First off, I don't think I could
tell you how much I love the Salem family. My love for them grows constantly.
It is such a unique feeling, and I don't think I have ever been more invested
in someone's life or cared about them so deeply. They are amazing though,
especially their father. We have been putting a lot of effort lately into
making sure their parents are included in our discussions despite the language
barrier. We are working on being able to have a translator for church and
lessons and have even started working on the long term goals of them learning
English. There is a member of our ward that came up with the idea to have a
Sunday school class dedicated to teaching English in a gospel setting that we,
as well as the Salems, are very excited about. But having the children
translate works well enough now and we have been able to have some wonderful
conversations. The other day their father expressed how much he desires to
follow Jesus Christ, and that he is ready for this new knowledge so he can do
that more fully. Our last lesson with them was probably the best we ever had.
Their mom was actively engaged for the first time which was so wonderful. At
one point Jumana, the daughter, asked us why she had to pray and ask if these
things were true if she already knew. This family has so much faith, but of
course we talked about how vital that witness from the Holy Ghost is for their
testimony. And at the end of the lesson, instead of arguing over who prayed
last and who had to this time, they fought over who got to pray and then who
got to pray first when we told them they both could. It just gives me so much
joy to be a small part of this family's life and to help them make these change
in their lives so they can be even closer to Jesus Christ.
Today, our ward put on a Memorial
Day 5K and breakfast (which we got to participate in). It was so much fun, but
to prepare for it this week we spent a lot of time visiting members and
committing them to invite their friends and neighbors. It surprised me how many
people were actually excited for this invitation. I have a very strong testimony
of how important this is, because no matter how hard we as missionaries work,
the work cannot go forward without the help of the ward and our leaders. I am
so grateful for the awesome ward I get to serve in who is so excited to do
missionary work and share the gospel in the best way-by This week was great and
full of learning like usual!
simply loving those around them.
I mentioned before the commitment
President Daines had given me to become equal with my companion in opening my
mouth. Well the day before interviews, which is when he would be following up
with me, I had a very sudden and emotional realization that I had not
made it there. I was a mess. Sister Speakman did not ignore the distance I
still had to go, but she gently invited me to think about how far I have come
lately. And then she simply asked me what I thought President would say to me
the next day when I told him. The first thing that came to mind was the
feelings that I have when I repent, when I recognize that I have fallen short
despite my efforts and ask for help to be better. I always have feelings of
immense love from my Savior because He knows I am trying. And what I felt from
President Daines in our interview was a shadow of that. I am so grateful for my
ability to keep moving forward, even though sometimes I slip up, because my
Savior was able to say "Thy will, O Lord, be done."
Yesterday while preparing for the
Sacrament we sang that hymn and the last verse reads,
"We
take the bread and cup this day
In
mem'ry of the sinless One,
And
pray for strength, that we may say,
As
he, "Thy will, O Lord, be done."
That line really hit me
as we sang that. I am so grateful that because my Savior had the courage to be
perfectly obedient, I can rely on Him to have the strength to do so as well.
Life may seem hard and we are all far from perfect, but through the Savior, we
can keep moving forward.
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| We Ran! |
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| Our new District |
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| Sister Speakman and I |
