Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Just Keep Swimming (And Breathing!)

Family, this week has been something else! It has gone by so fast. It was transfers, and of no shock to us, Sister Curtis and I are staying together for another transfer. We're excited to see what happens and build upon what we already have here.

Ended up having to get a new bike. It was going to cost more to fix it than the bike was worth. BUT I got so lucky and the Elders knew of this bike that was for sale. Long story short, the bike was meant for me. It's just my size, very gently used, with shocks, and for the right price. At first I was really annoyed I was going to have to buy another bike, but then quickly realized that this was a tender mercy that Heavenly Father had not only helped my find a new one, but a better one. My new bike in combination with my new inhalers (gasp!) have been making the extreme amount of biking we do here much more pleasant. I am grateful, to say the least. And yes, I did have to go to the doctor this week and was prescribed 2 inhalers to use. I have officially become an asthmatic. I've probably minorly have been one for awhile though. I wonder why I didn't go to the doctors earlier... It makes cycling so much better! And, its only due to the insistence of a good ward member that I even went to get checked out. Anyways, enough about me, now about the investigators, which is what you really want to hear about! 

T6 we've had absolute miracles with this week, just as we were starting to question how well he was really progressing. We went to see him and he'd read a verse which we had left him in 2 Nephi 29 about the Book of Mormon. As we asked him what he had taken from it, he said, "Well, I learned that God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are 3 separate personages.' I was floored. #1, that wasn't what the verse was about at all #2 we'd been praying for T6 to understand the Godhead for weeks!  I was going to correct him and tell him what he should have learned from reading this scripture, but very clearly had a thought come into my head. "He read the scriptures, he received revelation, the revelation you have been praying for him to receive, don't correct him!" This was an important lesson for me to learn! Its not specifically the exact words you read, its that reading the scriptures opens the doors to receiving revelation!! He also decided this week that that word of wisdom could have some truth to it, and that he has been being mislead by substance use throughout his whole life, that they have been fogging his mind and he wants to stop. HOORAY! 

Y is a university student from China, and we just love him!! He has SO much real intent; it constantly amazes me! When we teach him, its easy to tell that he absorbs everything like a sponge and that he understands it by the questions he asks. He recognizes that life is more than just getting riches etc. He wants to embrace the deeper meaning of life. It's amazing!! HE's amazing! 

P3 is doing really well too, and I am constantly amazed by his faith and his understanding. We go into more depth in the lessons we're teaching P3 because that's what he needs. We taught him 3 times this week and we were amazed. He asks such good questions. I honestly can't say enough good things about him! 

S5 is doing ok. We are slowly and surely working with her. We had a really cool lesson on Saturday where we talked about how to read the scriptures and how they can answer our questions. Her question? How to be happy and successful. The answer? 2 Nephi 5. There are 6 steps of things they did to live 'after the manner of happiness.' I dare you to go find them! It was a really cool lesson though. 

I really want to share with you what Elder Dafayo, the Area 70 from Italy, shared with us in Stake Conference on Sunday. It was a beautiful message. He related 2 New testament stories. 1) Christ  raising the daughter of Jairus and 2) Christ raising Lazarus from the dead. He compared these stories to the many lost sheep in the world, specifically less-active and inactive members. Christ, when he approaches the scene where the daughter of Jairus has just died says,"She is not dead, she is sleeping." What was impossible for everyone else is not impossible for Him. Similarly, with Lazarus, it was 4 days until Christ brought him back. No matter how long someone has been away from the church, and no matter what others say, they are not dead, they are just sleeping!! Nothing is impossible when Christ is in the picture. These brothers and sisters who have been separated from the church can come back! We just have to realize first that they are just sleeping!   

I love this work. I know the Lord will sustain us as we put our best efforts into building His kingdom! I am so grateful for Heavenly Fathers continued patience and love. As well as yours, family and friends. I love you! 

  We found some magical mo-ams on the street when we were really hungry :)

 Inhalers!! AH

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