Dear Dallin,
It's Sunday night and I just got done making banana bread and muffins for seminary. It's been a good Sunday. The last speaker wasn't there and Brother Johnson was conducting. He looked at the audience and said I guess we'll have a missionary moment updates, "ok Sister Tall?" I became nervous. But, luckily, I had my iphone! I just looked up your latest email and was totally ready to talk. The speaker showed up at the last minute (because Cindy Ellis texted him, he had forgotten) and I didn't have to speak. His talk was so awesome, though. He spoke about being ready to serve and use your priesthood at a moment's notice. I think of Jan Sorenson and Terry Wyatt, who were ready and able to give you a blessing late in the evening after you had fallen on that wood block. I was so grateful for them. BTW, Terry Wyatt passed away. Do you remember him?
My lesson this morning was about the Lord chastizes whom he loves. There was a great feeling in the room about repentance and the change of heart that the comes from faith in Christ and through obedience and continual repentence. I shared one of my favorite quotes from Ezra Taft Benson:
"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. "
I hope you have had a good week. It looks like you have had wonderful weather. It's great to hear about your hard work. Are you cooking for yourself at all? I thought about sending you some simple recipes that you could do in a pinch. You can always break out some veggies, oil, salt and pepper and garlic for stir fry.
Dad was really sick when he got to Angola. He has been checked and re-checked for Malaria. He is much better now and is flying alot. He takes his tablet with him and can call or skype at his out-stations. Everyone else is doing great. Jordan graduates this weekend and Beau and I are going down for that and Norah's blessing. We will send you pics.
Everyone asks about you and how you are doing. There are a lot of prayers going up on your behalf, as well as all missionaries.
We love you and are eternally grateful for your attitude of hard work and service!
love,
Mom
Hi guys,
There's no telling what I would do for some of your banana bread right now! I love hearing about your seminary class. I have never heard that quote. It's funny, lately I have been so stressed about the woes of this world: Why are people so lost? Why do people question the fact that I am holding 500 pages of salvation? And if it were some made up text, why is the lifestyle of a Latter Day Saint becoming the thin strand of hope for an example of morality in this world, and rarely is it acknowledged? The quote about Jesus taking the slums out of the people so they can take themselves out of the slums is so genius. It is so genius it can only be from God. The idea of self sufficiency and progression is not of man, it is of God. If anything that idea is tainted by man. We only have God to look to for wisdom enough to bulldoze through the layers and layers of evil that are slowly but surely causing this world to go belly up. Awesome quote. It brought me such comfort. Thanks Mom.
Sorry to hear about Brother Wyatt. I do remember him, and someday I will get to thank him.
I did have such a wonderful week! Matt Snyder was baptized on Saturday! He gave a powerful testimony about how he knows the Gospel was restored because he knew the Book of Mormon was true. He thanked the girl who was brave enough to open her mouth and invite him to church. He thanked Elder Winchester and I. Over the last few week we have become very close to Matt. He tells us about all his wife finding efforts at FHE in Cedar Rapids. We had dinner at Texas Roadhouse to celebrate on Thursday. He practiced his speech and testimony right there in front of the whole place. Such a stud. He received the priesthood after I had the opportunity to confirm him. Patricia Iniguez came to the baptism, and church! Everyone in the ward welcomed her really well, and she is still dead set on June 9th for baptism. Did you see her picture? Totally Red Riding Hood's grandma! We call her "momma Iniguez"
We have alot of potential investigators to get in with this week. We have an guy who was referred from Mormon.org, and we are meeting him on Wednsday. He will surely investigate. To be an "investigator" by the way you have to pray with them, and pretty much have a lesson. We also have two families that will soon be investigating. They are referrals from other families in the ward. Our ward is getting super fired up because they are noticing Elder Winchester and I are doing all the work up in here, knocking doors, yelling at people over their lawn mowers, testifying to non-denoms who say "yeah I know about John Smith...that crazy guy with all the wives n crap?" We are having alot of fun! I love everyone I meet. It was hard at first, but I have been praying for the pure love of Christ, and I am blessed with a portion of it. I just imagine them in white.
I am praying that Dad will get better. Its so amazing that he can talk to you with his tablet from Africa. Nope, I'll never understand it. I love you guys,
No comments:
Post a Comment