Wow, another week to learn and grow in the vineyard. I learned a lot about the love of our Savior. One of the blessings of missionary work is that as a representative of Jesus Christ, we are given access to feel the love that he has for his children and it is so beautiful. This past week my personal study was focused on the love of Christ. I don’t think that we will ever be able to truly comprehend the love that our Savior has for us. I found a new favorite scripture in Romans 8:35-39. Nothing can separate us from the love of the Savior. I think it was Jeffrey R. Holland who said that there is no place dark enough where the light of the atonement does not shine. I have really come to see that this week. There are so many miracles that I have seen in my mission and all can be traced to the miracle of the Atonement. The people I teach live in such dark situations that often times they cannot escape, and yet they are filled with such hope and trust. It is beautiful to see.
This past week we decided that no, matter what happened, we would keep working and stay positive. This little decision to choose to be happy made all the difference. There weren’t huge changes in the things that passed but we felt so much less stress. She is such an inspiration of positivity. Really, it helped me recognize the importance of our message. We are representatives of the Savior, and our message is one of happiness, so as the messengers, it only makes sense that we be happy too. Hermana Judd and I have tried to apply a 24-hour smile. It has made such a difference. So if you chance to meet a frown, do not let it stay. Quickly turn it upside down and smile that frown away!
This past week was awesome! Hermana Judd and I met with the youth and coordinated their mutual this week. We played missionary tag, and then we brought all of them inside. We had this super cool week long activity that invites them to take “selfies” with the Book of Mormon. It is a way to get them involved in la obra through social media. We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and I got to share my favorite story from the Book of Mormon… as you know, I have many but I shared about Captain Moroni and the title of Liberty. Hermana Judd and I took an old ratty skirt we found in the house and we made our own title of Liberty that we had all the youth sign and we put it in the bishops office… I dunno how it went (since we can’t get on Facebook) but I thought it was pretty epic. I love the youth here…
Yesterday Hermana Judd and I got the chance to sing in Sacrament meeting. We had a bunch of investigators come, a lot, with the strong desire to feel the spirit as an answer that they need to be baptized. Hermana Judd and I sang O Mi Padre but to the tune of Come thou Fount… I kinda figured out a harmony and we just did our thing. The capilla fell silent, something that never ever happens… The spirit was so strong, and it had nothing to do with our singing skills, believe me. But we do have a Heavenly father that loves us.
I love being a missionary. I love my brothers and sisters here.
Hurrah for Israel!