are doing. So this week I had my interview with President and really without a filter I blurted out that I feel like I want to go back. He was a bit surprised and I was at the time hoping he would just say, "okay." But that wasn't the case. He actually told me no. Most every missionary he will willingly send back but it was a no for me. He told me he needed me here. He said he needed my experience, my desire and my leadership here in Ethiopia right now and that I won't be able to go back. I was really frustrated at first but understood completely. After my interview was the Sunday morning session of District Conference. I was sitting in the congregation and just thumbing through a hymn book while thinking of the things we discussed in my interview. I turned randomly to a song and it was hymn #270 "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go". I immediately thought, "oh darn this is a sign" hahaha. I read the words and realized quickly I was being selfish in my desires. I wanted to go back to Uganda because things are harder here. I have been here a while and the work is wearing on me a bit. The language barrier is  wearing on me a bit. The weather is wearing on me a bit. Yeah, I was pretty frustrated earlier in the week with the work here. So, I asked President if I could go back. I then realized something as I was reading the hymn. I thought about Joseph Smith and his trials and tribulations as the early Prophet of the church. I thought about his darkest times and how he endured them and then thought to myself that he never asked to be "sent back" or "released". There have been countless people in the church who have sacrificed so much to move the church forward to all people and now this is my time to do it here. So I need to buckle down and keep working. I have been asked to preach the gospel here in Ethiopia and that is what I will do!

By the way, yes I know Elder Jensen very well. I was the first missionary he met in the whole mission pretty much. I picked my new companion Elder Denison up while in Ntinda and he was right there, fresh from the MTC. He is a great Elder. Humble, funny and really hard working. I was in Ntinda while he was in Kololo. They are neighboring areas so I saw him a lot. Then he got to come here and meet me again! He is doing good up here. His Mom needs not to worry. I think no matter where he goes he will take it well. 

I hope everyone has a good week. Have a good Valentines Day! They definitely don't celebrate that here but I will find something to do! 

Love you guys!

With love,

Elder McLain

1.   
   
    It may not be on the mountain height
   Or over the stormy sea,
   It may not be at the battle’s front
   My Lord will have need of me.
   But if, by a still, small voice he calls
   To paths that I do not know,
   I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:
   I’ll go where you want me to go.
2. I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
   Over mountain or plain or sea;
   I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;
   I’ll be what you want me to be. 
3. 
   
4. 
5.  Four in the back of a Bajaj (Ethiopian Taxi)