Week 58: Dengue


June 21, 2023

Yeah, remember when I said I'm sick; turns out I got Dengue Fever. So I've been toughing through that the best I can. The worst part is just being tired. We'll leave for a couple appointments and then I'll just be exhausted. But hey, I can say I've had Dengue now. ðŸ¤·‍♂️ Despite all that, we were still able to put down another baptismal date for July. I've officially got the mission groove under my belt; we baptize baby. ðŸ˜Ž

Good part about being stuck in the house is there's a lot, I mean a lot, of time to study. I've thoroughly updated my scriptural arsenal. ⚔️

Spiritual Thought:

Well being almost constantly sick these past 2 months I've had plenty of time to do some thinking; too much thinking. But there's something I've thought about a lot. We often can't change our circumstances. If I could 'just stop being sick,' I would very much do that, but that hasn't been the case. God places us in certain places at certain times, under certain circumstances for certain reasons. None of it is 'just because.' God has a reason for everything.

I've thought a lot about how the Gospel promotes change; that through Christ we can become "new creatures." I've thought about how that change comes to happen.

Coal is put under extreme pressure and heated immensely to become diamonds, which are then precisely cut to become the beautiful gem that they are.

Olives are pressed to make oil.

Grapes are crushed to make wine.

Etc.

Christ sees not just who we are, but who we can become. If we want to reach our real potential as Sons and Daughter of God, there are *a few* changes we have to make. As we've learned from our few examples here, we have to be put under pressure, tossed in the furnace, pressed, crushed, etc. if we are to make the necessary changes to reach our true potential as Gods in the making. (If you've never heard of this concept of becoming Gods, you should talk with the missionaries ðŸ˜‰).

Obviously, change isn't easy. If it was, we'd all do it.

"If we want something we've never had, we have to do something we've never done."
- a really good friend ❤️

"[W]hen the real pain starts is where the real work begins. It may not feel like its worth it now but your efforts will be etched into your character for as long as you live. Gods got a plan for you and the only way to know is to take one more step everyday. I believe there is always a reason for why things happen in people’s lives and this quest you’re on will forge the person you are supposed to be. It's not always about what you gain but also what you need to lose, construction of the greater and destruction of the lesser. In suffering is growth, and homie you are living a lifetime of it. The only thing that can defeat you is yourself. I say this because I want you to know that there is always something to look forward to, to realize that without this test, how do you go past your limits? Without the sacrifice, where is the reward?"
- another amazing friend ðŸ—¡ðŸ›¡

We could always try to make changes on our own. How many of us have said we're gonna start going to the gym this year? ðŸ‘€
How many of us have been able to keep that up by ourselves?

Or, we can do things together, like God intended. ðŸ™ƒ He's given us family and friends to help us along the way.

God loves us. He's literally given us everything we need. Everything happens for our good in the end.

These things I know and testify as a representative of Jesus Christ, in His name, Amen.

~ Elder Owens

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Ice skating and Bowling on P-day


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