Alright! Not as much to share this week, but we DID get some pretty rockin pictures due to the snow...so I'll send one or two of those along. That, and some general news about what's going down, ETC ETC...so, first things first...
UPDATE:
Well, I'm not 100% sure, but provided nothing's changed since 2 days ago when President wrote me, I'm getting transferred. Woo! But also...scary! Bahrg. I like this place! There's been a certain security in the fact that this is a hard area without a lot of baptisms, because then if I didn't succeed, it wasn't my fault, right? And I could work and work and strain and strain against the brick wall of everybody's weird conceptions about Mormons/the general fear of members, etc.,...anyway, I could strain against all our obstacles and feel vindicated at the end of the day just for the straining, even if everything didn't work out. From the sounds of it, President's putting me in an area that's been a little more productive, where there's more potential to teach and baptize, but then, you see...then the expectations are actually higher. Then I'm responsible for 1) if no one gets baptized in an otherwise productive area, and 2) if someone DOES get baptized in this generally productive area, I'm responsible for their learning, and for a small measure of their salvation. So...that's a little scary. But! It'll be great! And I won't even know where I'm going till tomorrow at 3pm. So you'll know next week. ;)
A PROFILE:
Name: Mike Forkey
Calling: First Counselor in the Bishopric of the Clearveiw Ward
Reason I like him: he reminds me of my dad (I love you daddy. :) )
Accessory of Choice: Leather Jacket over a Polo
How he got introduced to the missionaries: he dated the only two LDS girls in his high school consecutively (good taste :P), and both asked him if he'd be interested in talking to the missionaries...TOMORROW. And because he didn't have a good excuse, both times he said yes.
Why he's a member of the church: Because as he was talking with the Missionaries (and asking them a boat-load of questions and remaining skeptical of some of the answers they gave him), he was hit over the head 1) that if there was more scripture, it was important, and 2) that we claimed we had a mother in heaven. He said that that was so audacious a claim--a female God to compliment the male God most churches profess to worship-- that either lightning would have to strike down these two missionaries, or this had to be true.
Reason he's happy about his choice to join the church: He knows it's true. He has a wonderful life, great kids and spouse, and a lot of peace. He's found purpose and perspective and increased light through the gospel, and he's a blessing to all he serves.
A SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:
One of the great themes of the Book of Mormon is that "inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God, ye shall prosper in the land. And inasmuch as ye shall not keep the commandments of God, ye shall be cut off from his presence." Helaman Chapter 4 is a great example of people not keeping the commandments and then being cut off from the strength of the Lord. It says in vs 13:
"And because of their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands."
And then later in the chapter it goes on to outline how they didn't realize that they had "become weak, like unto the Lamanites" (who were similarly without the Lord). I know this is true; that when we operate on our own strength and power, we are weak. However, when we live according to the commandments of God, we are guaranteed protection, as well as prosperity (and sustenance in difficult times). It really is that simple; the choice every day to keep (or not keep) the commandments of God. Pretty cool.
A PICTURE: (from the snow!!)
It's the artsy 'with a snow shovel' pic. You know, church was cancelled (for an inch and a half!! Sigh.) so we had to find some way to be productive. :P
LOVE YOU ALL! Remember that because I'm (95% sure) being transferred, that if I've snuck you my home mailing address, use the PO box one for this week and the next few weeks following. LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!
Sister Hale
No comments:
Post a Comment