Week 14

I think this week has been the best week I've had here so far.  This is the first week after transfers and my companion was assigned as district leader, so its been really cool to see what that looks like, and I've been trying to help where I can, (even though technically I'm not really supposed to, I'm still just a junior companion, but I cant really relax when I know he's super busy). He had a meeting to go to in person yesterday, so I was put with another elder whos only been here 6 days! So when we went out street contacting I got to lead the conversations, because he doesn't hardly know Spanish. That was super fun for me. Its starting raining more here so that's been a nice change of weather . People don't really answer their doors when its raining so we just trudge around and try to find a members house so we can 'share a message'... and hide from the rain. I can finally say that Spanish has clicked in my head. I can actually understand some of the specifics that people are talking about, I can lead lessons and conversations, and I'm super excited about that. I also noticed that sometimes ill be thinking in Spanish .  And I can say I got what I've wished for. Every night we come home exhausted, and every morning gets harder and harder to get out of bed, but that's exactly what I want. Because it means that I'm doing my best. I'm not gonna lie, I've struggled this week. I've been exhausted everyday, our appointments fall through frequently, the majority of people haven't been receptive of us, and we've had to postpone another baptism . So this week has also been difficult.  But I wouldn't have it any other way. I want to take on the hardest tasks, and want to have all the leadership roles I can get in the mission as soon as possible, not because its fun or easy, but because its difficult. I want to struggle now, so that later, I will know how to lift up others.

Something I was reminded of these past two days, is that this gospel, is one of love. Our message, is that of love. If you go to any real happy person and ask them why their happy, they will tell you its because they have love in their life. If you go to any real sad person in life, and ask them why they are so sad, they will tell you its because they don't feel loved. When our inactive members don't come to church, its because they don't feel loved. When our investigators want to come to church, its because they feel loved. When someone lets us in their home to teach them, its because they feel loved.

The first and second commandment, are to love God, and to love our neighbor.

How often do we find ourselves judging others. How often do we exclude someone because of how we perceive them.

1 Corinthians 16: 13-14

"13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

 14  let all your things be done with charity."

1 Corinthians 13

" 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

   2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

   3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

   4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

   5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

   6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

   7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

   8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

   9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

   10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

   11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

   12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

   13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

The word charity here, is interchangable with love.

Man is nothing without love. I could not possibly extol the magnificent importance of love, and the raw impact it has in our lives.

Think of the person you are closest to in life. The person who brings you the most happiness. What does this person do to make you so happy. What are they willing to do for us. What are we willing to do for them.

Now ask yourself WHY does this person make you so happy.

Heavenly Father has provided a way that we can live with these people forever, because He loves us, and He wants us to feel loved. The great foundation of Him and His church, is love. The greatest act of love ever known, was the atonement of His son, Jesus Christ. Without this impossible task completed, we would be unable to live again after death. All is possible, only through Christ and the love that he so freely gave.

If we were all to show the same love that Christ did, we would be living heaven on earth. There would be no strife, no pain, no sin. Because:

1 Corinthians 8:1

" 1  Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth."

Anyone who hasn't read Acts through 2 Corinthians, I highly recommend.

My favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon:

Mosiah 18: 8-10

" 8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

   9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

   10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?"

People ask why I'm a part of the religion that I am. The answer I have for them, is because this is the gospel of love. If you have love, every other virtue will come naturally.

I plead with all of you, to just love.

If you freely give this love, others who recognize that will reciprocate.

Stop spreading hate, fear, vengance, loathing, spite, grief, despair.

These are the diseases talked about in the scriptures. In the last days, the hearts of men will fail them, and from them will come every disease of man.

Spread love.

Its so simple

Its so calming

Tender

Sweet

Nourishing

Small

Powerful

Kind

Perfect

I declare the truth of things in the sacred name of He who lived, died, then lived again, and through whom we can do the same, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

***

Fun video of being caught in the rain this week!