He's Just Dad

Well hey Family, how are y'all?

Good thing this was a packed week that I don't remember anything about. Cool.

We got the car back finally! A shiney 2011 red corolla. Whooo! back behind the wheel...in Austen. It's fun :) not as scary as San Antonio.

We have been teaching this man named Jesse, and he's been inactive for a while, no one can get him out to church. He's had a troubling life, done some things he shouldn't have and feels like he doesn't deserve anything now. He wants to see the blessings of the Gospel in his life, without living the Gospel. He's 37-yrs old, and single, and his greatest desire is to have a family and be happy, but he's not super willing to try for it. He feels like he's the butt of a joke when it comes to God. As we were talking to him I asked him to commit to coming to church for three weeks in a row and reading his scriptures and praying everyday, to do those things and then to see if his life wasn't going better. Hey, if people can change and  qualify for baptism in three weeks, why can't they become active again in three weeks? He was like "really...I'll seeing blessings now...in this life...God's not crossing His fingers on me?" I promised him that he would see the blessing come in this life, if he held up his end of the deal, God would be faithful to His end.   Towards the end of the lesson, he said "I have one last question, why didn't Jesus Christ write an autobiography before He died?" I held up a floppy copy of the Book of Mormon and said "read this and mark everything that talks about Christ and you'll come to know Christ better then by reading any autobiography." He said "...nah, I was just being a smart." Then I said "well, I can smart too." Then I handed him the floppy copy of the Book of Mormon. My companion may have given me a fist pump...she thought it was great haha. Oh, and did I mention the Bishops pre-mission daughter was there with us? Yeah. He tried to turn down the Book of Mormon, saying he already had one, I gave it to him anyway telling him to read this one and mark it up. He came to church this Sunday, and even met with the Bishop. Quite a few people came up and asked us how we'd gotten him to come. Well, what can I say, God does work in mysterious ways!

We visited with an investigator, Brother Kirk, who has been meeting with the missionaries about once a month for the past five months. He's a lawyer and very intellectual. It was a super long lesson that want around and around the topic discussion about five times. Mostly unproductive. He did notice that I bounce my knee when I get anxious. He told me I better watch out for restless-leg-syndrome when I'm older. Yeah, when I was in San Antonio Sister Young would have to tell me to stop shaking the whole bench at church because my leg was going so fast. Oh, the things that develop on a mission.

Sister Clements and I actually bought princess coloring books today so that we have something to do to relieve the stress. Coloring is good, I wish I had brought my coloring book from home. Esta bien!

We also told Celeste, the Sister we live with that we would mow her back yard this morning before we left. I was in the bathroom then headed out to Help Sister Clements, when she ran into me coming back in. "I can't get the mower started! How the heck do you start it?!" I went out to help and started it on the first try. She hadn't been holding the thing down on the handle, so it wouldn't start. "My dad always made it look so much easier when he did it" we laughed.

We also talked with the father of one of our recent converts. He's another intellectual, he "debated" a bit about the translation and the actuality of Jesus' name being Joshua...saying we should call him that and all this other stuff. It was another round about conversation. But I was able to bear my testimony to him about Joseph Smith being a prophet and  being inspired in his translation of the Book of Mormon, he didn't really say much back to it. So when all else fails, testify. We invited him to watch the talk "Safety for the Soul" by Elder Holland, who else could testify so boldly of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon?

We've been working with a less-active women and her non-member husband, I've mention them before, Carl and Vanda. They're good people. They remind me a lot of you, mom and dad actually. They've taken in a lot of teenagers over the years and helped them out of rough situations and taught them to make good choices, the recent convert I mention above is having a hard time with her family and depression, and we asked Carl and Vanda to help her. 

The mission gives all of the missionaries here an Atonement packet with a 60-day study of the Atonement with talks, scriptures and things. I made a pretty cover for mine, and got it bound a few weeks ago, making a few copies that I was going to send to people, mostly y'all, Danika, Sharlan, mom and dad and my friend Anna in Fort Worth. I made two copies so far, but I haven't been able to send them out to people yet. I've been holding on to them, not being able to mail them out yet. Last monday I was going to mail them, then felt like I should wait. We met with Carl and Vanda that night, and I felt like we should ask Vanda and Carl to help our recent Convert Rachel with the Atonement packet, do it together kind of thing. Rachel needed them, and frankly, they need her testimony. She's so fresh and vribrent and strong in her testinomy, and she wants to share it.So I gave away both of those packets I had made for other people, but I don't feel bad about it. Actually, I feel empowered to know that I followed the quite promptings I had had to keep the packets. And it was nothing huge, like this strong impression, it was just in the moment, I chose not to send them. If I had mailed them out, I wouldn't have had them to give to Carl, Vanda and Rachel that night. God does know what he is doing doesn't He?

Going with that thought, my Christlike attribute this week has been Charity. So I've been studying and working at developing it this week. Let me tell you, be careful when you pray for opportunities to show charity for people, because God works fast. All week I've been recognizing opportunities where I could get mad and start throwing hymn books, or I could turn outward and show love for other people. I learned that Charity is the highest, noblest kind of love, not merely affection, but true devotion.

 I also realized that charity isn't just showing love for our fellow men, but it is love for God as well. Hmm. Not sure about y'all but sometimes I don't think I show Heavenly Father that I love him the way that I should. While thinking about this during a personal study, I started to analyze my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I think I've thought of Him like I mentor more. I like mentors. Like  the, "okay, show me what to do next" or "how do I do that" or "prepare me for what's next" go-get-it-done kind of mentoring. I feel like I've had a lot of mentors that I've looked up to a lot in my life, from my band and seminary teachers, to counselors in school or Bishops, or even my Zone and District leaders now. I like being  mentored and "trained" per se. But thinking of my Heavenly Father as a mentor didn't really sit right with me. Yes, I've had some pretty great teachers and mentors in my life, and they've taught me a lot, but they're not my dad. I don't need mentors, I need my dad. My dad has been the greatest trainer that I've had in my life, but more than that, he's just been dad.He knows everything. He knows how to help his kids, and he loves caring for his kids. He's dad.

This week as I was pondering on this all, I got rather homesick. Lonely for the familiar things. Saturday night came, and the General Relief Society Broadcast with it. Then you know what came? The water. The tears, the snot, and the tissues. When President Monson got up- to speak, my heart swelled. After 8 months of testifying to people again and again of the truthfulness of the gospel, and of living prophets, and eternal families, I realized, and felt it confirmed, that Thomas S. Monson, President of our Church, really is a prophet, called of God. I know it. Because I've felt it. As President Monson spoke to us, he spoke to my heart. He testified of our Father's love for us, no matter what, of how He is aware of us and our very individual, very specific needs. He's just dad. Shar wrote to me a few weeks back and told me that love for God and from God is the strongest power, and God's source of strength and motivation for us. I'd second that. As we come to know who are Father in Heaven is, we are empowered and more capable of doing and being good. 

Well Family. That's about all this week. It's been a full week :) it's good to hear from y'all. I miss you and love you dearly.  

Les Quiero Muchisimo mi familia!

Hermana M.