This week was a little bit exciting, what with transfers
and all. Our zone leaders both left, one of them going home and the
other going to Omaha to be an Assistant to the President. So we were
without Zone Leaders for... three days? Then they made one of the Elders
in our ward and his new companion Zone Leaders in the other ward, and
our remaining Elder got a new missionary from the MTC. Fun times!
Oh, and I turned into a defacto Wedding Planner this
week. One of the Elders' investigators had to get married so she could
get baptized, so we threw a wedding! Then the Relief Society President
couldn't be there, and Sister Stiles was playing piano prelude, and
then... the Bride asked me, "So, who walks in first, the ring bearer or
the flower girls?" Uhhh... considering most of my (insignificant)
wedding experience revolves around temple sealings where there aren't ring
bearers or flower girls, I just took a stab in the dark and said, "Ring
bearer." And suddenly I was the person the photographer asked where to
stand to take photos, the person telling people when to walk down the
aisle, and the person saying, "Okay, let's cut the cake!" Oh, man, it
isn't as weird as the stuff that happened last week, but it was up there
in weirdness. I never thought I would direct a wedding on my mission.
It also, though, made me really appreciate the
simplicity and beauty of temple marriages. Who needs a wedding planner
when you've got the temple? And it has the added bonus of, y'know, being
forever.
Something I am really seeing and learning on my
mission is the importance of staying true to the gospel and holding as
tightly to the iron rod as possible. And also the importance of solid
priesthood holders. I see families where the priesthood holder has let
go, or where the family in general has let go of the rod, and then
things don't go well. I mean, I think they see that their lives, in
general, are fine. But they don't see what I see: that if they had held
tightly to the gospel and sought it in faith, there would be so much
more light in their lives. Without the gospel, they may see some
success, but with the gospel, they would see joy, and their children
would have so much more light. I think I am doing a horrible job of
explaining what I mean, but I understand myself.
So this translates to the following: Seek to be
closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through the gospel. As you
do, you will become more closely aligned with the commandments, and you
will be happier. It's true. And if you do the opposite, the opposite
happens. And I see it wherever I go.
The last few days have made me a little homesick for
Oregon: It has been in the 60s and rainy! I LOVE it! Today, I am
actually wearing tights, and a sweater over a long sleeved shirt! Who
knew this would happen to me in July? Ha! Don't worry--I won't get used
to it. I fully anticipate that we will see 100 degree weather again
before too long.
What else? We went to Maxwell and Brady yesterday
with the Relief Society President. That was pretty good. We met a couple
of people we hadn't had the chance to meet. And because we have limited
miles, we haven't been able to get out there. Speaking of limited
miles, thanks to our trek out to Grand Island, we are over miles. So,
booo to Grand Island! I have decided not to worry about it because it
was a mandatory meeting, and we have been really really good with our
miles otherwise. Next month is bound to be better, right?
We keep teaching people, and it is tough to get them
to move forward in the gospel. They like what they hear and what we
teach. But getting people to take an active role and actually DO
something themselves is hard. One day we'll get our people to church!
I'm working on my faith (so is Heavenly Father, apparently!).
Anyway, I love you all! And a happy birthday to my
favorite (this week) ladies, Calista and Ivy! Give those girls BIIIIG
squeezes from me and make sure they know they're from me!
Love,
Sister Loradona May
No comments:
Post a Comment