birthday week

Hello everyone!

First off I wanted to thank everyone who wished me a happy birthday, I
really appreciated it! My birthday was a busy day of missionary work
so I didn't get any time to slow down and celebrate but I wouldn't
have it any other way! I did however get a chance to go to Popeyes and
get some great chicken, I just wish my fried chicken would turn out
like theirs.

We had a pretty good week. Talked to a lot of people and found some
new people who want to know more about this gospel. Ibette is doing
really well, she is probably going to end up in the Spanish ward. She
is fluent in both but she prefers Spanish.

I'm out of time so I will have a more extensive email next week.

Love you!

Elder McOmber

Hello everyone!

This week was a pretty good week! I'm not sure if I talked about her already but we are teaching this young women named Ibette. She is the sister of someone who my companion baptized at the beginning of his mission. She is really cool. She reads the Book of Mormon and she comes to church, we are just waiting on an answer.

In my studies I came across a talk that I really like. It is titled, Stand Up inside and Be All In.

Da part of it reads, "Our son Justin passed away at age 19 after fighting a lifelong disease. In a sacrament meeting talk he gave not long before he left us, he shared a story that must have resonated with him about a father and his young son who went into a toy store where there was an inflatable punching bag in the shape of a man. The boy punched the inflatable man, who tipped over and immediately bounced back after every punch. The father asked his young son why the man kept bouncing back up. The boy thought for a minute and then said, I don't know. I guess it's because he's standing up on the inside. In order to be all in, we need to stand up inside, come what may.

We stand up inside when we wait patiently upon the Lord to remove or give us strength to endure our trials and hardships, Such trials may be disease, disability, mental illness, death of a loved one, and so many other issues. We stand up inside when we lift up the hands that hang down. We stand up inside when we defend the truth against a secular world that is becoming increasingly more uncomfortable with light, calling evil good and good evil and condemning the righteous because of their righteousness.

May we all stand up inside and say, come what may. May we all live with our shield, or upon it.

Elder McOmber