8-27-12

Hey everyone! I have been transfered!

It is so very strange because every (male) missionary has about 16-ish transfers in the field. That is always how mission time is measured
here: how many transfers you have had, and how many you have left. You will often hear conversations like so: 'How old are you?' '15 transfers.' 'Oh man! Dead man walking!' Etc.

I have already had 3 transfers! Plus the MTC, but the 16 doesn't count that. I also will be hitting the six month mark on September 14th!
Crazy crazy.

I have officially recieved a transfer to my second area! I will be leaving early tomorrow for a town called Köthen. Imagine a frenchman pronouncing a word like 'bleur' and you may have come close with the eu in the middle to how an ö sounds. So the best I could write it as far as pronunciation is Keuten. Or possibly Keut'n. Some also pronounce it with more of an oo sound. So maybe something like kooten or koot'n So excited to go! Gonna go learn a new area and a new companion.

Anyway, today I thought I'd relay a really cool discussion that our Mission President's wife gave this last zone conference. It is about Psalm 23

 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Now as we had explained to us some background on how Shepherds work, and how sheep are, many of these verses take on much deeper meaning.
Let's take a look.

1 - 'I shall not want.' Rather simple. A shepherd leads his sheep and takes care of them in every sense. They are not left wanting everything. Christ leads us. As we truly follow him and do what we should, we will truly have everything we need.

2 - Interesting point about sheep, they literally will not lay down until they feel entirely safe. If they feel in danger at all, they will not lay down. Also, sheep can't swim. Their thick wool soaks up water like crazy, and if there is any current at all preventing them from being able to walk along the bottom, they will drown. - Christ will protect us.

3 - Christ takes care of us. When we are hurting, he will always nurse us back to health. Shepherds pretty much live with their sheep. When one is sick, he will carry it when needed, he will tend it carefully until it is nursed back to health.

4 - Firstly, sheep trust their shepherd. They are very, very hard to herd, and if they don't trust their leader entirely, they will not do anything that scares them in the least. But as they trust him, they feel safe. We must trust in Christ, and trust in Him as he leads us through our own valleys of death. He will keep us safe. Secondly, when a sheep runs away and was being a problem, a real shepherd will break it's leg. No questions asked. He then carries the sheep back to the fold and nurses it tenderly back to health. Sometimes Christ hurts us in order to help us continue in the long run. Trust Him. It may hurt, but He always knows what He is doing, and when you are in pain, He is always there to help it heal right, as long as you will -let- Him help you. :)

5. A shepherd prepares a special coctail of different spices and chemicals to annoint the heads of his sheep. This repels bugs and thereby helps to protect against all of the problems that come from the many diseases and bugbites that come from that.

6 - Here we see the blessings. Read it carefully. Apply it to you.
Think about what that really means with an eternal perspective. :) Wonderful isn't it. :)

I hope you guys all have a wonderous week. :) I wish you all the best, and challenge you all to go follow Christ, and go -make- it the best.
:)

- Elder Michael Miles